Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Shaping or Jointing the Edges of Staves for the Manufacture of Barrels and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Shaping or Jointing the
Edges of Staves for the Manufacture of Barrels and the like.
I, ALEXANDER DUNBAR, of 105, Newsham Drive, Newsham Park, West Derby,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Barrister at Law, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a machine designed for accurately jointing, cutting,
or shaping the edges of pieces of wood to form staves, for the manufacture of casks,
barrels, kegs and the like, so as to give the proper outline or curvature for both wido
and narrow staves.
In a machine according to this invention piecos of wood to form staves of slightly
varying widths may be put into a feeding box placed at one end of the machine and
delivered out at the other end properly jointed to the required shape.
The machine is provided with a suitable feeding box or hopper in which a number
of pieces of wood to form staves are placed. Beneath and extending beyond the
hopper a suitable pusher is provided for delivering one or more of the pieces of
wood therefrom on to a frame work or table that travels backward and forward.
When the pusher has delivered the stave on to the travelling table or framework, an
automatic clamping arrangement grips the stave tightly thereon, and holds it whilst
it is carried past revolving cutters placed in such positions and revolving in such
directions as to always cut the edges of the stave with the grain of the wood. As
soon as the table or framework has got near the end of its stroke the clamping
arrangement is automatically released, and the cut stave may be thrown out of the
machine by levers and springs or their equivalents. The pusher before referred to
may be made to travel backwards and forwards by means of pitched chains, toothed
wheels, and a crank motion or their equivalent according to the length of stroke
required and size of machine. The circular cutters for operating on the edges of
the staves are, by preference, placed some distance apart and are arranged in pairs,
the two cutters forming a pair being opposite one another. They consist of the
ordinary cutter blocks carrying loose tools and are mounted on vertical spindles,

page_text: i
rotated by straps guided over gallows pulleys. The brackets or bearings carrying the
cutter spindles are supported on links pivotted to the frame or base of the machine
and so arranged that the cutter spindles forming a pair, may be readily drawn
loser together or moved further apart to suit the width and shape required to be
given to the stave when finished.
It is advantageous with some classes of machines to guide the cutter brackets in
slides instead of by links.
To the cutter spindle brackets there is connected suitable regulating mechanism
such as rollers or the like for guiding and moving the said spindles inwards and
outwards. This mechanism acts in conjunction with sliding template bars moving
with the before mentioned table or framework hereinafter described. The framework
or table, on which the wood to be operated on by the revolving cutters is fixed, is
formed of two longitudinal members which slide in recesses or grooves on the base
plate. These longitudinal members are connected together by a bridge at about the
centre of their lengths. At or near each end is another similar bridge capable of
sliding on the members and of being moved closer to or further from the centre
bridge, by a right and left hand scrow shaft provided with a hand wheel or other
convenient means for turning.
Each of the three bridges carries a short right and left hand screwed spindle with
nuts thereon. These nuts are provided with pins which project upwards and carry
a system of jointed bars. There are two such bars and each bar is jointed at the
centro whilst near its ends there are slotted holes fitting on to sliding blocks carried
by the pins above mentioned.
To these jointed bars suitably shaped guide or template bars are fixed. If the
centre right and left hand screwed spindle be rotated more quickly than the end ones,
the template bars will open at the middle more than at the ends and form a figuro
representing the frustra of two cones having their bases together. In some cases it
may be advisable to provide the two nuts on the central right and left hand screwed
spindle with two pins each, instead of only one as before described. By this means
cach of the two guide or template bars may be in two distinct parts and each part
may move or radiate on its own joint pin. In such case there will be no necessity for
the guide rollers or other mechanism secured to the cutter spindle bearings (for
moving them to and fro) to come into contact with or pass over the jointing of the
guide or template bars. By this arrangement the ends of the guides or template-
bars may be so curved that when the moving table or framework has arrived within
a short distance of the end of its stroke and the full length of stave has been cut by
the two sets of revolving cutters, the guide or template bars may withdraw the
revolving cutters from the cut stave and allow it to be forced out of the machine.
One end of each of the three right and left hand screwed spindles is provided
with bevel wheels, gearing into other bevel wheels secured to à longitudinal shaft
supported in pedestals on the bridges carrying the screwed spindles.
