IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD WORKING MACHINERY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Benson, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD WORKING MACHINERY."
A communication from abroad by William Howard Doane, of Cincinnati,
Ohio, United States of North America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Martin Benson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th May 1880.
MARTIN BENSON, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN WOOD WORKING MACHINERY. A cominunication from abroad by William
Howard Doane, of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of North America.
This Invention relates to improvements in wood working machines known in the
market under the name of " Variety Wood Workers" from the fact that a great
variety of work can be performed with said machines, as for instance, planing,
mitering, tenoning, panel raising, &c., &c. These machines are constructed with a
transverse spindle or shaft carrying the cutter head, and with two tables, one
arranged in front of the cutter head, and the other in rear of the cutter head. The
cutter head shaft is generally fixed, and the tables are associated with means for
adjusting them with respect to the cutter head as the particular style of work to be
done may require. Respecting the adjustments of the tables, among other conditions
the following arise, viz. :-
(a,) that the front table only requires adjustment.
(b) that the rear table only requires adjustment.
(c) that both tables require to be adjusted without change in their relative
horizontal planes.
As these machines have been constructed heretofore each table could be adjusted
separately, but there was no means provided for a conjoint adjustment.
This construction caused considerable inconvenience and loss of time in making
the several adjustments alluded to; First, because to adjust the rear table the operator
had to step from the front or working end of the machine to the rear end thereof,
and secondly, because the adjustment specified under (c) required two separate
operations, and also involved adjustment of the tables with respect to each other.
One object of this Invention is to construct the machine in such a manner that the
tables can be adjusted separately or conjointly as may be required. Another object

page_text: of this Invention is to construct the machine in such a manner that the tables can
be adjusted from the working end of the machine.
The Invention also contemplates the accomplishments, at the will of the operator,
of a simple vertical adjustment of either table, and a compound vertical and
horizontal adjustment thereof; also the levelling of the tables.
To these ends the Invention consists of various combinations set forth in the
claims at the close of this Specification, and made up out of mechanical devices, of
which the following are the principal:-
Two tables arranged in rear and in front of the cutter head respectively, for the
support of the work in feeding it over the cutter head.
A leading shaft or its equivalent adapted to operate the respective adjusting
devices of the tables either separately or conjointly.
A. slide under each table adapted to effect vertical adjustments thereof.
A carrier interposed between the table and the slide and connected with the
main frame as well as with the slide, so that the vertical movements of the
carrier effected by the slide will be accomplished by horizontal movements of such
carrier.
A clamp or other suitable means for securing the table to its carrier when required
so that then the table will partake of the compound horizontal and vertical
movement of the carrier at times of adjustment.
A vertical guide rod fitted in a fixed guide on the main frame and adapted to be
secured to the table to insure vertical movement of such table at times of adjustment
when it is free from its carrier.
Sundry minor devices hereinafter more particularly described are also used to
make up some of the combinations claimed.
In order that the Invention may be fully understood I have illustrated in the
annexed Drawings, and will proceed to describe, the best form of the Invention so
far devised by me.. It should be understood, however, that my Invention is not
'confined to this particular embodiment of it, and that many modifications, and
some modifications will be alluded to hereinafter, may be made in details of
construction without evading the principle of the Invention.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved machine.
Fig. 2 is a rear side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine as it appears after the removal of the front
table and it carrier.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section in the planes indicated by the broken lines X, X,
Fig. 2, and looking toward the rear end of the machine.
Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section in the plane indicated by the broken
line y, y, Fig. 3, and looking toward the rear side of the machine.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the carriers turned upside down.
Fig. 7 is a transverse section of one of the carriers.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the front table turned upside down.
: The same letters of reference are used in all the Figures in the designation of like
parts, and corresponding parts on opposite ends of the machine are designated by
the same but differently indexed letters.
The column or main frame A is at the top constructed with two parallel
horizontal bars A' and A2 forming the ways upon which the slides B* and Bx
move.
The cutterhead C is fixed on the cross shaft C¹ which turns in bearings, of which
the one at the front side of the machine, and marked C², is axially removable in
order to afford the facility of removing the cutter head and substituting for it one
of a different style whenever the nature of the work requires such a change. The
overhanging rear end of the shaft C¹ is provided with a pulley C³ for driving it.
The slide B is mounted upon the right hand ends of the ways A' and A² in front
.of the cutter head, while the slide Bx is mounted on the left hand ends of said
ways in rear of the cutter head. The slides are so connected to the ways that they
can only move horizontally in longitudinal directions, and each slide is provided

