Improvements in Cork Rounding or Cutting Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1892-Accepted, 16th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cork Rounding or Cutting Machines.
I FRANK MITCHELL of Lander House, Wood Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of cork rounding or cutting
machine, and it consists in making the platform carrying the cutting knife
stationary, and in mounting the chuck adapted to carry the cork on a bed which
is capable of being raised and lowered, and also tilted as required to cut corks of
any given size or taper; the object being to facilitate the operation of rounding
or cutting corks, and the simplicity of the construction of the machines used for
that purpose.
I attain this end in the following manner :-
I mount or form the platform adapted to carry the cutting knife on the main
frame of the machine, and I mount the cutting knife on it either in the ordinary
manner, or on two large flanged pulleys mounted on the said platform so that the
platten carrying the knife moves on the rotating wheels. On to the underside of
the platform or frame is pivotted either by coned centres, or by a coned pin, or
by any other suitable method whereby all side-shake due to wear may be taken up,
a plate or leaf, on to the free end of which is pivotted by coned centres, or by any
other suitable method whereby all side-shake due to wear may be taken up, a
platform adapted to carry the chuck for carrying the cork, and its operating gear,
which latter is of the usual type. The free end of this platform and also the end
of the plate or leaf to which the said platform is fulcrated are provided with
adjustable screws whereby their respective heights with respect to the platform
carrying the cutting knife may be varied to suit the size of the cork to be cut, or
the taper to be given to it. These adjusting screws may be worked by means of
hand wheels, levers, or other equivalent devices. The chuck may be either of the
ordinary and well-known type, or it may be constructed in the following manner :-
The fixed head of the chuck is mounted in the ordinary manner, but the adjustable
one is adjustably mounted in the end of the vertical arm of an L-shaped lever, the
horizontal arm of which is fulcrated to the end of the adjustable platform by
coned pins or their equivalents, the point of fulcration being adjustable to enable
the chuck to take corks of various lengths. This adjustable head of the chuck is
closed up to be fixed one, through a suitable foot lever and connection, the weight
of the L-shaped arm being sufficient to bring it back without the use of a spring.
To lift the platform for the second cut, the end carrying the chuck is fitted with
the usual lifting gear operated by a foot lever.
Instead of fulcrating the platform carrying the chuck to a plate or leaf fulcrated
to the main frame, I sometimes fulcrate it to a bracket or standard capable of a
vertical adjustment with respect to the main frame, and in this case I dispense
with one of the adjustment screws.
1001
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cork Rounding or Cutting Machines.
I FRANK MITCHELL of Lander House, Wood Green in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, 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 an improved construction of cork rounding or cutting
machine, and it consists in making the platform carrying the cutting knife stationary,
and in mounting the chucks adapted to carry the cork on a bed which is capable
of being raised and lowered and also tilted as required to cut corks of any given
size and taper; the object being to facilitate the operation of rounding or cutting
corks, and to simplify the construction of the machines used for that purpose.
.
I attain this end in the following manner :-I mount or form the platforin adapted
to carry the cutting knife on the main frame of the machine, and I mount the
cutting knife on it in the ordinary manner. On to the platform or frame is pivotted
-either by coned centres, or on a coned pin, or in any other suitable manner
whereby all side-shake due to wear may be taken up-a plate or leaf, to the free
end of which is pivotted by coned centres or by any other suitable method whereby
all side-shake due to wear may be taken up, a platform adapted to carry the chucks
to carry the cork and its operating gear, which is of the usual type. This plat-
form and also the plate or leaf to which the said platform is fulcrated are provided
with adjusting screws whereby their respective heights and angles with respect to
the platform carrying the cutting knife may be varied to suit the size of the cork
to be cut, or the taper to be given to it. These adjusting screws may be worked by
means of hand wheels, levers, or other equivalent devices.
The chucks may be either of the ordinary and well-known type, or they may be
constructed in the ordinary manner :-
-The "head chuck" is mounted and driven
in the ordinary manner, but the "adjustable chuck" is adjustably mounted in the
end of the vertical arm of an L-shaped lever, or its equivalent, the horizontal arm
of which is fulcrated to the end of the adjustable platform by coned pins or their
equivalents, the point of fulcration being adjustable to enable the chucks to take
corks of various lengths. The "adjustable chuck" is closed up to the fixed one
through a suitable foot lever and connection, the weight of the L-shaped arm
being sufficient to bring it back without the use of a spring. To lift the plat-
form for the second cut, the end carrying the chucks is provided with a hand
lever.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 Sheet No. I is a perspective view in front elevation of the complete
machine.
