IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING UP PLASTIC OR YIELDING SUBSTANCES AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED THEREIN
Year: 1883

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 13th day of February 1888, amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883.
LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CUTTING UP PLASTIC OR
YIELDING
SUBSTANCES AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS USED THEREIN." Communicated to him from John Gulick Baker
a person resident at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1883.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING UP PLASTIC OR YIELDING SUBSTANCES
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED THEREIN a communication to me
from John Gulick Baker a person resident at Philadelphia Pennsylvania United
States of America
This Invention consists of a mode of and mechanism for cutting up into
fragments of comparatively uniform size crude or unsevered masses of plastic or
yielding substances such as meat suet dough &c
The mode or process of cutting up the said substances consists in forcing them
while under confinement against a perforated plate and severing from the mass so
much only of the substance as may enter the perforations.
The perforated plate may be secured to the end of a hollow cylinder or casing
containing a piston by which the substance is forced against the plate-A revolving
spindle has one of its bearings in the plate, and is provided with a knife, having
say three blades provision being made in connection with the spindle, for main-
taining the cutting edges of the knife blade in contact with the plate-As the
pressure on the substance is continued, and the knife revolves the substance will be
cut up into fragments and these will be of uniform or nearly uniform size if the
pressure and the speed of the knife be uniform.
This combination of a casing for containing the substance to be cut up, a
perforated plate, a knife and a device by which the substance is forced in a crude
or uncut condition against the plate, may be embodied in different structures of
which the following is an example.

page_text: A Cylindrical casing has its inner end secured to and closed by a plate in which
is the bearing for the journal of a forcing screw, the plate forming by preference
part of a stand which carries the entire machine, and which may be constructed
for being clamped or otherwise secured to a table, for the machine which I am
describing, is intended mainly for family use or for Shop keepers. The screw
terminates at its outer end in a square or many-sided projection adapted to fit
loosely in a corresponding opening in the rotating knife which has four or other
number of radial blades.
A perforated plate or disc fits into an annular recess in the outer end of the
casing and is confined thereto by any suitable means such as by the flange of an
internally threaded ring which is screwed onto the threaded outer end of the said
casing.
It is not essential that a screw ring should be used for confining the perforated
plate to its place; the ring for instance, may be constructed for attachment to the
outer end of the casing by bolts or set screws; but I have found in practice that
when the machine is used for cutting yielding material of fibrous texture, such as
meat, raw suet, whatever confining appliances are used, they should be such as to
force the plate against the blades, and thus insure the complete severance of stringy
or fibrous tissues.
and
The rotary knife bears against a shoulder at the end of the propelling screw,
the inner end of the latter has a collar bearing against the plate closing the casing
at the end of the perforated plate which latter does not extend to the end of the
recess in the casing, but when the screw ring is tightened the plate is forced against
the blades of the rotary knife, the latter being prevented from yielding by the
shoulder on the screw and end movement of the latter being prevented by the
bearing of its collar against the plate at the other end the pressure of the plate
against the knife being such as to insure a proper cutting effect without creating
undue friction.
As before remarked, the termination of the screw fits loosely in the central
opening of the knife, so that while the latter turns with the screw, its cutting
edges will accommodate themselves to the face of the plate, and insure a proper
cutting effect.
It is preferred to make the perforations on a taper so that each hole may be
bounded on the inner face of the plate by a sharp cutting edge which co-operates
with the blade in severing from the mass in the casing the portions which extend
into the perforations; and in order to enhance the cutting effect I bevel the blades
of the knife so that the perforated plate will be in contact with the cutting edges
only of the blades.
A small projection on the casing projects into a notch in the edge of the
perforated plate or any other appropriate retaining device may be used for
preventing the said plate from turning.
A hopper communicates with the interior of the casing near the inner end of the
same and the interior of the casing is corrugated longitudinally, the corrugations
being such as to present within the casing a number of longitudinal recesses
inclined on
one side and abrupt on the other side these latter sides forming
shoulders which prevent the screw from carrying the material round in the
casing.
These corrugations do not extend to the outer end of the casing, but merge into
a plain cylindrical portion. The ends of the blades of the knife are blunt and
extend very nearly to this cylindrical portion of the casing, so that the knife serves
to centralize the screw the thread of which should be as nearly in contact with the
interior of the casing as possible.
The thread of the screw extends as near to the perforated plate as the knife will
permit so that the pressure against the substance will be continuous throughout,
the screw in connection with the internal grooves in the casing being equivalent in
its action to the piston in the arrangement before described in performing the duty
of forcing a crude mass of the plastic or yielding substance to be cut up against the

