IMPROVEMENTS IN. MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CORK, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO CUTTING PAPER. CAOUTCHOUC, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Amos Pierce Chamberlain, of New Orleans, in the
"United States of America, 'but at present residing in London, Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN. MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
CUTTING CORK, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO CUTTING
PAPER. CAOUTCHOUC, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Amos Pierce Chamberlain
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th August 1859.
AMOS PIERCE CHAMBERLAIN, of New Orleans, in the United States of
America, but at present residing in London, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR CUTTING CORK, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO CUTTING
PAPER, CAOUTCHOUC, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
The first part of these improvements is designed for cutting the planks of
cork bark, crosswise of the grain, into proper lengths for corks, and this part
of the apparatus is also applicable to cutting paper, caoutchouc, and other
substances.
The apparatus consists of a system of revolving cutters made from very
thin steel plates fastened to the ends of a spindle or axletree, and held
between two discs of-cast iron or other suitable material of a less diameter
than the cutters, to prevent the cutters from bending or "buckling." These
cutters and discs are fastened together and attached to the ends of the spindles
in-such a manner as to prevent the cutters from vibrating or giving an irregular
movement. These spindles and cutters are accurately adjusted on a frame of

page_text: cast iron or other suitable material. The carriage which holds the piece of
cork to be cut is provided with slides and guidesso arranged as to present the
same at right angles to the cutters. This carriage with its slides and guides
is passed under the cutters, the guides and carriage being so constructed and
arranged (by means of springs), that when they are not under the cutters they
touch each other throughout their whole length, except a short portion at
each end which is bevilled off, so as to let the carriage come under the cutters
without touching the edge of the same, and as soon as the said bevilled part
of the same has arrived under the cutters, the pressure of the sides of the
cutters separates the two parts of the carriage, and allows a free passage of
the same past the cutters. The object of this arrangement of the carriage
with its guides and slides is to present the piece of cork immediately under
and as near as possible to the edge of the cutters, without bringing the
carriage and guides into contact with or dulling the cutters on the edge.
When the cork bark has been thus cut into strips crosswise, these strips are
handed over to the other side of the machine, and at the other end of the
same spindle is another cutter with the same adjustment of carriage, slides,
and guides, and provided with a notched guide so arranged as to cut suc-
cessively and lengthwise of the grain any thickness of strips of cork bark, so
as to leave them in "squares," that is, as broad as they are wide, without
regard to length. The pieces of cork are now in the form of oblong squares,
and are taken in a convenient box or receiver and placed by the operative in
a hopper, through which passes an endless chain or belt furnished with elastic
fingers which take hold of the pieces of cork sucessively at each end, and
pass them through the second part of the apparatus which consists principally
of six cutters which take off the four angles and dress the crust or back of
the cork, and also dress or shave off any unevenness on the inside or belly of
the cork. The pieces theu pass to the third part of the apparatus to be
rounded into a perfectcork. As the pieces pass from the above described part
of the apparatus they are carried by the endless chain or belt and fingers
above named, and deposited at regular intervals upon another endless chain
or belt running at right angles, and provided with fingers which clip the
pieces about the centre and carry them to the part of the machine which
takes them up and rounds them.
The rounding part of the machine consists of a driving shaft, on which is a
cam or excentric connected with a lever under the frame (supporting this part
of the machine), and at the other end of this lever is a carriage supported on
rails upon which it moves to and fro. In this carriage are adjusted two
knives-which travel with it, and are so arranged as to cut the cork as it is

