IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR 'QUARTERING' CORK WOOD, AND FOR CUTTING THE 'QUARTERS' INTO BOTTLE CORKS.
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Offices for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR 'QUARTERING' CORK WOOD,
AND FOR CUTTING THE 'QUARTERS' INTO BOTTLE CORKS.."-A communication
from abroad by Alexander Millar, of the City of New York.
Sealed the 7th May 1861, and dated the 10th December 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATON left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th December 1860.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR QUARTERING CORK.
WOOD, AND FOR CUTTING THE QUARTERS' INTO BOTTLE CORKS," to be as.
follows:-
This Invention relates to the cutting of cork wood into slips and then into
large or small cubical blocks or "quarters," according to the size of the
intended corks to be formed by the cork-cutting machine; it also relates to.
certain novel machinery for cutting the blocks or "quarters" into conical or
tapering corks for bottles.
The first part of the Invention consists in the employment of a segmental
or semicircular knife, which receives a reciprocating and at the same time a

page_text: semi-rotary motion, and which operates upon the cork wood with a circular
draw cut, which, on account of the peculiar character of cork wood, will cut
it in a better manner and with a smoother cut than can be done with the
common cork-wood cutters hitherto used. In conjunction with the segmental
knife, the cork wood, while being operated upon, is held securely upon a table,
to which a vertical motion is communicated, so that when a quarter is cut the
table falls and allows the piece to be pushed off; the table then ascends
again, a fresh portion of wood having been pushed forward for the knife to
operate upon.
The second part of the Invention relates to forming the quarters or cubical
blocks into tapering bottle corks of any desirable size and taper, and it consists,
firstly, in the employment of suitable mechanical appliances in combination
with the common rotary quarter holder which embraces and holds the quarters
or square blocks to be cut, and discharges them after the cutting operation
has been completed. These mechanical appliances consist of a moveable
adjustable plate or table, on which the standards to support the block holder
are mounted. This adjustable plate is temporarily secured to the fixed bed
or frame by means of clamping screws, by loosening which the plate may be
altered in position, so as to set the block holder at an angle to the cutters.
Any desired taper may be then given to the corks. One-of the jaws of the
block holder is capable of an endway motion, whereby the cork when formed
is dropped out of the holder, and space is given to insert a new block. The
block carrier, whereby the block is carried forward to the jaws of the holder,
consists of a pair of spring fingers or clamps, which hold the block sufficiently
tight to carry it safely; and these fingers are connected to a vibrating lever,
which is moved to and fro at the right time. The fingers are made adjustable
on their lever, so as to admit of their position being nicely adjusted to corre-
spond to the position of the holding jaws in any of its altered positions.
Thé cutting instruments consist of two straight knives, which are mounted in
à reciprocating frame; and are brought forward to act against the block, when
the latter is secured in the jaws, to which a slow rotary motion is given,,so as
to bring the different parts of the block round to the reciprocating knives.
The first knife will cut off the angles or corners of the block, and the
succeeding one will finish the cork, which will then be dropped out of the
holder by the moveable jaw being forced back, as above explained. These
parts must be so arranged as to 'admit of adjustments being given to the
quarter holder, so that tapering or straight bottle corks of different sizes may
be cut in the same machine by making a simple alteration in the position of
the parts. In combination with the. alternate reciprocating knife frame, the