page_text: perforated plate and continuing this pressure until the whole or nearly the whole
of the material is cut.
The casing is preferably made on a taper, that is, larger at the outer than at the
inner end, so that there may be an opportunity of obtaining a plate with a larger
number of perforations having an aggregate area sufficient for the passage of the
substance forced forward by the screw
The same end can be attained by making the casing bell shaped at the end.
It will be understood that the screw must be made to conform with the interior
of the casing.
If lumps of meat be placed in the hopper while the screw is turned in the proper
direction they will be forced by the screw through the interior of the casing, and
every hole in the plate will receive a projecting portion of the meat, the projections
being rapidly cut off and as rapidly succeeded by other projections.
The meat escapes from the plate in string like streams which are composed of
small fragments of uniform or nearly uniform size adhering to each other but
separating into fragments when the mass is stirred, for the adhesion of the pieces is
slight and caused merely by the pressure of one fragment against the other as they
are pushed through the holes in the plate.
The Invention may be used for the cutting up of candy while in a plastic state,
or for forming dough for crackers or it may be applied to the cutting up of any
material which may be of a plastic or yielding character and which can be severed
by knives.
The Invention is also applicable to kneading and mixing purposes as for instance
in making pastry for cakes, pies, and the like.
A prominent advantage of the machine which I have described is the facility
with which it can be cleansed; for after detaching the screw ring and the handle,
the perforated plate and knife are at liberty to be removed, and the screw can
be withdrawn from the casing at the outer or enlarged end of the same; and
after the several parts have been properly cleansed they can be promptly readjusted
to their places-As regards economy of construction the casing consists of a tube
made in one casting a much more economical arrangement than that of making a
casing in two parts hinged together the plan usually adopted in making ordinary
chopping machines

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
16th July 1883.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING UP PLASTIC OR YIELDING
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED THEREIN
"
SUBSTANCES
a communication to me
from John Gulick Baker a person resident at Philadelphia Pennsylvania, United
States of America
This Invention consists of a mode of and mechanism for cutting up into fragments
of comparatively uniform size crude or unsevered masses of plastic or yielding
substances such as meat suet dough or the like.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1. is an exaggerated diagram illustrating
the made or process.
Figure 2. a vertical section of mechanism by which the process may be carried out.
Figure 3 a view of the knife appertaining to Figure 2.
Figure 4 a side view partly in section of the machine constructed for family use
and for stores or the like.
Figure 5 an enlarged sectional view of part of Figure 4.
Figure 6. a transverse section of the casing of the machine on the line 1-2- Fig 5
Figure 7. a transverse section on the line 3-4.-Fig 5.
Figure 8 a modified form of exterior casing. and Figure 9 a view showing the
character of the fragments into which crude masses of yielding or plastic substances
are cut by the machine.
The process may be best explained by reference to the diagram Figure 1 in
which A is an exagerated portion of a metal plate at the end of a receptacle or
casing containing a crude mass B of the yielding or plastic material to be cut up,
a being one of a number of perforations in the plate against which the substance is
forced As this substance is under confinement laterally there are no avenues for
its escape other than the perforations in the plate, hence when the substance is
forced directly against the said plate portions owing to its yielding or plastic
character will project into each perforation and if a knife D be moved in the
direction of the arrow with its cutting edge in contact with that face of the plate
against which the substance is forced so much of this substance as may have
entered the perforations will be cut off and the fragments will be pushed through
the perforations by successive protuberances which in their turn are cut off.
In figure 2 the perforated plate A is secured to the end of a hollow cylinder or
casing E containing a piston F by which the substance is forced against the plate.
A revolving spindle G has one of its bearings in the plate and is provided with a
knife D having in the present instance three blades b, Figure 3, provision being
made in connection with the spindle for maintaining the cutting edges of the
knife blade in contact with the plate-As the pressure on the substance is
continued and the knife revolves the substance will be cut up into fragments and
these will be of uniform or nearly uniform size, if the pressure and the speed of the
of the knife be uniform.
A perforated plate and a knife have been used in a cutting machine but in
combination with preliminary cutting or chopping knives moving and stationary
and acting independently of the plate for mincing meat before it reaches the said
plate in a minced condition, the plate and knife in this case being for the purpose

