NEW CORK CUTTING MACHINE.
In the Spectator of the 3d of September, 1859, we mentioned a machine for cutting corks, invented by a Mr. Seithen. We have now to notice a machine for a similar purpose, invented and introduced into this country from America, by Messrs. W. and It, Crocker, of Norwich county, Con- necticut. By means of a small circular saw, the flitch-like piece of cork is cut across, and into strips, as wide as the corks are to be long. On a bench are two standards, or heads, like the heads of a turning lathe; into the left-hand head, is fixed a revolving hollow round cutter like a pellet-cutter. Into the right-hand head, is fitted an iron rod, about a foot long, having a wooden handle at the outer end, and a disc-like piece of box at the inner end, facing the cutter. The cutter is made to revolve rapidly by steam power. The strip of cork is placed between the cutter and the piece of box—the handle is pressed forward,—the cork comes contact with the cutter, and almost instantly the cork is cut. The handle is eased back, the cork is pushed out of the cutter by a flexible piece of cane, and dropped into a bag ; the cork being fit for use. In plainer terms, the cork is cut after the manner of boys who cut out pieces of po- tato with a quill for their pop-guns. Every sized cork has to be cut with its own sized cutter ; but all the cutters can be fitted into the same head. No quartering is required ; nor touching up the ends; all being cut smooth, and of the proper length, by the circular saw.
Supposing, however, that there should be defective parts on the out- side of the cork, Messrs. Crocker have a machine which provides for this difficulty. This process is accomplished by a circular horizontal knife, about two feet in diameter. Acting vertically against this knife, on the upper side, is a small grinding-stone, which revolves as the circular knife revolves—sharpening the knife ; the whole being driven with a band at- tached to a steam-engine. Beneath the knife, and acting vertically against it, is a small cog-like wheel, about a foot in diameter. Into the openings between the teeth of this wheel, the corks are placed. The cog-wheel revolves, carrying the corks, one by one up against the revol- ving knife, and, as each cork comes in contact, a small apparatus pushes the cork gently forward in the direction of the knife, which takes off a shaving from the defective part. The same machine can also taper the cork to the greatest nicety—when required for phials, or stoppers for che- mical purposes. Every cutter has a cog-wheel of the same size. The smallest: phial-cork may be cut by this machinery, and by boys. A one-horse engine will drive four machines. One boy will out from fifty to a hundred gross of corks a day—the operator taking the corks from the fire. Of course, any number of boys may be employed. Arrangements are being made for the use of this machine by a firm in Scotland, and by two or three firms in London.
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