CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING OR DIVIDING TIMBER AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Jex Long, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN CUTTING OR DIVIDING TIMBER AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Sealed the 14th July 1871, and dated the 19th January 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Jex Long at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th January 1871.
I, JOHN JEX LONG, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING OR DIVIDING TIMBER AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to say:―
This Invention which relates to an arrangement or construction of
mechanism for cutting or dividing timber into pieces or splints such as
are used in the manufacture of matches, pencils, and for other analogous
purposes in a more rapid and economical manner than is at present
effected, consists of a framework on the upper part of which a transverse.

page_text: shaft supported and capable of revolving in its bearings is situated. The
said shaft is provided with a pair of fast and loose pulleys for receiving a
driving belt and by which it is put in motion or stopped as required.
Towards the front end of the shaft a disc having an eccentric at its outer
surface is carried, and in the groove of the said eccentric a segmental piece
of metal is fitted so as to move easily in the groove. The segmental piece
is coupled by a pin, stud, or otherwise to a horizontal slider, and as the
eccentric revolves the slider is reciprocated horizontally on the framing,
its throw corresponding to the throw of the eccentric. In front of the
framing two brackets with troughs are placed in which the blocks of
wood to be cut or divided into pieces or splints are carried, and the
brackets are provided with suspended weights acting upon a pressure
plate behind the blocks by which the blocks of wood are forced against
the slider and disc. The slider is provided at the end furthest from the
eccentric with a knife which as it passes in front of the block or blocks
of wood shaves off any uneven portions, and this knife may also be
employed for cutting the block or blocks of wood into "flakes" of any
required thickness, and at the end nearest to the eccentric the slider is
provided with a series of knives arranged in a vertical column one above
the other and at distances apart corresponding to the thickness of the
pieces or splints into which the block of wood is divided. As the knives
are reciprocated they divide the face of the block of wood into a series of
strips which are immediately afterwards cut off from the block by a knife
carried in the face of the revolving disc. As the revolution and recipro-
cation of the various parts of the mechanism is repeated the division and
cutting off of the pieces, splints, or "flakes of wood is rendered con-
tinuous. The pieces, splints, or "flakes" of wood as they are cut off
fall upon a travelling web by which they are conveyed away,
and by
meaus of a rake or guides the splints are arranged longitudinally
thereon.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the. Letters Patent,.
:
filed by the said John Jex Long in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th July 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
JEX LONG, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send 3
greeting.

page_text: .
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in
the 35th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Jex Long, Her special license
that I, the said John Jex Long, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Jex Long, my executors,
administrators, or 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
CUTTING OR DIVIDING TIMBER AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOB," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Jex Long, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 John Jex Long, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
My said Invention, which relates to an arrangement or construction
of mechanism for cutting or dividing timber into pieces or splints such
as are used in the manufacture of matches, pencils, and for other
analagous purposes in a more rapid and economical manner than is at
present effected, consists of a framework on the upper part of which, a
transverse shaft supported and capable of revolving in its bearings is
situated. The said shaft is provided with a pair of fast and, loose pulleys
for receiving a driving belt, and by which it is put in motion or stopped
as required. Towards the front end of the shaft a disc having an
cccentric at its outer surface is carried, and in the groove of the said
eccentric a segmental piece of metal is fitted so as to move easily in the,

page_text: groove. The segmental piece is coupled by a pin, stud, or otherwise, to
a horizontal slider, and as the eccentric revolves the slider is reciprocated
horizontally on the framing, its throw corresponding to the throw of the
eccentric. In front of the framing two brackets with troughs are placed,
in which the blocks of wood to be cut or divided into pieces or splints
are carried, and the brackets are provided with suspended weights acting
upon a pressure plate behind the blocks, by which the blocks of wood
are forced against the slider and disc. The slider is provided at the
end furthest from the eccentric with a knife, which as it passes in front
of the block or blocks of wood shaves off any uneven portions, and this
knife may also be employed for cutting the block or blocks of wood into
"flakes" of any required thickness, and at the end nearest to the
eccentric the slider is provided with a series of knives arranged in a
vertical column one above the other and at distances apart corresponding
to the thickness of the pieces or splints into which the block of wood is
divided. As the knives are reciprocated they divide the face of the
block of wood into a series of strips which are immediately afterwards
cut off from the block by a knife carried in the face of the revolving
disc. As the revolution and reciprocation of the various parts of the
mechanism is repeated the division and cutting off of the pieces, splints,
or "flakes" of wood is rendered continuous. The pieces, splints, or
"flakes" of wood as they are cut off fall upon a travelling web by which
they are conveyed away, and by means of a rake or guides the splints
are arranged longitudinally thereon.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly, understood,
I now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say:-
Upon Sheet 1 of the Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a front
elevation and Figure 2 an end elevation shewing one arrangement of my
improved mechanism as specially adapted for cutting splints for matches
or other similar purposes. My said improved mechanism consists of a
framework A, upon the upper part of which a transverse shaft B is
situated carried by pillow blocks C, being free to revolve therein. The
shaft B is provided with a pair of fast and loose pullies D and E
respectively, as more particularly shewn at Figure 2, and near the front
end of the shaft Ba'disc F is fixed, upon the outer surface of which an