page_text: Being turned round, by nieans of a screw on a long shaft, or spindle having a
spur driving wheel at each end, this spur wheel driving other spur wheels
which turn the spindles on which are the discs for holding the corks, so that
each end of the cork is held by separate discs turning in the same direction
and at the same speed. As the carriage containing the knives moves from
one end of the machine to the other, it cuts one cork round (on one side of
the machine), and as it returns it cuts another cork on the other side of the
machine.
The method of feeding the corks into this part of the machine is as
follows: When the piece to be rounded has been brought by the second
chain or belt of fingers to the proper point, it is lifted by means of a cam
driven from the main shaft. This cam acts on a bar which is fastened at one
end to the lower part of the frame, the other end acting against a plunger
which is slotted or made open from near the top to the bottom, to admit the
chain or belt above mentioned which passes through it. This plunger at
regular intervals lifts the chain with the piece of cork (to be rounded) to the
proper elevation to be caught by the discs, which revolve it against the sliding
knives. When the plunger has brought the piece of cork to the proper
position, a spring is caused to act upon the end of one of the rods which carry
the discs,and cause it to advance and take the piece of cork out of the fingers,
and the chain and plunger then fall. When the cork is finished. a cam..is
caused to act against a spring bar, which draws back the rod instantlyandallows
the finished cork to fall out of the machine. As the cork is rounded the chip
falls off first into a suitable receiver,and as the carriage proceeds the cork is
released as above described, and falls into another receiver.
The knives in this part of the machine as well as the revolving cutters in
the first part of the machine,are kept continually sharp by means of revolving
wheels or discs so placed as to bring the sides of the discs into contact with
the sides of the knives and cutters. I employ one or more of these wheels on
each side of each knife or cutter,supported in their places by elastic bearings
fastened to the frame. I prefer to use polished steel discs on one side of the
edge, and on the other side discs of metal or wood recessed on the face, and
filled in with emery, glass, stone, or other suitable grinding material which
will give the required edge. They are so arranged as to be easily adjusted to
the knife, which may be adapted or set to cut any size of cork required by
means of thumbscrews at each end.
Sometimes when the cork bark is very rough and gritty on the back it is
desirable to remove the same, and for this purpose I use a revolving rasp or
cutter, which is formed of long thin steel plates perforated with a punch from

page_text: the back, so as to leave rough projections or burrs on the surface. This
perforated plate is bent around and fastened to a drum which is made to
revolve very quickly,and when the piece of cork bark is held with the rough
or gritty side against the rasp, it is immediately freed from all grit; and any
piece of cork may be made thin and of an equal thickness throughout by
means of this revolving rasp. It will be evident that this part of my improve-
ments is also applicable to cutting or rasping other substances.
If it be desired to cut the cork oval so as to get a large cork from a thin
piece of bark, it is accomplished by a pair of cams or excentrics acting against
the supports which carry the spindles holding the cork.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Amos Pierce Chamberlain in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, АмOS
PIERCE CHAMBERLAIN, of New Orleans, in the United States of America; but
at present residing in London, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight. hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Amos Pierce Chamberlain, Her special licence that I,the said Amos
Pierce Chamberlain, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Amos Pierce Chamberlain, my executors, administrators; and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CORK'
PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO CUTTING PAPER, CAOUTCHOUC,
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Amos Pierce Chamberlain, my executors or administrators, by aninstrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same was to be performed and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent,

page_text: NOW KNOW..YE, that I, the said-samos Pierce Chamberlain, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
The first part of these improvements is designed for cutting the planks of
cork bark,crosswise of the grain, into proper lengths for corks,and this part of
.the
apparatus is also applicable to cutting paper; caoutchouc, and other sub-
stances. The apparatus consists of a system of revolving cutters made from
very thin steel plates fastened to the ends of a spindle or axletree, and held
between two discs of cast iron or other suitable material, 'of a less diameter
than the cutters, to prevent the cutters from bending or "buckling." These
cutters and discs are fastened together and attached to the ends of the spindle
in such a manner as to prevent the cutters from vibrating or giving an
irregular movement. These spindles and cutters are accurately adjusted on a
frame of cast iron or other suitable material. The carriage which holds the
piece of cork bark to be cut is provided with 'slides and guides so arranged as
to present the same at right angles to the cutters. This carriage, with its
slides and guides, is passed under the cutters, the carriage being provided with
a groove to receive the lower edge of the knife or cutter and keep it steady
during the cut. Or the guides and carriage may be constructed in two
separate pieces, and so arranged and connected (by means of springs) that
when they are not under the cutters they touch each other throughout
their whole length, except a short portion at each end, which is bevilled off so
as to let the carriage come under the cutters without touching the edge of the
same, and as soon as the said bevilled part has arrived under the cutters the
pressure of the sides of the cutters separates the two parts of the carriage and
allows of a free passage of the same past the cutters. The object of this
arrangement of the carriage with its guides and slides is to present the piece
of cork immediately under and as near as possible to the edge of the cutters,
without bringing the carriage and guides into contact with or dulling the
cutters on the edge. When the cork bark has been thus cut into strips cross-
wise; these strips are handed over to the other side of the machine, and at the
other end of the same spindle is another cutter with the same adjustment of
carriage, slides,and guides,and provided with a notched guide so arranged as
to cut successively and lengthwise of the grain any thickness of strips of cork
bark so as to leave them in "squares," that is, as wide as theyare deep, without
regard to length. The pieces of cork are now in the form of oblong squares,
and are taken in a convenient box or receiver and placed by the operative in a

