IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TURNING, SHAPING, CUTTING, AND BORING WOOD AND OTHER SUbstances,
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonathan Sellers, of the Firm of Irvin and
Sellers, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Bobbin and Shuttle
Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR TURNING, SHAPING, CUTTING, AND BORING WOOD AND OTHER SUbstances,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jonathan Sellers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st March 1870.
I, JONATHAN SELLERS, of the Firm of Irvin and Sellers, of Preston, in
the County of Lancaster, Bobbin and Shuttle Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR TURNING, SHAPING, CUTTING, AND BORING WOOD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND
IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING CUTTERS OR TOOLS FOR TURNING," to be as
follows:-
:-
My Invention relates exclusively to machinery.
Firstly. For tenoning and reducing to one exact length bobbin barrels,
which are to have heads applied to them, and which machinery may also

page_text: be used for like purposes when operating upon other articles. It consists
in arrangements for holding and preventing the barrel or other article
from revolving, and for causing by cams, rack and pinion, or screws, or
handle or treadle levers, two rotating spindles carrying suitable cutters
to be brought simultaneously or alternately against the ends of the
barrel until the spindles carrying the cutters come against fixed stops,
when the barrel will be truly tenoned and reduced to the exact length
required.
Secondly. My Invention relates to improvements in machinery for
cutting bobbin heads, bosses, and like articles to the rough circular
shape, drilling, countersinking, and mortising them at the same opera-
tion, and it consists in using a crown saw or like cutter upon the end of
a hollow spindle made to rotate in suitable bearings, and in arranging a
solid spindle to work in it, which may be driven by a friction cone or
other arrangement made to fit to the upper end of the hollow spindle,
so that each time after having made its cut it may cease to revolve as
the crown saw descends. The end of the solid spindle carries a cutter
for boring or clearing out the hole and making it central, and also a
cutter to form the countersunk part, and also a shield or fence to come
against and press upon the blank and hold it against a serrated or other
surface on a table to prevent it from revolving while acted upon by the
crown saw, the blank being held at the beginning of the operation by
fingers exterior to the crown saw. Instead of the above-described
arrangement there may be within the hollow shaft for the crown saw
another hollow shaft, which may have the "fence on its end, and it
may be made to press upon and hold the blank, but need not rotate with
the shaft. The lifting movements to cause it to press upon the blanks
may be imparted in any convenient manner. The central solid shaft for
the clearing and countersinking is made to rotate inside the second
hollow shaft, and may be driven by a separate band. The actuating
movements may be given by a hand or foot lever or levers, or by a cam
or cams. A spindle may be used in combination with either of the
above-described arrangements placed to rotate in suitable bearings under
the table, haying cutters for making the mortise in the under side of the
blank while it is held down upon the table by the presser.
"
Thirdly. My improvements relate to that class of machines for boring,
turning, and cutting wood and other substances, in which a series of
spindles are used rotating in bearings in a frame which turns regularly

page_text: or intermittently so that the blank placed upon cach spindle will be
carried from one set of cutters to another set at each movement,
remaining for a time stationary opposite each set of cutters, or passing
and coming opposite as many sets of tools as are needed to give the
required shape and finish to the article. The spindles which give motion
to the blanks are arranged at equal distances from the axis of the
intermittently or regularly rotating frame, and are driven by one belt.
passing over the pulleys of all the spindles except those on that side
where the blanks are removed and replaced.
My improvements relate to the mode of mounting the spindles in the
intermittently or regularly rotating frame (purfect accuracy of position
being necessary to produce good work), and they consist in making the
bearings of the spindles adjustable. Gaps are formed in the inter-
mittently or regularly rotating frame, in which the pedestals or bearings
for the spindles are placed, and the said pedestals are secured and
adjusted by screws or wedges, or both combined, and by this means the
position of the spindles may be truly adjusted, either circumferentially
or radially.
Fourthly. My improvements relate to a tool or machine for making
cutters used principally for turning, such cutters having such a section
given to them as will correspond to the form or shape of the article to
be turned, such cutters having been hitherto made by a tedious and
inaccurate process of hand filing or grinding.
My improvements consist in shaping the cutters by a grinding or
cutting wheel rotating in centres, which are carried in a frame which
can oscillate upon a shaft that can move endways in bearing in the
frame of the machine, the end movement being given by a screw, which
is self-acted, to traverse the shaft and rotating grinder or cutter by a
crank on one end of a vertical shaft having suitable bearings in the
frame, the other end of the shaft having a plate carrying an adjustable
crank pin that gives movement through a connecting rod to a sliding
table, upon which the metal is secured which is to be operated upon by
the grinder or cutter, so that the metal will traverse backward and
forward under the rotating grinder or cutter. The crank shaft is rotated
by a worm on the first motion shaft, which worm gears with teeth on the
edge of the crank-pin plate. The grinding or cutting wheel frame is
weighted so that an adjustable point or tracer projecting from it will bo

