IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FABRICS, SKINS, LEATHER, AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FABRICS, SKINS, LEATHER, AND OTHER MATERIALS."
A communication from abroad by Joanny Crôtte, of Paris, in the Republic
of France. Hat Manufacturer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th February 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FABRICS, SKINS, LEATHER,
AND OTHER MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by Joanny Crôtte, of
Paris, in the Republic of France, Hat Manufacturer.
This Invention relates to a machine for cutting woven fabrics of all descriptions,
skins, leather, and paper or cardboard, thin sheets of wood or metal and other
materials.
In carrying out this Invention the machine is provided with a cutting disc of
steel, say, from about two to six inches in diameter, having a cutting edge at its
periphery and which is caused to revolve with great rapidity, performing, say, from
one thousand five hundred to three thousand revolutions per minute. This disc is
fast on a spindle revolving on centres carried by a forked arm or support, somewhat
resembling the arm of a sewing machine. The spindle, which is preferably of steel,
is adjusted on its bearings in the fork of the arm in such a manner that the
cutting disc with a grooved pulley fast on the same spindle revolves truly in a
vertical plane.
An adjustable table is arranged underneath the arm carrying the cutting disc,
the said table being supported upon vertical adjusting screws by means of which
it may be raised or lowered at pleasure, and the whole apparatus may be supported
upon a suitable stand or frame. Rotary motion may be imparted to the cutting
disc or cutter by means of a treadle, connecting rod, and crank shaft supported by
the legs of the stand, the crank shaft carrying a grooved fly wheel which drives a
D237

page_text: smaller grooved fly wheel fast on one end of a counter shaft working in bearings
on the forked arm hereinbefore referred to. A grooved pulley fast on the other
end of this countershaft drives the pulley herein before referred to fast on the spindle
of the cutter. The fly wheel on the counter shaft is arranged in a convenient
position to admit of its being stopped by hand; it may be fast upon the shaft or it
may be capable of turning thereon; in the latter case it is provided with a clutch
arrangement worked by a lever, such lever being also connected to a brake in such
a manner that a single motion suffices to throw the grooved pulley out of gear and
stop the countershaft instantaneously.
A hole is formed in the adjustable table underneath the cutter, and is covered
by three adjustable plates acting as guides to the disc, one of such plates being
arranged in front of the disc and the other two of smaller size at the sides. The
opposite edges of the two latter are caused to approach one another towards the
front of the apparatus (where the material to be cut is introduced), and are bevelled
at this point so as to come in contact with the sides of the cutter.
The third plate
which is placed in front of the cutter is provided with a notch of corresponding
width to the opening between the other two plates, and may be caused to approach
or recede from them in order to regulate the action of the cutter, thereby obviating
in many instances the necessity for raising or lowering the adjustable table.
When it is required to cut strips or bauds of uniform width an adjustable metal
guide or straight edge is provided, which is secured in the required position on the
adjustable table by means of a set screw.
When it is required to cut the brims of a hat a metal guide or gauge is placed in
a hole formed for the purpose in the table and secured in position by a set screw,
a graduated scale being provided at one side of the hole in order to enable the
gauge to be adjusted according to the width of the brim to be cut. The machine
being set in motion the hat is placed in the gauge and rotated in order to cut the
brims to the desired width.
The gauge may be of cylindrical form and be employed for cutting hat brims of
a uniform width all round, but when it is required to cut brims of varying width
it is necessary to employ a gauge of peculiar construction, the external circum-
ference of which is cylindrical, but the internal circumference of which is of a form
corresponding to the cut of the hat, so that the brims are cut of unequal width at
different parts. By employing a corresponding number of such gauges hat brims
may thus be cut to any desired pattern.
According to another modification the machine may be driven by power or by
the feet, and the cutter is carried by a pendent arm or bracket fixed to a beam
overhead. This arrangement has the advantage of rendering the table independent
of the cutter, and consequently enabling material of any width to be operated on.
Motion may be transmitted to the machine by means of bands, cords, or friction
wheels, and the clutch and brake arrangement operated by a lever, as in the
arrangement first hereinbefore described, may also be employed when the machine
is driven by power.
A small grindstone is employed for imparting the required edge to the cutter;
this grindstone is mounted on a frame provided with a handle and supported on a
flat plate. When the edge of the cutter becomes dull one or more of these grind-
stones are applied to the said edge, while the cutter is caused to revolve alternately
in either direction.
The machine herein before described is arranged for cutting all descriptions of
woven fabrics and skins, felt, leather, and card, as well as thin sheets of wood or
metal. A peculiar and important feature in this machine consists in the manner
in which the materials to be operated upon are presented to the edge of the cutting
disc, such materials not being presented at or about the level of the axis of the
disc but at its lower part almost at a tangent, so that the disc or cutter only enters
the material for a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the material.
This arrangement, especially in the case of woven fabrics, possesses the following
advantages, viz.:-The motive power required to drive the machine is insignificant