page_text: of preventing the escape of large lumps which may have escaped the action of the
preliminary chopping knives. Also it has been proposed (for example in the Specifi-
cation of Dollman's Patent 2939 of 5 July 1881) to use an archimedian screw to feed
matter through a perforated plate on the outside of which a rotating knife operates, but
I do not claim any such arrangement.
According to this Invention, reliance for cutting up the substance is placed
entirely on the plate and knife situated inside the plate, that is, between the pressing
device and the perforated plate-and a device for imparting direct pressure to a crude
uncut substance against the plate, without any action on the substance during its
passage to the plate, excepting that for effecting the desired pressure, the aim being
to cut up the substance to uniform or nearly uniform sizes, a result which cannot be
obtained when there are intervening choppers to cut the substances up to different
sizes large and small,
This combination of a casing for containing the substance to be cut up, a
perforated plate, a knife, and a device by which the substance is forced in a crude
or uncut condition against the plate, may be embodied in different structures, but
the plan shown in Figures 4. 5. 6. 7 and 8 is preferred, as it is has proved to be
most efficient in practice.
As shown in Figure 4 the casing E has its inner end secured to and closed by a
plate m in which is the bearing for the journal n of a forcing screw W, the
plate m forming by preference part of a stand which carries the entire machine
and which may be constructed for being clamped or otherwise secured to a table,
the machine which I am describing being intended mainly for family use or for
Shopkeepers The screw terminates at its outer end in a square or many-sided
projection p Fig. 5 adapted to fit loosely in a corresponding opening in the rotating
knife D, which has radial blades b, four in the present instance.
The perforated plate or disc A fits into an annular recess in the outer end of the
casing and is confined thereto by the flange h of an internally threaded ring I
which is screwed on to the threaded outer end of the said casing.
It is not essential that a screw ring should be used for confining the
perforated plate to its place, the ring for instance may be constructed for
attachment to the outer end of the casing by bolts or set screws but I have found
in practice that when the machine is used for cutting yielding material of fibrous
texture such as meat raw suet or the like whatever confining appliances are used,
they should be such as to force the plate against the blades and thus insure the
complete severance of stringy or fibrous tissues.
It will be noticed that the rotary knife bears against a shoulder q at the end of
the propelling screw, and that the inner end of the latter has a collar & bearing
against the plate m-The perforated plato A does not extend to the end of the
recess in the casing E, but when the screw ring is tightened the plate is forced
against the blades of the rotary knife, the latter being prevented from yielding by
the shoulder q on the screw, and end movement of the latter being prevented by
the hearing of its collar against the plate m, the pressure of the plate against the
knife being such as to insure a proper cutting effect without creating undue
friction.
As before remarked the termination p of the screw fits loosely in the central
opening of the knife so that while the latter turns with the screw its cutting edges
will accommodate themselves to the face of the plate and insure a proper cutting
effect.
It is preferred to make the perforations on a taper as best indicated in the
exaggerated diagram Figure 1 so that each hole may be bounded on the inner face
of the plate by a sharp cutting edge which co-operates with the blade in severing
from the mass in the casing the portions which extend into the perforations and
in order to enhance the cutting effect I bevel the blades of the knife as shown in
Figure 1 for instance if the knife is rotated in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 6, the blades will be so bevelled that the perforated plate will be in contact
with the cutting edges only of the blades.

page_text: A small projection on the casing projects into a notch in the edge of the
perforated plate or any other appropriate retaining device may be used for
preventing the said plate from turning.
A hopper K communicates with the interior of the casing near the inner end of
the same and the interior of the casing is corrugated longitudinally in the manner
best shown in Figure 7, the corrugations being such as to present within the
casing a number of longitudinal recesses inclined on one side s and abrupt on the
other side these latter sides forming shoulders which prevent the screw from
carrying the material round in the casing when the said screw is turned in the
direction of the arrow.
These corrugations do not extend to the outer end of the casing but merge into
the plain cylindrical portion gas shown in Figure 5-It will be seen that the ends
of the blades of the knife are blunt and extend very nearly to this cylindrical
portion of the casing so that the knife serves to centralize the screw, the thread
of which should be as nearly in contact with the interior of the casing as
possible.
The thread of the screw extends as near to the perforated plate as the knife
will permit, so that the pressure against the substance will be continuous through-
out, the screw in connection with the internal grooves in the casing being equivalent
in its action to the piston, F in Figure 2 in performing the duty of forcing a crude
mass of the plastic or yielding substance to be cut up against the perforated plate
and continuing this pressure until the whole or nearly the whole of the material
is cut.
The casing is preferably made on a taper, that is, larger at the outer than at the
inner end so that there may be an opportunity of obtaining a plate with a larger
number of perforations having an aggregate area sufficient for the passage of the
substance forced forward by the screw.
The same end can be attained by making the casing bell-shaped at the end as
shown in Figure 8.
It will be understood that the screw must be made to conform with the interior
of the casing.
If lumps of meat he placed in the hopper K while the screw is turned in the
direction of the arrow they will be forced by the screw through the interior of
the casing and every hole in the plate will receive a projecting portion of the
meat, the projections being rapidly cut off and as rapidly succeeded by other
projections.
The meat escapes from the plate in string-like streams, shown in Figure 9, which
are composed of small fragments of uniform or nearly uniform size adhering to each
other, but separating into fragments when the mass is stirred, for the adhesion of
the picces is slight and caused merely by the pressure of one fragment against the
other as they are pushed through the holes in the plate.
The Invention is not restricted to the cutting up of meats suets etc. although it
will generally be used for this purpose by Cooks in private families Shop keepers
Butchers or the like-It may be used for instance for the cutting up of candy while
in a plastic state or for forming dough for crackers or it may be applied to the
cutting up of any material which may be of a plastic or yielding character and
which can be severed by knives.
The Invention is also applicable to kneading and mixing purposes as for instance
in making pastry for cakes, pies, and the like.
A prominent advantage of the machine which I have described is the facility
with which it can be cleansed; for after detaching the screw ring I and the handle,
the perforated plate and knife are at liberty to be removed and the screw can be
withdrawn from the casing at the outer or enlarged end of the same and after the
several parts have been properly cleansed they can be promptly readjusted to their
places. As regards economy of construction it will be observed that the casing
consists of a tube made in one casting a much more economical arrangement than
that of making a casing in two parts, hinged together, the plan usually adopted in
making ordinary chopping machines