page_text: kept pressed against a tenplate or form secured to an adjustable slide
mounted on the framing, this shaper governing the position of the
grinding wheel or cutters. The machine above described may be used
for other purposes, such as forming grooves or feathers" on spindles or
mandrels, which will have to be secured on the table in centres and 5
made to rotate as required.
66
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jonathan Sellers in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JONATHAN
SELLERS, of the Firm of Irvin and Sellers, of Preston, in the County of
Lancaster, Bobbin and Shuttle Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jonathan Sellers, Her special licence
that I, the said Jonathan Sellers, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Jonathan Sellers, 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
POR TURNING, Shaping, CuttinG, AND BORING WOOD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES AND
IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING CUTTERS OR TOOLS FOR TURNING," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jonathan Sellers, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and scal, 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 a
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 Jonathan Sellers, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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, and the accompanying Drawings (that is
to say):
:-
Firstly. My Invention relates to machinery for tenoning and reducing to
one exact length bobbin barrels, which are to have heads applied to them,
and which machinery may also be used for like purposes when operating
upon other articles.
It consists in arrangements for holding and pre-
venting the barrel or other article from revolving, and for causing by
cams, rack and pinion, or screws, or handle or treadle levers, two
rotating spindles carrying suitable cutters to be brought simultaneously
or alternately against the ends of the barrel until the spindles carrying
the cutters come against a fixed stop or stops, when the barrel will be
truly tenoned and reduced to the exact length required.
Secondly. My Invention relates exclusively to improvements in
machinery for cutting bobbin heads or bosses and like articles to the
rough circular shape, drilling, countersinking, and mortising them at
the same operation, and it consists in using a crown saw or like cutter
upon the end of a hollow spindle made to rotate in suitable bearings, and
in arranging a solid spindle to work in it, which may be driven by a
friction conc or other arrangement made to fit to the upper end of the
hollow spindle, so that each time after having made its cut it may cease
to revolve as the crown saw descends. The end of the solid spindle may
carry a cutter for boring or clearing out the hole and making it central,
and also a cutter to form the countersunk part, and also a shield or
fence to come against and press upon the blank and hold it against a
serrated or other surface on a table to prevent it from revolving while
acted upon by the crown saw, the blank being also held by fingers
exterior to the crown saw. Instead of the above-described arrangement
there may be within the hollow shaft for the crown saw another hollow
shaft, which may have the "fence" or holder on its end, and it may be
made to press upon and hold the blank but must not rotate with the
shaft. The lifting movements to cause it to press upon the blanks may
be imparted in any convenient manner. The central solid shaft for the
clearing and countersinking is made to rotate inside the second hollow
shaft and may be driven by a separate band. The actuating movements
may be given by a hand or foot lever or levers, or by a cam or cams.
A spindle may be used in combination with either of the above-described
arrangements placed to rotate in suitable bearings under the table,