page_text: rotation and the advancing and receding movement of the revolving quarter
holder is so regulated that the quarters or rough. pieces to be cut will be
automatically and in a simple and correct manner embraced by this revolving.
head or block holder while being cut, and the corks will be discharged there-
from afterwards at proper times with relation to the movement of the knives.
and the quarter feeder. The knives which cut the corks are mounted in the
reciprocating frame on centres with adjusting and set screws, so that they may.
be set at any desired angle with a vertical line, or raised or depressed, as the
nature of the work requires. By means of the vibrating lever or arm to
which the fingers are connected, the quarters or pieces of corks to be cut will
be automatically brought up to the revolving block or quarter holder at the
proper time to be embraced by the jaws of such holder, the carrier or feeder
being operated by a common knife frame and a weight or spring, and capable.
of being easily adjusted, and having its motions adapted to the several adjust-
ments of the revolving quarter holder.
It will be seen from the above description of the working parts of the.
machine that the particular' features of novelty sought to be protected are,
First, the use of a semicircular knife, rock shaft, spur wheel, and rack, in.
combination with a reciprocating carriage and slide rest.
Second, the combination with the reciprocating knife carriage and knife of
a lever connecting rod and toggles with a stop pin pivotted arm, connecting
rod, vertical bar, and table, suitably arranged, and made to operate automa-
tically for the purpose of holding the work or block to be cut up to the knife.
during the cutting operation, and afterwards clearing the work from the knife.
during its return movement.
.
Third, the use of a bed-plate in combination with a table made laterally
adjustable, for the purpose of adjusting the mechanism which rotates the
"quarter" or block during the operation of the knives upon it, so that the
machine may be adapted to cut corks of different diameters; and in com-
bination with this lateral adjustment of the "quarter" holder and. its.
accessories, there is a second adjustable bed plate arranged on the first bed
plate, on which it is pivoted at one end, and otherwise arranged for giving any
desired degree of taper to the corks.
Fourth, the combination with the horizontal reciprocating knife frame of an
inclined plate pivoted arm, also a second shaft and arm, and a grooved collar,
with a pivoted arm and horizontal bar, on a frame, with a spring and bar on.
the knife frame, all arranged and operating in harmony.
.
A fifth improvement consists in making the horizontal knives adjustable.on:
the knife frame; so that these knives may be adjusted vertically and at the

page_text: same time that they may be pitched to any desirable angle with a. vertical
line.
Sixth, the use of extension arms, an adjustable stem or post and tube, and
a quarter or block carrier arm, and an adjustable pivoted arm and pulley
wheel, with its weight and cord. in combination with a cam on the knife
frame.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of December in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR QUARTERING' CORK WOOD,
AND FOR CUTTING THE 'QUARTERS' INTO BOTTLE CORKS," being a communication
from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-

page_text: "
This Invention relates to the cutting of cork wood into slips, and then into
large or small cubical blocks or quarters according to the size of the
intended corks to be formed by the cork-cutting machine. It also relates to
certain novel machinery for cutting the blocks or "quarters "into conical or
tapering corks for bottles.
The first part of the Invention consists in the employment of a segmental
or semicircular knife, which receives a reciprocating, and at the same time a
semi-rotary motion, and which operates upon the cork wood with a circular draw
cut, which, on account of the peculiar character of cork wood will cut it in a
better manner, and with a smoother cut than can be done with the common
cork wood cutters hitherto used. In conjunction with the segmental knife, a
novel method of automatically feeding and holding the cork wood up to the
knife while being cut is employed, as will be fully explained hereafter.
The second part of the Invention relates to forming the quarters or cubical
blocks into tapering bottle corks of any desirable size and taper; and it con-
sists, firstly, in the employment of suitable mechanical appliances in combina-
tion with the common rotary quarter holder, which embraces and holds the
quarters or square blocks to be cut, and discharges them after the cutting
operation, which appliances will admit of such adjustments being given to the
quarter holder, that tapering or straight bottle corks of different sizes may be
cut in the same machine by a very simple manipulation thereof, as will be
herein-after described.
The Invention consists, secondly, in a novel arrangement of devices combined
with an alternate reciprocating knife frame, which will be herein-after described,
for regulation the rotation, and the advancing and receding movement of the
revolving quarter holder, so that the quarters or rough pieces to be cut will
be automatically, and in a simple and correct manner, embraced by this
revolving head while being cut, and the corks will be discharged therefrom
afterwards at proper tinies with relation to the movement of the knives and
the quarter feeder.
The Invention consists, thirdly, in a novel manner of setting the knives
(which cut the corks) in the reciprocating frame, whereby they may be set at
any desired angle with a vertical line, or raised or depressed as the nature of
the work requires.
The Invention consists, fourthly, in the combination of certain appliances
with the quarter feeder or carrier, whereby the quarters or pieces of corks to
be cut will be automatically brought up to the revolving block or quarter
holder at the proper time to be embraced by the jaws of such holder, the
carrier or feeder being operated by a common knife frame, and a weight or