The proportions of the toothed wheels may be such that the central screwed spindlo
will rotate more rapidly than the two other spindles, the exact proportion of the
speeds depending on the shape the finished barrel is required to take, and also the
distance the end screwed spindles are placed from the central one. If the lines or
contour of a barrel having a given amount of bulge, size of head and length of
staves be produced until the lines meet the apex of the cone would form a centre or
pivot for the guide or template bars. But as it would be inconvenient to carry them
out to this length, the end screwed spindles are placed at a distance from the central
spindle and are geared so as to obtain the same result as the template bars were
connected to the same centre-Then for varying the length or height of the
imaginary cone for a different shaped barrel it is only necessary to bring the end
screwed spindles closer together or further apart by the before mentioned hand wheel
or the first named screw shaft instead of altering the toothed wheels. The guide or
template bars may be bent or shaped from a straight line as to give the necessary
amount of curvature for a barrel between the bilge and the ends thereof as may bo
required.

page_text: Thus it will be understood that a true shape will be given to either a wide or
narrow stave the amount of jointing being in proportion to its width. The jointed
bars (carrying the guide or template bars) have flanges secured thereto forining a
table on which the stave under treatment rests. These flanges project upwards
sufficiently to allow the edges of the stave to stand opposite the revolving cutters, and
are also of sufficient length to permit of four vertical reds being attached to their
ends, for carrying the necessary clamping arrangement as well as the mechanism for
forcing out the finished stave at the proper time.
The clamping and releasing of the staves may be effected by similar bars to the
flanges forming the table, and opening and closing simultaneously therewith according
to the width of stave to be jointed. These bars form the fulcra for lovers which
work the clamps those levers are weighted, and are operated by tappets, which throw
them to one or other side of their centre of suspension. Fences or guards are
provided for guiding the stave in a straight line whilst being fed to the machine and
also for gauging and setting the width between the revolving cutters to suit the
width of the wood to be jointed. The fences or guards are capable of moving
inwards or outwards automatically with the three right and left hand screwed spindles
before mentioned and may be actuated by a fourth or separate right and left hand
screwed spindle, secured in a convenient position on the machine frame work. They
may be rotated by another pair of toothed wheels one of which is secured to the
fourth or last named screwed spindle, whilst the other one may be placed on the
before mentioned longitudinal shaft on which the other toothed wheels are fixed.
The longitudinal shaft travels with the table or framework and may conveniently
slide through the boss of the wheel, gearing into the fence screw wheel, and may
also be fitted with fixed keys taking in a long keyway cut therein. This toothed
wheel may be provided with a hand wheel.
For automatically gauging the different widths of the pieces of wood to form staves
as they are fed into the machine, a spring roller or other suitable appliance is placed
on the fence so that as the fences close towards each other and onto the side of the
stave which is being fed to the moving table or frame work, they compress the spring
roller to such an extent that it releases a catch which takes into a moving part of the
machine such for example as an endless pitched chain. Another catch is automatically
put into gear with the endless pitched chain by bell crank levers and tappets as soon
as the cut stave on the table or framework has reached about the end of its stroke.
On its backward stroke the endless chain is caught and held fast until the catch is
automatically released by another lever, thereby opening or widening the guides or
template bars and fences a sufficient distance to allow the next stave to enter. During
the time the empty table or framework is continuing its backward stroke and
simultaneously as the pusher is feeding a new stave on to the table, another lever or
catch comes into operation and brings into gear the first named catch which drops
into and holds fast the opposite side of the endless pitched chain. This causes the
wheels to rotate in the opposite direction and thereby closes together the guide or
template bars and fences until the spring roller is pressed back by the edge of the
stave to be jointed and the endless chain is again released before the table or frame-
work bas completed its stroke.
The mechanism employed for revolving the different right and left hand screw
spindles for actuating the guide or template bars, table or framework and fence may
consist of an endless pitched chain working at one end over an idle toothed wheel and
at the other end over another similar toothed wheel engaging with a train of gearing
the last member of which is secured to the before mentioned fixed central screwed
spindle. By the backward or idle stroke of the table or framework the screwed
spindles are rotated first to open the guide or template bars, fences, gearing, and
attachments thereto a certain amount and then in the opposite direction to gauge the
piece of wood fed into the machine and to set the template bars accordingly.
It will be understood that the revolving cutters are placed at such a distance apart
as to operate upon the largest stave the machine is designed for and that the first pair
of cutters (that is those that are nearest the feeding box or hopper) commence to cut

page_text: the stave a little on one side of the bilge or middle whilst the opposite pair of cutters
are at some distance away from the first end of the stave and also that the length of
stroke of the table or framework is such that the second pair of revolving cutters may
if required pass over a portion of the bilge of the stave previously jointed by the first
pair and that by the time the table or framework has reached the full extent of its
stroke the second pair of cutters may be withdrawn sufficiently that their cutting
edges shall not protrude past the face of the fences. Thus there will be no possibility
of the jointed stave whilst being pushed out from the machine catching and becoming
damaged by passing the revolving cutters.
The various motions of the machine are automatic in their actions and staves of
various widths may be correctly cut in the form of a cono according to their width.
