IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR FORMING CORKWOOD BARK AND SUCH LIKE MATERIALS INTO STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND VESSELS, OR INTO ARTICLES OF SIMILAR CHARACTER
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Timothy Murphy, of Clonmel, in the County of
Tipperary, in Ireland, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR FORMING CORKWOOD BARK AND SUCH LIKE
MATERIALS INTO STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND VESSELS, OR INTO ARTICLES OF
SIMILAR CHARACTER,”.
Sealed the 14th October 1873, and dated the 20th June 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Timothy Murphy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th June 1873.
I, TIMOTHY MURPHY, of Clonmel, in the County of Tipperary, in
Ireland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR FORMING CORKWOOD BARK AND
SUCH LIKE MATERIALS INTO STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND VESSELS, OR INTO ARTICLES
OF SIMILAR CHARACTER," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
self-acting machines for cutting and forming from off the corkwood bark
or other material stoppers or corks used for stoppers, or corks for the
mouths or openings of bottles or other vessels.

page_text: A number of knives are fastened on to a sliding frame or bar, the
cutting edge or blade part of each knife being placed so as to cut the
stopper or cork out of the corkwood bark in sections of the desired
shape, that is, the edges or blades that cut into the corkwood bark will
finish to the desired size and form a section of the stopper, while as the t
said frame or bar slides the edges or blade part of the knives or knife
moving in the same direction behind the said first knives will cut into
the part not already formed by the said first edges, and as they are
drawn forward by the sliding action of the said frame or bar they will
gradually cut and form the stopper or cork from off the said piece of 1
corkwood bark, which is held steadily in a fixed position as the edges or
blades of said knives cut through it.
As the cutting edges or blade part of the said knives are drawn
forward through the corkwood bark, the shaping and cutting of the said
corkwood bark continuing with a cutting action somewhat similar to the 1
drawing cutting action of an ordinary blade knife worked direct by the
hand. The position of the said cutting edges or blade part of said
knives along the course in which they move, is that the first two are
extended at the forward cutting ends wide enough to commence cutting
the outer sides of the said piece of corkwood bark first, and from the s
said forward parts they are gradually carried backwards, sloping away
until they form a section of the desired shape of stopper or cork required.
At that part where said first section of cork or stopper is formed, and to
accomplish the forming of said first section, the cutting edge or the
blade of one knife is made to slope across behind the cutting edge or
blade of the other one, and the part of stopper or cork already formed
for the purpose of cutting and forming the part left uncut between said
edges or blades.
The two cutting edges or blades of the knives that form and finish
the cutting of the part of said corkwood bark left unfinished by the said
first two knives are close enough together at the points to commence
cutting and shaping along the part not already formed by the first two
knives, and from the part they commence cutting they are gradually
winding backwards; at the same time the desired shape to which the
said stopper or cork is to be formed is described by them as they are:
wound or curved into cutting position. The part of the said cutting
edges or blades that finish the forming of the corks or stoppers are placed
in a position relative to each other similar to the position of that part

page_text: of the said cutting edges or blades of the two first knives at that part
of them that finish and form the first section of the said cork or stopper,
as before described; and at the backward part where the last section of
cork or stopper is formed and finished the knives or knife upon which
the said edges or blades are formed have the appearance of a tube
through which the said cork or stopper passes out finished.
The corkwood bark is first cut into strips of a breadth to suit the
desired length of corks or stoppers required by the edges or blades of a
circular knife or knives fastened on to a revolving shaft, and the
corkwood bark or other material is placed on a sliding table in a position
to be cut by said revolving knives, and as so cut it is passed through a
spring vice or clams, end foremost, in a direction at right angles to the
course in which said knives move, and when so pressed forward it is
carried into the proper position to be cut by said blades by means of a
spring clams, into which it passes. Said clams is connected to the said
sliding frame or bar in a more forward position than the cutting edges
or blades of said two forward knives. It is also stopped in its forward
course at the proper place by means of a stop fastened to the said sliding
frame or bar before the cutting commences, and at the conclusion of
every backward stroke of the said sliding frame or bar, and before the
edges or blades of the said knives commence the cutting in the return
forward stroke, the said vice or clams in which the corkwood bark is
held will be opened asunder by the action of a lever and arm connected
with the jaw of said vice or clams. The said lever is acted upon by a
sloping surface or cam fastened to the said sliding frame or bar, and by
being so opened it will allow the piece of corkwood bark to pass into the
proper position to be cut. The said corkwood bark is pressed into the
proper position to be cut by means of a guide weight or cam con-
nection..
:
The sliding frame or bar is carried backward and. forward along the
course in which it moves by being connected by a connecting rod with
a crank and shaft having a fly wheel, or it can be worked direct by a
lever. The bearings upon which said sliding frame or bar moves, and
the bushings in which the crank shaft revolves are fastened to a
foundation frame, as is also the said vice or clams in which the corkwood
bark or other material employed is held.
4
For resisting the pressure against the cork or stopper while being cut
there is a fixed rod fastened in position on the foundation frame in the