page_text: hopper, through which passes an endless chain or belt furnished with elastic
fingers, which take hold of the pieces of cork successively at each end and
pass them through the second part of the apparatus; or instead of being thus
antomatically fed into the second machine, they may be fed in by hand.
The second part of the apparatus consists principally of four revolving
cutters, which take off the four angles, thus reducing the " squares to an
octagonal form; and this machine may also contain an additional pair of
-cutters, having their axes at an angle to the former, and intended to dress the
'crust or back of the cork, and also to dress or shave off any unevenness on the
inside or belly of the cork. As the pieces of cork (now octagonal) pass from
the above described part of the apparatus they are carried by the endless
chain or belt and fingers above named, and deposited at regular intervals upon
another endless chain or belt running at right angles, and provided with
fingers, which clip the pieces about the centre,and carry them to the part of
the machine which takes them up and rounds them; or, instead of the pieces
being placed by automatic means on the last-mentioned chain or belt, they
may be placed thereon by hand by the attendant as the chain or belt advances
with an intermittent motion.
The rounding part of the machine consists principally of a driving shaft
'supported in suitable bearings, and provided with a crank connected to the
'lower end of a vertical lever, which vibrates on a fixed fulcrum at or near its
centre, and is attached at its upper end by a connecting link to a carriage
capable of sliding to and fro upon rods or rails. In this carriage are
adjusted two knives which travel with it, and are so arranged as to cut the cork
as it is being turned round.
The spindles which hold the corks are caused to revolve in the following
manner: The carriage which holds the knives is furnished with a pin which
takes into a screw thread or spiral groove formed on the circumference of a
drum, which is fixed on a long shaft or spindle provided with a spur driving
'wheel at each end, the rectilinear motion of the carriage thus imparting an
alternate circular movement to the said long shaft, which is communicated by
other spur wheels to the spindles, on the ends of which are the discs for
holding the corks, so that each end of the cork is held by separate 'discs
turning in the same direction, and at the same speed. As the carriage con-
taining the knives moves from one end of the machine to the other, it cuts
one cork round on one side of the machine, and as it returns, it cuts another
cork round on the other side of the machine.
The method of feeding the corks into this part of the machine is as
follows: The pieces to be rounded being placed (either automatically or by