Different forms of cutting tools may be fixed to the revolving cutter blocks so that
stave edges may be varied, i.e. cut either square on the edges or injointed or if required
they may be tongued and grooved.
The gearing for actuating the table or framework may be of the nature of a crank
motion so long that a positive length of stroke may be given to each of the parts. It
is important that the middle of the stave measured from each end shall be directly in
a line with the jointing of the guide or template bars so that the bilge or widest part
of the stave shall always be in the middle and that the ends of the same shall always
be the same width, provided the staves are all of a given length.
I would have it understood that I may vary the various parts of my apparatus
according to the requirements of different classes of staves to be treated without
departure from the essential features of my invention.
Dated this 14th day of March 1888.
ALEXANDER DUNBAR,
Per L. W.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Shaping or Jointing the
Edges of Staves for the Manufacture of Barrels and the like.
I ALEXANDER DUNBAR, of 105, Newsham Drive, Newsham Park, West Derby,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Barrister at Law, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to a machine designed for accurately jointing, cutting
or shaping the edges of pieces of wood, to form staves, for the manufacture of casks,
barrels, kegs and the like, so as to give the proper outline or curvature for both wide
and narrow staves.
In a machine according to this invention pieces of wood to form staves of slightly
varying widths may be put into a feeding box placod at one end of the machine, and
delivered out at the other end properly jointed to the required shape.
The machine is provided with a suitable feeding box or hopper in which a number
of pieces of wood to form staves are placed. Beneath and extending beyond the
hopper a suitable pusher is provided for delivering one or more of the pieces of wood
therefrom on to a framework or table that travels backward and forward. When the pusher
has delivered the stave on to the travelling table or framework, an automatic clamping
arrangement grips the stave tightly thereon, and holds it whilst it is carried past
revolving cutters placed in such positions and revolving in such directions as to
always cut the edges of the stave with the grain of the wood. As soon as the table
or framework has got near the end of its stroke, the clamping arrangement is
automatically released, and the cut stave may be thrown out of the machine by
levers and springs or their equivalents. The pusher before referred to may be mado
to travel backwards and forwards by means of pitched chains, toothed wheels, and a
crank motion or their equivalent according to the length of stroke required and size
of inachine.
The circular cutters for operating on the edges of the staves are by preference
placed some distance apart and are arranged in pairs, the two cutters forming a pair
being opposite one another. They consist of the ordinary cutter blocks carrying
loose tools and are mounted on vertical spindles, rotated by straps guided over gallows
pulleys. The brackets or bearings carrying the cutter spindles are supported on links
pivotted to the frame or base of the machine and so arranged that the cutter spindles
forming a pair may be readily drawn closer together or moved farther apart to suit
the width and shape required to be given to the stave when finished.
It is advantageous with some classes of machines to guide the cutter brackets in
slides instead of by links.
To the cutter spindle brackets there is connected suitable regulating mechanism
such as rollers or the like for guiding and moving the said spindles inwards and
outwards.

page_text: This mechanism acts in conjunction with sliding templet bars moving with the
before mentioned table or framework hereinafter described. The framework or table
on which the wood to be operated on by the revolving cutters is fixed, is formed of
two longitudinal members which slide in recesses or grooves on the base plate. These
longitudinal members are connected together by a bridge at about the centre of their
lengths. At or near each end is another similar bridge capable of sliding on the
members and of being moved closer to or farther from the centre bridge, by a right
and left hand screw shaft provided with a hand wheel or other convenient means for
turning.
Each of the three bridges carries a short right and left hand screwed spindle with
nuts thereon. These nuts are provided with pins which project upwards and carry a
system of jointed bars. There are two such bars and each bar is jointed at the centre
whilst near the ends there are slotted holes fitting on to sliding blocks carried by the
pins above mentioned.
To these jointed bars suitably shaped guide or templet bars are fixed. If the centre
right and left hand screwed spindle be rotated more quickly than the end ones, tho
templet bars will open at the middle more than at the ends and form a figure
representing the frustra of two cones having their bases together. In some cases it may
be advisable to provide the two nuts on the central right and left hand screwed spindle
with two pins each, instead of only one as before described. By this means each of
the two guide or templet bars may be in two distinct parts and each part may move
or radiate on its own joint pin. In such case there will be no necessity for the guide
rollers or other mechanism secured to the cutter spindle bearings (for moving them to
and fro) to come into contact with or pass over the jointing of the guide or templet
bars.
By this arrangement the ends of the guides or templet bars may be so curved
that when the moving table or framework has arrived within a short distance of
the end of its stroke and the full length of stave has been cut by the two sets of
revolving cutters, the guide or templet bars may withdraw the revolving cutters
from the cut stave and allow it to be forced out of the machine.