page_text: and the cut is very clean, and may be made to follow the most varied outlines,
straight or broken lines, curves, and the like; moreover, the material is fed, drawn
on automatically by the action of the cutting disc, it being simply necessary to
present the material to the cutting edge and guide it in the required direction.
This latter peculiarity greatly diminishes the liability to accidental injury to the
operator.
In order to further obviate the liability to such accidents the front part of the
disc is covered with a guard, consisting of a blade of metal adapted to the shape of
the disc and capable of turning upon a pin fixed to the forked arm so as to admit
of being secured in any required position by means of a set screw.
In some cases small notches may be formed with a cold chisel in the edge of the
cutting disc, so as to form a species of saw teeth without any way on them.
Cutting discs with or without such notches are employed according to the material
to be cut

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
August 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. *"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FABRICS, SKINS, LEATHER,
AND OTHER MATERIAL." A communication from abroad by Joanny Crôtte, of
Paris, in the Republic of France, Hat Manufacturer.
The said Invention relates to a machine for cutting woven fabrics of any descrip-
tion, skins, leather, and paper or cardboard, thin sheets of wood or metal, and other
materials.
In order that the said Invention may be perfectly undersood I shall now proceed
to particularly describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal section of
machine constructed according to the said Invention; Figure 2 is a corresponding
plan with the cutter holder removed; and Figure 3 is a corresponding transverse
section of a portion of the machine.
Figures 4 and 5 represent respectively a front and a side elevation of a machine
suspended from a beam overhead.
Figures 6 and 7 represent respectively a side elevation and a sectional elevation
at right angles thereto of the cutting disc and its holder drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 8 represents a side view, and Figure 9 represents a front view of an
instrument employed for sharpening the cutting disc.
Figure 10 represents a plan and section of a gauge or guide to be employed when
cutting the brims of hats of unequal width.
The machine is provided with a cutting disc A of steel, say, from about two to
six inches in diameter, having a cutting edge at its periphery and arranged so as to
revolve at a high velocity, videlicet, at the rate of, say, from one thousand five hundred
to three thousand revolutions per minute. This disc is fast on a spindle revolving
on centres carried by a forked arm or support B, somewhat resembling the arm of a
sewing machine. The spindle, which is preferably of steol, is adjusted on its
bearings in the fork of the arm in such a manner that the cutting disc, with a
grooved pulley C fast on the same spindle, revolves truly in a vertical plane.
An adjustable table D is arranged underneath the arm carrying the cutting disc,
the said table being supported upon vertical adjusting screws E, by means of which
it may be raised or lowered at pleasure, and the whole apparatus in the arrange-
ment represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3, is supported upon a suitable stand or
frame.
In this arrangement also rotary motion is imparted to the cutting disc or
cutter A by means of a treadle F, connecting rod H, and crank shaft G, supported
by the legs of the stand, the crank shaft carrying a grooved flywheel I which
drives a smaller grooved flywheel J fast on one end of a countershaft K, the latter
working in bearings on the forked arm herein before referred to. A grooved
pulley L, fast on the other end of this countershaft, drives the pulley C herein-
before referred to fast on the spindle of the cutter. The flywheel J on the counter-
shaft is arranged in a convenient position to admit of its being stopped by hand,
it may be fast upon the shaft or it may be capable of turning thercon; in the latter
case it is provided with a clutch arrangement worked by a lever, such lever being
also connected to a brake in such a manner that a single motion suffices to throw
the grooved pulley out of gear and stop the countershaft K instantaneously.
A hole is formed in the adjustable table D underneath the cutter and is covered
by three adjustable plates a, b, and c, acting as guides to the disc, one of such

