A. NEW OR IMPROVED TRAVELLING KNIFE FOR OPENING METAL PROVISIONAL, AND AN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Yeates, of No. 233, Hackney Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Cutler and Surgical Instrument Maker, for the
Invention of "A. NEW OR IMPROVED TRAVELLING KNIFE FOR OPENING METAL
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Yeates at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
February 1866.
I, ROBERT YEATES, of No. 233, Hackney Road, in the County of Middle-
sex, Cutler and Surgical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "A. NEW OR. IMPROVED TRAVELLING KNIFE FOR OPENING
METAL PROVISION CASES, AND AN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to that description of knife known as the lever knife;
which is used for the purpose of opening metal cases for containing provisions..
My Invention consists, firstly, in combining with such knives a wheel or
roller mounted on an axis carried in suitable bearings, by means of which the
wheel or roller of the knife can be made to run or travel along the surface
which it is intended to cut. In addition I in some cases make the blade of
the knife with a projecting piece or pieces, or I recess the edge or edges of
the blade so as to leave a projecting piece or pieces. The projecting piece or
pieces is or are entered into the cut made in the metal by the blade, and

page_text: prevent the blade from slipping out and getting away from its work, and at
the same time lessen the risk of danger to the operator.
In the Drawing accompanying this Provisional Specification some forms of
my improved knife are shown in Figures 1, 2. In these Figures the spindle
or axis of the roller passes through at a; the projecting pieces are marked b;
and in Figures 4, 5, and 6 the wheel or roller is denoted by c. Figure 3.
represents a knife for the purpose of making the first cut or opening in which
the other knives are afterwards used.
My Invention consists, secondly, in an apparatus which can be used with
the new or improved knife as herein-before described, or with other knives.
This apparatus, one form of which is shown in Figure 4, consists of a metal
frame d, which can be secured or fixed on the case e. Through this frame
projects exteriorly a handle f. The frame is made with the piece d¹ and d",
provided with gripping screw g. The knife h is fitted in the piece i, either
vertically h, or horizontally as at h. It will be observed that the piece i is
connected with the piece d¹, d¹¹, by the screw 9, and that the latter forms a
centre, round which the piece i with its roller c and knife h can be travelled
by one hand by the handle k, while the other hand holds securely the frame
by means of the handle f. In some cases I propose to make the piece i in
handle with a recess, so as to fit directly on the rim of the metal frame,
which is then placed on upper end of case e. This recess will then form a
guide, by which the travel or path of the roller knife is defined; or the
frame may be recessed so as to form a groove, and the piece i in handle k
provided with a projecting slide within the groove, so as to answer the same
purpose. When it is desired to use the same apparatus for the purpose of
operating upon different sized cases it is proposed to use a cylindrical or other
shaped receptacle (1, Figures 5, 6, 7,) within which the metal case can be
securely clamped or fixed centrically, as, for example, by the screws m, m, m,
and the metal frame d may be fixed upon the receptacle 1, and used as in
Figure 4; or the piece d¹, d", may be secured or fixed to l, as in Figures 5, 6, 7
and the piece i, with handle k, used without other part of frame. It will be
seen that by means of the slot n, shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, and the
screw 9, the knife can be set or fixed at any required distance from the centre
of the arrangement, so as to operate upon the metal case. The same end may
be attained by providing the piece i with screw holes or other arrangement by
which the knife can be fixed at the required distance from the centre.

page_text: prevent the blade from slipping out and getting away from its work, and at
the same time lessen the risk of danger to the operator.
In order that the nature of my Invention, and the means by which I effect
the same may be clearly described and ascertained, I to this Specification
append a Sheet of Drawings, having figures and letters of reference marked
thereupon, the like letters being used to denote the similar part or parts having
the same purpose or end in each Figure.
In this Sheet of Drawings one form of my improved travelling knife is
shown in Figures 1, 2, Figure 1 being an edge view, and Figure 2 a side
view. The projecting pieces are marked b and 61, and c shows the wheel or
roller or the axis thereof. Figure 3 is an edge view, and Figure 4 a side
view of another form of travelling or roller knife, b and b¹ being the projecting
pieces. In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, denotes the curved guide pieces; and 6 the
cutting edges. Figure 5 is an edge view, and Figure 6 a front view of a knife
(without roller) which I employ for making the first cut or opening, into
which are afterwards entered the guides 6 of the roller knife; these knives
may be inserted into handles and used by hand, or can be operated either with
or without their handles by an apparatus for actuating or operating my
improved knife (or other knives), which apparatus constitutes the second part
of my Invention. This apparatus consists of a metal or other frame, which
can be fixed or secured on the case to be operated upon, and can be made of
such a shape as to suit any form of case, and be made to embrace or fit the
same closely by means of set screws, springs, or any similar suitable means
which will hold the case securely. Through the metal frame projects
exteriorly a handle, by which it can be securely held. One form of this
frame is shown in Figure 7, being a circular frame d as applied to a
circular case e, the retaining or holding handle being marked f. The fraine
is made with the piece d', d", provided with gripping screw g. The knife h
is fitted in the piece i, either vertically so as to cut the flat part of case,
It will be observed that the
or horizontally to cut the round part, as at h'.
piece i is connected with the piece d¹, d", by the screw g, and that the latter
forms a centre, round which the picce i with its roller c and knife h can be
travelled by one hand by the handle k, while the other hand holds securely the
frame by means of the handle f. In some cases I propose to make the piece a
in handle k with a recess so as to fit directly on the rim of the metal frame
which is then placed on upper end of case e. This recess, will then form a
. guide by which the travel or path of the roller knife is defined; or the frame
may be recessed so as to form a groove, and the piece i in handle k provided
with a projection to slide within the groove, so as to answer the same purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed,
by the said Robert Yeates in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th August 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
YEATES, of No. 233, Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex; Cutler
and Surgical Instrument Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-eighth year of Her reign,
did; for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert Yeates, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Yeates, my execu
tors, administrators, and assigns; or such others as I, the said Robert
Yeates, 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, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
TRAVELLING KNIFE FOR OPENING METAL PROVISION CASES, AND AN APPARATUS TO BE
USED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Yeates, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their; or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Yeates, 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:-
My Invention relates to that description of knife known as the lever knife,
which is used for the purpose of opening metal cases for containing provisions
My Invention consists, firstly, in combining with such knives a wheel or
roller mounted on an axis carried in suitable bearings, by means of which the
wheel or roller of the knife can be made to run or travel along the surface
which it is intended to cut. In addition I in some cases make the blade of
the knife with a projecting piece or pieces, or I recess the edge or edges of the
blade so as to leave a projecting piece or pieces. The projecting piece or
pieces is or are entered into the cut made in the metal by the blade, and