page_text: spring, and capable of being easily adjusted, and having its motions adapted to
the several adjustments of the revolving quarter holder, as will be herein-after
described.
'The first part of this Invention.is illustrated by Sheet I. of the accompanying
Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of an improved cork-wood
cutter, representing by the aid of red lines the moveable parts in two positions ;
Figure 2 is a transverse section taken through Figure 1 in the vertical plane
indicated by the red line x, x, thereon, showing the knife operating upon a
piece of cork wood. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in both Figures of this Sheet.
A, A, is a quadrilateral framework which contains and supports the mecha-
nism for cutting the cork wood. The two upper ends of the upright sides of
the frame A support a horizontal slide rest B, which extends the entire length
of the frame A, A; C is a sliding carriage, which receives an alternate reci-
"procating motion on the slide rest B, from a bell crank through a connecting
rad D, which is provided with a coupling link a for contracting or lengthening
the rod D according to the length of the movement which it is desired to give
to the carriage C. The carriage.C has a flange projecting down on each side
of the slide rest B, which flanges have V-grooves in them, into which the
edges of the slide rest B fit. This prevents any lateral play of the carriage,
and keeps it down on the slide rest during the longitudinal movement of the
carriage. On the top, and on each side of the carriage C is secured a bearing-
box 6 for the travelling rock shaft E, which shaft passes transversely over the
carriage C, and carries on one end the semicircular knife G shown in
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, and on the opposite end of the shaft E is
keyed a sector spur wheel H, both of which, that is, the knife G and sector H,
move in a vertical plane, and have an alternate reciprocating motion which
they receive from the carriage C. The teeth of the spurred sector H engage
with the teeth of a rack bar I, which bar is parallel with the slide rest B, and
is arranged below it on the back part of the frame A, A. This rack bar I
extends the entire length of the frame A, A, and gives a semi-rotary motion
to the sector H, and consequently to the knife G as the carriage is moved back
and forth on the slide rest. The rotary motion of the knife G will be in a
direction with the motion of the carriage C; J is the horizontal table on which
the work to be cut by the knife G is placed; and J' is a parallel bar which is
arranged behind the table, and is connected to the bottom of this table by
transverse rods c, c, and suitable set screws, which on being loosened will allow
the bar J¹ to be adjusted up to or away from the back edge of the table. This
bar J'.is used as the gauge bar for regulating the size of the slips and blocks
.

page_text: of cork to be cut, and therefore projects above the plane of the top of the
table. The table J is arranged under, the semi-circular knife G, so that the
plane of the face of the knife will be in a plane with the back edge of this
table; K is a perpendicular bar which projects down from the middle of the
table J through the horizontal bars L, L', which serve as guides for keeping
the bar K in a steady vertical position. The pieces d, d, which are secured
to and project from the bottom of the table J, rest on the upper horizontal
bar L' when the table is in the position shown in red lines, Figure 1. The
two guide-arms e, e, which project from each end. of the table J, and are
notched to fit the edges of the uprights A, A, serve to steady the table J in
its vertical movement. The table J being thus arranged receives a vertical
movement from the carriage C through the medium of the following arrange-
ment:-M is an upright lever, which is placed at one end of the machine, and
which has its fulcrum in a bracket M¹. The upper end of this lever projects
up as high as the carriage C, and its lower end projects below the bar L'.
The upper end of the lever M has an eye formed on it, into which is secured a
metal tube or socket f, which extends out a short distance from each side of
the lever in a direction with the length of frame A, A, and a pin g is placed
in one end of this socket f, behind which is a spring 9, and an adjusting
screw h. The lower end of the lever M is connected to two pair of upright
toggle levers N, N, by the jointed rod N¹. The lower ends of the levers N
are pivoted to each side of the bar L, as shown in Figure 2, and the upper
ends of these levers are pivoted to the vertical bar K at i, Figures 1 and 2,
and the end of the connecting rod N' is jointed to the levers N, N, at their
middle joints, so that by vibrating the lever M, these toggle levers N, N, will
alternately raise and depress the table J as represented in Figure 1 by the
red and black lines, which show the parts just described in their two positions.
In this Figure 1, a pin m is shown projecting from the bifurcated end of the
connecting rod N¹, for the purpose of stopping the toggle levers N, N, when
they are straightened out. The pin m for this purpose strikes the vertical
rod K when the table. J is at its highest point, and keeps the table at this point
until the toggle levers N, N, are tripped by the carriage C as will be herein-
after explained. On the opposite end of the frame A, A, to the lever M is a
short arm P.shown in Figure 1, which is pivoted at its lower end to the front side
and the end of the frame A, so that its upper end can vibrate back and forth.
The upper end of this pivoted arm P projects up above the slide rest B suffi-
ciently high to be struck by the carriage C, or a piece which projects from
this carriage to be explained hereafter. The arm P is connected with the
lever M by a horizontal rod P¹, which is jointed to the arm Pa suitable

