Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1888
Specification Accepted, .22nd June, 1888
1, HAKON SIGWART LARSEN of 9 Övre Slotsgade Christiania Norway, Merchant
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:
The object of this invention is to produce a cork-cutting or finishing machine with
fully self acting mechanisms, so constructed, that the handwork is reduced to merely
placing or laying the ccrk blocks in a certain place on the machine while the
transporting of the same to the cutting tool, as well as their accurate adjustment in
front of the cutting tool and their rotation for the cutter to give them their
cylindrical form is all performed by the self-acting movements of the machine.
The machine consists of four groups or elements of mechanism viz. a cutting tool, a
turning apparatus, by which the cork blocks are put in a rotary motion, an apparatus,
that catches the cork pieces and carries them to the knife and the turning apparatus,
and an apparatus that transports the cork blocks from the spot where they are laid by
the operator and up to the aforesaid catching apparatus and here places the same in
their right and accurate position.
In the annexed drawings is shewn a machine, constructed in accordance with said
principles.
Figure 1 is a plan view.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on line a a in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3ẞ in Figure 1 the transporting apparatus
being taken away.
In the Figures 2 and 3 some other parts of the machine are also left out or only
shewn in outlines so as not to disturb the clearness of the drawing.
In order that the following description of the different parts of the machine and
their working shall be more easily understood, it should be noticed, that the cutting
tool of the machine. is a circular knife K mounted on the main shaft A which may be
put in rotary motion by hand or by any desirable motive power. From this shaft A
motion is transferred to the shaft B which is supported in bearings on top of the bed
frame C of the machine, from which shaft B the several periodical movements by

page_text: means of cam wheels or the like are imparted to the different apparatus constituting
the machine as well as the rotary motion of the turning spindle, through the bevel
wheel D and spur wheels E, Figure 1.
The transporting apparatus, on which the cork-blocks are placed, is in the drawing
designated by the letter G. The same consists of a ring (1) Figures 1 and 2 of
L-shaped cross-section, fitted in a guide (2) mounted on the frame C. Said movable
ring (1) is on the top surface provided with pins (3) placed so far apart, that just room
remains for a cork-block. The ring or wheel (1) is externally provided with notches
of a like number as the number of pins 3. To this wheel 1 is imparted an intermittent
part rotary motion by means of a pawl (4) pivotted to the end of a lever (5) that is
pivotted at 6, and whose other shorter end rests against a cam wheel 7 on shaft B the
lever 5 being pressed against the cam 7 by a spring, arranged in any desirable
manner. When the tooth on the cam wheel 7 reaches the end of the lever, the other
end of this latter will move the transporting wheel 1 a step forwards, and while the
aforesaid spring will put the lever into its ordinary position again. From the drawing
will be seen that the pawl 4 is provided with means for adjusting, the pin 8 of the same
being placed in a slot 9 on the end of the lever 5 and so that it may be moved in this
slot by means of the adjusting-screws 10. To the inside and outside periphery of the
guide 2 of the wheel 1 are fastened the guard plates 11 and 12 which extend from
the point, where the cork-blocks are laid on the wheel to the point where they are
pushed into the catching apparatus or carrier wheel H.
The cork-blocks are pushed from the transporting wheel 1 into the catching-
wheel H by means of a disc 13 Figures 1 and 2 fastened to the end of a rod 14.
This rod rests in a guide 15 and is at its other end connected to an arm or
lever 16 by means of a head 17 on the upper end of said lever 16. This head is
held on the rod by means of two nuts which serve as adjusting nuts, so that the
plate 13 may be adjusted as to distance from the catching wheel 11. A spring 18
always keeps the rod with the plate in its utmost position. The movement of the
same towards the catching wheel is given it through the shaft 21 which with an
arm 20 rests against the cam-wheel 19 on the shaft B, and on whose other end the
above named fever 16 is mounted. When the cam on the cam wheel 19 hits the
arm 20, the movement of this will be imparted to the rod 14. As will be seen
from the drawing the head 17 at top of the lever 16 is pivoted to the same.
During the movement of the disc 13 the pieces of cork are held tight against the
disc 13 by means of a flat spring 22, the detailed arrangement of which will be
explained hereafter.
The catching wheel or carrier wheel 4 is composed of two discs or wheels 26 and 27
Figures 1, 2 and 3 mounted on the same shaft 25, of which discs one 26 contains the
mechanisms by means of which the cork blocks are caught, securely held and carried
up to the cutter while the other disc 27 that follows the former in its movement,
contains a set of short spindles with flanges against which the cork blocks are pressed
by the disc or wheel 26 and which spindles with chucks are put in rotation by means
of the turning apparatus F Figures 1 and 3 placed on the side of the wheel F 27 and
which periodically is connected with the said spindles, so that the cork-blocks are
rotated in front of the cutter or knife K.