page_text: course in which the knives work, with one end against the end of the
cork or stopper. The said rod is made small enough to escape the edges
of the knives as they move along its surface backward and forward.
O December 1070.
4
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, TIMOTHY
MURPHY, of Clonmel, in the County of Tipperary, in Ireland, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Timothy Murphy, Her special licence that I, the
said Timothy Murphy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Timothy Murphy, 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 CUTTING.
OR FORMING CORKWOOD BARK AND SUCH LIKE MATERIALS INTO STOPPERS FOR.
BOTTLES AND VESSELS, OR INTO ARTICLES OF SIMILAR CHARACTER," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Timothy Murphy, 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 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 Timothy Murphy, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same.

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and.
by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
self-acting machinery for cutting and forming from off the corkwood bark
or other materials stoppers or corks used for stoppers or corks for the
mouths or openings of bottles or other vessels.
A number of knives are fastened on to a sliding frame or bar, the
cutting edge or blade part of each knife being placed so as to cut the.
stopper or cork out of the corkwood bark in sections of the required.
shape, that is, the edges or blades that cut into the corkwood bark will
finish to the desired size and form a section of the stopper, while as the
said frame or bar slides the edges or blade part of the knives or knife.
moving in the same direction behind the said first knives will cut into
the part not already formed by the said first edges, and as they are
drawn forward by the sliding action of the said frame or bar they will
gradually cut and form the stopper or cork from off the said piece of
corkwood bark which is held steadily in a fixed position as the edges or
blades of said knives cut through it.
As the cutting edges or blade part of the said knives are drawn.
forward through the corkwood bark, the shape and cutting of the. said.
corkwood bark continuing with a cutting action somewhat similar to tho.
drawing cutting action of an ordinary blade knife worked direct by the.
hand. The position of the said cutting edges or blade part of said.
edges along the course in which they move is that the first two are
extended at the forward cutting ends wide enough to commence cutting:
the outer sides of the said piece of corkwood bark first, and from the
said forward parts they are gradually carried backwards, sloping away
until they form a section of the desired shape of stopper or cork
required. At that part where said first section of cork or stopper is.
formed, and to accomplish the forming of said first section the cutting:
edge or blade of one knife is made to slope across behind the cutting
edge or blade of the other one (and the part of cork or stopper already
formed) for. the purpose of cutting and forming the part left uncut,
between said edges or blades.
The two cutting edges or blades of the knives that form and fiunish the
cutting of the part of said corkwood bark left unfinished by the said
first two knives are close enough together at the points to commence,

page_text: cutting and shaping along the part not already formed by the first two
knives, and from the part they commence cutting they are gradually
winding backwards, at the same time the desired shape to which the
said stopper or cork is to be formed is described by them as they are
wound or curved into cutting position. The part of the said cutting
edges or blades that finish the forming of the corks or stoppers are
place in a position relative to each other similar to the position of that
part of the said cutting edges or blades of the two first knives at that
part of them that finishes and forms the first section of the said cork or
stopper, as before described. And at the backward part where the last
section of cork or stopper is formed and finished the knife or knives
upon which the said edges or blades are formed have the appearance of
a tube through which the said cork or stopper passes out finished.
The corkwood bark is first cut into strips of the breadth to suit the
desired length of corks or stoppers required by the edges or blades of a
circular knife or knives fastened on to a revolving shaft, and the cork-
wood bark or other material is placed on a sliding table in a position to
be cut by said revolving knives, and as so cut it is passed through a
spring vice or clams, end foremost, in a direction at right angles to the
course in which said knives move, and when so pressed forward it is
. carried into the proper position to be cut by said blades by means of
spring clams into which it passes. Said clams is connected to the said
sliding frame or bar in a more forward position than the said cutting
edges or blades of said two forward knives; it is also stopped in its
forward course at the proper place by means of a stop fastened to tho
said sliding frame or bar before the cutting commences, and at the con-
clusion of every backward stroke of the said sliding frame or bar, and
before the said edges or blades of the said knives commence cutting
in the return forward stroke the said vice or clams in which the cork-
wood bark is held will be opened and kept asunder by the action of a
lever and bar connected with the jaw of said vice or clams. The said
lever is acted upon by a sloping surface or cam fastened to the said
sliding frame or bar, and by being so opened it will allow the piece of
corkwood bark to pass into the proper position to be cut. The said
corkwood bark is pressed into the proper position to be cut by means of
a guide weight or cam connection.
The sliding frame or bar is carried backward and forward along the
course in which it moves by being connected by a connecting rod with

