IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING WOOD
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Smith, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING
WOOD."
Sealed the 19th August 1879, and dated the 26th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th February 1879.
JOHN SMITH, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING WOOD."
My Invention refers to that machinery in which circular saws are used, and con-
sists in a certain arrangement whereby the fence and feed roller are rendered
adjustable to or from the saw according to the diameter of the saw employed, and
in providing an unincumbered space at that end of the bench where the workman
has to attend. With these objects I mount the fence upon V or other suitable
stationary guides, and adapt a rack and pinion or other such appliance whereby the
said fence may be moved nearer to or further from the axis of the saw. Upon the
fence is a standard carrying a shaft provided with a bevil wheel taking into another,
on the axis of which is a spur wheel communicating motion by means of an inter-
nediate wheel to a wheel on the axis of the feed roller, which roller is mounted on
a lever capable of turning upon the axis of the above mentioned bevil wheel,
another arm of the said lever being weighted to afford the necessary pressure of the
roller. The shaft carried by the fence has another bevil wheel, which, by means of
a cross shaft and bevil, is in gear with an upright shaft, the lower end of which is
driven from the main shaft, and by these means the feed roller is caused to revolve,
but in order that this feed motion may take place when the position of the said
roller is bodily altered, the shaft carried by the fence is adapted so as to slide
through the bevil wheel connected to the cross shaft, and thus the fence and feed
roller may be moved bodily together, although the latter is constantly driven, and
as the main part of the gearing above described extending backward from the
right hand of the workman a clear bench is provided for his manipulations.

page_text: -
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th August
1879.
JOHN SMITH, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING WOOD."
My Invention refers to that arrangement in which circular saws are used, and
consists in a certain arrangement whereby the fence and feed rollers are rendered
adjustable to or from the saw according to the diameter thereof employed, and in
providing an unincumbered space at that end of the bench where the workman has
to attend. In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents the machine in side
elevation; Fig. 2, in plan view, and Fig. 3 is an end view of the fence feed rollers
and parts connected therewith. At 1 is the fence carrying the usual anti-friction
rollers 2, and formed at back with a V slide 3, capable of sliding on guides 4 of a
part 5 which for the present may be considered stationary. The V slide 3 is pro-
vided with a rack in gear with a pinion 6, which may be turned by a pulley handle
7 carried by a boss 8, extending from the part 5, and by these means therefore the
fence may be moved to or from the spindle 9 of the saw. Upon the saw spindle 9
is a pulley which drives a counter shaft 10, and this drives another shaft 11, the
axis of which is provided with a worm in gear with a worm wheel 12 on an upright
shaft 13, the top of which is provided with a bevil wheel 14 which drives a cross
shaft 18, which by means of bevils 15 drives a shaft 10 mounted in a pedestal 19,
extending from the fence 1. Upon the shaft 16 is a bevil pinion 17* mounted thereon
by means of a feather and driving another bevil 21, mounted on a stud at 22,
projecting from the fence, and fast with this bevil 21 is a spur pinion 23 in gear with
another 24, which drives a third 25, the axis of which carries the usual feed rollers
26. The spur wheels 24, 25, are carried by an arm 27, capable of turning upon the
stud at 22 and provided with a boss 28 to support the shaft of the feed rollers 26.
The said arm 27 has an extended part 30 which may be attached to a lover 31,
capable of turning upon the centre 22 by means of a bolt situate in a circular slot
32 formed in the said lever 30, and is provided with a cord 33 passing over a pulley
34 and weighted at 34*, whereby the feed rollers are pressed against the timber A,
whatever its thickness may be, while at the same time the spur wheels 24, 25,
being carried by the arm. 27 constantly convey the driving power, however the feed
rollers may be turned inward or outward. The lever 31 is situate within a fork 40,
formed on the end of a screw 41, which is in gear with a nut at 42 carried by the
bracket 43 which supports the pulley 34, and capable of being turned by the pulley
handle 46. When the timber A has passed the feed rollors they are of course
drawn inward by the weight 34", but are prevented from doing so beyond a certain
distance by the arrival of the lever 31 against the end 45 of the slot. When by
reason of the thickness of the timber to be sawn the feed rollers are further out
and the lever 31 is further removed from the stop 45, the pulley handle 44 is
turned so as to bring the said stop again in proximity to the lever 31, or if thinner
timber is under operation the stop is moved in the contrary direction, and this
adjustment may take place at intervals when the timber has to be severed into
boards. By the foregoing description it will be seen that the fence is capable of
being moved in its guide longitudinally, and that during such movement the feed
rollers and the necessary gearing for communicating motion thereto accompany it,
the bevil wheel 17* sliding upon the slotted shaft 16. Also it will have been seen
that the feed rollers may turn inward or outward without disturbing the gearing
which drives them, and it therefore follows that the fence complete in itself with
feed rollers and gearing may be moved to and fro to suit various diameters of saws,
while at the same time a clear space is left for the manipulations of the attendant.
When the fence has been moved to any desired position it may be secured therein
by the set screw 60. The fence may also be moved transversely in the machinė

page_text: by the following arrangement, but this being similar to that now in use it does not
constitute any part of my Invention, as, however, it is connected with certain parts
thereof, I proceed to describe it in order to make the whole arrangement complete.
At the back of the part 5 (before supposed to be stationary) there is an extension
50 which is mounted on a shaft 51, so as to be capable of sliding thereon, but of
being confined in any required position by a screw 52 and binding clamp 53. When
the fence has to be moved forward or backwards transversely, the screw 52 is
loosened and the final adjustment is made by the micrometer screw 54, the clamp
53 being then tightened, all in the ordinary manner. The Drawing shews an
ordinary drag motion B at the left hand of the machine, to be used when desired,
and which may be put in or out of gear by the hand lever 55.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I do
not claim the use of a fence which may be moved to and from the saw spindle, but
I do claim the use of a longitudinally sliding fence carrying the feed rollers and
gearing, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
"