MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING WOOD."
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1882.
JOHN SMITH of Rochdale in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING WOOD."
"IMPROVE.
My Invention relates firstly to what are known as "circular saw benches" and
consists in arrangements for feeding the wood to the saw to be thereby operated
upon.
Upon each end of the fence I mount rollers carried by and capable of freely
rotating in bearings secured to the fence. Passing around the aforesaid rollers are
endless chains formed so as to be capable of being driven by the said rollers. The
aforesaid rollers receive rotatory motion from the saw spindle as follows.
Upon the saw spindle I mount a pulley which, by means of an endless belt,
imparts rotatory motion to a counter shaft provided with a worm gearing.into the
teeth of a worm wheel mounted fast upon an upright shaft revolving in brackets
secured to the saw bench and provided at its upper end with a bevil wheel The
aforesaid bevil wheel gears into another bevil wheel the boss of which is capable of
revolving freely in a bracket secured to the saw bench by which it is supported;
the aforesaid bevil wheel imparts motion through the medium of a key and groove
to an horizontal shaft having fast upon its end a bevil wheel gearing into another
mounted fast upon one of the rollers previously referred to.
The wood to be fed to the saw is placed upon the surface of the saw bench, and
against the chain above referred to, and is pressed in contact therewith by means
of a presser roller mounted so as to be capable of being revolved upon a shaft or
stud carried by one end of a lever turning upon a stud or fulcrum attached to the
fence; the other end of the aforesaid lever being drawn forward by means of a
weight so as to cause the above named presser roller to bear against the wood
previously named; thereby causing it to be carried forward to the saw by the motion
Price Rd

page_text: of the endless chain previously mentioned. The endless chains aforesaid pass along
and are guided by grooves formed in brackets secured by bolting, or otherwise, to
the surface of the fence before named.
The said grooved brackets I provide with pullies or rollers for the purpose of
reducing the friction of the chains as they pass along the aforesaid grooves. The
above named grooved brackets I mount upon the fence so as to be capable of being
adjusted to suit various widths or thicknesses of wood to be operated upon by the
Saw. The aforesaid fence is mounted upon the saw bench so as to be capable of
being placed near to, or further from, the saw in any ordinary and usual manner.
Upon removing the aforesaid lever and presser roller the saw bench may be used
for purposes in which a self-acting feed is not requisite. Similar arrangements to
those above described are also applicable for feeding the wood to be operated upon
by that class of sawing machines known as band saws, but in such case the roller
or rollers for actuating the chain by which the wood is fed to the saw, receives
rotatory motion from a pulley mounted upon one of the shafts of the machine
which carry the pullies around which the saw passes, and by which it is driven.
J
A further part of my Invention refers to feeding the wood or timber to what
are known as "deal frames or sawing machines having a reciprocating saw or
saws. For this purpose I provide vertical or horizontal rollers supported by and
capable of being freely rotated in brackets carried by the frame-work or other
suitable part of the machine. Around the aforesaid rollers I pass an endless
chain or chains. One or more of the aforesaid rollers I cause to receive rotatory
motion from any convenient part of the machine. The wood to be fed to the
saw or saws I place upon the endless chain aforesaid, and above the wood I
place a roller which by means of a weight and lever or levers I cause to press
upon the wood so as to cause it to be carried forward to the saw or saws, to
be thereby operated upon.

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 1st August
1882.
JOHN SMITH of Rochdale in the County of Lancaster Engineor "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING WOOD"
My Invention relates firstly to what are known as "circular saw benches" and
consists in arrangements for feeding the wood to the saw to be thereby operated
upon.
