IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING RAGS, FODDER, AND LITTER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Robinson Readett, of Dover, in the County of Kent,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR
CUTTING RAGS, FODDER, AND LITTER."
Sealed the 28th March 1877, and dated the 6th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Robinson Readett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1876.
JOHN ROBINSON READETT, of Dover, in the County of Kent, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING RAGS, FODDER, AND LITTER."
The chief object of this Invention is to provide a facile means for reducing
woollen rags to strips suitable for being used for dressing land. In attaining this
object I use a pair of reciprocating blades which move over fixed blades, the
cutting edges of which are set at about the level of the table over which the rags
to be cut are fed, and by the alternate action of these reciprocating and fixed
cutters the material submitted to their action is cut into strips. The table is
divided longitudinally so as to form two feed troughs, and each of these troughs is
provided with a pair of feed rolls which are geared together. Provision is made
by the use of elastic packing blocks for the upper rolls to yield when the feed is
excessive, and thereby prevent the choking of the machine.
The reciprocating blades are carried by a rocking frame keyed to one end of a
longitudinal shaft which rocks in bearings below the table. Keyed to the opposite
end of this shaft is a beam, from which depend a pair of links that are jointed to
rock levers which work on fixed fulcrums on the main framing of the machine.
The upper extremities of these rock levers extend to opposite sides of the machine,
and carry pawles, which are held in contact with ratchet wheels keyed respectively
to the axles of the lower feed rollers.
The rocking frame which carries the reciprocating cutting blades I prefer to
operate through a connecting rod which is actuated by an excentric on the axle of
a belt pulley or a fly wheel shaft. These reciprocating blades, by being set some
distance above the fulcrum of the rocking arm, will, instead of cutting like the
depresser blade of a pair of shears have a draw cut which is essential for efficient
action upon woollen rags.

page_text: I propose to provide an adjustment for adapting the motion of the feed rolls to
the special work in hand; this will enable me to employ the machine for cutting
straw into short lengths suitable for fodder, or hop bines into lengths suitable for
litter.
The material, whatever it may be, under treatment will be fed up to the two pairs
of rolls by the attendant, and these rolls acting alternately through the oscillation
of the beam, with which the pawle levers are connected by links, as explained, will
move the material over the fixed blade while the reciprocating blade is in its raised
position. The next descent of this blade will effect the severance of the material
supplied thereto, and at the same time the feed rolls on the other side of the
machine will come into action and advance the feed under the now raised blade
ready to meet it in its next descent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Robinson Readett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th April 1877.
JOHN ROBINSON READETT, of Dover, in the County of Kent, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING RAGS, FODDER, AND LITTER."
The chief object of this Invention is to provide a facile means for reducing
woollen rags into pieces or strips suitable for being used for dressing land.
The mechanism which I employ for this purpose is equally applicable to the
cutting up of linen or cotton rags for paper manufacturers, and by providing a
suitable adjustment for feeding the material up to and past the cutters the machine
may be made available for cutting fodder and litter to any desired length.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shows the improved machine in back
elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3, an end elevation of the same.
The machine may be described as consisting mainly of a pair of receprocating
blades which inove over fixed blades having their cutting edges set at about the
level of the table over which the rags to be cut are fed, and by the alternate action
of these reciprocating and fixed cutters the material submitted to their action is
cut into strips or pieces. The table is divided longitudinally so as to form two feed
troughs, and each of these troughs is provided with a pair of feed rolls which are
geared together.
In the Drawing A, A, is a loose block, to which the main frame B of the machine
is bolted. Fitted to the base plate of this frame are two plummer blocks C
which carry bearings for a rock shaft D. E is a rocking frame keyed to the
shaft D, and formed with shoulders on either side thereof to carry the reciprocating
blades F, F¹.