page_text: hand, as above described,) between the fingers of the endless chain or belt,
and being brought by the intermittent motion of the latter to the proper
point, the said belt with the cork is lifted by means of a cam driven from the
main shaft. This cam operates a lever, which works at one end on a fulcrum
attached to the frame, and the other end of the same acts against a plunger
which carries two rollers, over which the belt passes, and is slotted near the '
bottom to admit of the belt passing through it. This plunger at regular
intervals lifts the belt with the piece of cork (to be rounded) to the proper
elevation to be caught by the discs which revolve it against the sliding knives,
and this lifting of the belt at the same time opens the fingers slightly and
releases the cork.
When the plunger has brought the piece of cork to the proper position, a
spring (being released) causes a lever to act upon the end of one of the rods
(which carry the discs), which advances and takes the piece of cork out of the
fingers, and the belt and plunger then descend.
',
When the cork is finished, a cam is caused to act against the spring lever,
which draws back the rod instantly, and releases the cork, which tlien falls
out of the machine. As the cork is rounded, the chip falls off, first, into a
suitable receiver, and as the carriage proceeds, the cork is released as above.
described, and falls into another receiver. The knives in this part of the
machine, as well as the revolving cutters in the first and second parts of the
apparatus, are kept continually sharp by means of revolving wheels or discs, so
placed as to bring the sides of the discs into contact with the sides of the
knives or cutters. I employ one or more of these discs on each side of each
knife or cutter, supported in their places by elastic bearings fastened to the
frame. I prefer to use polished steel discs on one side of the edge, and on'
the other side, discs of metal or wood, recessed on the face, and filled in with
emery, glass, stone, or other suitable grinding material, which will give the
required edge. They are so arranged as to be easily adjusted to the knife,
which latter may be adapted or set to cut any size of cork required by meaus.
of thumbscrews. If it be desired to cut the cork oval, so as to get a large
cork from a thin piece of bark, it may be accomplished by a pair of cams or
excentrics acting against the brackets or standards which carry the spindles,
holding the cork.
Sometimes, when the cork bark is very rough and gritty on the back, it is
desirable to remove the same; and for this purpose I use a revolving raspor
cutter, which is formed of long thin steel plates, perforated with a punch from
the back, so as to leave rough projections or "burrs" on the surface. This
perforated plate is bent around and fastened to a drum, which is made to
:
'

page_text: revolve very quickly, and when the piece of cork bark is held with the rough
or gritty side against the rasp, it is immediately freed from all grit, and any
piece of cork may be made level and of an equal thickness throughout by..
means of this revolving rasp.
It will be evident that this part of my improvements is also applicable to
cutting or rasping other substances. .
:
: ..
Having now described the nature and object of my said "Improvements in
Machinery or Apparatus for Cutting Cork, Part of which Improvements is i
also applicable to Cutting Paper, Caoutchouc, and other Substances," I will,
proceed to describe more in detail the arrangements of mechanism, by means
of which the several movements and operations above described are carried
into practical effect, which will be readily understood on reference to the two
Sheets of Drawings hereto annexed, which are marked with figures and
letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation.
thereof.
In Sheet 1 of the Drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the machine for
cuiting the cork bark into strips and squares; Figure 2 is an end elevation,
and Figure 3 is a plan view of the saine as seen from above.
A, A, is the framework of the apparatus, supporting in suitable.bearings
the spindle B, B, which is caused to revolve by means of a driving strap.or
belt passing round the pulley C, C; D, D, are the revolving cutters made.
from very thin circular steel plates, supported between two discs E, E, of
smaller diameter than the cutters, and held firmly by nuts F, F, to prevent.
them from vibrating; G, G, are the carriages for holding the cork bark to be
cut, (one on each side of the machine,) supported and capable of sliding on
the rods H, H; I, I, are guides or "fences," to deterniine, the width of the
strips or squares, which are capable of adjustment. Each carriage is provided
with a groove at K, K, to receive the lower edge of the cutter, and keep it,
steady; or the carriage may be divided throughout its entire length at this,
part, and be held together by springs, as above described. The pieces of
bark to be cut are placed on the carriage, and the latter is pushed by the
attendant under the revolving cutter, which severs a "strip" of the width.of
the space between the "fence "I and the cutter D, this, operation being.
repeated as quickly as the operative can slide the carriage to and fro, and
placed the cork bark thereon. These "strips" are handed over to the other
side of the machine, where a second operative by a similar process cuts the
same into "squares," as before described. .
"
These "squares are then fed (either automatically or by hand) into the.
second machine, which is represented at Figure 4, in the same Sheet. This