Upon each end of the fence I mount rollers carried by and capable of freely
rotating in bearings secured to the fence, Passing around the aforesaid rollers are
endless chains formed so as to be capable of being driven by the said rollers-Tho
aforesaid rollers receive rotatory motion from the saw spindle as follows:-Upon
the saw spindle I mount a pulley which by means of an endless belt imparts
rotatory motion to a counter shaft provided with a worm gearing into the tooth of
a worm wheel mounted fast upon an upright shaft revolving in brackets secured
to the saw bench and provided at its upper end with a bevil wheel.-The aforesaid
bevil wheel gears into another bevil wheel the boss of which is capable of revolving
freely in a bracket secured to the saw bench by which it is supported; the
aforesaid bevil wheel imparts motion through the medium of a key and groove to
a horizontal shaft having fast upon its end a bevil wheel gearing into another
mounted fast upon one of the rollers previously referred to
The wood to be fed to the saw is placed upon the surface of the saw bench and
against the chain above referred to and is pressed in contact therewith by means
of a presser roller mounted so as to be capable of being revolved upon a shaft or
stud carried by one end of a lever turning upon a stud or fulcrum attached to the
fence the other end of the aforesaid lever being drawn forward by means of a
weight so as to cause the above named presser roller to bear against the wood
previously named thereby causing it to be carried forward to the saw by the
motion of the endless chain previously mentioned-The endless chains aforesaid
pass along and are guided by grooves formed in brackets secured by bolting or
otherwise to the surface of the fence before named-The said grooved brackets I
provide with pullies or rollers for the purpose of reducing the friction of the
chains as they pass along the aforesaid grooves The above named grooved
brackets I mount upon the fence so as to be capable of being adjusted to suit
various widths or thicknesses of wood to be operated upon by the saw The
aforesaid fence is mounted upon the saw bench so as to be capable of being.
placed nearer to or further from the saw in any ordinary and usual manner.
Upon removing the aforesaid lever and presser roller the saw bench may be used
for
purposes in which a self acting feed is not requisite Similar arrangements
to those above described are also applicable for feeding the wood to be operated
upon by that class of sawing machines known as band saws, but in such case the
roller or rollers for actuating the chain by which the wood is fed to the saw receives
rotatory motion from a pulley mounted upon one of the shafts of the machine which
carry the pulleys around which the saw passes and by which it is driven.
A further part of my Invention refers to feeding the wood or timber to what
are known as "deal frames" or sawing machines having a reciprocating saw or
8&WS. For this purpose I provide vertical or horizontal rollers supported by and
capable of being freely rotated in brackets carried by the frame work or other
suitable part of the machine-Around the aforesaid rollers I pass an endless chain
or chains-One or more of the aforesaid rollers I cause to receive rotatory motion

page_text: from any convenient part of the machine-The wood to be fed to the saw or saws
place upon the endless chain aforesaid and above the wood I place a roller which
by means of a weight and lever or levers I cause to press upon the wood so as to
cause it to be carried forward to the saw or saws to be thereby operated upon.
In order that my said Invention may be more thoroughly understood and more
readily carried into effect I will now proceed to describe the same reference being
made to the Drawings hereunto annexed-The first part of my Invention is shown
by Figs 1 and 2. Fig. 1 being a vertical side view of a circular saw bench with
my Invention applied thereto and Fig 2 being a plan thereof.
At 1 is a frame provided with a flat top 2-Mounted within the frame 1 is a
shaft or spindle 3 mounted so as to be capable of revolving in suitable bearings 4
one only of which is shown-One end of the shaft 3 is provided with fast and
loose pulleys 5. 6. through the former of which it may receive rotatory motion from
any convenient source of power-Upon the end of the shaft 3 opposite to that
previously referred is carried a circular saw 7 secured to the shaft 3 as usual
Upon the top 2 of the saw bench I mount a bracket 8 provided with a part 9
which passes through a slot 10 formed in the top 2 of the saw bench such slot
serving along with the surface of the saw bench as a guide to retain the bracket S
parallel with the saw 7 while being slidden longitudinally within the slot 10-The
part of the bracket 8 is extended downward and embraces a bar 11 to which the
said bracket may be secured by means of a set screw 12. Extending from one end
of the bracket 8 are arms 13. 14 their ends 13" 14* being formed as bearings which
support a short upright shaft 15 capable of being revolved therein--The bracket 8
is also provided with an arm 16 attached to the said bracket 8 by bolts or set
screws 17 through the end 16* of the arm 16 passes a stud 18 secured to the
arm 16 by means of a set, screw 19-Upon the short upright shaft 15 are mounted
two pullies 20. 21-the pulley 21 being fast thereon but the pulley 20 is secured to
the shaft 15 by means of a set screw 22.