In the disc 26 is bored a series of holes near the periphery of the same and parallel
with the axis of the dise, and in each of these holes which are drilled with an off set
are fitted from the inside of the disc, a short spindle 28 with a flange 29 provided with
tacks, serving as a prong chuck, and from the other side of the disc are inserted spring
boxes 30. The said spindles 28 are connected to the spring boxes by means of studs 31
screwed into the inner end of the spindles and the heads of which are pressed towards
the bottom of the spring box by means of the springs 32. It will be easily understood
that when the spring boxes are hindered from moving to the right the spindles and
chucks will have a tendency to go to the left. From the outside of the spring boxes
extend pins 33 through a slot 34 in the periphery of the wheel 26, by means of which
the boxes may be moved in their axial direction.
.

page_text: On the outside end surface of the disc 20 are arranged bolts or arms one for each
spring box, pivoted at one end at 36 and the other end of which are long enough to
reach in front of the holes in which the spring boxes are inserted. The arms are
guided within the staples 37 (Figures 1 and 2).
Co-operating with the spring boxes and the bolts or arms 35 are the levers 38 and 39
(Figure 2) mounted on a shaft 40 the other end of which shaft is provided with an
arm 41 to which is connected the rod 42 (Figure 1) actuated from the cam wheel 43
on the shaft B. The rod 42 is carried in a guide 44 and has an upright bend 45
behind the cam wheel 43 against which it is pressed by a spring.
The object of these arrangements is at the proper moment to catch up and let loose
the cork pieces. As will be seen from tho drawings (Figure 2) the upper end of tho
levers 38 and 39 terminates in front of two of the spring boxes (the one belonging to
the spindle, that catches the cork-blocks and the other to the spindle next below the
one where the corks are turned). When the levers 38 and 39 move inwards to the
dise they will hit the ends of the spring boxes and drive these inwardly. The result
of this will be as far as regards the arm 38 that the spring 32 will act upon the stud 31,
pressing the spindle with the chuck into the cork-block, just at that moment held by
the spring 22 Figure 1 and the plate 13 between the two discs, and instantaneously
the bolt or arm 35 will drop down and lock the spring box into the hole so that it can
not again issue therefrom, before the cork has been cut. But it will then be released
by the arm 39 which will press the spring box, at the time in front of the arm, slightly
inwards the arm 35 which was till now kept by friction will then drop down (or off)
and the spring box will be able to pass out through the hole, thereby releasing the
spring 32 and with it the spindle 28 and the cork. As the cork will easily stick to the
points on the chucks the pin 33 is as already stated fastened to the spring box and
works out through a slot 34. When the wheel moves the next step this pin 33 will
hit a wedge 33 figure 2 placed underneath the disc, the wedge forcing the pin with
the box and the spindle to the right, so that the flange 29 will come close to the side
of the disc, and the cork may drop down, through a hole in the frame into some
convenient receptacle). To further insure, that no cork shall stick to the chucks a
rod 33 figure 2 is jointed to the same lever 16 that pushes the blocks into the catching
wheel. When the said lever moves against the wheel the rod 33b will also follow, and
in the case a cork should be hanging in the wheel, push it down.
The disc 27 which is mounted on the same shaft with the disc 26 and accordingly
moves together with the latter, has near its periphery in line with the spindles in the
discs 26 a series 6 of short spindles 46 inside provided with prong chucks and outside
with the coupling flanges 47, with which the coupling flange on the turning spindle
periodically is engaged.
When a cork block has been pushed between the two discs 26 and 27; the machine
is so timed, that the lever 38 will press the spindle 28 against the cork, which will then
be held between the two prong chucks.
The object of the above named spring (22) figures 1 and 3 is to accurately centre
the blocks between the chucks. The disc 13 being adjusted by the adjusting nuts, the
said spring will hold the blocks tight up to the disc and keep them there till they are
caught by the chucks. To release the spring, so that it shall not spring out when the
block is taken upwards by the wheel and thereby cause an annoying noise, it is
mounted on a pin 23 housed on the frame, which pin on its other end has an arm
extending upwards on the outside of the disc 27 where it rests against the coupling
flanges 47 of the spindles. In the moment the wheel 1 moves a step forward the
flange will pass the end of the said arm and the spring is accordingly released till the
next flange touches the arm.
The movement of the catching or carrier appliance H which is periodical and with
such a dwell between each step, so that a cork may be turned or cut during this
standstill is imparted to it through the catch hook 48 figure 2 catching into notches in
the disc 20, the number of notches being the same as the number of spindles. The
catchhook is mounted on the top of a rod 49 working vertically in a guide 50 on the

page_text: frame. This rod is hanging in a link 51 (whose length may be adjusted by means of
a right and left nut, as indicated in the drawing) at the end of a lever 52, whose other.
end rests against the cam wheel 53 figure 1 on the shaft B, the same imparting a
vertical motion to the aforesaid catch, while this end of the lever of its own weight
will drop down after having done its work.
From the foregoing description it will easily be understood, how the cork blocks
one after the other will be pushed into the carrier-wheel H taken up by this wheel and
carried forward till they reach in front of the cutting tool-the rotary cutter K.
Having reached to this position they have to be rotated, so that the cutter may give
them their cylindrical form.
This it performed by means of the turning apparatus F.