page_text: with a cross head engaging with its ends under rails or guides a on the inner sides
of the ways A and A², as best seen in Fig. 4, to hold the slides down on their ways.
The slide B supports the front table Ex by means of the interposed platform or
carrier Dx, while the slide Bx supports the rear table Ex by means of the interposed
platform or carrier Dx. With certain exceptions hereinafter duly set forth the
construction and arrangement of the slide, carrier, and the table at the front end of
the machine are like the construction and arrangement of the same parts at the rear
end of the machine, so that a detailed description of these parts at one end of the
machine will be sufficient for an understanding of both sets, to further facilitate
which the corresponding devices of the two sets are designated alike in the
Drawings, except that the letters of reference used for one set have their indices at
the top, while the same letters of reference used for the other set have their indices
at the bottom. The carrier D* is provided on both the front and rear side with a
pair of feet D¹, D', which interlock or engage with inclined guides B¹, B¹, on the
slide B so as to preserve a permanent connection between the slide and carrier.
The carrier is also connected with the main frame by means of a link D2 arranged
at such an inclination that its ends pivoted to the carrier will approach the cutter
head whenever the carrier is elevated, but recede therefrom.whenever the carrier is
lowered. On moving the slide its inclined guides operate to raise or lower the
carrier, as the case may be, and at the same time the link operates to impart an
endwise movement to the carrier either toward or away from the cutter head, as
the case may be. The resultant of these two forces is an oblique movement of the
carrier, which preserves a constant horizontality. The table Ex is supported upon the
top of the carrier D*, said top being in this instance being in the form of a platform
with a longitudinal groove which is engaged by a longitudinal rail on the bottom
of the table. In order that the table, may be levelled the top of the carrier is.
adjustable on its feet. To this end the feet D¹ have each a vertical slot d' through
which a clamping screw d² passes into a tapped hole in a downward projection d³
on the bottom of the platform of the carrier D*. A tapped hole in the top or
platform of the carrier, one over each foot, is provided with a sunken screw d¹, the
lower end of which rests on the top of said foot.
The four corners of the top or platform of the carrier being thus secured to the
feet, said top may be adjusted at any corner for the purpose of levelling the
superimposed table by first loosening the clamping screw and then adjusting the
sunken screw.
After the levelling has been accomplished the clamping screw should
be tightened up.
The table being supported upon the carrier, it follows that any elevation or
depression of the carrier due to the adjustment of the slide must result in an elevation
or depression of the table. Sometimes it is desirable to adjust the table in a vertical
direction only, and at other times it is desirable to adjust the table automatically
in vertical and horizontal directions simultaneously, and at still other times it is
desirable to adjust the table in a horizontal direction only. To these ends each
table is associated with certain instrumentalities which can be thrown in and out
of action as circumstances may require. Thus table Ex carries a T-headed nut E¹
in suitable longitudinal guides on its botton side, which nut is engaged by a
thumb screw E² passing up from the carrier D*. The thumb screw and nut form
a species of clamp which by tightening the thumb-screw operates to secure the
table to the carrier, so that the table will then partake of the compound motion of
the carrier at times of adjustment. The table Ex also carries a vertical guide
rod E³ fitted to move in a vertical guide E* formed or fixed on the main frame at
the rear side of the machine in this instance.
The guide rod has a long dovetailed head carrying a thumb-screw E³ and fitted in
a longitudinal guide on the bottom side of the table. By tightening thumb E³
the guide rod may be fastened to the table, and in that case the table can be
adjusted in a vertical direction only. In making the several adjustments of the
tables the clamp and guide rod are manipulated as follows:-
To adjust the table in a vertical direction only the guide rod is fastened to it and

page_text: the clamp opened. To adjust it simultaneously in vertical and horizontal directions
the clamp is closed and the guide rod disconnected from the table. To adjust
horizontally only (effected by sliding the table by hand) the clamp must be opened
and the guide rod disconnected from the table. By closing the clamp and fastening
the guide rod to the table the table carrier and slide become virtually locked so
that vibrations cannot affect the adjustment.
The adjustment of the tables, except their simple horizontal adjustments made
by hand, are effected by adjustments of the respective slides B* and Bx through
the operations of the leading shaft F on the respective screw spindles B² and B₂
which turn without longitudinal motion in bearings on the main frame, and engage
nuts B and B on the slides.
On reference to the Drawings it will be seen that the guides B¹ of slide B*
incline in a direction reverse to the inclination of the guides B₁ of the slide Bx.
This is not at all essential, and is done. merely for the sake of beauty of design.
But this construction requires that the slides be moved is opposite directions to
effect a simultaneous elevation or depression of the tables; hence one of the screw
spindles, say B, has a righthanded screw thread while the other one B₂ has a
left handed screw thread.
The screw-spindles are provided with spur wheels B³, B., respectively adapted
to be engaged by pinions B and B, on the leading shaft F. The end of the leading
shaft at the working or right hand end of the machine carries a suitable hand
wheel F' by which to operate it.
The pinion B, is permanently fixed on the rear end of the leading shaft, and in
order that it may be thrown out of gear and in gear with wheel B, from the working
end of the machine the .leading shaft is so arranged that it can be slid endwise in
its bearings on the main frame.
The pinion B is connected to the leading shaft by feather and groove so that it
can be shifted thereon to be thrown out of gear or in gear with wheel B³ irrespective
of the position of pinion B, at the time. In changing from one kind of work to a
different kind of work the tables may require primary adjustments necessitating
changes in the conditions of the respective clamps and guide rods of the tables, to
accomplish which for the rear table the operator would be obliged to step from his
position at the working or right hand end of the machine.
But the great majority of the adjustments of the tables can be effected by
appropriate operations of the leading shaft from the working or right hand end of
the machine. Another advantage of the use of the leading shaft is that both
tables can be simultaneously adjusted. As the Invention relates to a well known
class of wood working machines it is deemed unnecessary to set forth in the various
relative positions the tables are required to occupy with respect to each other and
It is believed that the
to the cutter head in prosecuting different styles of work.
described adjusting devices meet all the requirements far more satisfactorily than
the adjusting devices of such machines as heretofore made or known. Many changes
may be made in the details of construction without affecting the general operation'
of the machine. Thus the longitudinal movement of the carriers may be effected
by the substitution, in lieu of the links D2, D₁, of inclined guides and pins or
projections moving therein. The vertical guide rods may be permanent parts of
the tables, and the guides thereof sliding guides with means for fixing them on the
main frame. The pinions B, B, inay both be in permanently fixed positions on
the leading shaft, but with sufficiently long teeth, and so arranged, however, that
by appropriate endwise adjustments of the leading shaft either pinion or both
pinions sinultaneously may be thrown in gear with the wheels B and B, respectively.
Both pinions B and B, might, on the other hand, be made movable on the leading
shaft, and a shifter extend from the pinion B, to a point within convenient reach
from the working end of the machine.
The leading shaft and screw-spindles might constitute a single long rod, in which
case the gear wheels would be dispensed with and the nuts B and B, might be
made in sections arranged to open and close to engage or disengage the screw