Upon the lower end of the stud 18 and capable of turning freely thereon is a
pulley 23 such pulley being retained upon the stud 18 by the collar 24 formed
upon the said stud-Upon the stud 18 and capable of being slidden longitudinally
thereon is a bush 25 which is socured upon the stud 18 by means of a set screw 20
the lower end of the said bush 25 being provided with a collar or flange 27-
Mounted upon the bush 25 so to be capable of being revolved freely thereon is a
pulley 28 which is retained upon the bush 25 by the collar 27-Passing around the
pullies 20. 28. 21. 23 are endless chains 29. 30 a detached portion of which is
shown on an enlarged scale in Fig: 3 the outer edges 32 of the links 31 are forined
pointed for a purpose to be hereafter explained the inner ends 33 of the links 31
form teeth capable of engaging with teeth formed around the circumferences of the
pulleys 20. 21. Upon the fraine 1 are formed brackets 34 which support a shaft 35
capable of being revolved within the said brackets-Fast upon the shaft 35 is
mounted a pulley 36 around which passes an endless belt 37 which also passes
around a pulley 38 mounted fast upon the shaft 3.-Carried by the frame 1 is a
shaft 39 upon which is mounted a cone pulley 40 around which and a cone pulley
4 mounted fast upon the shaft 35 passes an endless strap 42-Secured to the
surface of the saw bench 2 by bolts 43 is a bracket 44 the upper end thereof being
formed as a bearing within which and capable of being rotated therein is a bush 45
formed upon a pulley 46 the said bush 45 being retained within the bearing by
a collar 47 formed on one end of the bush 45 by which and the boss of the
pulley 46 the bush 45 is retained longitudinally within the bearing-Through the
interior of the bush 45 passes a shaft 48 so as to be capable of being slidden
longitudinally through the said bush 45 but capable of receiving rotatory motion
from the said bush by means of a key and groove 49-Around the pulley 46 and a
pulley 50 fast upon the shaft 39 passes an endless band or strap 51.-Upon the
shaft 48 and fast therewith is a worm 52 taking into the teeth of a worm wheel 53
mounted fast upon the upright shaft 15 a collar 48* upon the shaft 48 and the
boss of the worm 52 preventing the shaft 48 from sliding longitudinally through

page_text: the bearing 54 carried by the arm 13-Carried by the bracket S is a stud 55 upon
which and capable of being turned thereon is an arm 56 forming a socket into
which passes an arm 57 secured therein by a set screw 58-Through the end of
the arm 57 passes a bar 59 secured to the arm 57 by means of a set screw 60.
Through the lower end of the bar 50 passes one end of a bracket 61 which is
secured to the bar 59 by the nut 62-Passing through a boss upon the bracket Gl
so as to be capable of being revolved therein is a shaft 63 on the lower end of
which is formed a pulley 64 and upon the upper part of the shaft 63 is another
pulley or roller 65 secured thereto by means of a set screw 66-Formed upon the
boss of the arm 56 is a bush 56* upon which is mounted one end of a lever 67
which is secured to the said bush by a set screw 68 passing through a hole formed
in the free end of the lever 67 and attached thereto is one end of a cord 69 the
cord 69 passing over a guide pulley 70 carried by a forked bracket 71 secured to
the saw bench 2 by the bolts 72. 73.-to the end of the cord 69 opposite to that
attached to the lever 67 n weight 74 is attached by means of a hook 75 such
weight acting upon the arm 67 so as to tend to turn it upon the stud 55 in the
direction of the arrow A.
Assuming that the saw 7 is rotated in the direction of the arrow B rotatory
motion in the direction of the arrow C will be imparted to the shaft 48 through
media of the pulley 38 strap 37 shaft 35 cone pulleys 41. 40. strap 42 shaft 39
pulleys 50. 46 and strap 51-The worm 52 upon the shaft 58 will through media
of the worm wheel 53, shaft 15 and pulleys 20. 21 cause the endless chains 29. 30
to be rotated in the direction of the arrow D The wood E to be fed to the saw 7
to be thereby operated upon is placed upon the surface 2 of the saw bench and
between the presser rollers 64..65 and the chains 29. 30-The weight 74 acts upon
the presser rollers 64. 65 so as to cause them to press the wood E against tho
chains 29. 30 the motion of which carries forward the wood E to the saw 7 to be
thereby operated upon.