page_text: a crank and shaft having a fly wheel, or it can be worked direct by a
lever. The bearings upon which said sliding frame or bar moves, and
the bushings in which the crank shaft revolves are fastened to a foun-
dation frame, as is also the said vice or clams in which the corkwood
bark or other material employed is held.
". :
:
For resisting the pressure against the cork or stopper while being cut
there is a fixed rod fastened in position on the foundation frame in the
course in which the knives work with one end against the end of the
stopper or cork. The said rod is made small enough to escape the edges
of the knives as they move along its surface backward and forward.
The foregoing statements particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and indicate in what manner the same is
to be performed or put in practice, and in further compliance with tho
condition in the said Letters Patent contained I will now further and
particularly describe and ascertain in what manner the same is to be
performed or carried out in practice by referring to the Drawings accom-
panying these Presents.
.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section of said machine for cutting corks; W is
the bed frame; N, N, is the two bars upon which the sliding frame A is
made to slide by being attached to a connecting rod by the pin H, said
connecting rod being worked by crank h; B are the forward knives as
fastened on to the frame A, and R the back knives as fastened on to the
said framo; M is the frame in which the cork T is held. Said cork is
held while being cut by the jaw L. Said jaw is drawn away from said`
cork to admit it to pass into position to be cut as required by the action
of the arm F connected with the jaw L by means of the rod m worked
by the lever E, said lever being acted upon by the cam D which is
'fastened to the sliding frame A. The spring O pressés the jaw Lagainst
the cork T before the knives commence cutting by means of the
cam D sliding away from the lever E. The spring O and the jaw L are
regulated to suit any desired length of cork by means of the rods n and
m. K is. a rod fastened on to the frame A by which the cork is stopped
before the cutting commences. U is a rod the end of which is placed
in position against the cork which is being cut, and is fastened to the
frame M.. The picce of cork T is forced into position to be cut by the
'

page_text: rod Z which is fastened to the sliding block e, and is pressed onwards by
means of a weight. S is the bar upon which it slides.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the frame M, and is fastened to the bed frame
W by the two bolts q, q, as shown in Fig. 1. T is the cork kept in
position by the two springs I, I, which are regulated by the bolts I, I.
Fig. 3 is a drawing of the knives as placed in position on the sliding
frame A, as shown in Fig. 1.
L
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the cutting edges of the forward knives.
Fig. 6 is a view of said knives showing cutting edges at the dotted lino c,.
and Fig. 7 is the forward end of Figs. 4 and 6, as shown at Fig. 3.
Fig. 10 is also an enlarged view of the cutting edges of the backward
knives. Fig. 8 is a view of said backward knives showing the cutting-
edges at the dotted line c in Fig. 10. Fig. 9 is the forward end of Figs.
8 and 10. ff. are bolts by which they are fastened together. Fig. 5
is a side view of Fig. 10, showing the bolts at ƒ by which they are
fastened to the frame. At Fig. 11 is shown the two circular knives V, V,
as fastened on the shaft d. Y is the corkwood bark which is to be cut.
by said knives into strips of the required lengths to suit the lengths of
corks required. In Fig. 3 the forward knives B, B, commence cutting
the cork along the course where they are extended apart, and the first
section of cork or stopper is finished before they pass through it at
b, and the cutting of the other section off said cork or stopper is com-
menced by the forward ends of the back knives at b, and finished before
they pass away from it at the backward end at t. The parts of cork cut
off by the knives B, B, pass away through the frame A. The knives
are oiled and the edge kept smooth by means of a pad which is placed
in position against the blade of said knives.
It could be so arranged that the frame M in which the corkwood is
held could be made to slide, in which case the knives and sliding frame A
could remain stationery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
objecct of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed or carried out in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the
Invention of "Improvements. in Machinery for Cutting or Forming
Corkwood Bark, and such like Materials into Stoppers. for Bottles and
Vessels, or into Articles, of similar Character," as herein-before set forth
and described, it being understood that I do not limit myself to the exact

page_text: details shown by the Drawings and described with regard thereto, but
claim to vary such details as far as may be practicable without departing
from the general principles or characteristics of my said Invention
whenever circumstances may render such variation of details desirable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Timothy Murphy, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
) Witness,
ANDREW SHEA,
Mercantile Clerk,
Clonmel.
TIMOTHY MURPHY. (L.S.)