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the 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 mode or process herein described of cutting up plastic or yielding
substances, the said mode consisting in forcing crude or uncut masses of such
substance, while under confinement, against a perforated plate, and severing from
the mass by means of a knife or knives operating against the inner face of the plate
so much only of the substance as may enter the perforations, substantially as set
forth.
Second The combination in a machine for cutting up plastic or yielding sub-
stances of the following instrumentalities, namely: First, a casing for containing
the substances to be cut up; Second, a perforated plate at or near the end of the
casing Third, a device for forcing the crude mass forward in the casing and against
the said plate, without otherwise disturbing the said mass; and, Fourth, a knife
operating against the inner face of the plate, and serving as the sole means, in
connection with the said plate, of cutting up the mass by severing therefrom the
portions which have entered the perforations, all substantially as set forth.
Third The combination of a casing E, having at or near one end a perforated
plate, a rotating knife acting against the inner face of the said plate, and a forcing
screw, the continuous thread of which extends to, or nearly to, the knife, and which
rotates with the latter, substantially as specified.
Fourth The combination of a casing, a plate attached to the said casing, and
having perforations, each of which is made on a taper, with a device for forcing
plastic or yielding substance through the casing, and with a knife, by the action of
which, acting against the inner side of the plate and in connection with the sharp edges
of the perforations, the said substance separated into fragments, all substantially as
specified.
Fifth The combination of the casing E, made larger at its outer than at its
inner end, with a perforated plate, a knife, acting against the inner side of the plate
and a feed screw.
Sixth The combination of a casing E, made larger at its outer than at its inner
end, with a perforated plate, a knife, acting against the inner side of the plate and a
feed screw, the thread of which conforms with the said casing, as set forth.
Seventh The combination of a casing E, having internal longitudinal grooves,
each of which is inclined on one side, and presents an abrupt retaining shoulder on
the other, with a perforated plate, knife, acting against the inner side of the plate and
feed screw, as set forth.
Eighth The combination of the casing, forcing screw, and rotating knife, with
a perforated plate and a retaining ring, I, detachably secured to the end of the
casing, and serving to retain the plate in place, and to maintain it in contact with
the knife, which acts against the inner side of the plate substantially as set forth.
Ninth The combination of the casing, feed screw, and perforated plate and
detachable confining ring, with a knife constructed to rotate with the screw, and to act
against the inner side of the plate but depending for its place thereon upon the said
plate and confining ring, substantially as specified.
Tenth The combination of the casing, the plate having tapering perforations,
and a device for forcing against the said plate the substance to be cut up, with a
knife having radial cutting blades, the cutting edges only of which are in contact
with the inner side of the said perforated plate, substantially as specified.
Eleventh The combination of the casing and a perforated plate adjustable
therein, with a feed screw, and with a knife constructed to turn with the screw,
but otherwise free thereon to accommodate itself to the and act against the inner face
of the perforated plate, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth The combination of the casing having internal grooves merging into
the plain cylindrical termination y of the said casing, with the perforated plate,

