IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER-CUTTING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PAPER-CUTTING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by William
Ferdinand Heim, of Offenbach on Maine, in the Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 22nd July 1879, and dated the 11th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th February 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER-CUTTING MACHINES." A con-
munication from abroad by William Ferdinand Heim, of Offenbach on Maine, in
the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to a machine for pressing the piles of paper and cutting
the edges thereof with one single and uninterrupted motion. The pressure beam
and knife frame descend together, the latter in an oblique or sliding direction from
the moment when the former begins to press upon the paper. The connecting rods,
both of which can easily be adjusted to exactly equal lengths, act at the ends of
the knife frame, so that a blocking of the same in its guides becomes impossible.
--One characteristic feature of this machine consists in the circumstance that the
pressure on the paper pile increases in the same ratio as the resistance which the
latter offers; that is to say, it becomes greater as the pile of paper is made larger.
In carrying out this Invention as applied to the construction of machines of
large dimensions the body of the machine consists chiefly of two side frames with
outer ribs, the framing being of I section, On the outside of these frames are
fitted vertical slides which work along guides and between the said ribs, the slides
being moved up and down by connecting rods and crank discs or other convenient
gear operated from a rotatory shaft.
The connecting rods are provided on their upper ends with the following device,
which enables their lengths to be accurately adjusted :-The ends of the rods pass
through a ball having two pivots, one of which is fitted in a hole in the slides,
whilst the other one is fitted in a separate piece which is screwed on or otherwise
attached. By means of nuts at the ends of the connecting rods the lengths of the
latter can be regulated with facility. The machine may be driven by hand and

page_text: provided with a fly wheel and double spur gearing; or it may be driven by power,
in which latter case pullies are placed side by side with the fly wheel.
The knife frame passes at the sides through the vertical slides. It is properly
guided in these vertical slides by plane surfaces and brackets, which latter are each
adjustable by means of set screws and bolts, so that they can be set up and fastened
against the knife frame whenever any wear has taken place in the latter.
upper edge tlie knife frame slides along its length on a well-fitted rod, which, by
means-of-screws, is fastened at the ends of the vertical slides.
At its
The knife-is-fastened to its frame; on the latter are also two bolts which are
_made fast by means of nuts. These-bolts-carry small loose blocks which slide in
slots in the pressure-beam arranged at an angle of, say, 45° to the edge-of-the knife.
The pressure beam is only vertically moveable-in-its-guides inside the side frames
as the ends of it abut against the machine frames, and it is therefore-prevented.
from moving laterally.
In the operation of the machine the knife frame and the pressure beam descend
together until the latter presses upon the pile of paper. Simultaneously with the
pressing up begins also the cutting of the paper as the blocks now begin to slide
down the slots of the fixed pressure beam, and by this action guide the knife down
in a slanting direction. The wider and thicker the pile of paper is the greater
becomes the resistance and the greater the pressure on the paper. The lateral
motion of the knife frame is greater or smaller in proportion as the pile of paper is
thicker or thinner.
In the middle of the rod before referred to there is fastened a stud which moves
up and down in a vertical slot in the pressure beain. At the top of this slot there
is a set screw forming a stop with which the stud comes into contact. This set
screw being adjustable admits of the relative position of the knife frame to the
pressure beam being regulated in order to compensate for a diminution in the width
of the knife by grinding.
When the paper has been cut the pressure beam by reason of its own weight
remains on the pile, the knife frame moves upwards in an oblique direction in the
slots until the stud comes into contact with the set screw. The knife frame and
the pressure beam then move together vertically to the highest point which is
attainable by the throw of the crarik pin.
An india rubber tension cord is placed in a groove in the knife frame, one end of
the same being fastened to the laterally moveable, knife frame and the other end to
one of the screws. This tension cord is provided for the purpose of assisting the
lateral movement of the knife frame on its return stroke. In order to prevent the
knife frame from descending by its own weight it is counterbalanced by means of
weights.
The cutting table rests on a beam which turns on pivots fitted in suitable
bearings on the side frames. By this contrivance the table can be turned on the
pivots, this turning being required when it is intended to cut the paper at an angle.
For fixing the table in any desired position brackets with screws are employed.
A-bracket-provided on the table and which is adjustable to the size of the paper
by means of a screw spindle and a-hand-wheel serves to keep the sheets of paper
level at one end.
In small machines the same principle of the oblique cut with self acting pressing
up motion is adopted, but the knife frame in this case has a single slot, and conse-
quently the pressure beam only one small block which is fixed half way across.
The slot is in the knife frame, whereas the bolt passing through the loose block is
fastened in the pressure beam. In lieu of resting on the rod, as in the arrangement
first hereinbefore referred to, the knife frame rests on two flat castings which are
fastened to a cross beam. The latter is moved up and down by the two slides to
which the connecting rods are coupled, and it is prevented from moving sideways
by setscrews..