The same consists of a spindle 54 working in a bearing 55 on the bed-frame, and on
which is mounted a tooth-wheel 56 with an extended boss or hub; the spindle is
áxially niovable in this hub, but must follow the toothwheel in its rotation (a
projection from the tooth wheel working into an axial groove in the spindle or
nice versa) the tooth wheel is worked from the shaft B through the toothwheels D and E.
The extended hub rests on both sides in bearings on the frame, and the tooth-
wheel is thereby hindered from following the spindle in its longitudinal movement.
The spindle will according to this constantly revolve, while the longitudinal movement
is imparted to the same periodically from the shaft B by means of a cam wheel 58
figures 1 and 3, acting on a lever 59 pivoted on the bed frame, resting near its middle
against the cam wheel and at its top provided with a fork that works in a groove or
between two collars 60 on the end of the spindle. By these means the spindle is
moved outwardly from the carrier wheel (to the left according to the drawing) while
it is held against the same by means of a spring; in the drawing is for such purpose
indicated a helical spring 61 around the spindle between the bearing 57 and a
collar 62 on the spindle. The machine is so timed that when a cork has come in front
of the knife K the cam on the cam-wheel 58 will turn off from the lever 59 and
accordingly the spindle will be taken inwardly by the spring 61 and the coupling
flange 63 mounted on the end of the spindle will engage with the coupling flange 47
on the spindle in wheel 27 by which the corkblock to be cut is held as soon
as the cork has been cut (viz. rotated once) the cam 58 will again take the spindle
outwardly and the coupling flanges become disengaged when the carrier wheel inakes
the next step forward, and the same play takes place.
The machine has a circular knife K mounted on the main shaft A; the rotation of
the same greatly enlarges the effect of the cutting, and makes the machine work easy.
To further make the cutting easy the knife is made very thin, so thin that it has been
necessitated to mount the same on a disc 65.
To enable the machine to cut different sizes of corks, the knife is made movable in
the direction of its axis. This of course may be arranged in different ways. In the
drawings the main axle A is journalled in bearings or boxes carried by hangers
underneath the frame. One of these hangers, the front one 66, is arranged so that
it may be swung on one of its bolts 69, while the other bolt 67 (Figures 1 and 3) is
inserted in a slot 68 in the frame. When the hanger 66 is swung one way or the
other the shaft will be moved axially and the knife will get a greater or smaller
distance from the centre of the turning spindle. The bearings 71 are held to the
straps by means of pins so that they may swing laterally. That the knife also may
be adjusted vertically the forward hanger is on one side provided with a set screw 70;
by means of this and the bolt 67, the strap may be raised or let down.
In order to keep the edge of the knife sharp, grinding rollers may be attached to
the frame touching the sides of the knife and thereby grinding the edge while
rotating.
The wheels and the shafts of the machine rotate in the direction indicated by the
arrows; the working of the whole machine needs no further description as the same
will be easily understood from the foregoing description of the working of the several
'groups of mechanism with reference to the drawings.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
First In an automatic cork machine the combination with a turning apparatus F,
consisting of an axially movable and constantly rotated spindle 54, of a carrier-
appliance H substantially consisting of two discs between which the cork blocks are
held and one of which discs 27 is provided with a number of spindles at one end
provided with a prong chuck and at the other with a coupling flange, said turning
spindle 54 being also provided with a corresponding coupling Hange, which coupling
flanges at intervals are put in engagement with each other, by the axial movement
of the turning spindle and said carrier wheel or discs receiving periodically a rotary
movement a part of a revolution according to the number of spindles in the disc;
substantially as set forth.
Second In an automatic cork machine a carrier appliance H composed of two
discs mounted on the same shaft one of said discs 27 having a number of equidistant
spindles near the periphery of the disc, the axes of which spindles are parallel to the
axis of the discs, said spindles running through the disc and having on the inside a
prong chuck or the like, and on the outside a coupling flange, and the other disc 26
having also near its periphery, right opposite to the aforesaid spindles, a corresponding
number of spindles, with prong chucks in combination with spring boxes, a spring in
each spring box acting upon the end of the spindles, and the spring boxes being at
intervals pushed in their inmost position and held there by means of bolts 35 on the
outside of the disc, at intervals being allowed to issue from the holes in which they
are fitted and thereby releasing the spring, said intervals being fixed by the movement
of two arms 38 and 39 periodically touching the ends of the spring boxes, and
which both discs at intervals receive a rotary movement in one direction a part of a
revolution according to the number of spindles at the periphery substantially as set
forth.
:-
Third In combination with the carrier appliance of an automatic cork machine as
specified in claim 2 the pin 33 on the spring box 30 working in a slot 34 in the
periphery of the disc 26 in combination with an angle-piece 33 acting as a wedge
against the pin 33 under the revolution of the carrier wheel substantially as set
forth.
Fourth In combination with the carrier appliance of an automatic cork cutting
machine a transporting wheel G and arrangements for pushing the cork blocks into
the carrier wheel, substantially as specified.
Fifth-In a cork machine the means for adjusting the rotary cutter horizontally
and vertically, substantially as specified.
Sixth-The construction of cork cutting machine shown on the drawings.