AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TWINE CUTTER
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF
TWINE CUTTER."-A communication from abroad by Charles Carring-
ton Lewis, of Gainesville, in the State of Alabama, United States of
America.
Sealed the 3rd April 1872, and dated the 2nd November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd November 1871.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION
OF TWINE CUTTER," to be as follows:-
:―
This Invention relates to a novel implement to be used in shops and
warehouses for the purpose of cutting twine and cord used for the tying
of packages, and it consists chiefly in applying the cutter to a pivoted
balance weight which is connected by a link with a sliding bed on which

page_text: the twine is cut. The cutter rod is suspended in the upper end of the
balance weight, and the blade slides in guides formed in the frame of the
instrument. The cutter rod is furnished with a knob, by pressing on
which the instrument is set in action. The twine is led from a ball or
recl through the balance weight, and as the cutter is depressed the
sliding bed is drawn in, and it is moved out subsequently to bring the
end of the twine or cord within convenient reach for future use. A
spring holds the twine in contact with the movable bed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Alfred
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,
my exccutors, 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
"AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TWINE CUTTER," being a communication to
me from abroad by Charles Carrington Lewis, of Gainesville, in the State
of Alabama, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain

page_text: 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 Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent 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 Drawing here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :—
This Invention relates to a novel implement to be used in shops and
warehouses for the purpose of cutting twine and cord used for the tying
of packages, and it consists chiefly in applying the cutter to a pivotted
balance weight which is connected by a link with a sliding bed on which
the twine is cut. The bed is drawn in during the cutting process, and
it is moved out subsequently to bring the end of the twine or cord
within convenient reach for future use. A spring holds the twine in
contact with the moveable bed.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of the
improved twine cutter taken on the plane of the line c, c, Fig. 2; Fig. 2
is a front elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a side view partly in section
of the same showing the knife lowered. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the frame of the twine cutter made of cast iron or other
suitable material, and of such form that it can be conveniently fastened
to a table or counter by means of a clamping screw B. To the upper
end of a post or posts a, projecting from the frame A, is pivotted by a
pin b a weighted frame C. The vertical stem d of the knife D is by a
pin e pivoted to the front upper end of the frame C. The knife D is in
an upright position, its lower cutting edge being straight, as shown.
The sides of the knife are guided in upright grooves that are provided in
the frame A by means of cars f,, said grooves preventing the knife
from moving in any other than a vertical direction. The lower part of
the frame C is by a link or links g connected with a horizontal sliding
plate or cutting bed E which rests under the knife on the frame A. The
weight of the frame C causes it to carry the bed E forward and the

page_text: knife up, as in Fig. 1. The twine F is from a spool or ball drawn
through a hole in the lower part of C, and then drawn forward over
the bed. A spring i fastened to the front of the weighted lever C bears
upon the twine behind the knife, and holds it in contact with the bed.
When twine is used for a package or other purpose it is drawn from
the ball or spool without hindrance from the forward side of the
machine, and used in the desired manner. When the requisite quantity
has been drawn the knob ; on the top of the stem d is struck to bring
the knife quickly down, and cut the string on the bed. But this down-
ward motion of the knife causes the frame C to swing on its pivot d, :
and draw the bed E back so that at the time of cutting all parts will be
in the position shewn in Fig. 3. After the knob is released the weight
will again swing forward with the bed and elevate the knife, the forward
motion of the bed bringing the end of the cut twine that was behind'
the cutting edge forward of the knife within convenient reach. With- 1
out this forward motion of the bed the thread would remain behind the
knife and be difficult to get hold of for further use.
In order to prevent the end of the twine from being elevated by the
knifo a stationary wire is applied to the frame transversely of the twine
directly behind the knife, as shewn.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "An Improved
Construction of Twine Cutter," as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent, I claim, the improved twine cutter constructed and
operating as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the First day of May, in the