IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING CORKS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hamilton Kindersley Bradford, gentleman, of
London in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING CORKS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hamilton Kindersley
Bradford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September
1883.
WILLIAM HAMILTON KINDERSLEY BRADFORD, gentleman of London in the
County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING CORKS"
This invention relates to certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for
cutting corks with greater facility than heretofore, particularly to that class of
machine where a tubular revolving cutter is used driven at a bigh speed and the
cork wood fed up to it by a driver working on a screw.
My improvements consists in employing a circular conical fence or guard placed
outside the cutting edge of the cutter and fixed firmly to the bed of the machine,
allowing the cutter to revolve freely but not to touch it by this means the waste
cork cuttings are warded off, thereby preventing undue friction on the cutter, which
hitherto has been the cause of rapidly heating the cutting edge of the cutter and
rendering it useless untill it is again hardened and resharpened.
By another arrangement I employ a plough shaped piece of steel brought to
within of an inch of the cutting edge of the cutter, and carrying a pin, the
whole fitted to the cutter spindle and revolving with it, by this arrangement the
refuse cork wood on passing the edge of the cutter slips over the plough which
revolves too rapidly to allow of its closeing on the cutter thus preventing the
friction which otherwise would ensue, and on reaching the pin which it does almost
immediately after passing the edge of the cutter, the pin scatters the waste cuttings
away thus it will be seen the pin also assists in reducing the friction, either of my
improvements allows the cutter being run at the necessary high speed to be

page_text: efficacious, keeping a cool and keen cutting edge for a considerable time, which
formerly was quite impossible,
The second part of my improvements consists in useing a three or more bladed
cutter, either slotted out of an ordinary cutter or the blades made to remove, by
useing this form of cutter there is more cutting surface on the blades consequently
cutting much more free and cleaner, and enabling them to be sharpened more
easily.
On the top side of the frame and over the channel in which the cork wood is fed
up to the cutter I use a guard jointed at one end and the other made to snap in a
catch, the object being to prevent the cork wood from rising when it is being
driven up to the cutter

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Hamilton Kindersley Bradford in the Patent Office on
the 18th March 1884.
WILLIAM HAMILTON KINDERSLEY BRADFORD, Gentleman, of London, in the
County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR OUTTING CORKS
"
This invention relates to improvements in machinery or apparatus for cutting
corks where a tubular revolving cutter is used, driven at a high speed and the
corkwood fed up to it by a driver working on a screw or in any other manner.
In the accompanying drawing figure 1 represents a front view of a cork cutting
machine, figure 2 a plan of the same, figure 3 a front view of the revolving spindle
and cutter, figure 4 a side view of the new cutter, figures 5 and 6 a side and front
view of the improved device shewn by dotted lines A. A in figure 1, figure 7 a
reduced scale plan, of trough with improved arrangement for preventing the
corkwood from buckling or rising up when being driven up to the cutter.
My invention consists in employing a circular conical fence or guard as shewn in
figures 5 and 6 surrounding the cutting edge of the revolving cutter and fixed
firmly to the bed plate as represented by dotted lines A, A in figure 1 and allowing
the cutter B to revolve freely within it but not to touch it. By this contrivance
the waste cuttings of corkwood are directed away from the revolving cutter
thereby preventing the enormous friction on the latter which hitherto has been the
cause of immediately heating the cutter to such a degree as to render it rapidly
useless, until it has again been tempered, hardened, and resharpened.
By another arrangement for the same purpose I employ a plough shaped piece of
steel C shewn in figures 1, 2, 3, brought to within a short distance of the cutting
edge of the cutter and carrying a pin D, the whole fitted to the cutter spindle E
and revolving with it. By this contrivance the refuse corkwood immediately on
passing the edge of the cutter slips over the plough C which revolves too rapidly to
allow of its closing on the cutter thus preventing the enormous friction which other-
wise would ensue and on reaching the pin D (which it does almost immediately
after passing the edge of the cutter B) the former scatters it away.
Either of the improved devices as described and shewn allows of the cutter B
being run at the necessary high rate of speed to be efficacious, keeping a cool and
keen cutting edge for a considerable time which formerly was quite impossible.
The second part of my improvements consists in using a cutter having three or
more blades F, F, F, figure 4, either slotted out of an ordinary cutter or with the
blades made to be removed. In using this form of cutter there is more cutting
edge on the blades which consequently cut much freer and cleaner and it enables
them to be sharpened and replaced more readily when required.
Lastly I use a guard H figure 2 on the top side of the frame or trough G in
which the cork wood is fed up to the cutter its object being to prevent the corkwood
from rising or buckling while being fed up to the face of the cutter. H¹ figure 2
shews the guard in dotted lines open.
Another form is shewn in figure 7 where I use a cover J with two slots K, K, to
receive the holding down screws L, L. By slackening the screws and pushing the
cover back a fresh supply of corkwood can be placed in the trough after which it
is drawn forward and the screws tightened down thus preventing the corkwood
from buckling or rising.

page_text: Having now described my invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim :-
―:
.
The conical fence or guard, and plough shaped piece of steel and pin as described
and shewn, in figures 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, for the purpose set forth.
Also, A cutter having three or more bludes or knives either capable of being
removed or fixed as described and shewn in figure 4.
Also, the guard H, shewn in figure 2 and cover J shewn in figure 7.
In witness whereof I the said William Hamilton Kindersley Bradford have
hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of March in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
W HIK BRADFORD (L.B.)