page_text: distance from its pivot, and also jointed to the upper arm of the lever M;
S, S¹, are two straight pieces, which are secured to the top of the carriage C,
and which project from each end of this carriage a suitable distance; the
piece S¹ should be made adjustable in a direction with its length, so as to
strike the arm P when the carriage C moves to this end of the slide rest B,
and cause this arm to trip the toggle levers N, N, through the medium of the
connecting rod P₁, the lever M, and connecting rod N¹, and depress the
table J, and the piece S should be of a sufficient length to strike the upper
end of the lever M when the carriage returns to this end of the slide rest B,
and cause this lever to raise the table J to the position represented in
Figures 1 and 2, through the medium of the toggles N, N, and connecting
rod N as before described. The arrangement of a spring g' behind the piece g
is intended merely to relieve the lever M from concussion in consequence of
the piece on the carriage C striking it very hard.
The bar L, through which the bar K plays serves not only as a guide for
this bar K, but it serves also as a solid bed for the table.J to rest on when this
stable is in a depressed state. When the table J is in an elevated position, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, it is held in this position by the
toggle-levers N, N, together with the pin m, the end of which bears against the
vertical bar K; this pin-m allows the middle joints of the toggle levers to pass
behind a straight line drawn from the axes of the upper and lower joints of
these levers. The operation of the machine just described is as follows:-Let
it be supposed that the connecting rod D is properly adjusted lengthwise, and
connected to the bell crank of. a driving shaft, which in its revolutions will
give the carriage Can alternate reciprocating movement on its slide rest B,
and the teeth of the sector spur wheel, which engage with the rack I, will
give the shaft E.a rocking motion, which will be transmitted to the semi-
circular knife G; at the same time this knife will receive bodily a rectilinear
reciprocating motion from the carriage C. The table J being in the position
represented by red lines in Figure 1, the piece of cork to be cut by: the
knife G is placed on this table J, and brought up against the gauge bar J,
which should be properly adjusted to the size it is intended to cut. the pieces
of cork. The carriage C then moves up toward the lever M, carrying the
knife G over the piece of cork without the edge of the knife touching the
cork; and the piece S strikes the pin g on the upper end of the lever M, and
pushes this end of the lever back, which operation raises the table J to the
point represented in Figures 1 and 2. The carriage. C then returns to the
opposite end of the slide rest B, as represented in red lines, Figure 1, and in
this return movement the knife cuts off a slip from the piece of cork, as

page_text: shown in red lines in Figure 2. When the knife G has thus finished its
cutting, the piece S¹ pushes the upper end of arm P forward, and trips or
depresses the table J through the medium of the rod P', the lever M, the
rod N, and the toggles N, N, as before described. The several parts are now
in the position represented in red lines, Figure 1, and the knife G returns to
the opposite end of the slide rest without touching the piece of cork which is
supposed to be on the table J. Thus it will be seen that the table J is ope-
rated automatically by the movement of the knife carriage, so as to hold the
work up to the knife G as it approaches the arm P, and to release the work,
so as to allow it to be properly adjusted on the table J in the return stroke of
the carriage C or when the knife approaches the lever M. The sector spur
wheel H gives the knife a forward semi-rotary motion as this knife is moved
forward by the carriage C, and a reverse motion is imparted to the knife by
the sector H when the carriage C returns. The knife G will thus have 'two
motions, viz., a partial rotary motion and a rectilinear reciprocating motion.
The knife blade G is bolted to the segment represented in Figure 1, and this
segment may be removed from the rock shaft E for sharpening the knife. In
practice a groove will be cut into the top of the table J, along its back edge,
and just under the edge of the knife G, and this groove will be filled with
some soft wood for the purpose of enabling the knife G to cut close down to
the table without its edge becoming injured.
i
The second part of this Invention is illustrated in Sheet II. of the accom-
panying. Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine for
cutting corks, showing the several parts in their relative positions at the com-
mencement of the operation of cutting. Figure 2 is a plan view of the
machine, with the several parts in the same position as represented in
Figure 1. Figure 3 is an elevation of the machine, as seen from the right
band end, or that end which carries the "quarter" feeding arm. Figure 4 is
a perspective view of the "quarter" carrying fingers detached from 'the
machine. Similar letters of reference used on the several Figures of this Sheet
indicate corresponding parts.
The frame A is made of a rectangular form of suitable size, strength, and
material to contain and support the several parts of the machine; and within
this frame is arranged a horizontal sliding knife-frame B, which works in
suitable guide ways in a horizontal framework A', which projects from the
back and above the top of the frame A, and extends from end to end of this
frame. Projecting from and secured to the inside of this sliding knife-frame B
are four brackets a, a, a', a', which are adjustable up or down; and between
these- brackets the knife-heads C, C, are placed and secured by set screws

