Improvements in Guillotine Paper-cutting Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th Sept., 1890--Accepted, 11th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Guillotine Paper-cutting Machines.
We LEONARD UPCOTT GILL of 170 Strand, London, Publisher and ALFRED
BRADLEY of 37 Surrey Street, Strand, London, Printer's Overseer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
Our invention has reference to guillotine paper cutting machines such as are used
for cutting the edges of books, pamphlets or folded newspapers, and it relates more
particularly to machines in which the operator feeds the paper or material from
that side of the machine which faces the flat or cutting edge of the knife instead of
from that side which faces the bevelled or chamfered edge as has been the usual
practice hitherto. The operator in feeding from the side that faces the flat edge
need not as in feeding from the other side pass bis hands under the cutting
knife.
According to an invention adapted to allow of feeding from the side that faces the
flat edge and described in a Provisional Specification of Leonard Upcott Gill dated
13 March 1889 No. 4409 a travelling adjustable gauge or stop is used on the
opposite side of the machine facing the bevelled or chamfered edge of the knife,
and the edges of the books, pamphlets &c. to be cut are pushed under the knife
against this gauge or stop. But with that machine when a pile of pamphlets or
newspapers has to be dealt with it occasionally happens that owing to some of them
being badly folded the edges, particularly at what is known as the "fore edge
present an irregular surface, some pages projecting considerably further than others,
the result of this is that as the projecting parts come first against the gauge or stop
they determine the line of cut which is consequently too near the edge of the pile
and therefore an allowance has to be made for the projecting edges an average cut
being taken.
Now according to our invention while still feeding from the side of the machine
that faces the flat or cutting edge of the knife we employ gauges and stops at this
same side of the machine, these gauges and stops acting not in conjunction with that
edge of the pile of pamphlets or newspapers which has to be cut, but in conjunction
with the opposite edge; that is to say if the fore-edge has to be cut the corre-
sponding gauge or stop will act in conjunction with the opposite or back edge the
line of cut being at the gauged distance from this edge; or if the "tail" or bottom
edge has to be cut the corresponding gauge or stop will similarly act in conjunc-
tion with the "head or top edge which like the back edge is always sufficiently
even.
One manner in which our invention can be carried into effect is as follows:
Supposing the apparatus is intended to cut three edges, viz., the "tail," the "fore-
edge
"and the head; we place under the feed board two superposed plates each of
them being adjustable by means of screws or otherwise so as to vary the gauge or cut
as required. The rear ends or other parts of these plates respectively constitute the
gauges to the three edges to be cut. 'Upon a vertical rod which is free to be moved
behind the plates along a longitudinal slot in the feed board are mounted two stop
pieces at different heights corresponding with the two plates. The rod is free to be
turned on its axis and has attached to it a vertical plate or pusher of 1-form above
the feed board. The action is as follows:-Supposing it is desired to cut the three
edges above referred to the head of the pile is placed in front of one of the angles of
the 1-pusher and this pusher is then pushed forward with the pile until the corre-
sponding stop piece comes against its plate; the knife next comes down and performs
the cut; the pile is then drawn back drawing the pusher with it; this is then turned
round (with the pile) so as to cause its long side to face the knife, the stop pieces

page_text: turning with it. The pusher is then again advanced, pushing the fore-edge under
the knife, the distance being controlled by the corresponding stop piece. The pile
is once more drawn back, the pusher again turned and the pile with the tail (already
cut even) placed in front of the other angle, the pusher is advanced as before,
the head or top edge is cut and the pile (now completely trimmed) drawn back
and removed. The order of the cuts can be varied if desired. The backward and
forward and turning movements of the pusher can be given manually or mechanically
as may be arranged.
According to another manner of carrying out the invention we employ a disc
which is free to move forwards and backwards in a slot in the feed board; this disc
has in its periphery adjustable or set screws which may be at 90° from cach other;
the disc can turn on a horizontal axis and whichever screw is for the time being
at the front regulates the cut by coming against an abutment which may be the
end of the slot. When the disc is moved back with the pile after the cut it receives
a quarter turn either automatically or manually. The disc has upright pins or plates
to serve as pushers to the pile of paper.
In practice it may be found more convenient to adapt the apparatus above
described to gauge only the tails and the fore-edges of the piles and to have the
heads or top edges gauged by a gauge or stop on the other side of the knife
arranged for example as in the machine described in the Provisional Specification
already referred to, this gauge being automatically kept sufficiently far from the
knife to be clear of the fore-edges and tails when these are pushed forward to
be cut.
Dated this 10th day of December 1889.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Guillotine Paper-cutting Machines.