page_text: machine consists principally of a frame A, A, supporting four spindles B,B,
furnished with revolving cutters C, C, similar to those previously described,
driven by bands passing round the grooved pulleys D, D, and round other
similar pulleys mounted on the shafts E, E; as the "squares" advance
through this part of the apparatus, they are reduced to an octagonal shape,
and if it be thought necessary or desirable, another pair of cutters may be
added to dress the ends of the "squares" as above described. These octagonal
pieces of bark are then fed (either by hand or automatically) into the third
part of the apparatus to be rounded. This machine is exhibited on Sheet 2
of the Drawings, Figure 1, being an end elevation, Figure 2, a side view,
Figure 3, a vertical section taken iransversely through about the centre of
the machine, and Figure 4, a plan or horizontal view of the same as seen
from above. A, A, is the framework of the machine supporting in suitable
bearings the main driving shaft B, B. This shaft is provided with a crank
C, C, attached by a connecting rod D, D, to the lower end of a vertical lever
E, E, which vibrates on a fulcrum at F, F, and is connected at its upper end
by a link G, G, to the carriage H, H, which latter is capable of sliding to
and fro on the rods I, T, and carries the two straight knives or cutters K, K.
The lower side of the carriage is furnished with a pin L, L, which takes into
a spiral groove M. M, formed on a drum N, N, fixed on the shaft O, O. This
shaft (, O, as a spur driving wheel P, P, at each end, which by means of
the spur wheels Q, Q, drive the spindles R, R, on the inner ends of which
are the discs S, S, for holding the corks. The apparatus for feeding the corks.
into this machine is shown most clearly in the detached sectional view
Figure 5, and partly also in Figure 3 (Sheet 2). T, T, is a plunger furnished
with two small rollers U, U, carrying an endless belt V,V, which also passes
round a drum W, W. This belt V, V, is provided with fingers X,X, consist-
ing of L-shaped metal plates rivetted or otherwise fastened to the belt, and of
just sufficient width apart to hold the octagonal pieces of cork which are
placed therein, as the belt passes over the drum W, W, the curved surface
of which will cause them to open slightly. The plunger is caused to rise
and fall (carrying the rollers and belt with it) by means of a cam on the main
shaft B, B, actuating the lever Y, Y. The lever Y, Y, also carries a bent
rod Z,%, which has at its upper end two or more small ratchets a, a, which
take into the teeth of a ratchet wheel b, b, keyed on the axis of the drum
W, W. It will thus be evident that at every fall of the lever Y, Y, the
belt V,V,will be advanced with an intermittent motion,bringing an octagonal
piece of cork inunediately over the plunger,and as the lever rises, the plunger
will raise this cork till it is precisely between the discs S, S, on the ends of

page_text: the rods R, R. The left hand rod R, R, is provided with a lever c, c, acted
upon by an indian-rubber or other spring d,d, which is counteracted by a cam
e, e, driven by the chain fif, from the main shaft. This cam is so constructed
and arranged that the instant the cork is raised to the proper position as
above stated, it allows the spring to exert its force, and cause the rod to seize
the cork, and hold it between the discs. The belt and plunger then descend
and the discs commence to revolve with the cork, whilst the carriage and
knife commence to traverse, and "round" the cork. As soon as this operation
is performed the cam e, acting on the lever c, withdraws the rod R, and
allows the cork to fall out of the machine. On the return of the carriage the
same operation takes place at the other side of the machine. g,g,are the discs
for keeping the knives sharp. Figures 5, 6, and 7, in Sheet 1, show side, edge,
and plan views of the apparatus for rasping the rough or gritty side of the
bark, which consists of a frame A,A, supporting in suitable bearings an axle
B, B, carrying a drum C, C, around which are bent thin steel plates in which
holes are punched from the back so as to leave a "bur" on the outer surface.
The drum is caused to revolve rapidly by means of a belt passing around
the pulley D, D.
Having now described the. nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Cutting Cork, Part of which
Improvements is also applicable to Cutting Paper, Caoutchouc, and other
Substances," together with the manner of carrying the same into practical
effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood, that I claim as iny Invention the
general construction and arrangement of machinery or apparatus for such
purposes as above described and shown in the Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof which might be designed to act in substantially the same
or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Amos Pierce Chamberlain, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
A. P. CHAMBERLAIN, (L.S.)
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Sol, and Patent Agent,
1, Serle St. Lincoln's Inn.