page_text: having cutters for clearing out the hole and for making the mortice
in the under side of the blank while it is held down upon the table by
the presser.
Thirdly. My improvements relate to that class of machines for boring,
turning, and cutting wood and other substances, in which a series of
spindles are used rotating in bearings in a frame which turns regularly
or intermittently so that the blank placed upon each spindle will be
carried from one set of cutters to another set at each movement,
remaining for a time (when moving intermittently) stationary opposite
each set of cutters, and passing and coming opposite as many sets of tools
as are needed to give the required shape and finish to the article. The
spindles which give motion to the blanks are arranged at equal distances
from tho axis of the intermittently or regularly rotating frame, and are
driven by one belt passing over the pulleys of all the spindles except
those on that side where the blanks are removed and replaced.
My improvements relate to the mode of mounting the spindles in the
intermittently or regularly rotating frame (perfect accuracy of position
being necessary to produce good work), and they consist in making the
bearings of the spindles adjustable. Gaps or holes are formed in the
intermittently or regularly rotating frame, in which the pedestals or
bearings for the spindles are placed, and the said pedestals or bearings
are secured and adjusted by screws or wedges, or both combined, or by
other suitable arrangements, and by this means the position of tho
spindles may be truly adjusted, either circumferentially or radially.
Fourthly. My improvements relate to a tool or machine for making
cutters used principally for turning, such cutters having such a section
given to them as will correspond to the form or shape of the article to be
turned, such cutters having been hitherto made by a tedious and inac-
curate process of hand filing or grinding.
My improvements consist in shaping the cutters by a grinding or
cutting wheel rotating in centres, which are carried in a frame that can
oscillate upon a shaft that can move endways in bearings in the frame
of the machine, the end movement being given by a screw, which is
self-acted, to traverse the shaft and rotating grinder or cutter by a crank
on one end of a vertical shaft having suitable bearings in the frame,
the other end of the shaft having a plate carrying an adjustable crank
pin that gives movement through a connecting rod to a sliding table
upon which the metal is secured which is to be operated upon by the

page_text: grinder or cutter, so that the metal will traverse backward and forward
under the rotating grinder or cutter. The crank shaft is rotated by a
worm on the first motion shaft, which worm gears with teeth on the
edge of the crank-pin plate. The grinding or cutting wheel frame is
weighted so that an adjustable point or tracer projecting from it will
be kept pressed against a template or form secured to an adjustable
slide mounted on the framing, this shaper governing the position of the
grinding wheel or cutters.
The machine above described may be used for other purposes, such
as forming grooves or "feathers" on spindles or mandrels, which will
have to be secured on the table in centres and made to rotate as
required.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine according to the first part of
my Invention showing the bed partly broken away. A is the bed; A'
the feet; a, two headstocks fitted to slide the lengthway of the bed.
Each headstock carries a lathe spindle (a¹) having a face plate or
holder (a) for suitable cutters («³) secured by set screws («*). Each
headstock has a toothed rack (a) attached to it which gears with a
pinion on a shaft (a) in the bed, upon the end of which shaft there is
a wheel (a) that gears with a pinion on another shaft («³), upon the end
of which a handle (a") is secured for actuating the racks. When the
handle is turned both headstocks (a) are simultaneously brought towards
or away from each other, according to the direction in which the handle
is turned. The lathe spindles are driven in similar or in opposite
directions. The barrels to be operated upon are held by hand or by
means of a pair of tongs between the two centres or rimers (a*), and
the handle (a) is turned until one of the headstocks (a) comes against
an adjustable stop (a") secured in a slot in the bed, consequently the
lathe spindles (a¹) will approach each other to the extent fixed upon and
will thus cut the articles to the required length.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a side elevation, partly in section
of one machine; and Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation of an alter-
native machine or modification according to the second part of my
Invention. A is an upright stand or frame, to which adjustable head-
stocks or brackets are secured, as shown, for carrying the several parts
of the machine; a is the headstock for the spindles above the table.
The exterior hollow spindle (6) has a crown saw (6') secured at its lower
end as shown, and in the interior there is a solid spindle (c) carrying a