To prevent the presser rollers 64. 65 from being drawn by the weight 74 too far
towards the chains 29. 30 and also to facilitate the placing of a fresh piece of wood
between the chains 29. 30 and presser rollers 64. 65 I make use of the following
arrangement To one side of the bracket 71 previously referred to is connected
by a swivel joint 76 a boss 77 within which and capable of being revolved therein
is a bush 78 furnished with a hand wheel 78× the boss of the band wheel 78* and
a collar upon the bush 78 serving to keep the bush 78 in position longitudinally
within the boss 77-Within the interior of the bush 78 are formed screw threads
taking into screw threads upon a bar 79 the forked end 79* of which embraces the
lever 67-The closed end of the fork 79* acting as a stop against which the
lover 67 arrives when the wood E has passed from beneath the presser rollers 64. 65
the position of the closed end of the fork 79* being so adjusted as to prevent the
weight 74 from carrying the presser rollers beyond the distance requisite for
causing the wood to be carried forward to the saw 7 by the chains 29. 30.
The bracket & is provided with V slides upon which is mounted a plate SO
capable of being slidden to and fro in a direction parallel to the plane in which the
saw 7 revolves such traversing of the plate 80 is effected as follows:-Upon the
back of the plate 80 (shewn in the detached view Fig +) is secured a toothed
rack 81 gearing into which is a toothed wheel 82 fast upon one end of a shaft 83
passing through a boss 84 formed within the bracket 8 the said shaft 83 being
provided with a hand-wheel 85-Upon the surface of the plate or fence 80 are
secured troughs or grooved brackets 86. 87 which serve as guides for the
chains 29. 30 respectively and against the surfaces 86* 87* of which the backs
of the chains 29. 30 respectively slide being pressed against them by the presser
rollers 64. 65-The desired amount of tension is imparted to the chains 29. 30
by means of the adjustable bracket 16 which may be adjusted into position by
means of the set screw SS passing through a lug 89 formed upon the bracket S
the end of the said set screw SS bearing against the bracket 16 after adjustinent
the bracket 16 is retained in position by the set screws 17. 17* which are again

page_text: tightened having been previously slackened to allow the adjustment to tako
place the set screw 88 is also retained in position by means of lock nuts.
The troughs or guides 86. 87 are so placed relatively to the pulleys 20. 21 by
which the chains 29. 30 are driven and the carrier pulleys 28. 23 that the
chains 29. 30 in those parts between the ends of the guides 86. 87 and the
pulleys around which the said chains pass shall not be in contact with the wood
being fed to the saw.
When using saws of a less diameter than that shewn in the Drawing the plate 80
and the troughs or grooved brackets 86. 87 are slidden upon the V guides upon
the bracket 8 in the direction of the arrow F by means of the hand wheel 85 but
when saws of a larger diameter than the one shown in the Drawing are used the
plate 80 will be traversed in a direction opposite to that of the arrow F the plate 80
may be secured in any desired position by means of a set screw 90 which may be
screwed through the bracket 8 so that its end shall bear against the sliding
plate 80 When operating upon different thicknesses or breadths of timber the
bracket 8 and the parts carried thereby are traversed in the direction of the length
of the groove 10 the screw 12 which secures the bracket 8 to the bar 11 having
been previously slackened-After the bracket 8 has been roughly placed in position
by sliding it longitudinally in the line of the slot. 10 (the key and groove 40 in the
shaft 48 permitting the above described sliding of the bracket 8 to take place) the
bracket 8 is secured to the bar 11 by tightening the screw 12 when the final
adjustment of the bracket 8 may be made by the micrometer screw 91 as usual.
While the wood is being sawn it will be found advisable to place the presser
rollers so as to press against the wood near to where it is being operated upon by
the saw
The bars 61. 59. 57 socket 50 and set screws 60. 52 enabling the presser
rollers to be placed in the position requisite for acting upon the wood at a point
near to where it is-being operated upon by the saw.
The troughs or grooved brackets 86. 87 may be provided with rollers to lessen
the friction of the chains 29. 30 sliding therein if desired.