page_text: and a screw ring I, adapted to the threaded cylindrical end of the casing, as set
forth.
Thirteenth The combination of the casing, feed screw and perforated plate, with
a knife constructed to turn with the screw, and having blades extending to the
interior of the plain cylindrical portion g of the casing, and acting against the inner
face of the plate as set forth.
Fourteenth The combination of the casing E closed at one end and having a
detachable perforated plate at the opposite end, with a feed screw and a knife
constructed to turn with the said
but removable therefrom after detaching
screw,
the plate the said knife being situated inside of the perforated plate as set forth.
Fifteenth The combination of the casing made larger at its outer than at its
inner closed end, the detachable perforated plate and knife (acting against the inner
side of the plate) at the large end, with the feed screw having a journal at the closed
end of the casing, and constructed for withdrawal from the said casing at the front
end of the same, all substantially as set forth.
Sixteenth-The combination in a machine for cutting up plastic or yielding
substances, of a casing made in one casting in tubular form, with cutting mechanism
confined to one end of the casing, and consisting of a knife and perforated plate, the
knife acting against the inner side of the plate substantially as specified.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have
to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this Sixteenth day of July One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
J. HENRY JOHNSON (L.8.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CUTTING UP PLASTIC OR YIELDING SUBSTANCES AND IN THE MACHINERY
APPARATUS USED THEREIN." Communicated to him from John Gulick Baker
a person resident at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
OR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1883.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman " IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING UP PLASTIC OR YIELDING SUBSTANCES
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED THEREIN a communication to me
from John Gulick Baker a person resident at Philadelphia Pennsylvania United
States of America
This Invention consists of a mode of and mechanism for cutting up into
fragments of comparatively uniform size crude or unsevered masses of plastic or
yielding substances such as meat suet dough &c
The mode or process of cutting up the said substances consists in forcing them
while under confinement against a perforated plate and severing from the mass so
much only of the substance as may enter the perforations.
The perforated plate may be secured to the end of a hollow cylinder or casing
containing a piston by which the substance is forced against the plate-A revolving
spindle has one of its bearings in the plate, and is provided with a knife, having
say three blades provision being made in connection with the spindle, for main-
taining the cutting edges of the knife blade in contact with the plate-As the
pressure on the substance is continued, and the knife revolves the substance will be
cut up into fragments and these will be of uniform or nearly uniform size if the
bressure and the speed of the knife be uniform.
This combination of a casing for containing the substance to be cut up, a
perforated plate, a knife and a device by which the substance is forced in a crude
or uncut condition against the plate, may be embodied in different structures of
which the following is an example.

page_text: A Cylindrical casing has its inner end secured to and closed by a plate in which
is the bearing for the journal of a forcing screw, the plate forming by preference
part of a stand which carries the entire machine, and which may be constructed
for being clamped or otherwise secured to a table, for the machine which I am
describing is intended mainly for family use or for Shop keepers. The screw
terminates at its outer end in a square or many-sided projection adapted to fit
loosely in a corresponding opening in the rotating knife which has four or other
number of radial blades.
A perforated plate or disc fits into an annular recess in the outer end of the
casing and is confined thereto by any suitable means such as by the flange of an
internally threaded ring which is screwed onto the threaded outer end of the said
casing.
It is not essential that a screw ring should be used for confining the perforated
plate to its place; the ring for instance, may be constructed for attachment to the
outer end of the casing by bolts or set screws; but I have found in practice that
when the machine is used for cutting yielding material of fibrous texture, such as
meat, raw suet, whatever confining appliances are used, they should be such as to
force the plate against the blades, and thus insure the complete severance of stringy
or fibrous tissues.
The rotary knife bears against a shoulder at the end of the propelling screw, and
the inner end of the latter has a collar bearing against the plate closing the casing
at the end of the perforated plate which latter does not extend to the end of the
recess in the casing, but when the screw ring is tightened the plate is forced against
the blades of the rotary knife, the latter being prevented from yielding by the
shoulder on the screw and end movement of the latter being prevented by the
bearing of its collar against the plate at the other end the pressure of the plate
against the knife being such as to insure a proper cutting effect without creating
undue friction.
As before remarked, the termination of the screw fits loosely in the central
opening of the knife, so that while the latter turns with the screw, its cutting
edges will accommodate themselves to the face of the plate, and insure a proper
cutting effect.
It is preferred to make the perforations on a taper so that each hole may be
bounded on the inner face of the plate by a sharp cutting edge which co-operates
with the blade in severing from the mass in the casing the portions which extend
into the perforations; and in order to enhance the cutting effect I bevel the blades
of the knife so that the perforated plate will be in contact with the cutting edges
only of the blades.
A small projection on the casing projects into a notch in the edge of the
perforated plate or any other appropriate retaining device may be used for
preventing the said plate from turning.
A hopper communicates with the interior of the casing near the inner end of the
same and the interior of the casing is corrugated longitudinally, the corrugations
being such as to present within the casing a number of longitudinal recesses
inclined on one side and abrupt on the other side these latter sides forming
shoulders which prevent the screw from carrying the material round in the
casing.
These corrugations do not extend to the outer end of the casing, but merge into
a plain cylindrical portion. The ends of the blades of the knife are blunt and
extend very nearly to this cylindrical portion of the casing, so that the knife serves
to centralize the screw the thread of which should be as nearly in contact with the
interior of the casing as possible.
The thread of the screw extends as near to the perforated plate as the knife will
permit so that the pressure against the substance will be continuous throughout
the screw in connection with the internal grooves in the casing being equivalent in
its action to the piston in the arrangement before described in performing the duty
of forcing a crude mass of the plastic or yielding substance to be cut up against the