page_text: ;
centre countersinking cutter (c') and fence (-) to limit the depth of
the countersinking. The solid spindle (c) has a cone (c) secured at its
upper end, which fits a cone in the hollow spindle (b) as shewn, and the
position of the solid spindle in relation to the hollow spindle can be regu-
lated by the screw nuts (c') at its upper end. A cap (²) is secured to the
hollow spindle, and in this cap a short spindle (U) is fitted, which forms
the connection between the rotating hollow spindle and the rod (6') that
slides vertically in the bracket are rods connecting the slide with
the arm on the shaft (b) that has a lever at its outer end, one end
of which has an adjustable weight upon it for counterbalancing the
weight of the rotating spindles and connected parts. The balanced
lever () is connected with a treadle lever & having its fulcrum on a stand
at d' by a rod ď. This treadle (d) may be worked by a cam (Ø³) fixed
upon the end of a short shaft (d') having bearings in a bracket secured
to the frame, and this shaft (d), is driven by a worm wheel d³ that
gears with a worm on the end of a shaft de driven by a belt working
on the speed pulleys (7). One end of the shaft dª is in a fixed bearing,
the other end has its bearing in the end of a lever (d) having its fulcrum
at (). To the last-named lever (d) a rod d is jointed, which is also
jointed with a treadle lever (d") having its fulcrum at d*, by pressing 2
upon which the worm can be instantly lifted out of gear with the worm
wheel to stop the self-acting treading movement. The article (r) to
be operated upon is placed on the table e, which is adjustable upon the
frame. In the table a bush e' is fixed, and this may be varied in size
to suit the article to be operated upon. The upper face of the bush is 2
serrated or roughened, and the article rests upon this roughened surface
and is held down upon it by another surface formed by a bracket (c)
secured to a vertical sliding rod e³, arranged as shown. This vertical
sliding rod has a weight et at its upper end, and there is a strap or
chain (e) between a projection from the vertical sliding rod and the 3
arm so arranged that by the time that arm has fully ascended the
strap or chain will have lifted the vertical sliding rod (e³) so that the
holding surface () will be clear of the article (r) upon the table (e),
which can then be removed and replaced by another blank. Under the
table another spindle (f) is arranged in a headstock (¹) as shown, 3
and this spindle carries a double tool f³, one for clearing out the centre
hole, the other for countersinking or making the mortice. The spindle
(f) can slide vertically in its bearings, and its lower end works in a
square rod sliding vertically in a bracket f* on the frame; f³ is an

page_text: adjusting screw to limit the descent of the spindle f; ƒ is a part jointed
to the vertical slide at ; is a bell-crank lever having its fulcrum
on a bracket at . A pin in one arm in this lever fits and works in a
slot in the treadle lever d, and a pin or stud projects from the side of
the other arm of the lever (f), and this pin when the lever is moved
one way will come against the part and cause it to move on one side
so far as to allow the pin to get under its end, but when the lever
moves in the opposite direction the part fo will remain stationary, as a
projection from it comes against the side of the vertical slide rod ƒ³.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-When the treadle lever d
is up the stud in the bell-crank lever (*) is under the end of the swing
part (S), the spindle is at its lowest and the spindles b and c and
the holder care at their highest position. The blank (a) is placed on the
table (e), then the first part of the descending movement of the treadle
() brings the holder e firmly upon the blank. The continued descent
of the treadle causes the ascent of the spindle below the table which
does its work and then falls, when the stud in the lever escapes from
the swing part. By this time the bevel countersinking cutter (c¹) at
the upper side of the table (e) will have come into operation, and the
fence () upon it will limit the depth of the cut, and will then rest
upon and hold the blank, the cutter ceasing to rotate while the crown
saw will continue its descent until the blank is cut through;
then the treadle & will be allowed to lift, and these operations will be
repeated with the next blank.
In the modification shown by Fig. 4 there are two hollow spindles
and one sold spindle. The exterior spindle carries the crown saw (¿¹),
and the central solid shaft c is driven separately and carries the counter-
sinking cutters c' while the inner hollow spindle carries the holder g',
and does not rotate. To the upper part of the exterior hollow spindle b
a tube is connected, so that the hollow spindle 6 can rotate in it and
move up and down with it. The tube has a spring b* in it that acts
against a collar (g²) on the fixed hollow spindle 7, which collar has a
pin in it to fit a groove or slot in the tube, which pin will allow the
hollow spindle to move up and down, but will prevent it from rotating.
The tube is connected by links with an arm & for giving vertical
movement to the spindles. When the spindles are lifted the face of the
holder gis in advance of the cutters, and when the descent is made
the holder first comes in contact with and holds the blank against