We LEONARD UPCOTT GILL of 170 Strand, London, Publisher, and ALFRED
BRADLEY of 37 Surrey Street, Strand, London Printer's Overseer, 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:-
Our invention has reference to guillotine paper cutting machines such as are used
for cutting the edges of books, pamphlets or folded newspapers and it relates more
particularly to machines in which the operator feeds the paper or material from
that side of the machine which faces the flat or cutting edge of the knife instead
of from that side which faces the bevelled or chamfered edge as has been the
usual practice hitherto. The operator in feeding from the side that faces the flat
edge need not as in feeding from the other side pass his hands under the cutting
knife.
According to an invention adapted to allow of feeding from the side that faces
the flat edge and described in the Specification of Leonard Upcott Gill's Patent
dated 13th March 1889 No. 4409 a travelling adjustable gauge or stop is used on
the opposite side of the machine facing the bevelled or chamfered edge of the knife,
and the edges of the books, pamphlets &c. to be cut are pushed under the knife
against this gauge or stop. But with that machine when a pile of pamphlets or
newspapers has to be dealt with it occasionally happens that owing to some of them
being badly folded the edges, particularly at what is known as the fore-edge,"
present an irregular surface, some pages projecting considerably further than others;
the result of this is that as the projecting parts come first against the gauge or
stop they determine the line of cut which is consequently too near the edge of the
pile and therefore an allowance has to be made for the projecting edges an average
cut being taken.

page_text: .
Now according to our invention while still feeding from the side of the machine
that faces the flat or cutting edge of the knife we employ gauges and stops at this
same side of the machine, these gauges and stops acting not in conjunction with
that edge of the pile of pamphlets or newspapers which has to be cut but in
conjunction with the opposite edge; that is to say if the fore edge has to be cut the
corresponding gauge or stop will act in conjunction with the opposite or back edge,
the line of cut being at the gauged distance from this edge; or if the "tail"
bottom edge has to be cut the corresponding gauge or stop will similarly act in con-
junction with the "head" or top edge, which like the back edge is always sufficiently
even.
.
or
One manner in which our invention can be carried into effect is as follows:
Supposing the apparatus is intended to cut three edges, viz. the "tail," the "fore-
edge and the "head,"-
-we place under the feed board two superposed blocks or
plates, each of them being adjustable by means of screws or otherwise so as to vary
the gauge or cut as required. The rear ends or other parts of these blocks or plates
respectively constitute the gauges to the three edges to be cut. Upon a vertical rod
which is free to be moved behind the plates along a longitudinal slot in the feed
board are mounted two stop pieces at different heights corresponding with the two
blocks or plates. The rod is free to be turned on its axis and has attached to it a
vertical plate or pusher of 1-form above the feed board.
This manner of carrying our invention into effect is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4
of the accompanying drawings which represent so much of a guillotine paper cutting
machine as is necessary for the purpose of explanation. Figure 1 is a vertical section
on the line 1-1 of Figure 2 and Figure 2 a plan showing the lower stop piece lin
the operating position, and Figures 3 and 4 are corresponding views showing the
upper stop piece 12 in the operating position. a is the guillotine knife or cutter,
b an undercutter bar, ca shoot to carry off the cuttings; d is the usual clamp which
descends slightly in advance of the knife so as to hold the pile of paper during the
cutting operation. e is the pile of paper, f is the feed board and g a longitudinal
recess or slot therein forming a guideway for the stop-pieces. m and m¹ are the two
superposed blocks which constitute the gauges. 1 and 12 are the lower and upper
stop pieces respectively. The gauges m and m¹ are situated at the knife end of the
recess g in the feed board and their position, that is to say, their distance from the
knife, can be adjusted as required by means of the screws a and a working in nuts
on the blocks and extending to the rear of the feed board where they are fitted with
milled heads for turning them. The stop pièce is a bar fixed on the pin or
rod n and the stop piece 2 is a similar bar also fixed on the pin n at right angles to
the stop piece. Fixed to the pin n is an upright plate or board w which carries
another plate or board wl at right angles thereto, the two plates or boards forming
together a pusher of 1-form. The board w¹ is formed with dovetails and into the
dovetail on the one side or the other of the junction with the board w a dovetail
filling-in piece A is inserted, the thickness of this piece being equal to the width of
the cut at the tail of the pile. The action of this machine is as follows:-The gauges
or blocks m m¹ having been adjusted, the head of a pile of paper, of which it is
desired to trim or cut the head, the tail, and the fore-edge, is placed in front of the
angle of the 1-piece or pusher w w which has not the filling-in piece A and so as
to rest partly on the plate s. The piece w w¹ is then pushed forward until the lower
stop piece comes against the lower gauge m (see Figures 1 and 2), the front end
of the stop piece 12 entering a recess made for the purpose in the gauge m'. The
knife then comes down and performs the cut say of the tail. The pile is then drawn
back together with the piece w w¹; this piece is then given a quarter turn (with the
pile) so as to cause the side of the part w to face the knife (Figures 3 and 4), the
stop pieces 11 13 turning with it. The piece or pusher is then again advanced pushing
the fore-edge under the knife, the distance being controlled by the stop piece 12
coming against the gauge m¹, the front end of the stop piece l' entering a recess j in
the gauge m. The knife a then descends and makes the cut. The pile which has
thus been trimmed at the tail and the fore-edge is then drawn back together with.