Figure 2 Sheet No. 2 is a view in plan of the underside of the leafs or platforms
constituting my invention.
Figure 3 Sheet No. 3 is a broken view in longitudinal section on line x, x,
Figure 2.
Figure Sheet No. 3 is a view in transverse section on line y, y, Figure 2, and
Figure 5 Sheet No. 3 is a view in transverse section on line z,, Figure 2.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to the drawings; A designates the main frame of the machine.
B designates the platen carrying the cutting knife C. D designates the leaf or
plate fulcrated to the main frame by coned centre screws d, d, or their equivalent.
E designates the platform adapted to carry the chucks and the driving gear,
which latter is of the usual type actuated by the movement of the platen carrying
the knife. This platform E is fulcrated to the free end of the leaf or plate Ď by
coned centre screws e, e, or their equivalents, as shown by Figure 2 Sheet No. 2,
I

page_text: The free end of the leaf or plate D is adjusted vertically by means of the hand :
wheel F threaded on to the screw F fixed to the main frame and bearing against
the underside of the said leaf or plate, as shown by Figure 2 Sheet No. 2. The
platform E is adjusted or tilted by means of the hand wheel G threaded on to the
screw G¹ fixed to the main frame and bearing against the underside of the said
platform or against a bracket or arm formed on or fixed thereto as shown by
Figure 5, Sheet No. 3. H designates the "fixed chuck" which is mounted
on the end of the platform E and is driven by the usual operating mechanism.
H' designates the adjustable chuck " which is adjustably mounted in the end of
the vertical arm of an L-shaped lever J fulcrated by coned centre pins j, j, or
their equivalents to a block J adapted to slide on an extension E' of the plat-
form E and capable of being locked thereto by the set screw 7¹. The end of the
horizontal arm of the lever or bracket J is connected with the treadle lever K by
means of a flexible connection k so that the "adjustable chuck" H can be operated
by the foot in the usual manner to grip and hold the cork. By correctly distri-
buting the weight in the lever or bracket J the "adjustable chuck" will recede
from the "fixed chuck" by its own weight when the pressure on the treadle lever
is released.
When it is desired to raise the chucks for the second cut a lever L is mounted
on the top of the boss of the wheel F, so that by slightly pressing its free end
down its end on the boss of the wheel is canted and thus slightly raises the leaf
or plate D.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations
as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The improvements in cork cutting or rounding machines as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a cork cutting or rounding machine, mounting the platform carrying the
cutting knife on the main frame of the machine and imparting the necessary
movement to the chucks carrying the cork for varying the size of the cork to be
cut or the taper to be given to it, as set forth.
3. In a cork cutting or rounding machine, mounting the platform carrying the
cutting knife in a slide formed on or fixed to the bed of the main frame, and
mounting the chucks for carrying the cork on a platform fulcrated indirectly to
the main frame through a second leaf, plate, or equivalent so that the said plat-
form may be capable of adjustment in a vertical direction or tilted longitudinally
as and for the purpose set forth.
"
4. In a cork cutting or rounding machine, mounting the "adjustable chuck" on
an L-shaped lever or bracket so fulcrated that it recedes from the "fixed chuck
by its own weight without the use of springs or the like, as and for the purpose set
forth.
on
5. In a cork cutting or rounding machine, mounting the "adjustable chuck"
an L-shaped lever or bracket fulcrated to a block or bracket capable of longi-
tudinal adjustment with respect to the "fixed chuck" and adapted to be brought
towards the said "fixed chuck" to grip the cork to be cut by the usual treadle
lever and to recede from the said "fixed chuck" by its own weight when the
pressure on the treadle lever is released, as set forth.
6. In a cork cutting or rounding machine, mounting the platform carrying the
cutting knife in a slide formed on or fixed to the bed of the main frame, mounting
the chucks for carrying the cork on a platform fulcrated indirectly to the main
frame through a second leaf, plate, or its equivalent so that the said platform may
be capable of adjustment in a vertical direction or tilted longitudinally, and

page_text: "
mounting the "adjustable chuck" on an L-shaped lever or bracket fulcrated to a
block or bracket capable of longitudinal adjustment with respect to the "fixed
chuck" and adapted to be brought towards the said "fixed chuck to grip the
cork to be cut by the usual treadle lever and to recede from the said "fixed
chuck by its own weight when the pressure on the treadle lever is released, as
set forth.
"
1
1000
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.