page_text: threads of the adjusting shaft. Other modifications of the leading shaft and its
adjuncts, or equivalents for a leading shaft, will readily suggest themselves to a
mechanic skilled in the art.
I believe myself to be the first to provide a woodworking machine of the described
class with means for effecting both separate and simultaneous adjustments of the
tables from the working end of the machine, and the essential feature of said means
is a leading shaft or its equivalent to operate on the tables through suitable
connecting mechanism, which connecting mechanism may be changed at will to suit
different styles of machines or the views of manufacturers or users.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
constructing and operating the same, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,-
1st. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the two tables arranged
in front and in rear of the cutter head respectively, and the leading shaft or its
equivalent for adjusting the tables with respect to the cutter head through suitable
connecting mechanism either separately or conjointly, at pleasure from the working
end of the machine.
2nd. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the two tables arranged
in front and in rear of the cutter head respectively, the two slides, their screw
spindles provided with gear wheels, and the leading shaft carrying corresponding
gear wheels adapted to be thrown in and out of gear.
3rd. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the two tables arranged
in front and in rear of the cutter head respectively, the two slides, their screw spindles
provided with gear wheels, and the endwise adjustable leading shaft carrying
corresponding gear wheels.
4th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the two tables arranged
in front and in rear of the cutter head respectively, the two slides, their screw
spindles provided with gear wheels, and the end wise adjustable leading shaft
carrying corresponding gear wheels, one of which is movable.
5th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the slide and the carrier
resting upon the slide and connected to the main frame, whereby the movement
of the slide effects a compound vertical and horizontal adjustment of the carrier.
6th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the slide provided
with inclined guides, and the carrier interlocked with said guides and also connected
with the main frame.
7th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the slide provided
with inclined guides, the carrier interlocked with said guides, and the link for
connecting the carrier to the main frame.
8th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the slide, the carrier
connected with the slide as well as with the main frame, the table, and means for
connecting and disconnecting the table and carrier at pleasure.
9th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the slide, the carrier
connected with the slide as well as with the main frame, the table, and the
clamping nut and screw for connecting and disconnecting the table and carrier at
pleasure.
10th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the slide provided
with inclined guides, the carrier interlocked with said guides, the link for connecting
the carrier to the main frame, the table, and the clamping nut and screw for
connecting and disconnecting the table and carrier at pleasure.
11th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the adjustable
mounted table and the independent vertical guide rod thereof which can be fastened
thereto and disconnected therefrom at pleasure.
12th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the slide, the carrier
connected with the slide as well as with the main frame, the table, and the vertical
guide rod of the table.
13th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the slide, the carrier
connected with the slide as well as with the main frame, means substantially as

page_text: described for connecting and disconnecting the table and carrier at pleasure, and
the vertical guide rod which can be fastened to and disconnected from the table at
pleasure.
14th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the slide having
inclined guides, the carrier interlocked with said guides, the link for connecting the
carrier to the main frame, the table, the clamping nut and screw for connecting and
disconnecting the table and carrier at pleasure, and the vertical guide rod which
can be fastened to and disconnected from the table.
15th. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the table and the
top or platform of the carrier having separate adjustments at the corners for levelling
the superincumbent table.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto set my band
and seal this Fourth day of May in the year of our Lord 1880.