page_text: When it is desired to use the same apparatus for the purpose of operating upon
different sized cases, it is proposed to use a cylindrical or other shaped
receptacle (l, Figures 8, 9, 10,) within which the metal case can be securely.
clamped or fixed centrically, as, for example, by the screws m, m, m, and the
metal frame d may be fixed upon the receptacle l, and used as in Figure 7;
or the piece d¹, d", may be secured or fixed to l, as in Figures 8, 9, 10, and
the piece i with handle k used without other part of frame. It will be seen
that by means of the slot n, shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, and the
screw g, the knife can be set or fixed at any required distance from the centre
of the arrangement, so as to operate upon the metal case. The same end may
be attained by providing the piece i with screw holes or other arrangement
by which the knife can be fixed at the required distance from the centre.
This may be made as shown;
The remaining Figures in the Drawings represent other modifications for
operating the knife and clamping the case; for example, Figures 11 and 12
represent a modified form of the clamping apparatus (Figures 8, 9, 10,)
applied to the top instead of to bottom of case.
or of a hemispherical dome or drum shape, and may be provided with an
internal arm or lever i for carrying the knife for cutting the top of case, or
with an external arm or lever ¹ for cutting the side of case. This modification
may be worked by the handle f, or the spindle that holds the arms i and i¹
may be projected, and to it may be attached a string or gut passing also
around the case, which string or gut may be used to produce a revolving
motion of the cutter, and thereby effect the cutting.
Figures 13, 14 represent another form of the clamping apparatus for square
5 cases. The arrangement for operating the cutter is somewhat modified in
this form, so as to admit of the knife travelling along the edge of the case to
be operated upon, instead of travelling in a strictly circular path, as with the
round cases. I effect this partly by providing the arm i carrying the roller c
and cutter h with a slot o, and partly by so curving the projecting pieces bas
to form internal or external guides, or combined internal and external guides
for the knife, so that the outer edge of the case will thereby determine the
path or travel of the knife, while the slot o will allow the knife to slide within
the said slot's limits, so as to cut the case at or about an equal distance from
its outer edge. The knife is provided with a friction roller c¹ to facilitate its
5 sliding motion.
Figures 15, 16, 17 represent another modification of clamping apparatus
with the arrangement for operating cutting blades. In this modification the
bottom of last arrangement must be supposed to be removed, and a cut taken
out of one side, as shown. It will now form a square or nearly square

page_text: receptacle or frame with the angles removed, a frame which can be placed
around the case to be operated upon, and which can be securely fastened
thereupon by means of set screws m, as shown, or by means of making the
parts p, p, so as to spring upon and securely hold the case, the jamb¸ screws
in either way assisting for the said purpose. The handle f forms a set screw
for the same purpose. The knife to be used with this modification is shown.
by Figures 18, 19, 20, 6 being the cutting edge, and the guide; c, the.
roller. The first cut in the case is made by the knife, Figures 5 and 6, and
the cutter being entered is operated by means of the arm i¹ taking into the
hooked part q of knife, and being moved round on its centre s. The end of
the arm is slotted, as shown at r, to allow of the requisite amount of play in
the travel of the knife. It is proposed to use some forms of the apparatus, for
working the knife either with the roller knife with guides, as herein described,
or with knives of other construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
distinctly understood that what I claim is, the construction and use of knives
with rollers and guides, and the apparatus for working the same in the
manner in this Specification described or in the appended Drawings illus-
trated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Yeates, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
ROBERT YEATES. (L.S.)