One end of each of the three right and left hand screwed spindles is provided
with bevel wheels, gearing into other bevel wheels secured to a longitudinal shaft
supported in pedestals on the bridges carrying the screwed spindles.
The proportions of the toothed wheels may be such that the central screwed spindle
will rotate more rapidly than the two other spindles, the exact proportion of tho
speeds depending on the shape the finished barrel is required to take, and also the
distance the end screwed spindles are placed from the central one. If the lines or
contour of a barrel having a given amount of bulge, size of head and length of staves
be produced until the lines meet the apex of the cone would form a centre or pivot for
the guide or templet bars. But as it would be inconvenient to carry them out to this
length the end screwed spindles are placed at a distance from the central spindle and
are geared so as to obtain the same result as if the templet bars were connected to the
same centre. Then for varying the length or height of the imaginary cone for a
different shaped barrel it is generally only necessary to bring the end screwed spindles
closer together or further apart by the before mentioned hand wheel on the first named
scrow shaft instead of altering the toothed wheels.
For varying the shape of the stave more than can be got by moving the screwed
spindles closer to or farther from each other, the centre screwed spindle on the middle
bridge is disconnected and turned partially around so as to alter the lengths of the
sides of the imaginary cone.
The guide or templet bars may be bent or shaped from a straight line as to give
the necessary amount of curvature required for a barrel between the bilge and the
ends thereof as may be required.
Thus it will be understood that a true shape will be given to either a wide or narrow
stave, the amount of jointing being in proportion to its width. The jointed bars
(carrying the guide or templet bars) have flanges secured. thereto.forming a table on
which the stave under treatment rests.

page_text: These flanges project upwards sufficiently to allow the edges of the stave to stand
opposite the revolving cutters, and are also of sufficient length to permit of four
vertical rods being attached to their ends, for carrying the necessary clamping
arrangement.
The clamping and releasing of the staves may be effected by similar bars to the
flanges forming the table and opening and closing simultaneously therewith according
to the width of stave to be jointed.
These bars form the fulcra for levers which work the clamps, these levers are weighted
and are operated by tappets for raising them up.
Fences or guards are provided for guiding the staves in a straight line whilst being
fed to the machine and also for guaging and setting the width between the revolving
cutters to suit the width of the wood to be jointed.
The fences or guards are capable of moving inwards or outwards automatically with
the three right and left hand screwed spindles before mentioned, and may be actuated
by a fourth or separate right and left hand screwed spindle secured in a convenient
position on the machine frame-work. They may be rotated by another pair of toothed
wheels one of which is secured to the fourth or last named screwed spindle, whilst the
other one may be placed on the before mentioned longitudinal shaft on which the
other toothed wheels are fixed. The longitudinal shaft travels with the tables or
framework and may conveniently slide through the boss of the wheel, gearing into
the fence screw wheel and may also be fitted with fixed keys taking in a long keyway
cut therein. This toothed wheel may be provided with a hand wheel.
For automatically guaging the different widths of the pieces of wood to form staves
as they are fed into the machine a spring roller or other suitable appliance is placed
on the fence, so that as the fences close towards each other and onto the side of the
stave which is being fed to the moving table or frame work, they compress the spring
roller to such an extent that it releases a catch which takes into a moving part of the
machine such for example as an endless pitched chain. Another catch is automatically put
into gear with the endless pitched chain by bell crank levers and tappets as soon as
the cut stave on the table or framework has reached about the end of its stroke. On
its backward stroke the endless chain is caught and held fast until the catch is auto-
matically released by another lever, thereby opening or widening the guides or templet
bars and fences a sufficient distance to allow the next stave to enter. During the
time the empty table or framework is continuing its backward stroke and simul-
taneously as the pusher is feeding a new stave on to the table another lover or catch
comes into operation and brings into gear the first named catch which drops into and
holds fast the opposite side of the endless pitched chain. This causes the wheels to
rotate in the opposite direction and thereby closes together the guide or templet bars
and fences until the spring roller is pressed back by the edge of the staves to be jointed
and the endless chain is again released before the table or framework has completed
its stroke.
The mechanism employed for revolving the different right and left hand scrow
spindles for actuating the guides or template bars, table or framework and fence may
consist of an endless pitched chain working at one end over an idle toothed wheel
and at the other end over another similar toothed wheel engaging with a train of
gearing the last member of which is secured to the before mentioned fixed central
screwed spindle. By the backward or idle stroke of the table or framework the
screwed spindles are rotated first to open the guide or templet bars, fences, gearing,
and attachments thereto a certain amount and then in the opposite direction to guago
the piece of wood fed into the machine and to set the templet bars accordingly.