The rocking frame E receives its motion from a rod G which connects it with
the crank shaft H; this shaft is fitted with pulleys to receive a driving band from
any prime mover, and also with a fly wheel for equalizing the motion of the
crank shaft. The reciprocating cutters F, F1, are inclined to a central line drawn
through the rock shaft D and the joint which couples the rocking frame to the
connecting rod G. They are also set at an incline to the plane of the fixed
cutters I, I, which stand up vertically, and are bolted to the main framing.
cutters F, F¹, are made adjustable edgewise to provide for the wear of their cutting
edges.
These
Keyed to the front end of the rock shaft D is a lever K, the ends of which form
bearing surfaces for short levers L, L', that are mounted loosely on, and are
pendent from the axles of the lower feed rolls for the purpose to be presently
explained. M and M¹ are two pairs of feed rolls, the axles of which turn in bearings
carried by the standards of the main frame B. The upper and lower feed rolls are
geared together by means of the pinions N, N', and they are caused to bite by.

page_text: means of pressure springs. The bite of these rolls is at or about the level of the
feed table O, and motion is given to them to carry the rags or other material under
treatment up to the cutters by the following means:-On the axle of each of the
lower feed rolls the ratchet wheel P is keyed, and into the teeth of these wheels take
pawles pivotted to the inner face of the loose swinging levers L, L'.
When a
reciprocating motion is given to the rocking frame E by the means above explained
or by equivalent means the shaft D, to which the frame is keyed, will be rocked in
its bearings, and the lever K will be caused to lift the levers L, L', alternately.
The pawles carried by these levers will, through their respective ratchet wheels,
impart an intermittent axial motion to the foed rolls, and thereby advance the
material (which is fed by hand into the bite of the rolls) up to and over the edge
of the fixed cutters. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be understood that when the
vibrating cutter F is in action the lever L will fall by reason of the rock lever K
following the motion of the rocking frame E. The feed rolls M therefore will be
quiescent, but while the cutting action is proceeding on this side of the machine
the opposite end of the lever K will rise and carry with it the lever I' and its pawle,
and thereby impart an axial motion to the feed rolls M'. Thus the feed will take
place alternately at opposite sides of the machine, and at the moment the recipro-
cating cutter is raised out of action and it will cease when the cutter moves down
into action.
I would here remark that by reason of the reciprocating blades F, F¹, being set
at some distance above the fulcrum of the rocking frame E they will, instead of
cutting like the depressed blade of a pair of shears have a draw cut which is
essential for efficient action upon woollen and other rags.
By providing means for adjusting the motion of the feed rolls to the special
work in hand the machine will be found efficient for cutting straw into short
lengths suitable for fodder, or hop bines into lengths suitable for litter.
One mode of carrying out this object is shewn at Fig. 4, where R is the rock
lever (mounted on the rock shaft D) for giving motion to the levers L, L', which
operate the feed rolls as above explained Pendent from this rock lever R is a pair
of links R' that are jointed to rock levers R2 which work on fixed fulcrums carried
by the base block A. The upper extremities of these rock levers extend to the
opposite sides of the machine and serve as bearing surfaces for the ends of the
levers L, L, which carry the pawles for actuating the feed rolls. The opposite
ends of the lever P are provided with pin holes to allow of the adjustment of the
links R¹ nearer to or farther from the fulcrum D, and a similar provision is made in
the levers R for adjusting the position of the lower ends of the links. By this
means the traverse of the pawles over their respective ratchet wheels may be
increased or diminished at pleasure, and the motion of the feed rolls adapted to the
work in hand.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improved Machinery for
Cutting Rags, Fodder, and Litter" 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,-
First. Mounting the reciprocating cutters on a rocking frame which has its
fulerum below the level of the fixed cutters as and for the purpose above explained.
Second. Transmitting motion to the feed rolls from the rocking cutter frame, and
thereby securing the desired reciprocal and alternate action of the cutters and feed
rolls at either and at both sides of the machine as and for the purpose above
explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Robinson Readett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
J. R. READETT. (L.S.)