page_text: .c, c, c, c', which secure the heads to fixed horizontal rods d, d', upon which
⚫the knife-beads C, C, are placed, and which serve as pivots to secure these
-knife-heads to the brackets a, a, a, a, and to allow the heads to be moved
and the knives D, D¹ set to any desired pitch when the screws c, c, c¹, c¹ are
loosened. The knives D, D, are secured to the plane faces of these adjust-
able knife-heads C, C', in any suitable manner which will admit of the knives
-being detached from the heads for sharpening. The knives D, D¹, are straight
flat plates of the best steel, with straight edges, excepting one corner of the
.cutting edge of cach knife, which is slightly curved off to commence the cut.
The cutting edges of these knives should be kept about on a horizontal plane
with the axis of the cork to be cut, when it is held between the quarter holder,
and the faces of the knives should be slightly inclined from a vertical. line, so
that their edges only will touch the cork during their cutting operation. The
knife D', with its head C', is set further out from the face of the sliding
.frame B than the knife D, the object of which arrangement is to take off the
corners of the blank only with the foremost knife D, using the second knife
D' to finish the cork. These knives D, D', may thus be adjusted to a nicety,
so that they will perform their work without tearing the cork, and with a clear
.clean cut.
The knife-frame B is operated by a jointed connecting rod E, an arm E',
and a rock shaft E, which latter shaft receives its motion from the main
-rotating shaft F, through arms F1, F2, and a connecting rod Fo, seen in
Figure 1. A cord 6 is attached to the forward end of the sliding frame B,
which passes over a pulley b¹³, and carries a weight 63 on its lower end; this
weight 6 serves merely to equalize the movement of the frame B. On the
table or top of the frame A is placed an adjustable bed-plate G, which plate
.moves between two parallel transverse guide pieces e, e, arranged at the ends
of the bed-plate G. These transverse guides e, e, confine the bed-plate G
between them, and allow it to advance or recede from the knives D, D', and
keep it (G) parallel with the edges of the knives. The bed-plate G is secured
down to the table by clamp screws or other suitable means which will admit
of the aforesaid adjustment.. On this plate G; and at the point lettered fin
Figure 2, is pivoted at one end an adjustable bed-plate G', which plate carries
the mechanism for embracing and holding the "quarters" while they are cut
by the knives D, D¹. This mechanism consists of the common revolving
spring arbor g, which is mounted in bearing blocks h, h, h, which blocks are
secured to and project up from the pivoted plate G¹. The arbor or shaft g has
a hub i with a serrated surface secured to one end, opposite which is a semi-
.circular hub, which turns in the upper end of a bearing block h'; between