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
1st August 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER CUTTING MACHINES." A com-
munication from abroad by William Ferdinand Heim, of Offenbach on Maine, in
the Empire of Germany.
The said Invention relates to a machine for pressing the piles of paper and cutting
the edges thereof in one single and uninterrupted motion.
In carrying out the said Invention the machine is so constructed that the
pressure beam and knife frame descend together, the latter in an oblique or slanting
direction from the moment when the former commences to press upon the paper,
and the connecting rods, both of which can readily be adjusted to exactly equal
lengths, act at the ends of the knife-frame, so that all liability to the blocking of
the same in its guides is obviated.
One characteristic feature of this machine consists in the circumstance that the
pressure on the pile of paper increases in the same ratio as the resistance which the
latter offers; that is to say, it becomes greater as the pile of paper is made larger.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings represent respectively a front
and a side elevation (the latter partly in section) of a paper cutting machine of
large dimensions, say, for example, for an opening of thirty one and a half inches.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional details showing the construction of the knife-frame
and of the guide of the pressure beam.
Figures 5 and 6 represent the latter details as modified in order to adapt them
to a machine of comparatively small dimensions.
E, E, are the two side frames of the machine; e', e¹, the outer ribs; the framing
is of I section; on the outside of these frames E and E' are fitted vertical
slides G, G¹, which work along guides g, g, and between the ribs e¹, e¹, the slides
being moved up and down by connecting rods k and crank discs k or equivalent
gear operated from the rotatory shaft K. The connecting rods are provided on their
upper ends with the following device, which enables their lengths to be accurately
adjusted The upper end of each rod passes through a ball k' having two pivots,
one of which is fitted in a hole in the slides G, G¹, whilst the other pivot is fitted
in a separate piece ² which is screwed on or otherwise attached by means of nuts
at the upper ends of the connecting rods; the lengths of such rods can be regulated
with facility. The machine may be driven by hand and provided with a fly
wheel H and double spur gearing, or it may be driven by power, in which latter
case pullies are placed side by side with the fly wheel.
The knife frame A to which the knife a³ is attached passes at the sides through
the vertical slides G, G¹. It is properly guided in such vertical slides G, G¹, by
plane surfaces f and brackets f', which latter are each adjustable by means of set-
screws and bolts, so that they can be set up and fastened against the knife frame
wherever any wear has taken place in the latter. At its upper edge the knife
frame A slides longitudinally along a well fitted bar a', which may be of any
suitable section, and is secured by means of screws a², a², to the ends of the vertical -
slides G, G¹. To the frame A are also connected by means of bolts and nuts a¹ two
small loose blocks b, b, which are adapted to slots 61, 61, formed in the pressure
beam B and arranged at an angle of, say, 45° to the edge of the knife. The
pressure_beam is only vertically moveable in its guides e inside the frames E and

page_text: E as the ends of its abut against the machine frames, and it is therefore prevented
from moving laterally.
In the operation of the machine the knife frame and the pressure beam descend
together until the latter presses upon the pile. of paper, and simultaneously with
the pressing commences also the cutting of the paper as the blocks now begin to
slide down-the-slots-b!,-6, of the fixed pressure-beam, and by this action guide the
knife down in a slanting direction. The wider and thicker the-pile of paper is the
greater becomes the resistance and also the greater the pressure on the paper.
lateral motion-of the-knife-frame is greater or smaller in proportion as the pile of
paper is thicker or thinner.
The
In the centre of the bar a¹ there is fixed a stud a³ which moves up-and-down-in
a vertical slot 62 in the pressure-beam-B-At-the top of this slot is a set screw a
forming a stop with which the stud a³ comes into contact. This set screw-being
adjustable adınits of the relative position of the knife frame A to the pressure
beain B being regulated in order to compensate for a diminution in the width of
the knife by grinding.
When the paper has been cut the pressure beam by reason of its own weight
remains on the pile, the knife frame moves upwards in an oblique direction in the
slots b', b', until the stud a comes into contact with the set screw a. The knife
frame and the pressure beam then move together vertically to the highest point
which is attainable by the throw of the crank pin k³.
An indiarubber tension cord C¹ is placed in a groove c in the knifeframe, one end
of the same being attached to the laterally moveable knifeframe and the other end
to one of the screws a². This tension cord is provided for the purpose of assisting
In order to
the longitudinal movement of the knifeframe on its return stroke.
prevent the knifeframe from descending by its own weight it is counterbalanced by
means of weights O.
The cutting table L is supported on a beam M which is capable of turning on
pivots m fitted in suitable bearings on the frames E, E. By this arrangement the
table can be adjusted by turning it on the pivots when it is required to cut the
paper at an angle. For fixing the table in any desired position brackets with
screws S are employed. The table is also provided with a bracket N which is
adjustable to the size of the paper by means of a screw spindle and a handwheel P
and serves to maintain the sheets of paper level at one end.
In small machines the same principle of the oblique cut with self acting pressing
motion is adopted, but the knifeframe in this case has a single slot and consequently
the pressure beam only requires one small block which is fixed halfway across, as
shown in Figures 5 and 6. The slot also is in the knifeframe, whereas the bolt
passing through the loose block is attached to the pressure beam. In lieu moreover
of the knife frame being supported on the bar a', as in the arrangement illustrated
in Figures 1 to 4, it rests on two flat castings a, a, which are carried by a cross-
beam 6² The latter is moved up and down by the two slides to which the
connecting rods are coupled, and it is prevented from moving sideways by set-
screws c², c²
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 general arrangement and combination of parts forming a paper cutting
machine, substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The connecting of the knifeframe to the pressure beam by means of
one or more guide blocks moving in one or more inclined slots (whether such slots
are in the pressure beam or in the knifeframe) for the purpose of pressing auto-
matically the material which is to be cut in an oblique direction, substantially as
hereinbefore described.

page_text: Thirdly. The knifeframe A constructed as herein set forth and connected with
the bar a¹ or its equivalent which is attached to the vertical slides G, G³, the latter
transmitting to the knifeframe, which is: moveable longitudinally, its up and down
motion, all substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set ny hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)