It will be understood that the revolving cutters are placed at such a distance apart
as to operate upon the largest stave the machine is designed for and that the first pair
of cutters (that is those that are nearest the feeding box or hopper) commence to
act and cut the stave a little on one side of the bilge on middle whilst the opposito
pair of cutters are at some distance away from the first end of the stave and also that
the length of stroke of the table or framework is such that the second pair of
revolving cutters may if required pass over a portion of the bilge of the stave

page_text: previously jointed by the first pair and that by the time the table or framework has
reached the full extent of its stroke the second pair of cutters may be withdrawn
sufficiently that their cutting edges shall not protrude past the face of the fences.
Thus there will be no possibility of the jointed stave whilst being pushed out from
the machine catching and becoming damaged by passing the revolving cutters.
The various motions of the machine are automatic in their actions and staves
of various widths may be correctly cut in the form of a cone according to their
width.
Different forms of cutting tools may be fixed to the revolving cutter blocks so that
stave edges may be varied i.e. cut either square on the edges, injointed or if required
they may be tongued & grooved.
The gearing for actuating the table or framework may be of the nature of a crank
motion so long that a positive length of stroke may be given to each of the parts.
It is important that the middle of the stave measured from each end shall be directly
in a line with the jointing of the guide or templet bars so that the bilge or widest
part of the stave shall always be in the middle and that the ends of the same shall
always be the same width provided the staves are all of a given length.
I would have it understood that I may vary the various parts of any apparatus
according to the requirements of different classes of staves to be treated without
departure from the essential features of my invention.
Referring to the accompanying four sheets of illustrative drawings.
Fig. 1. is a side elevation shewing the general arrangement of a machine according
to this invention.
Fig. 2, is a plan or top view.
Fig. 3. is a sectional end olevation taken on line 11-12 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4. is an elevation showing the gearing at the feeding end of the machine.
Fig. 5, is a side elevation partially in section shewing the moving table, endless
pitched chain, clamping arrangement, and templet bars.
Fig. 6. is a plan of same.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation shewing the main portion of the automatic guaging
mechanism.
Fig. 8. is a plan of samo.
Fig. 9. is a sectional elevation on line 13-14 of Fig. 7. showing the automatic
closing arrangement for fences &c.
Fig. 10, is a similar view taken on line 15-16 shewing the automatic opening
arrangement.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the differont views.
A. is a feeding box with a movable end to suit staves of various lengths. Beneath
the feeding box A. a pusher A Fig. 2. is provided that slides backwards and
forwards in grooves and on a bottom plate A by means of two endless pitched
chains A² A; guided over idle toothed wheels A³ A³ and drawing toothed
wheels A A as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2.
The two chain wheels A aro rotated first in one direction and then the other by
a crank A secured to the main driving shaft A.
A link A connects the crank A5 with a toothed segment A which gears with a
train of wheels A as shewn in Figs. 1. 2. and 4.
They are proportioned so as to give the requisite travel to the pusher according to
the length of stave to be jointed.
The feeding box and gearing just described is mounted on suitable sido frames B. B.
secured to the base plate B, and provided with grooves for the pusher to slide
and be guided in.
Beneath the side frames B. B. there are provided two large spur crank
wheels B2 B2 secured to two short independent shafts A rotating in suitable pedestals;
these wheels are connected together by a strong crank pin B3 placed so as to give
the required amount of stroke to a table or framework hereafter described.
The spur crank wheels are driven by toothed pinions B 13* secured to and
driven by the shaft B on which are the fast and loose pulleys B. To the crank

page_text: pin P³ a connecting rod C. is pivotted of sufficient length to attach to the
crosshead as shown in Figs. 3. 5. and G. secured to the sliding table or platform
on which the staves to be jointed by revolving cutters are held.
The four cutter blocks D. are preferably somewhat large in diameter than those
usually employed in ordinary wood planing machines-and are provided with (say)
three ordinary plane irons ground to the shape the jointed stave is intended to take i.c.
grooved and tongued, square or otherwise.
They may be formed in one with the flanged driving pulleys as shown and are
mounted on vertical spindles D' D' rotated in the directions indicated by arrows in
Fig. 1. by belts guided over guide pulleys D² D².
The pedestals or bearings for each spindle are made in one bracket or frame D³
which is supported and pivotted on two strong links D D their lower ends being
also pivotted to brackets D³ ³ secured to projections provided on the base plate B'.
By this means the cutter spindle frames D3, D3 may be easily moved in or out by
templet bars to suit the width of stave to be jointed.
In a machine for jointing the best class of say oak or heavy wood staves it is
advantageous for every steady work to dispense with the radiating links D₁ D' and
substitute solid slides for the cutter fixings to move in.
