Improvements in Machinery for Cutting Double Dipped Matches.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Cutting Double Dipped Matches.
I, HENRY HIGGIN, of No. 5, Harley Street, Bow Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Frame Board Maker 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in machinery for cutting double dipped
matches; and the particular object of the improvement is to diminish the amount of
firing which so frequently accompanies the operation of cutting as the latter is
usually conducted.
In order that my invention and the means by which the same can be carried into
practical effect, may be thoroughly understood; I will now describe them in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of
this specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1. is a front elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention,
shewing the knife up and a bundle of matches held down in the block, e.g., by hand
and a cord in the well known way, ready for being cut.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my improved block.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my improved knife bar or slide.
A is the base-plate of the machine; and B, the standard, or backbone, erected
thereupon.
C is the knife-bar. The edges c of this bar are of a proper shape to adapt it to
slide smoothly in either direction in a vertical V guide upon the side of the standard B.
I do not confine myself to the details of the construction of this guide, but may use
any that may be suitable for the purpose of my invention.
D is the knife fast to the knife-bar. Its cutting edge d is diagonal from front to
back. E is a rack upon the knife-bar. d' is a groove in the standard B, to make
room for the heads of the screws which hold the knife to the knife-bar.
Fis a lever having its fulcrum in an axis f which has its bearings in the standard B
and a subsidiary standard b. The short arm of the lever is, preferably, at an obtuse
angle with the longer one, and is provided with a counterpoise f¹.
is a toothed quadrant on the axis f. It is adapted to engage with the rack E
for the purpose of actuating the knife through both its up and down strokes.
H is a loose stop. It is sufficiently high for the counterpoise to rest upon it when
the cutter is at the top of its stroke, i.e., in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
It will be noticed that at this point the quadrant still engages the rack; so that when
it is desired to take the knife-bar out of the guide for the purpose of sharpening the
knife, the stop is removed, when the further drop of the counterpoise will at once
disengage the quadrant and rack.
It will be gathered from the foregoing that a knife working vertically is a dis-
tinguishing feature of my invention. It has hitherto been the practice to cut a bundle of
matches lying in the block by a pivotted knife. Such a knife, as soon as it is
brought to bear upon the matches, makes them rise as it cuts through them, thereby
producing an amount of friction sufficient to cause constant. firing. But with a
vertical feed and a diagonal edge on the knife, the cut is effected without the said
friction. My object in diminishing friction by effecting an easy cut is further
facilitated by my improved block I represented in detail in Fig. 3. The bed i is not
at right angles with the plane in which the knife works, but at an angle therewith,
sloping away from the operator towards the right. The result of this position of the
bed is that the knife does not meet the bundle of matches, or any one of them,
suddenly, but gently, passing through the bundle without jarring the individual
matches.

page_text: I have further to point out that some of the oil used to lubricate the knife bar and
guide will run down the edge d and keep it lubricated.
According to my invention, I form arches i¹ in the lower portion of the blocks for
the purpose of allowing the refuse being easily cleared away from the knife slot i².
J is a hinged stop. I prefer to face it with a plate of polished metal j to prevent
its presenting any surface other than a truly smooth one to the ends of the matches
in the block.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The vertical construction of machine for cutting bundles of matches, as set
forth.
2. The combination of standard, vertically acting knife, lever and gear connecting
it with the knife-bar, as set forth.
3. The improved block having arches adapted to facilitate clearing, as set forth.
4. A block for holding bundles of matches having the bed set at an angle with the
plane in which the knife descends, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination of block having its bed set at an angle with the plane in
which the knife works and a knife having a diagonal cutting edge, as set forth.
6. The combination of lever, counterpoise, and removable stop, whereby the knife-
bar is held at the top of its stroke or the lever is disengaged from the knife bar
according to the position of the stop, as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1889.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.