page_text: plates, (c) being arranged in front of the disc and the other two, a, b, of smaller size
at the sides. The opposite edges of the two latter plates are caused to approach
one another towards the front of the apparatus (where the material to be cut is
introduced), and are bevelled at this point so as to come in contact with the sides
of the cutter. The third plate c, which is placed in front of the cutter, is provided
with a notch of corresponding width to the opening between the other two plates,
and may be caused to approach or recede from them in order to regulate the action
of the cutter, thereby obviating in many instances the necessity for raising or
lowering the adjustable table I).
When it is required to cut strips or bands of uniform width an adjustable metal
guide or straight edge M, Figures 1 and 2, is provided, the same being secured in
the required position on the adjustable table by means of a set screw.
When it is required to cut the brims of hats a metal guide or gauge N, Figures
1 and 2, is placed in a hole formed for the purpose in the table, and is secured in
position by a set screw, a graduated scale being provided at one side of the hole
in order to enable the gauge to be adjusted according to the width of the brim to
be cut. The machine being set in motion the hat is placed in the gauge, as shewn
in Figure 1, and rotated in order to cut the brims to the desired width.
The gauge shewn in Figures 1 and 2, which is cylindrical in form, may be
employed for cutting hat brims of a uniform width all round; but when it is
required to cut brims of varying width it is necessary to employ a gauge of peculiar
construction, as shewn in Figure 10, the external circumference of which is cylin-
drical whilst the internal circumference is of a form corresponding to the cut of the
hat, so that the brims are cut of unequal width at different parts. By employing
a corresponding number of such gauges hatbrims may thus be cut to any desired
pattern.
According to another modification, which is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the
cutter is carried by a pendent arm or bracket fixed to a beam overhead, and the
machine is driven either by power or by the foot. This arrangement has the
advantage of rendering the table independent of the cutter, and consequently
enabling material of any width to be operated ou. Motion may be transmitted to
the machine by means of bands, cords, or friction wheels, and the clutch and brake
arrangement operated by a lever, as described with reference to the arrangement
first hereinbefore described may also be employed when the machine is driven by.
power.
A small grindstone R, shewn in Figures 8 and 9, is employed for imparting the
required edge to the cutter; this grindstone is mounted on a frame provided with
a handle and supported on a flat plate S. When the edge of the cutter becomes
dull one or more of these grindstones are applied to the said edge, while the cutter
is caused to revolve alternately in either direction.
The machine herein before described is arranged for cutting woven fabrics of
every description, skins, felt, leather, card, and thin sheets of wood or metal. A
peculiar and important feature in this machine consists in the manner in which the
materials to be operated upon are presented to the edge of the cutting disc, such
materials not being presented at or about the level of the axis of the disc but at its
lower part almost at a tangent, so that the disc or cutter only enters the material
for a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the material.
This arrangement, especially in the case of woven fabrics, possesses the following
advantages, videlicet, the notive power required to drive the machine is insigni-
ficant, the cut is very clean and may be made to follow the most varied outlines,
straight or broken lines, curves, and the like; moreover, the material is fed or
drawn on automatically by the action of the cutting disc, it being simply necessary
to present the material to the cutting edge and guide it in the required direction.
This latter peculiarity greatly diminishes the liability to accidental injury to the
operator. In order to further obviate the liability to such accidents the front part
of the disc is covered with a guard consisting of a blade T of metal adapted to the
shape of the disc and capable of turning upon a pin V fixed to the forked, arm B

page_text: Dee Figure ), so as vu
of a set screw.
QUELL UL
In some cases small notches are formed with a cold chisel in the edge of the
cutting disc, so as to form a species of saw teeth without any way on them.
Cutting discs with or without such notches are employed according to the material
to be cut. In general, cutting disc without notches are employed for cutting the
following substances, videlicet:-
First. Smooth and other fabrics of cotton, wool, silk, thread, hemp, and the like,
of any thickness; one thickness of material or several thicknesses superposed being.
cut with the same facility.
Second. Velvets, cloths, felts, hair fabrics, and the like.
Third. All kinds of skins or furs, shagreen, Morocco, glove leather, and the like,
with or without the fur,
Fourth. Knitted work of every description.
Fifth. Paper.
Cutting discs with notched edges are, by preference, employed for the following
materials, videlicet :-
First. Thick fabrics, paper, and cardboard.
Second. Leather and india rubber.
Third. Wood in thin sheets.
Fourth. Metal in thin sheets.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said.
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The machines, herein described, having a cutting disc which acts tangen-
tially on the material under operation, at the same time automatically feeding or
drawing on such material, the said disc being arranged and combined with the
other parts of the apparatus substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described.
Second. The employment of the guides, gauges, or other accessory parts of the
machine, enabling the materials to be cut according to the required forms and
patterns, substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifica-
tion set my hand and seal, the Twenty-second day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)