The grooved trough or guide 86 is secured to the plate 80 by screwing or other-
wise or I form it fast with the plate 80 but the grooved trough or guide 87 is
secured to the plate 80 by means of bolts passing into slots 92. 93. so that the
chains may be adjusted to a distance apart adapted to the width of the timber
being operated upon by the saw The presser rollers being also adjusted to cor-
respond therewith-Upon removing the levers 56. 57 and the presser rollers 64. 65.
the saw bench may be used for purposes for which a self acting feed is not
requisite.
Figs 5. 6 shew similar apparatus to that above described for feeding the wood
to be operated upon to that class of sawing machines known as "band saws."
Fig 5 is an elevation of such parts of a band sawing machine as are requisite to
illustrate my Invention and Fig: 6 is a plan of Fig: 5 with certain parts omitted
to avoid confusion-At 94 is the framework of the machine and 95 is the band
saw passing around the usual pulleys 96. 97-The table or surface upon which
the wood to be operated upon is placed is at 98, within the table 98 is formed a
slot 99 in which slide projections upon the lower part of a bracket 100 the slot 99
acting as a guide therefor.
The bracket 100 at one end is provided with a short shaft 101 upon which are
mounted pulleys 102 around which pass two endless chains 103. 104 which also
pass around other pulleys 105 mounted so as to be capable of being rotated upon a
stud 105* carried by the bracket 100-Fast upon the shaft 106 through which the
band saw is driven as usual is mounted a cone pulley 107 which by means of an
endless band 108 drives a cone pulley 109 upon a shaft 110 carried by brackets 111
upon the framework 94 of the machine, upon the shaft 110 is mounted fast there-
with a cone pulley 112 which by means of an endless band 113 imparts rotatory
motion to a pulley 114 fast upon a short shaft 115 capable of being rotated within
brackets 116. 117 formed upon the bracket 100.-Fast upon the shaft 115 is a

page_text: worm 118 taking into the teeth of a worm wheel 119 fast upon the shaft 101 upon
which are the pulleys for driving the chains 103. 104.
The presser rollers 120. 121 are caused to rotain the timber against the fence by
apparatus similar to that shown and described in reference to Figs-1 and 2.
As the shaft 106 rotates rotatory motion is imparted to the worm wheel 119
through media of the cone pulley 107 strap or band 108 cone pulley 109 pulley 112
strap or band 113 pulley 114 shaft 115 and worin 118.
The rotation of the shaft 101 will cause the chains 103. 104 to be rotated in tho
direction of the arrow G thereby causing the wood to be fed to the band saw 95
to be thereby acted upon-The chains 103. 104 are guided in their passage between
the pulleys round which they pass by means of grooved troughs or guides 122 122*
-The bracket 100 is adjusted relatively to the saw 95 so as to cut broader or
narrower widths from the wood by means of the ordinary adjusting apparatus 123-
As the parts for adjusting the pressing roller to the timber and for tightening and
adjusting the chains for feeding various thicknesses of timber are similar to those
described in reference to the previous Figures a further description' will not be
necessary as they will be readily understood
A further part of my Invention refers to feeding the wood or timber to what are
known as
"deal frames" or similar machines having reciprocating saws and is
illustrated by Figs: 7 and 8-Fig: 7 boing a vertical side elevation of a
"deal
frame" and Fig: 8 a front view thereof-At 124 is the framework of the machine
within which are the reciprocating saws 125 actuated from the crank shaft 126 as
usun! At 127 is a shaft mounted so as to be capable of being revolved within
brackets 128 129 formed upon the framework 124 upon the shaft 127 and fast
therewith are pulleys 130. 131-At 132 aro brackets (one only showing in Fig: 7
and both being omitted in Fig: 8 to avoid confusion) having a slot 133 within
which are blocks 134 provided with studs upon which and capable of being rotated
thereon are pulleys 135 around which are passed endless chains 136. 137. similar
in construction to those described in reference to Figs: 1. 2 and 3-The blocks 134
may be slidden in the brackets 132 so as to give the requisite amount of tension
to the chains 136. 137 Upon the shaft 126 and fast therewith is an eccentric
which acting through a rod 138 vibrates a lever 139 mounted loosely upon the
shaft 127 an extension 139* of the lever 139 carries a click 140 which acting upon
a pulley 141 fast upon the shaft 127 causes it to be rotated in the direction of the
arrow H when the crank shaft 126 is caused to rotate The rotation of the
pulley 141 will cause the chains 136. 137 to be rotated in the direction of the
arrow J-The wood or timber to be operated upon by the saws 125 is at K. L.