page_text: perforated plate and continuing this pressure until the whole or nearly the whole
of the material is cut.
The casing is preferably made on a taper, that is, larger at the outer than at the
inner end, so that there may be an opportunity of obtaining a plate with a larger
number of perforations having an aggregate area sufficient for the passage of the
substance forced forward by the screw
The same end can be attained by making the casing bell shaped at the end.
It will be understood that the screw must be inade to conform with the interior
of the casing.
If lumps of meat be placed in the hopper while the screw is turned in the proper
direction they will be forced by the screw through the interior of the casing, and
every hole in the plate will receive a projecting portion of the meat, the projections
being rapidly cut off and as rapidly succeeded by other projections.
The meat escapes from the plate in string like streams which are composed of
small fragments of uniform or nearly uniform size adhering to each other but
separating into fragments when the mass is stirred, for the adhesion of the pieces is
slight and caused merely by the pressure of one fragment against the other as they
are pushed through the holes in the plate.
The Invention may be used for the cutting up of candy while in a plastic state,
or for forming dough for crackers or it may be applied to the cutting up of any
material which may be of a plastic or yielding character and which can be severed
by knives.
The Invention is also applicable to kneading and mixing purposes as for instance
in making pastry for cakes, pies, and the like.
A prominent advantage of the machine which I have described is the facility
with which it can be cleansed; for after detaching the screw ring and the handle,
the perforated plate and knife are at liberty to be removed, and the screw can
be withdrawn from the casing at the outer or enlarged end of the same; and
after the several parts have been properly cleansed they can be promptly readjusted
to their places-As regards economy of construction the casing consists of a tube
made in one casting a much more economical arrangement than that of making a
casing in two parts hinged together the plan usually adopted in making ordinary
chopping machines

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
16th July 1883.
"
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING UP PLASTIC OR YIELDING SUBSTANCES
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED THEREIN a communication to me
from John Gulick Baker a person resident at Philadelphia Pennsylvania, United
States of America
This Invention consists of a mode of and mechanism for cutting up into fragments
of comparatively uniform size crude or unsevered masses of plastic or yielding
substances such as meat suet dough or the like.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1. is an exaggerated diagram illustrating
the mode or process.
Figure 2. a vertical section of mechanism by which the process may be carried
out.
Figure 3 a view of the knife appertaining to Figure 2.
Figure 4 a side view partly in section of the machine constructed for family use
and for stores.or the like.
Figure 5 an enlarged sectional view of part of Figure 4.
Figure 6. a transverse section of the casing of the machine on the line 1-2-
Fig 5
Figure 7. a transverse section on the line 3-4.—Fig 5.
Figure 8 a modified form of exterior casing, and Figure 9 a view showing the
character of the fragments into which crude masses of yielding or plastic substances
are cut by the machine.
The process may be best explained by reference to the diagram Figure 1 in
which A is an exagerated portion of a metal plate at the end of a receptacle or
casing containing a crude mass B of the yielding or plastic material to be cut up,
a being one of a number of perforations in the plate against which the substance is
forced As this substance is under confinement laterally there are no avenues for
its escape other than the perforations in the plate, hence when the substance is
forced directly against the said plate portions owing to its yielding or plastic
character will project into each perforation and if a knife D be moved in the
direction of the arrow with its cutting edge in contact with that face of the plate
against which the substance is forced so much of this substance as may have
entered the perforations will be cut off and the fragments will be pushed through
the perforations by successive protuberances which in their turn are cut off.
In figure 2 the perforated plate A. is secured to the end of a hollow cylinder or
casing E containing a piston F by which the substance is forced against the plate.
A revolving spindle G has one of its bearings in the plate and is provided with a
knife D having in the present instance three blades b, Figure 3, provision being
made in connection with the spindle for maintaining the cutting edges of the
knife blade in contact with the plate-As the pressure on the substance is
continued and the knife revolves the substance will be cut up into fragments and
these will be of uniform or nearly uniform size, if the pressure and the speed of the
of the knife be uniform.
A perforated plate and a knife have been used in a cutting machine but in
combination with preliminary cutting or chopping knives moving and stationary
and acting independently of the plate for mincing meat before it reaches the said
plate in a minced condition, the plate and knife in this case being for the purpose

