IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS KNOWN AS PAPER-CUTTING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Furnival, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
KNOWN AS PAPER-CUTTING MACHINES."
Sealed the 14th October 1879, and dated the 28th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Furnival at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th May 1879.
RICHARD FURNIVAL, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS KNOWN AS PAPER CUTTING MACHINES."
My Invention relates more particularly to the means for clamping the paper or
material to be cut previous to the operation of the cutting blade. I employ a
clamping bar which is arranged to be brought down upon the paper by means of a
treadle, and is raised by means of a balance weight when the foot is removed from
the said treadle. The cutting edge of the knife descends close to the front edge of
the said clamping bar, so that the said front edge indicates the line of cut to the
operator. A pair of weighted levers or a lever frame is raised and lowered by
means of the revolving shaft. In the arrangement which I now consider to be
suitable when adapting my Invention to my ordinary paper cutting machines, a
crank upon the said shaft is connected by means of a link, the connection being
effected by means of swivel or universal joints. As the said shaft revolves
the said lever frame is lowered preparatory to the action of the knife. The said
lever-frame acts upon side links which are connected with the ends of the said
clamping bar so that the said bar is drawn downwards by the said lever frame until
the entire load of the said frame is sustained by the paper to be cut, whereby the
clamping of the paper is effected. Slots in the said side links permit the clamping
bar to be drawn down by means of the treddle as aforesaid, and a slot in the link
which connects the aforesaid crank with the lever-frame permits the motion of the
said crank to continue after the movement of the clamping bar has been arrested
by the interposed paper at an earlier or later period in the stroke of the crank
according as the collective thickness of the paper to be cut may vary. The
arrangements for raising and lowering the loaded lever, or levers, or lever frame, or
the load which is transferred to the clamping bar at the required times, may be
varied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Furnival in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
November 1879.
RICHARD FURNIVAL, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS KNOWN AS PAPER-CUTTING MACHINES."
My Invention relates more particularly to the means for clamping the paper or
material to be cut previous to the operation of the cutting blade. I employ a
clamping bar which is arranged to be brought down upon the paper by means of a
treadle and is raised by means of a balance weight when the foot is removed from
the said treadle. The cutting edge of the knife descends close to the front edge of
the said clamping bar so that the said front edge indicates the line of cut to the
operator. A pair of weighted levers or a lever-frame is raised and lowered by
means of the revolving shaft.
с
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I have attached hereunto a
Sheet of Drawings made to a scale of about one and a half inches to the foot, and
marked with letters of reference. Referring to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 is a back
elevation, and Fig. 2, a side elevation of a guillotine or paper cutting machine of
the description now well known as "Furnival's" parts of the machine, not necessary
to the illustration of my present Invention, not being included in the Drawings. In
the said Figs., a is the framing of the machine, which may be of any ordinary or
suitable form; b is the ordinary knife; and c is the aforesaid clamping bar. The
ends of the said bar project through slots d formed in the framing, the said slots
guiding the bar in its upward and downward movements. To ench end of the bar
is jointed a link e and the lower ends of the two links are connected by means of
links with the inner ends of two levers g,g, which are mounted on two fulcra h, h,
fixed to the sides of the framing. The outer and longer arms of the said levers
are connected together by means of a bar g' which acts on a counterpoise to the
clamping bar and is sufficiently heavy to raise the said bar. The longer arins of
the levers g are connected by links i with a treadle k. When the said treadle is
depressed by the action of the foot of the operator the weight g¹ is raised, whereby
the clamping bar is lowered. A lever frame is mounted upon fulcra attached to
the sides of the framing. In the example, for convenience, the outer ends of the
studs / carry the frame l, and the inner ends of the same studs carry the lever g.
The said lever frame consists of two levers which are connected together by means
of a bar land of a cross bar . In the example the lever and the bar are
supposed to be cast or formed in one piece, and the bar to be bolted to the side
levers Studs at m on each lever enter slots in the side links . The cross bar (2
is connected by means of a slotted link n with a crank o which is fixed or formed
on the main shaft which actuates the knife. The upper end of the link is jointed
to a crank pin p which is fitted to rotate in a bearing formed in the crank. A
stud is fitted to swivel in the cross bar 12 and the head of this stud is formed
with a jaw in which the link n slides. A pin fixed in the said stud passes through
the slot in the link n. The arrangement permits the movement of the lever frame
upon an axis at right angles to the axis of rotation of the crank. As the crank-
shaft revolves the lever frame is raised and lowered, the said frame moving partly
around the fulcra h, h. When the lever frame is raised the clamping bar is permitted
to rise. The action of the parts is substantially as follows:-When the parts are
at rest the knife and clamping bar are raised to about the highest position, so that
the papers or materials to be cut can be placed in position. When adjusting the
papers the clamping bar can be readily lowered so as to bear lightly upon the
papers by pressing upon the treadle with the foot, the slots in the side links e
permitting the downward movement of the clamping bar. The papers are so
adjusted as that the front edge of the clamping bar about coincides with the line of

page_text: cut. The machine is now started and the lever frame is lowered by the rotation of
the crank. When the studs m bear upon the ends of the slots in the links e the
weight of the frame is sustained by the clamping bar, which as a consequence is
pressed downwards upon the papers. The lever frame may be made so heavy as
that the pressure due to its weight and leverage shall furnish sufficient pressure, or
a weight or weights may be applied to the frame as indicated by the dotted lines.
The slot in the link n permits the downward movement of the link after the
movement of the lever frame has been arrested by reason of the clamping bar
bearing upon the interposed papers at an earlier or later period in the stroke of the
crauk. according as the collective thickness of the papers to be cut may vary. The
continued rotation of the crank effects the cutting of the paper; and on the return
of the knife the lever frame is raised, and the clamping bar rising at the same time
the cut paper may be removed or re-adjusted for another cut. To prevent undue
shocks a buffing pad r of india-rubber or other suitable material is applied to the
top of the link n and held by means of bolts & between discs t. The arrangements
for raising and lowering the lever frame or of any other suitable load which may
be substituted therefor may be varied, as, for example, I may connect the said lever
frame or load by means of links or in any suitable manner with the knife, so that
when the knife rises the load is raised, and when the knife descends the load is
lowered.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention and
the manner in which I prefer to carry the same into practical effect, I would have
it to be understood in conclusion that I claim,―
First. The combination of parts acting substantially as and for the purpose set
forth and indicated hereinbefore and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The connection of heavy or loaded levers of a lever frame with a crank
shaft or with a moving part of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The connection of a load with a moving part of the machine in such
a manner as that the said load is put upon and removed from the clamping bar by
the operation of the parts of the machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Furnival, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord 1879.
RICHARD FURNIVAL. (L.S.)