page_text: the table (e); then by the continued descent of the spindles the spring
* will be compressed and both cutters will operate. The central spindle
c is lifted in the ascent, when the upper end of the tube & comes against
the under side of the driving pulley or any suitable collar placed on the
shaft c.
Fig. 5 is a partial sectional end view, Fig. 6 a partial end view, and
Fig. 7 a partial longitudinal section, showing so much of a machine as
will be necessary for explaining the manner of carrying the third part
of my Invention into effect.
In these Figures several methods for carrying out this part of my
Invention are illustrated; a is the axis upon which the frame rotates,
and a¹ are the side frames in which the bearings for the spindles are
arranged. The spindles are all marked with the letter b, but cach
different arrangement for adjusting has a different letter.
In Fig. 5 an outside and sectional view of one arrangement is
shown, c being the pedestal or bearing block, which is fitted into an
octagonal hole larger than the exterior of the bearing block to give space
for adjustment. Upon threo sides of the exterior of these bearing blocks
slots are cut with inclines to fit three screw wedges (c'), arranged as
shown. An outside and sectional view of another arrangement is also a
shown by Fig. 5, d being the bearing block placed in a gap in the frame.
The block is hield down by a plate d' and two bolts d³, and it is adjusted
by three set screws .
Another arrangement is shown in Fig. 5 where the bearing block e
is placed in an octagonal hole in the frame. The lateral adjustment is 2
obtained by two screw wedges e' placed in their lengthway in a parallel
line to the axis of the spindle. The radial adjustments are made by two
set screws cf.
Another arrangement is shown in Fig. 5, in which the bearing
blocks are turned to fit circular holes in the frame, the hole for the
spindle being placed excentric. The spindles can be adjusted radially
by this arrangement by slightly turning the bearing blocks. This may
be done by a pinion working in teeth in the flange of the block, as shown
in Fig. 6, the block being secured by a screw (f¹) after adjustment, as
shown, or the block may be turned by a suitable key by means of
notches or holes in the flange, and an index may be used to set the
blocks at each end of the spindles so as to correspond with each other.
Any of the modes of adjustment above described may be used for all the

page_text: spindles in one frame, and the same adjusting arrangement is applied
to both bearings of the spindles.
Fig. S is a side elevation, and Fig. 9 a plan, of a machine for shaping
cutting tools for turning according to the fourth part of my Invention.
A is the bed or frame; a, the fast and loose driving pulleys on a shaft
a in a bearing formed in the framing. This shaft has a worm (a²) on
it that gears with a worm wheel a³ on a vertical shaft a¹ having bearings
in the frame. The worm wheel has a crank piu aª adjustable in a slot
to give any required length of stroke, and the crank pin is connected
with a pin aª in a sliding table (a) by a connecting rod a³. Upon the
bed two stands A' are secured, which form the bearings for a horizontal
shaft (), upon which a frame is keyed that carries the centres of
the grinding or cutting wheel b as shown, this wheel being driven by
a band or belt working on a double pulley ' loose on the shaft b, which
pulley is driven by a belt or band from any suitable driving shaft. The
shaft is arranged like the forcing head of a lathe, so that it can be
moved endways by a screw and a hand wheel . This screw is self-
acted by means of an arm 6 centred upon the screw, which arm carries
a pawl & working on a wheel b fast on the screw b'. The arm ª has
vibratory motion given to it by a connecting rod & bell-crank lever 6,
having its fulcrum at b* and a connecting rod 6" to a crank aº upon
the lower end of the shaft a. Upon the stands A' another frame A is
mounted as shown, and this carries the shaper plate c.
The tracing
point acting upon the shaper is the end of a screw d in a part d' secured
to the frame (6'). This tracing point is kept against the face of the
shaper by a weighted arm 6" upon the shaft b.
I have now particularly described the nature of my Invention and the
mode of carrying it into effect, and claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The combination and arrangement of mechanism according to
the first part of my Invention substantially as hercin-before described
and illustrated by the Drawings.
Secondly. The combinations and arrangements of mechanism according
to the second part of my Invention substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Thirdly. The use in combination with multiple spindle turning
or shaping machines of arrangements for adjusting the spindles (b)
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings
under the third part of my Invention.

page_text: Fourthly. The combination and arrangement of machinery according
to the fourth part of my Invention for shaping turning tools or cutters,
substantially as berein-before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jonathan Sellers, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
JONATHAN SELLERS. (L.S.)