page_text: of preventing the escape of large lumps which may have escaped the action of the
preliminary chopping knives.
According to this Invention, reliance for cutting up the substance is placed
entirely on the plate and knife and a device for imparting direct pressure to a
crude uncut substance against the plate, without any action on the substance
during its passage to the plate, excepting that for effecting the desired pressure
the aim being to cut up the substance to uniformn or nearly uniform sizes, a result
which cannot be obtained when there are intervening choppers to cut the
substances up to different sizes large and small.
This combination of a casing for containing the substance to be cut up, a
perforated plate, a knife, and a device by which the substance is forced in a crude
or uncut condition against the plate, may be embodied in different structures, but
the plan shown in Figures 4. 5. 6. 7 and 8 is preferred, as it is has proved to be
most efficient in practice.
As shown in Figure 4 the casing E has its inner end secured to and closed by a
plate m in which is the bearing for the journal n of a forcing screw W, the
plate m forming by preference part of a stand which carries the entire machine
and which may be constructed for being clamped or otherwise secured to a table,
the machine which I am describing being intended mainly for family use or for
Shopkeepers The screw terminates at its outer end in a square or many-sided
projection p Fig 5 adapted to fit loosely in a corresponding opening in the rotating
knife D, which has radial blades b, four in the present instance.
The perforated plate or disc A fits into an annular recess in the outer end of the
casing and is confined thereto by the flange h of an internally threaded ring I
which is screwed on to the threaded outer end of the said casing.
It is not essential that a screw ring should be used for confining the
perforated plate to its place, the ring for instance may be constructed for
attachment to the outer end of the casing by bolts or set screws but I have found
in practice that when the machine is used for cutting yielding material of fibrous
texture such as meat raw suet or the like whatever confining appliances are used,
they should be such as to force the plate against the blades and thus insure the
complete severance of stringy or fibrous tissues.
It will be noticed that the rotary knife bears against a shoulder q at the end of
the propelling screw, and that the inner end of the latter has a collar t bearing
against the plate m-The perforated plate A does not extend to the end of the
recess in the casing E, but when the screw ring is tightened the plate is forced
against the blades of the rotary knife, the latter being prevented from yielding by
the shoulder g on the screw, and end movement of the latter being prevented by
the bearing of its collar t against the plate m, the pressure of the plate against the
knife being such as to insure a proper cutting effect without creating undue
friction.
As before remarked the termination p of the screw fits loosely in the central
opening of the knife so that while the latter turns with the screw its cutting edges
will accommodate themselves to the face of the plate and insure a proper cutting
effect.
It is preferred to make the perforations on a taper as best indicated in the
exaggerated diagram Figure 1 so that each hole may be bounded on the inner face
of the plate by a sharp cutting edge x which co-operates with the blade in severing
from the mass in the casing the portions which extend into the perforations and
in order to enhance the cutting effect I bevel the blades of the knife as shown in
Figure 1; for instance if the knife is rotated in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 6, the blades will be so bevelled that the perforated plate will be in contact
with the cutting edges only of the blades.
A small projection von the casing projects into a notch in the edge of the
perforated plate or any other appropriate retaining device may be used for
preventing the said plate from turning.
A hopper K communicates with the interior of the casing near the inner end of

page_text: the same and the interior of the casing is corrugated longitudinally in the manner
best shown in Figure 7, the corrugations being such as to present within the
casing a number of longitudinal recesses inclined on one side s and abrupt on the
other side 8¹ these latter sides forming shoulders which prevent the screw from
carrying the material round in the casing when the said screw is turned in the
direction of the arrow.
These corrugations do not extend to the outer end of the casing but merge into
the plain cylindrical portion g as shown in Figure 5-It will be seen that the ends
of the blades of the knife are blunt and extend very nearly to this cylindrical
portion g of the casing so that the knife serves to centralize the screw, the thread
of which should be as nearly in contact with the interior of the casing as
possible.
The thread of the screw extends as near to the perforated plate as the knife
will permit, so that the pressure against the substance will be continuous through-
out, the screw in connection with the internal grooves in the casing being equivalent
in its action to the piston, F in Figure 2 in performing the duty of forcing a crude
mass of the plastic or yielding substance to be cut up against the perforated plate
and continuing this pressure until the whole or nearly the whole of the material
is cut.
The casing is preferably made on a taper, that is, larger at the outer than at the
inner end so that there may be an opportunity of obtaining a plate with a larger
number of perforations having an aggregate arca sufficient for the passage of the
substance forced forward by the screw.
The same end can be attained by making the casing bell-shaped at the end as
shown in Figure 8.
It will be understood that the screw must be made to conform with the interior
of the casing.
If lumps of meat be placed in the hopper K while the screw is turned in the
direction of the arrow they will be forced by the screw through the interior of
the casing and every hole in the plate will receive a projecting portion of the
meat, the projections being rapidly cut off and as rapidly succeeded by other
projections.
The meat escapes from the plate in string-like streams, shown in Figure 9, which
are composed of small fragments of uniform or nearly uniform size adhering to each
other, but separating into fragments when the mass is stirred, for the adhesion of
the pieces is slight and caused merely by the pressure of one fragment against the
other as they are pushed through the holes in the plate.
The Invention is not restricted to the cutting up of meats suets etc. although it
will generally be used for this purpose by Cooks in private families Shop keepers
Butchers or the like-It may be used for instance for the cutting up of candy while
in a plastic state or for forming dough for crackers or it may be applied to the
cutting up of any material which may be of a plastic or yielding character and
which can be severed by knives.
The Invention is also applicable to kneading and mixing purposes as for instance
in making pastry for cakes, pies, and the like.
A prominent advantage of the machine which I have described is the facility
with which it can be cleansed; for after detaching the screw ring I and the handle,
the perforated plate and knife are at liberty to be removed and the screw can be
withdrawn from the casing at the outer or enlarged end of the same and after the
several parts have been properly cleansed they can be promptly readjusted to their
places. As regards economy of construction it will be observed that the casing
consists of a tube made in one casting a much more economical arrangement than
that of making a casing in two parts, hinged together, the plan usually adopted in
making ordinary chopping machines.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the 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