page_text: the piece or pusher ww; this piece is given a quarter tura in the reverse direction
(to the position seen in Figures 1 and 2) and the pile is transferred to the other
angle of the 1-piece, that is to say with its tail against the filling-in piece A.
A second pile of paper can now be placed with its head, in the other angle of
the 1-piece. The 1-piece is then pushed forward with the two piles until the
lower stop piece l¹ comes against the gauge m; the knife descends and simultaneously,
cuts the head of the first pile and the fail of the second. The first pile is there-
fore entirely trimmed and when the two piles and 1-piece are again drawn back
can be removed. The second pile is now given a quarter turn and again advanced
to have its fore-edge cut. On being again drawn back it is in its turn transferred
to the other angle of the 1-piece and a third pile inserted in its place, and so on.
Filling or regulating pieces such as A of various thicknesses can be provided and be
secured in dovetails in the board w¹ on either side or both sides of the board was
desired; they can be employed as means of 'adjustment in combination with or
instead of the adjustment by means of the screws r¹ as already described.
According to another manner of carrying out the invention we employ a disc or
carrier which is free to move forwards and backwards in a slot in the feed board; this
disc has in its periphery adjustable or set screws which may be at 90° from each
other; the disc can turn on a vertical axis, and whichever screw is for the time
being at the front acts as the gauge or stop and regulates the cut by coming against
an abutment which may be the end of the slot. When the disc is moved back with
the pile after the cut it receives a quarter turn either automatically or manually. The
disc has upright pins or plates to serve as pushers to the pile of paper.
Figure 5 is a section on the broken line 1-1 of Figure 6 representing the con-
struction just described.
Figure 6 is a plan of the same and shows in dotted lines the carrier or disc h and
the plate s in the act of turning on the first catch pin gl. These views represent
the gauges in their most forward position, that is to say, the position they occupy at the
time of the cut.
Figure 7 is a section on the line 2-2 Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a plan showing in dotted lines the carrier h and the plates in the act
of turning on the second catch pin q².
Figure 9 is a view of the underside of the gauge carrier and gauges.
a is the guillotine knife or cutter, 6 an under cutter bar, c a shoot to carry off the
cuttings, d is the usual clamp which descends slightly in advance of the knife so as to
hold the pile of paper during the cutting operation. e Figure 5, is the pile of paper
is the feed board and g a longitudinal recess or slot therein forming a guideway for
the gauge carrier and gauges; is the gauge carrier; it is formed with a flange i at
top to rest upon ledges k k on the feed board. 1, 12, 13, 14 are four gauges only three
of which however will be required for most purposes. These gauges are in the form
of screws which can be screwed more or less into the carrier / so as to regulate the
width of cut by causing them in their forward movement to come later or sooner into
contact with the stop m. nn are pins (an upright plate may be used in combination
with or in lieu thereof) standing up from the gange carrier to form a bearing for the
hack edge of the pile of papers to be cut. oo are gauge pins (one or more of which
may be used) against which the "head" of the pile is placed. The position of these
pins o is adjustable and this can conveniently be effected by having holes to receive
them at different distances, from the edge of the feed board. pp are recesses in the
corners of the lower edge of the carrier h. q q² are pivoted catch pins projecting
through holes in the bottom of the recess 9 so as in the backward travel of the
carrier to catch in one of the recesses and thereby cause the carrier to turn in a
horizontal plane. s is a horizontal plate of any convenient shape and dimensions
fixed to the carrier h for the purpose of partly supporting the pile of paper. It is
shown in dots in Figure 6 and in full lines in Figure 8 both in the forward
position.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The gauge carrier being in its back
position the pile of papers (say folded magazines) is placed upon the plates with the

page_text: 19
Three
back" edge against the upright pins n n and its head against the pins o o.
of the gauges 1, 12, 13 have of course been previously adjusted according to the width
of cut of the tail, fore-edge and head respectively. The pile is then pushed forward
by haud together with the gauge carrier until the gauge which for the time being
faces the knife, say the gauge l', comes against the stop m. In this forward move-
ment the catch pins q', q² do not act but move out of the way as indicated in dotted
lines in Figure 5. The knife a then comes down and effects the cut of say the tail of
the pile. The pile is now drawn back together with the carrier, and in this move-
ment one of the recesses p of the carrier comes in contact with the catch pin q¹ which
causes the carrier, to turn a quarter round together with the pile of papers so that the
next gauge and the fore edge of the pile face the knife. This backward movement
of the carrier is not continued so far as the second catch pin q². The carrier and pile
are then again moved forward until the gauge 12 comes against the stop m.