and rests upon the upper surface of the chains 136. 137. and as the said chains move
in the direction of the arrow J the wood K. L. will be carried forward thereby to
be acted upon by the saws 125 in order to ensure the chains 136. 137 carrying
forward the timber, I place above the timber rollers 142. 143 mounted upon studs
carried upon blocks 144. 145 capable of being slidden in slots or guides 146 one
only of which shows in the Drawing formed within the framework 124 of the
machine,
The timber K. L. is held in position against the usual guides or fences while
being operated upon by the saws by the rollers 147 147* ordinarily used for that
purpose as will be well understood by persons conversant with "deal frames"
Figs: 9. 10 show a further modification of my Invention of which Fig: 9 shews a
front elevation of a portion of a deal frame and Fig: 10 a plan thereof. partly in
section certain parts being omitted to avoid confusion--At 148 is the frame work
of the machine which supports a shaft 149 upon which is a pulley 150 actuated
from the crank shaft 151 in a manner similar to that described in reference to
Figs: 7 and 8-Upon the shaft 149 are bevil wheels 152. 153 gearing into bevil
wheels 154. 155. (such bevil wheels being shewn more clearly in the detached view
Fig: 11) mounted fast upon vertical shafts 156. 157 capable of being rotated
respectively in brackets 158. 159 secured to the framework 148 secured also to the
framework 148 are other brackets 160. 161, supporting studs or shafts 102. 163 upon

page_text: which are pulleys around which and the pulleys 150*. 156** 157* 157** pass
endless chains 164. 164* 165 165* of a construction similar to those shewn and
described in reference to Figs: 1. 2 and 3-Between the pulleys carrying the
chains are brackets 100. 167 carried by the frame work 148.-These brackets are
furnished with grooves or troughs constituting guides for the chains 164. 164*.
165 165* The timber to be operated upon is at M. N and is supported upon
rollers 168. 169 carried by the framework 148. The said timber M. N is kept in
contact with the surfaces of the chains 164. 164 165 165x by means of presser
rollers 170. 171. 172. 173 carried by levers mounted upon short shafts 174. 175.
supported by a cross rail 176 secured to the framework 148. To the lower ends of
the short shafts 174. 175 are secured levers 177. 178 attached to which are cords
passing over carrier rollers 179. 180. To these cords are attached weights 181. 182
such weights acting through media of the levers 177. 178 short shafts 174. 175
presser rollers 170. 171. 172. 173 keep the timber M. N. in contact with the
chains 104. 164* 165. 105*.
It will be seen on inspecting Figs: 9 and 10 that the brackets 166. 167 are so
placed relatively to the pulleys around which the chains 104. 164. 165.165* pass
that the said chains only act upon the timber M. N for feeding it to the saws
while such chains are in contact with the brackets 166. 167. thereby preventing
the wood from binding upon the saw after being cut thereby.
The pulleys around which the chains 104. 104* 165. 165* pass and the brackets
which act as guides to the said chains will require to be adjusted to suit the widths
of timber being operated upon by the deal frame
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
claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent
Firstly, The combined use of a chain or chains and pressing roller or rollers for
feeding the wood to circular saws substantially in the manner hereinbefore shewn
and described in reference to Figs: 1. 2 and 3.
Secondly. The combined use of a chain or chains and pressing roller or rollers for
feeding the wood to band saws substantially in the manner herein before shown
and described in reference to Figs: 5 and 6.
Thirdly. The use of a chain or chains for feeding the wood to what are ordinarily
designated deal frames substantially in the manner hereinbefore shewn and
described in reference to Figs: 7 and 8 and Figs: 9 and 10.
In witness whereof I the said John Smith have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JOHN SMITH. (L.S.)