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
First The mode or process herein described of cutting up plastic or yielding
substances, the said mode consisting in forcing crude or uncut masses of such
substance, while under confinement, against a perforated plate, and severing from
the mass so much only of the substance as may enter the perforations, substantially
as set forth.
Second-The combination in a machine for cutting up plastic or yielding sub-
stances of the following instrumentalities, namely: First, a casing for containing
the substances to be cut up; Second, a perforated plate at or near the end of the
casing; Third, a device for forcing the crude mass forward in the casing and against
the said plate, without otherwise disturbing the said mass; and, Fourth, a knifo
operating against the inner face of the plate, and serving as the sole means, in
connection with the said plate, of cutting up the ass by severing therefrom the
portions which enter the perforations, all substantially as set forth.
Third The combination of a casing E, having at or near one end a perforated
plate, a rotating knife acting against the inner face of the said plate, and a forcing
screw, the continuous thread of which extends to, or nearly to, the knife, and which
rotates with the latter, substantially as specified.
Fourth-The combination of a casing, a plate attached to the said casing, and
having perforations, each of which is made on a taper, with a device for forcing
plastic or yielding substance through the casing, and with a knife, by the action of
which, in connection with the sharp edges of the perforations, the said substance is
separated into fragments, all substantially as specified.
Fifth-The combination of the casing E, made larger at its outer than at its
inner end, with a perforated plate, a knife, and a feed screw.
Sixth The combination of a casing E, made larger at its outer than at its inner
end, with a perforated plate, a knife, and a feed screw, the thread of which
conforms with the said casing, as set forth.
Seventh-The combination of a casing E, having internal longitudinal grooves,
each of which is inclined on one side, and presents an abrupt retaining shoulder on
the other, with a perforated plate, knife, and feed screw, as set forth.
Eighth The combination of the casing, forcing screw, and rotating knife, with
a perforated plate and a retaining ring, I, detachably secured to the end of the
casing, and serving to retain the plate in place, and to maintain it in contact with
the knife, substantially as set forth.
Ninth The combination of the casing, feed screw, and perforated plate and
detachable confining ring, with a knife constructed to rotate with the screw, but
depending for its place thereon upon the said plate and confining ring, substantially
as specified.
Tenth The combination of the casing, the plate having tapering perforations,
and a device for forcing against the said plate the substance to be cut up, with a
knife having radial cutting blades, the cutting edges only of which are in contact
with the said perforated plate, substantially as specified.
Eleventh The combination of the casing and a perforated plate adjustable
therein, with a feed screw, and with a knife constructed to turn with the screw,
but otherwise free thereon to accommodate itself to the face of the perforated plate,
substantially as set forth.
Twelfth The combination of the casing having internal grooves merging into
the plain cylindrical termination g of the said casing, with the perforated plate,
and a screw ring I, adapted to the threaded cylindrical end of the casing, as set
forth.
Thirteenth The combination of the casing, feed screw and perforated plate, with
a knife constructed to turn with the screw, and having blades extending to the
interior of the plain cylindrical portion g of the casing, as set forth.
Fourteenth The combination of the casing E closed at one end and having a
detachable perforated plate at the opposite end, with a feed screw and a knife

page_text: constructed to turn with the said screw, but removable therefrom after detaching
the plate, as set forth.
Fifteenth-The combination of the casing made larger at its outer than at its
inner closed end, the detachable perforated plate and knife at the large end, with
the feed screw having a journal at the closed end of the casing, and constructed
for withdrawal from the said casing at the front end of the same, all substantially
as set forth.
Sixteenth-The combination in a machine for cutting up plastic or yielding
substances, of a casing made in one casting in tubular form, with cutting mechanism
confined to one end of the casing, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this Sixteenth day of July One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.