IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR LAYING VENEERS ON TO MOULDINGS AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Chambers at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th March
1866.
I, JAMES CHAMBERS, of Blenheim House, Clarendon Road, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR LAYING VENEERS ON TO MOULDINGS AND
OTHER SURFACES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the construction of apparatus for laying
veneers on to mouldings and other surfaces, by means of which a considerable
and equable pressure can be suddenly exerted upon the entire surface of the
moulding or other object to which the veneer has to be applied, and can also
be quickly removed when the operation is complete. For this purpose I
construct a long narrow table, by preference of strong metal with a strength-
ening rib below, which table is supported in an adjustable manner upon a
number of set screws carried by a framing. Immediately above this-table is
arranged a second strong metal plate of dimensions corresponding with those
of the table, which plate is also formed with a strengthening rib at the back.
This plate is suspended by a number of strong links arranged at certain
distances along its length from the short horizontal arms of a corresponding
number of strong bell cranks working on fulcra carried by the before-mentioned
framing. The long vertical arms of these bell cranks are all connected
tegether by a horizontal connecting rod, and have each a weight attached to their
upper extremity. The long arm of the one end bell-crank lever is further-
more connected by means of a connecting rod having. one or more hinged

page_text: joints in its length to the crank of a crank shaft, which is actuated by a steam
engine or other prime mover by means of suitable gearing and a fly wheel in such
manner that by turning such crank shaft the jointed connecting rod is caused
to draw simultaneously all the long arms of the levers forward, and consequently
to press all the short arms of the same downwards with very considerable
force. In operating with this apparatus a cushion of vulcanized india-rubber
is placed upon the entire surface of the table, and upon this is laid a thin
metal plate; the wood moulding or other object upon which the veneer is to
be laid after being coated with glue is then placed together with the veneer,
and the "caul" upon this elastic bed, and the upper plate is then pressed
down with great force upon the entire length of the moulding by means of the
bell-crank levers actuated as before described; the equality of the pressure
throughout the length being insured, firstly, by the somewhat yielding nature
of the bed; and, secondly, by adjusting the set screws supporting the table.
The crank after having passed the end forward stroke is prevented from
pushing back the bell-crank levers on account of the connecting rod being
jointed as before described, and the levers consequently continue to exert a
pressure upon the moulding by means of the before-mentioned weights
attached to their upper ends until the crank by its revolution again exerts a
pull upon them. When the pressure has thus been exerted a sufficient.
length of time upon the moulding the bell cranks are pushed back so as to
raise the upper plate by screwing together two guides between which the
jointed connecting rod works, whereby the latter is rendered stiff and is
enabled to push back the levers at the return stroke of the crank. When it
is required to lay the veneer along the edge of the moulding at the same time
that it is laid upon the upper surface, a carriage running in grooves or upon
rails formed.or fixed at the side of the table, and provided with two or more
curved levers made to press upon the edge of the moulding is drawn by means
of an endless chain along the said grooves or rails so as to press the veneer
against the edge of the moulding as it travels along.