page_text: proper
these two hubs the "quarter" is received and held during the operation of the
knives D, D'. The rear end of the arbor 9 bears against a point behind
which is a spring enclosed within a hollow case j, which spring allows the
arbor g to be moved slightly back endwise to release the finished cork; and
this spring throws the arbor forward at the proper time to embrace a fresh
CE quarter." The arbor receives its end play from a forked lever arm 7, the
forked end of which grasps an annular grooved collar l', which is keyed to the
arbor 9.
The forked arm has its fulcrum pin at m in the middle bearing
block h; the fulcrum pin projects inwards toward the sliding frame B, and has
an arm n secured to it, which arm projects from the pin m nearly at right
angles to the upright arm l. From the end of the arm n projects (towards
the frame B) a friction roller n', which roller comes in contact with an inclined
plate p that projects from the sliding frame B, and allows this plate to raise
this end of the arm n and throw the arm back, which carries with it the
arbor g, and releases the finished cork from the hubs i, i, at the
time
for its discharge. At the same time the end of the lever n is raised by the
inclined plate p a slotted arm 1 is drawn under it, so as to keep it in its
elevated state, thus keeping the hubs i, i, separated until the proper time for
them to embrace another."quarter," which takes place subsequent to the
commencement of the cutting operation, as will be herein-after described.
The lower end of arm 1 is pivoted to the lower end of the adjustable bracket 2,
which bracket lies on the plate G₁, and is secured to this plate by a set screw 3;
the stem of which passes down, through a slot which is in the horizontal .part
of bracket arm 2. The slot will allow the arm to be adjusted'in a direction
with its length. The pivoted arm 1 may thus be brought nearer to or set
further from the sliding frame B. 4 is a fulcrum pin for arm 1, which pin
projects out at right angles from a horizontal sliding spring bar 5, which bar
is secured to the inside of frame A', directly under the sliding knife frame.B:
The fulcrum pin 4 projects through the slot in arm 1, and moves' this arm
from under the arm n. The spring 6 operates upon the bar 5 to move the
arm 1 back again under arm n when this arm is raised by the inclined plate p:
7 is a slotted horizontal bar, which is adjustable in a direction with its length,
which bar is secured to the lower edge of the knife frame B over the spring
bar 5. This bar 7 has a projection on the lower part of its forward end,
which projection comes in contact with a corresponding projection on the upper
side of the back end of bar 5 at a proper time when, the sliding knife frame B
is receding and moves this bar 5 slightly back, which operation moves the
arm 1 out from under the arm n, and allows this arm n to fall, which opera-
tion moves the arborg back (with the assistance of the spring in case..;) to

page_text: embrace a quarter to be cut during the advancing movement of the knife
frame B.
The arbor g is rotated during this advancing movement of the knife frame
B, or while the knives D, D¹, are operating by a pinion spur wheel 9 which is
on the arbor g, and which is attached to this arbor by a key tennon that will
admit of the above-mentioned end, play being given to the arbor, and which
will give a rotary movement to this arbor. The pinion 9 engages with a hori-
zontal pinion 10, which pinion is keyed to the upper end of the vertical shaft
11; this shaft passes down through the plate Gland G and table A, and carries
on its lower end a pinion 12, which pinion engages with a pinion 18 on a short
horizontal transverse shaft 14. This shaft 14 is hung below the table A in
bearing blocks, which are secured to plate G³, and which pass through the
adjustable bed plate G and table A, which are cut away for this purpose. The
shaft 14 carries on the end nearest the frame A¹ a grooved pulley wheel-15,
over which pulley is passed the weighted driving cord 16. This wheel 15 is set
so as to turn loosely on its shaft during the receding movement of the knife
frame B, and to turn the shaft during the advancing movement of this frame B
when the knives are operating; the common ratchet and pawl are used with
wheel 15 to give this latter motion to the shaft 14. The pulley cord 16 con-
nects with the back end of the knife frame B, passes over a grooved pulley H,
and is carried forward under the table A, and passed under and over pulley 15,
thence down and under a pulley which is attached to weight J, and finally it
is attached to the under side of the table A. The advancing and receding
movement of knife frame B combined with weight J will by this arrange
ment of the pulley cord 14 give an alternate rotating motion to the grooved
pulley wheel 15, and the rotating motion which this pulley 15 receives from
the knife frame B during its advancing movement will be transmitted to the
arbor g. by the appliances above described, and this arbor will rotate the
"quarter" during the operation of the knives D, D, in forming the cork.
Near the front or right-hand end of the frame A, and mounted on top of the
table A¹, is the "quarter" carrier or feeder which carries the "quarters"
placed into it by hand up to the quarter holders or hubs i, i, at the proper
time, to be embraced by these holders. This feeding mechanism is so adjust-
able that it can be made to operate in harmony with the forward end motion
of the arborg at any angle to which the arbor g may be set. For this purpose
the perpendicular stem 17 is secured at its lower end to a slotted portion 18,
which portion may be moved in a direction with its length, or it may be turned
around upon the table A by loosening the screw 19, which secures it to the
table. 20 is an arm which projects out at right angles to the stem 17, and