Under the footsteps on the cutter brackets D³ antifriction rollers D D are provided
for taking or rolling on each side of the templet bars E. E' as shown in Figs. 3
and 5.
The framework carrying the templet bars E. & E' consists of two longitudinal
V-shaped slides F. F. travelling in similar raised grooves on the base plate B¹. They
are coupled together by a stout bridge F extending from one to the other and
securely bolted thereto as shown in Figs. 5 & 6.
Besides the bridge F¹ two other bridges F F are provided they are not bolted
to the longitudinal slides F. F. but are free to slide end wise on and be guided by
dovetailed slide bars F3 F3 secured to the slides F. F. as shown in Figs. 5. and 6.
also by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.
The fixed bridgo F1 carries a longitudinal right and left hand screw threaded
spindle G. provided with a hand wheel G₁ and screw threaded nuts secured to the
sliding bridges F2 F so that by turning the hand wheel G¹ the two bridges may be
brought closer to or further from the fixed bridge for slightly varying the shape of
a stave.
The bridges FF1, F2 are provided respectively with right and left hand screwed
spindle G2 G3 G2 and deep nuts G G G. Their lower sides are lined up to rest
and slide on the upper flango of the bridges as distinctly illustrated in the part shown
in section in Fig. 5.
The three sets of nuts are provided with loose sides bolted thereto in which
vertical projecting pins H. Hand H, are respectively fixed for supporting the hinged
bars H H Figs. 3, 5. and 6.
In this form of machine the bars H2 H2 are jointed or hinged to one central pin H
as shown in Fig. 6. but I do not confine myself to this form only as in some cases
it is advantageous to provide a separate pin for each of the bars H² one placed on
each side of the central right and left hand screwed nuts G on the middle bridge F
instead of only one as illustrated so that instead of the two jointed bars being hinged
on the single vertical pin each bar may be hinged onto its own joint pin.
The jointed bars whether hinged on one pin or two at the middle as previously
described are provided with slotted holes near their ends into which fit sliding
blocks J. J. J. J, taking on the projecting vertical pins H. H. H. H.
On the outsides of the hinged jointed bar H H are secured suitably shaped guides
hereafter called templet bars E. E and E. E' by means of which the before
mentioned guide rollers De De move the cutter frames D³ D³ in or out as the sliding
table or framework moves backward and forward.
These bars may be set to any shape to suit the curvature of any finished
barrel rim.

page_text: When only one pin H¹ is employed for jointing each of the hinged bars H² H²
together at the middle, the templet bars E' E' (at the delivery end of the machine)
have their ends above the centre joint pin H widened out a little as shown in Fig. 6,
so that when they have slided lengthwise until the end cutters have jointed up to the
bilge, or where the first set of cutters commenced, the curved portion of the templet
bars EE will be opposite the guide rollers D D on the cutter spindle brackets,
thus the revolving cutters will be moved away from the edges of the stave and inside
the fences so as to allow the stave to be forced out of the machine without catching
the cutters. The stroke of the framework is such that the guides or rollers De Dº,
on the cutter spindle frames D³ ³ always remain on their own templet bars.
The right and left hand screwed spindles G G3 G2 are provided respectively at one
end with bevel wheels JJ and gearing with other bevel wheels and secured
to the longitudinal shaft K. This shaft is supported in pedestals K¹ on the three
bridge fixings 2 F1 F2 and also in another pedestal K Secured to the frame B, as
shown in Fig. 6.
The proportion of the bevel wheels J1 J³ and J² J is such that the central screw
spindle G3 will rotate more rapidly than the other two spindles G the exact pro-
portion depending on the shape the finished barrel is required to take and also the
distance the end screwed spindles are placed from the centre one. If the lines or
contour of a barrel having a given amount of hilge, size of head and length of staves
be produced until the lines meet the apex of the cone would form a centre or pivot
for the guide or templet bars.
As it would be inconvenient to employ hars of such a length the end screwed
spindles G G are placed at such a distance from the centre spindle and are geared so
as to obtain the same result as if the templet bars were extended and hinged together.
For slightly varying the shape of the templet bars for a different barrel rim the hand
wheel G on the right and left hand screwed spindle G. is turned to move the end
bridges FF closer together or further apart.
When a greater variation between the diameter of the bilge and the head is
required than that allowed for by moving the end bridges as before described, the
bevel wheel J on the shaft K. is slid out of gear and the bevel wheel J on the
screwed spindle G³ is rotated by hand in either direction until the sides of the imaginary
cone (formed by the templet bars) are either reduced or extended according to the shape
of the barrel required. By this arrangement almost any shape of stave may be accurately
cut and a true shape will be given whether the stave be wide or narrow, the amount
of curvature or jointing being according to its width.
