Improvements in Machinery for Cutting Corks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Cutting Corks.
I THOMAS NEWCомв of 1 Oakley Place Old Kent Road in the County of Surrey
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for cutting corks in which the
squares" to be cut are held between suitable rotating clamps or holders whilst being
cut by a semi-rotating knife or cutter of semi-circular form actuated by the hand of
the workman.
The semi-circular knife or cutter is fixed upon the upper end of a vertical or slightly
inclined axis the angle of which together with the knife or cutter can be accurately
adjusted in order to cut the corks conically to any desired taper The axis of the
knife or cutter is mounted in a frame or support having a horizontal stud or axıs
thereon which is mounted in a socket in the standard or main framing of the machine
and the position of this frame can be adjusted by moving it upon its axis so as to
adjust the knife to the angle desired the frame which carries the knife being fixed in
position by a set screw to the standard or frame of the machine.
The distance of the edge of the knife or cutter from the cork to be cut is adjusted
by means of an adjusting screw which acts upon the lower end of the vertical axis to
raise or lower the same for cutting corks of various sizes.
One of the chucks or clamps which hold the "squares" whilst being cut is
mounted on one end of a horizontal axis which revolves advantageously in cone
bearings fixed on the top framing of the machine upon this axis a pulley is
mounted over which a driving band passes the two ends of which pass over guide
pulleys and around a drum or pulley fixed upon the vertical axis which carries
the knife the two ends of the band being fixed to the driving drum or pulley by
which arrangement the rotary movement of the driving pulley and knife is arrested
when the cork is cut.
The other rotating chuck or clamp is carried by a lever arm upon an axis also
mounted in cone bearings upon the top framing of the machine another lever arm
on the same axis being connected by a connecting rod or cord to a treadle below by
which the workman can cause the chuck or clamp to close upon the end of the
square" and hold it firmly whilst being cut.
"
When the foot is removed from the treadle one end of a spring fixed on the lever
arm and having its other end fixed to the framing acts to open the clamp and thus
allow the cut cork to fall into a receptacle below. The bearings of the axis are
adjustable to admit of "squares of various lengths being held between the chucks
clamps or holders.
"
Emery discs are mounted upon the top framing which act as sharpeners upon the
edge of the knife as it moves to and fro.
1
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Cutting Corks.
I, THOMAS NEWCOMB of 1 Oakley Place, Old Kent Road in the County of Surrey,
5 Engineer, 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 improvements in machinery for cutting corks in which the

page_text: squares
to be cut are held between suitable rotating clamps or holders whilst being
cut by a semi-rotating-knife or cutter of semi-circular form actuated by the hand of
the workman.
And in order that my invention may be clearly and readily understood I will
proceed to describe the same reference being had to the accompanying drawings and
to the figures and letters marked thereon corresponding letters being placed on
corresponding parts in each figure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation Figures 2 and 3 are side elevations Figure 4 a back
elevation and Figure 5 a plan of a machine arranged and constructed in accordance
with my invention for cutting corks.
a is a semicircular knife or cutter actuated by the handle a* and fixed upon the
upper end of the vertical axis a' the angle of which together with the knife or cutter a
can be accurately adjusted in order to cut the corks conically to any desired taper.
The axis a of the knife or cutter a is mounted in a frame or support a having a
horizontal stud or axis a thoreon mounted in a socket in the standard or main
framing of the machine.
The angle of the frame a² axis a¹ and cutter a can be adjusted by moving the
frame a upon its axis a³ so as to adjust the knife a to the desired angle for cutting
taper corks the frame a being then fixed in position by the set screw c to the standard
or framing of the machine.
The distance of the knife or cutter a from the cork to be cut is adjusted by means
of an adjusting screw c¹ (carried by the bracket c* fixed to the framing of the machine)
which acts upon the lower end of the vertical axis a¹ to raise or lower the same for
cutting corks of various sizes.
The rotating chuck or clamp d which holds (in combination with another chuck or
clamp) the "square" whilst being cut is mounted on one end of the horizontal axis d¹
which revolves advantageously in cone bearings fixed on the top framing of the
machine. Upon this axis d' a pulley d³ is mounted over which a driving band e passes
the two ends of which pass under guide pulleys e¹, e¹ and from thence around a drum
or pulley fixed upon the vertical axis a¹ which carnes the knife a the two ends of
the driving band e being fixed to the driving drum or pulley by which arrangement
the rotary movement of the driving pulley f and knife a is arrested when the cork
is cut.
The other rotating chuck or clamp 9 is carried by a lever arm gl upon a hollow
socket g³ mounted on a conical pin or bearing upon the framing of the machine. The
stem of the clamp 9 is capable of adjustment on the lever arm 9' and is fixed therein
by a set scieW Another lever arm on the hollow axis is connected by a
connecting rod chain or cord g* to a treadle h below by which the workman can close
the chuck or clamp 9 upon the "square" when placed and held by the workman
between the two clamps or holders d and g the clamp g being thus closed upon the
square" by which means the "square is firmly held whilst being cut to form the cork.
When the foot is removed from the treadle h the spring g (connected to the lever
arm and to the framing) acts to withdraw the holder g and the cut cork fulls from
between the holders into a receptacle below.
"
"
The axis gis adjustable in a slot in the framing to admit of "squares" of various
lengths being held between the clamps or holders d and g.
i, are emery discs or other grinding surfaces mounted upon the top framing which
discs act as sharpeners upon the cutting edge of the knife a as it moves to and fro.
These discs are mounted upon studs 1, 2 and are pressed against the edge of the
knife a by spiral springs the pressure of which can be adjusted by a collar and set
screw as shown. The studs which carry the emery discs 2, are mounted on the
end of an arm the other end of which is formed with a socket through which the
vertical axis a¹ passes the arm being beld in position upon the axis by a fixed collar,
and the arm is prevented from rotating with the knife by means of the fixed pin ƒª
fixed to the framing and passing through a slot in the arm j.

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 would remark that I
do not intend to limit myself to the exact details hereinbefore described as the same
may be considerably varied without departing from the true character of my invention
but what I claim is,
"
1. The improved arrangement and construction of machinery for entting corks in
which a semi-rotating knife or cutter is employed and capable of adjustment so as to
cut the corks cylindrical or to any desired taper from
" whilst held in
squares'
rotating clamps or holders substantially as herein before described and represented in
the drawings hereto annexed.
2 The combination of sharpening discs mounted upon an arm which is so arranged
as to partake of the same movement for adjusting the position or angle of the
knife or cutter substantially as described with reference to the drawings hereto
annexed.
3. The method of adjusting and fixing the knife or cutter in the desired position or
angle by means of set screws substantially as described and represented in the
drawings hereto annexed.
4. The driving pulley and band for actuating the rotating holders which hold and
rotate the "square" whilst same is being cut in combination and acting in conjunction
with a semi-rotating knife substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and illustrated in the drawings hereto annexed.
5. The improved general arrangement and construction of machinery for cutting
corks by means of a semi-rotating knife or cutter substantially as described with
reference to the drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this 4th day of March 1890
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C, Agents for the Patentee.