The
knife which has in the meantime risen again descends and cuts the fore-edge. The
backward and forward movements are then again repeated the gauge coming
against the stop m and the head of the pile being cut. In the next following or third
backward movement as the fourth edge of the pile has not to be cut the carrier is
drawn back to the full extent, that is to say sufficiently far for the second catch pin q*
to act upon it. It therefore gets two quarter turns and is brought into position for the
first cut of the next pile of papers. The cut pile is now removed, a fresh pile put on
the plates and the series of movements already described is repeated. If the machine
be required for trimming piles of printed sheets on all four edges all the gauges will
come into the operating position in succession, the carrier never being moved back as
far as the catch pin q². The gauge screws 1, 12, 13, 14 will also be all screwed up to the
same gauge if it be desired to cut an equal amount of all the four edges of the sheets.
Figure 10 is a vertical section on the line 1-1 of Figure 11.
Figure 11 a plan and
Figure 12 a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 10 illustrating a modification of the
machine shown in Figures 5 to 9.
In this modification the gauge carrier h has at its underside studs or projections t t
which run in longitudinal grooves u u, and these grooves are at their rear end
widened out as seen at v so as to allow of the carrier / being turned round by hand
when in its drawn back position. The carrier is shown with only one upright pin p
and to this pin an upright plate or board w is affixed against which the back edge of
the pile of papers is placed.
In practice it may be found more convenient to adapt the apparatus above described
to gauge only the tails and the fore-edges of the piles and to have the heads or top
edges gauged by a gauge or stop on the other side of the knife arranged for example
as in the machine described in the Specification already referred to, this gauge being
automatically kept sufficiently far from the knife to be clear of the fore edges and
tails when these are pushed forward to be cut.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a guillotine paper cutting machine the combination with a feedboard at the
side of the machine that faces the flat or cutting edge of the knife, of stop pieces or
gauges adapted to be brought successively or as required into the operative position
and to be moved with the material to be cut in or on the feed board toward and from
the knife, and of a stop or stops to limit the forward movement of the said stop pieces
or gauges, the acting faces of the said stop pieces or gauges and of the said stop or
stops being adjustable relatively to each other so that the width of the several cuts
can be varied as required, substantially as set forth.
2. In a guillotine paper cutting machine the combination with a feed board at the
side of the machine that faces the flat or cutting edge of the knife, of gauges adapted
to be moved with the material to be cut in or on the feed board toward and from the

page_text: knife and brought automatically in succession into the operative position, and of a
stop to limit the forward movement of the said gauges, substantially as set forth.
3. In a guillotine paper cutting machine the combination with a feed board f
having a longitudinal recess or slot 9, of the adjustable stops or gauges m, m
(Figures 1 to 4) and the stop pieces 1, 12 capable of turning with a rod or pin n
which carries a pusher or push piece w w¹ and is adapted to move with the stop pieces
and pusher in the said longitudinal recess or slot, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. In a guillotine paper cutting machine the combination with the feed board f
having a longitudinal recess or slot g of a stop m (Figures 5 to 9) and a gauge
carrier having adjustable gauges affixed thereto, the said gauge carrier being
adapted to he moved to and fro in the said recess and to be turned in a horizontal
plane so as to bring any one of its gauges into the operative position, substantially as
set forth.
5. In a guillotine paper cutting machine, a gauge carrier h adapted to be moved to
and fro with the material to be cut, said gauge carrier having adjustable gauges
affixed thereto and recesses at its lower edge in combination with a pivotted catch pin
adapted to engage with any one of the said recesses, whereby in the backward travel of
the said carrier the carrier is caused to make a quarter turn on its axis in a horizontal
plane, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The pivotted catch pin q2 in combination with the travelling gauge carrier h
having recesses at its lower edge and with the pivotted catch pin q', whereby when
the carrier is moved sufficiently far in its backward travel it receives first a quarter
turn from the catch pin q' and then a second quarter turn from the catch pin q², sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination with the gauge carrier h adapted to travel to and fro in or on
the feed board, and with the stop m, of the upright pins n n and horizontal plates,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. The several arrangements hereinbefore described and represented in the
accompanying drawings for feeding paper to guillotine cutting machines.
Dated this 1st day of September 1800.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.