page_text: eccentric G is carried, as shewn, whilst in the disc a groove a is formed
into which a segmental block is fitted so as to move easily therein,
being attached to a horizontal slider H situated on the upper part of the
framework A with its lower edge resting in a suitable slide formed
therein. To the face of the disc F a knife m is also attached, which is
capable of being adjusted to any required position and retained therein
by bolts o secured by nuts at the back of the disc F. In front of the
framework A two trough brackets c and c¹ are situated, into which the
blocks of wood d which are to be cut are placed. Upon the said trough
brackets c and c¹ pressure plates e and e¹ are arranged to slide freely
thereon, and to which weights I are suspended by means of cords or
chains which are passed over a carrying roller g having their opposite
ends attached to foot levers or treadles K. At the end of the slider H
opposite to that upon which the segmental block 6 is attached a knife li
is situated, having a cutting edge similar to that of the blade of a joiners'
plane, whilst near the opposite end and immediately behind the said
segmental block b the slider H is provided with a scries of knives &
arranged in a vertical column one above the other, as shewn at Figure 1,
and capable of being adjusted to any required distance apart. Upon the
end of the transverse shaft' B opposite that upon which the disc F is
situated a pulley L is fixed, over which a belt or strap M is passed, the
belt or strap M being also passed over another and larger pulley N upon
the corresponding end of a lower transverse shaft & supported and free
to revolve in bearings secured to the framework A, as shewn. Upon
the shaft a broad pulley or drum O is fixed, over which and another
corresponding pulley or drum, not shown upon the Drawings but situated
at any suitable distance therefrom in a horizontal line, an endless web P.
is carried, as more particularly seen at Figure 1.
Having now described in detail the various parts of mechanism which
conjointly constitute one arrangement of my Invention, their action, and
manner whereby they successively fulfil their separate functions will be
more clearly understood as follows:- When it is desired to set the
mechanism in operation the belt p which is actuated by an adjacent
revolving pulley or drum is passed over the fast pulley D, whereby the
shaft B is caused to revolve and with it the disc F and other parts in
connection therewith. As the disc F revolves the slider H is recipro
cated horizontally by means of the segmental block 6 attached thereto
acting in the eccentric groove a, the travel.communicated to the slider H

page_text: corresponding to the eccentricity of the groove a. As the slider His
thus reciprocated the series of knives i carried therein in their motion
towards the centre of the disc F are allowed to pass clear of the end
of the block of wood d in the trough bracket ċ by means of a "detent"
which consists of a bar q, one end of which is passed through an opening
formed in the edge of the trough bracket c, whilst its opposite end is
in contact with a spiral spring r situated between it and the pillow
block C. By the outward pressure of the spring, the bar Չ is pressed
hard against the edge of the block of wood d, and prevents it from being
forced inwards by the action of the suspended counterweight I. and
pressure plate e, until the slider H and with it the series of knives i
begin to move from the centre of the disc F, when a segment s fixed
upon the surface of the eccentric G is then brought round into contact
with a shoulder or catch formed upon the inner side of the bar
I, and as
the leading end of the said segment & is situated at a slightly greater
radial distance from the centre of revolution, that is to say, from the
centre of the shaft B, than its opposite end, in passing round it operates
as a wedge in drawing the bar q inwards towards the centre of the
disc F a sufficient distance to draw it clear of contact with the block of
wood d, which immediately on its release is forced forwards against the
surface of the slider H by the pressure plate e actuated by means of the
counterweight I, and as the series of knives i move outwards they in
passing divide the face of the block d into a series of splints, after which
the segments having passed out of contact, with the bar q, the bar q is
again pressed hard against the block d by the spring s acting again
as a detent, and immediately thereafter the splints are severed from the
end of the block d. by the knife m as it is carried round by the revolution
of the disc F, these falling through an opening in the framework A drop
upon the travelling web P, and are carried thereby to any point required.
The operations that have now been set forth are successively repeated
until the block of wood has been cut into splints. When it is desired
to place a succeeding block to be similarly operated upon, this suc-
ceeding block during the period of operation upon the former is placed
upon the trough bracket c¹, and having both of its ends exposed for a
short time to the planing action of the knife / they are thereby cut
even, after which the person in attendance by depressing the lever H
draws the pressure plate e backwards from the slider H a sufficient
distance to admit of the succeeding block being placed upon the trough
bracket.c, which being effected it follows at the back of the block and is.

page_text: operated upon in the manner already set forth with reference to the
block previously referred to, and this operation may be repeated and
extended to any number of blocks and for any desired length. of time
without stopping the action of the machine.
Upon Sheet 2 of the Drawings hereunto appended my improved
mechanism is illustrated under a compound arrangement, in front
clevation at Figure 1, and in end elevation at Figure 2, and as the.
construction and action of the various parts are to a large extent
similar to that herein-before set forth with reference to the foregoing
arrangement and illustrated upon Sheet 1 of the Drawings, I shall only
further set forth those points wherein it differs therefrom.
Under the arrangement now to be set forth there are two transverse
shafts B and B', situated upon the framework A, and the said shafts B
and B are respectively provided with discs F and F, having their "
peripheries formed as spur wheels and geared into each other, as
shewn at Figure 1, Sheet 2. When the shaft B, and with it the disc F,
is caused to revolve by the driving belt P, the said disc F communicates
its motion to the disc F¹ upon the shaft B', and during their revolution
the two discs F and F communicate a reciprocating motion to a slider
Hin a manner similar to that herein-before set forth with reference to
the first arrangement, both ends of the slider H being under this
arrangement provided with segmental blocks 6 and 6' respectively, and
actuated by the eccentric grooves a and a¹. At each end of the said
slider a series of knives i and are situated, and as they are
reciprocated they act in cutting the ends of the blocks of wood into
splints, separate blocks being respectively retained in their required
position in the trough brackets e and e¹, and the splints having been thus
formed upon the ends of each separate block in the manner now set
forth they are immediately cut therefrom by the knives m and m², all
of which operations are effected in a manner similar to that already set
forth with reference to the former arrangement.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion
that what I consider novel and original and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the general arrangement and combination of parts constituting

page_text: the mechanism herein-before described and shewn upon the appended
Sheet of Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Jex Long, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of July One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one.
'
JOHN JEX LONG. (L.S.)