page_text: which moves loosely on this stem. This arm 20 has a slotted arm 21 attached
to it in such a manner that its end may be extended or brought nearer to the
stem 17. This latter arm 21 has a. vertical pins projecting up from its end,
which pin is operated upon by a curved spring cam plate K, which cam is
pivoted to the knife frame B, and gives a vibrating motion to the arms 20 and
21 as the knife frame B moves back: 22 is an adjustable stop pin for regu--
lating the movement of arms 20 and 21. Surrounding the fixed stem 17 is a.
tube 28, which is secured to and moves with the arms 20 and 21, and to the
upper end of which is secured a long horizontal arm 24, which carries the
device for grasping the "quarter" and delivering it to the hubs i, i. v is a
grooved palley which is secured to the tube 23, from which pulley a cord 25
is carried off and passed over pulley 26; a weight 27 is attached to the end of
cord 25, which weight moves the arms 20 and 21 and 24 back to their
original positions after the arm 21 is free from the cam K. The receding move-
ment of the cam K thus moves the arm 24 up to the hubs i,, and the weight
27 returns the arm 24 to its original position.
The device which grasps and carries the "quarters" up to the hubs, and
which leaves the "quarters" between the hubs after they grasp it, consists of
two fingers 28, 29, the latter of which is simply a spring plate, which is.
secured to the former a suitable distance from it to grasp and hold the
"
quarter" when slipped under it. These fingers are made vertically adjust-
able on the end of a horizontal arm 30, which arm is pivoted to the end of
arm 24, and has a slotted sector projection 31, which will allow the arm 30 to'
be adjusted and set nearer to or further from the hubs i,, by a set screw z.:
The vertical adjustment of the fingers 28 and 29 will allow them to be set so
that "quarters" of any thickness may be brought properly within the embrace
of the hubs, . This latter adjustment of the fingers, combined with the
lateral adjustment of the arın 30, will allow the fingers to be set so that the
centre of the "quarter" will be placed exactly in a line with the axes of the:
hubs i,, when the fingers with the "quarter" are carried between said hubs.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-Motion being communicated
to the horizontal driving shaft F by any convenient power, an alternate ricipro-
cating motion is given the knife-carrying frame B, which motion transmits to.
the arbor g an intermittent rotary motion in a direction towards the edges of
the knives through the medium of the weighted cord 16, grooved pulley 15,
with its ratchet and pawl shaft 14, and bevil pinion spur wheels 13, 12, 10,
and 9. The frame B also operates the arbor g with an endwiso motion, and it
gives a vibratory motion to the quarter carrying fingers 28 and 29, causing.
these fingers to bring the quarter up to the end of arbor g, to be embraced by

page_text: it at a proper time. These movements cause the following effects to be pro-
duced through the respective agencies of parts herein-after detailed in their
regular order of action. We will suppose the several parts in the position
represented in Figure 1 of the Drawings with a "quarter" to be cut properly
placed between the fingers 28 and 29, and the fingers brought up (the mecha-
nism carrying the fingers being properly adjusted) between the hubs i, i, by the
cam K on the frame B during the receding movement of the frame B; and
we will also suppose that the projection on the end of bar 7 on frame B has
moved the bar 5 and dropped lever n, so as to allow the spring in case ; to
force the end of arbor g tightly up against the "quarter," so that the " quarter"
is embraced between the hubs i, i, ready to be operated upon by the knives
D, D. The knife frame B now advances up to the quarter between
hubs i, t, and before the knives commence to form the cork, the blank carrying
fingers 28 and 29 should be in the position represented in red lines Figure 2,
réády to receive a fresh "quarter."
The advancing movement of the frame B slackens the cord 16, and the
weight J draws this cord over the pulley 15, and rotates this pulley, which
now gives motion to the arbors g, as before described, and this arbor g rotates
the "quarter." The knife D now commences to cut and to take off the
corners of the "quarter," after which the cork is finished by the succeeding
knife D Immediately after the knife D¹ leaves the cork or ceases cutting,
the inclined plate p on frame B will raise the end of lever n, and force back
the arm 1, which will move the arbor back, and release the finished cork; the
short arm 1 will be drawn under arm n at the same time this arm is raised
by the spring 6, which spring will also move back the bar 5. The arm 1
will keep the arm n up, and the arbor g in the position described, until the
frame B returns and places the "quarter" carrier with a fresh quarter between
the hubs . The frame B now recedes without rotating the arbor g, and
the cam K is brought into contact with the pinion arın 21, and this arm 21
is-moved back until the fingers 28 and 29 have carried a quarter between the
hubs i, . The frame B now moves still further back, and the projection on
bar 7 moves back the bar 5, and the arm i, which is connected with it, is thus
drawn out from under the arm n, allowing this arm to fall, and the spring in
case to force the arbor g forward to embrace the fresh "quarter." In this
manner the operation is continued, and a cork is cut at each advancing
movement of the knife frame, while (during the receding movement of this
frame) a fresh 'quarter is placed between the hubs i, i, by the fingers 28
and 29. The horizontal plate or bed-piece G may be moved up towards or
drawn out from the knives by loosening the screws t, t, which secure it down