Thus a wide stave will be more rounded on its edge than a narrow one. The
jointed bars H2 carrying the templet bars E. and E' on their outer sides as previously
described are also provided with deep flanges or plates L. L' and L. secured
thereto to form a table on which the staves under treatment rest. These flanges are
of such a depth that the edge of the stave shall be opposite the revolving cutters and
are also of such a length to permit of four vertical rods L being attached to their
ends. The plates L. and L' move in and out with the templet bars so that their outer
sides are practically at an even distance from the cut edge of the stave. The vertical
rods I carry a bridge M. to which clamping bars M' are connected by four weighted
bell crank levers N. N' N. N' each pair being coupled together so that the clamping
bars may lift evenly at each end as shown in Figs. 1. 3 and 5. The two bell crank
levers N. N. nearest the feeding box are each provided with catches or detents N and
also tappet rods N³ that slide through brackets N N secured to the feeding box. A. as
.shown in Figs. 1 and 4.
The tappet rods N³, are provided with stops N so that when the table or frame-
work carrying the clamped stave has travelled within a short distance of its full
forward stroke, the stops No catch against the brackets N and lift the weighted bell
crank levers N and N up simultaneously with the clamping bars M' until the catch
or detent N2 drops into a notch on the upper side of the bridge M. thus retaining the
clamping bars up during the backward stroke. When the table or platform has

page_text: reached within a very short distance of the end of this stroke the catches or
detents N², are released by the longer arm coming in contact with a fixed piece, the
weighted bell crank levers N. N₁ instantly drop and clamp the stave that has been
immediately before fed beneath them. For automatically throwing out the jointed
staves when released at the end of its stroke a weighted bell crank lever P. and a
connecting link P are employed shewn in Fig. 3 and by the dotted lines in Fig. 5.
The lever P. works between the plates L. L. and is pivotted to a pin fixed on the
middle bridge the lower end being forked to clear the right and left hand screw
shaft G.
On one side of the horizontal arm of the forked lever a balance weight P is fixed.
The vertical arm P³ of the lever projects downwards sufficiently to catch against a
projecting pin P fixed inside the base plate B. The upper end of the lever P. has a
connecting link P¹ pivotted thereto and is provided with a small curved spring P³.
The arrangement is such that when the table or platform is at the end of its stroke
to the right the weight P2 will be in its lowest position with the vertical arm P³
bearing against the stop P. As the table or platform moves to the left the
lever P, P³ will be caused to assume a vertical position, raising the weight and forcing
the connecting link P¹ to the left until the spring P³, sliding over the fixed pin P
raises the turned up end of the lever P' above the plates L, L. When the stave to
be jointed is passed over the link P, by the pusher A*, it compresses the spring P³
(Fig. 5) until the end of the stave has passed the notclied or turned up end of the
link when the spring immediately raises the latter and holds the stave in position
to bo clamped by the bars M¹. When the table or platform has again moved to the
limit of its right travel stroke the clamping bars are raised and the stave automatically
thrown out of the machine by the falling of the weight P.
QQ are fences for guiding the pieces of wood to be operated on evenly between
the revolving cutters D. D.
They are moved towards or away from each other to suit the width of the stave to
be jointed by the hand wheel K³ through which the longitudinal shaft K slides with
the table or frame work. This hand wheel K³ is secured to the boss of the bevel
wheel Q which is provided with a fixed key taking in a suitable long keyway on the
shaft K. so that by rotating the hand wheel the three screwed spindles G2 G3 G'
before mentioned are turned for moving the template bars &c. and also another right
and left hand screwed spindle Q2 for moving the fences Q.
The last named spindle Q is supported in pedestals K2 K2 secured to the machine
frame B. and is driven by bevel wheels Q and Q³ as distinctly shewn in Fig. 6.
The screw threaded nuts G' G' on the centre spindle G³ travel at the same speed as
the nuts QQ on the fence spindle Q2. These latter are attached by links R. R. to
levers RR secured to the two fence rocking shafts R² R³ Figs. 1. and 2. which
communicate their motion by curved levers R³ R³ to four slides R employed for
retaining the fences Q. in position. These fences are carried by the slides which
move in guides R° (Fig. 3). The fence rocking shafts R2 are supported in pedestal
brackets bolted to the machine frame B. and as are also four brackets R³ that carry
the fence slides R as shewn in Figs. 1. 2. 3.