page_text: to the table A; by thus adjusting the bed-plate G, the arbor g, with the
mechanism for operating it, will be moved with the plate G, and by this
transverse adjustment "quarters" of any size may be presented to the knives
D, D, and cut to any desirable gauge or diameter. The bed-plate G¹, which
is pivoted at one end to the lower transversely adjustable plate G, and to
which all the inechanism for embracing and rotating the "quarter" and
discharging the finished cork, is secured, has a horizontal adjustment, and in
this adjustment it describes a short arc from the pivot f. wis a set screw;
which passes through a curved slot y in plate G at the opposite end of this
plate G¹ to the pivot f, which screw secures the plate G¹ and the arbor g at
any desirable angle with the edges of knives D, D¹. Now, by this last
adjustment of the plate G' the axis of arbor 9 may be set at any desirable
angle with the edges of the knives so that a cylindrical cork or a cork having
any desirable degree of taper may be cut by the knives D, D'.. After
adjusting the bed-plate G to the diameter of the cork to be cut, and the
plate G¹ to the desirable taper of the cork, it is necessary to adjust the
quarter carrying fingers 28 and .29 'so that they will place the."quarters".
properly between the hubs i, i, in harmony with the end movement of the
arborg to receive the quarters. The adjustment of the knife heads C, C¹,
admit of any degree of pitch to be given to the knives D, D', and, thus their
cutting edges may be set so as to cut the corks large or small to a great
advantage in the saving of stock.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to
me as aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as
aforesaid :-
First, the use of the semicircular knife G, rock shaft E, spur wheel H,
rack I, in combination with the reciprocating carriage C and slide rest B, for
the purposes herein specified.
Second, I claim the combination with the reciprocating knife carriage C
and knife G, of the lever M, connecting rod N³, toggles N, N, stop pin m,
pivoted arm P, connecting rod P³, vertical bar K, and table J, suitably
arranged and made to operate automatically, for the purpose of holding the
work or block up to the knife during the cutting operation, and afterwards
5 clearing the work from the knife during its return movement, as herein set
forth.
Third, I claim the use of a bed-plate in combination with a table made
laterally adjustable for the purpose of adjusting the mechanism which rotates
the "quarter" or block during the operation of the knives upon it, so that

page_text: the machine may be adapted to cut corks of different diameters, as herein
set forth; and in combination with this lateral adjustment of the "quarter"
holder and its accessories I claim a second' adjustable bed-plate arranged on
the first bed-plate, 'on which it is pivoted at one end, and otherwise arranged
as set forth for giving any desired agree. of taper to the corks.
Fourth, I claim the combination with the horizontal reciprocating.knife
frame of an inclined plate and pivoted arm, and also a second shaft and arm,
and a grooved collar with a pivoted arm and horizontal bar on a frame with
a spring and bar on the knife frame, all arranged and operating as herein
described and represented.
Fifth, I claim making the horizontal knives adjustable on the knife frame,
so that these knives may be adjusted vertically and at the same time that
they may be pitched to any desirable angle with a vertical line.
Sixth, I claim the use of extension arms, an adjustable stem or post and
tube, and a quarter or block carrier arm, and an adjustable pivoted arm and
pulley wheel, with its weight and cord, in combination with a cani on the
knife frame, for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)