The automatic arrangement for gauging i.e. bringing the circular cutters into
position to suit the width of stave to be operated on, consists of a small roller S.
projecting a little distance through one of the fences Q. and revolving on a pin
carried by a rod S¹ sliding in the fence slide fixing R and pressed forward by a
suitable spring S Fig. 9. against the edge of the staves to be jointed as it is fed
between the fences Q. Q. As the fences close towards each other the projecting
roller S is pressed inwards about level with the inside face of the fence until the
rod S moves the bell crank lever S³ Figs. 7. 8 and 9 sufficiently to release a catch
hereafter described. For automatically causing the four right and left hand screwed
spindles G2 G3 G² Q2 to revolve first in one direction to open the template bars and
fences, and then in the other direction for closing the same during the backward or
idle stroke of the machine, an endless pitched chain T. is employed and travels back-
wards and forwards.

page_text: The endless pitched chain T. passes over an idle toothed wheçel T and also
over another toothed wheel T which is secured to and drives the larger spur
wheel T³.
This latter gears into a pinion T in the centre right and left hand screwed
spindle-G3. The idle-toothed wheel T¹ is secured by a regulating pin to a stretcher
bar T (for keeping it tight). This bar slides through a bracket U. Fig. 9. that
carries the dogs or clutches U¹ U for gearing into the links of the pitched chain T.
The dog or catch U is so arranged that it moves upwards to gear with the upper
length of the chain T. as shewn in Fig. 10. the other dog U drops downwards to
gear with the opposite length of the chain as shewn in Fig. 9. and in this way the
screwed spindles are rotated in either direction according to whichever dog or clutch
is in gear. The dogs are connected to levers and links as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
The dog U Fig. 10. is first brought into gear with the upper side of the endless
chain T. for opening the fences Q. Q. and template bars E. E by the tappet V. on
the tappet bar V₁ coming into contact with the short arm of the bell crank lever V2
shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 8. during the last portion of the outward stroke of
the table or framework and stretcher bar to which it is attached. The longer arm of
the bell crank lever V is connected by a rod or chain V to the weighted or tumbler
lever bar U³ shewn in Figs. 8 and 10. Its lower end is pivotted to the dog bracket U,
whilst a little higher up another pivot is secured therein and takes in a slot hole in a
link U Fig. 10, attached to one arm of the lever U which is balanced so as
to allow the dog or detent U¹ to move upwards into gear with the endless pitched
chain.
'
The slot in the link Ut is left so that should the lever U³ be brought up into the
vertical position shewn in Fig. 10. and the dog U¹ is not opposite one of the holes in
the links of the endless pitched chain T. it will be free to drop into gear by its own
weight when the chain is moved a little. To retain the dog U in gear the upper end
of the weighted lever or tumbler U³ is caught by a spring Catch W. secured to the
bell crank lever W1 Figs. 7, 8, and 10, and sliding endwise in the forked guide W³.
To the shorter arm of this bell crank lever there is connected a short link W³ pro-
vided with a regulating nut; its upper end is pivotted to an arm or lever R7, secured
to one of the fence rocking shafts R, so that the fences cannot be opened to more
than a given distance regulated by the position of the nut on the short link W3
without automatically withdrawing the spring Catch W. and allowing the weighted
lever or tumbler U³ to drop and draw the dog U out of gear with the endless
chain T.
A somewhat similar arrangement is employed for putting the dog U2 in gear with
the lower side of endless chain T as shewn in Figs. 8 and 9 for closing the
fences &c. onto the stave to be jointed whilst being fed onto the travelling table or
platform as before described.
The weighted lever or tumbler X is drawn up into a vertical position by the bell
crank lever X (shewn in Figs. 7 and 8) which is attached by a rod or chain to the
lever. The short arm of the hell crank lever X is caught by the tappet X which in
this case is provided with a loose projecting spring catch, free to move in one direction
only, secured to the tappet bar Vas shewn in Figs. 7. and 8. A spring catch W
similar to the one previously described is also employed to retain the weighted lever X.
in gear until by the compression of the roller S. the joint pin S¹ moves the bell
crank lever S3 which is pivotted to the fence slide R and causes the link X³ with
regulating nut to press on the short arm of the bell crank lever X until its longer
arm withdraws the point of the spring catch W, from across the opening in the
fixing W2 in which the lever X is caught. It will be understood that first the fences
and templet bars are opened to admit (say) a wider stave than the last one and aro
afterwards closed automatically to suit the width of stave to be jointed. The two
bell crank levers V2 and X' are pivotted to a plate X secured to the dog fixing U.
and the two other bell crank levers W and X are pivotted to the fixings W2 that
guide the weighted tumbler levers U³ and X. and carry the two spring catches W. W.
Another tappet V is also provided on the traversing tappet bar V₁ for moving one

page_text: end of a lever Y shewn in plan Fig. 8. only. It is pivotted to the vertical pin Y¹
its extreme end is connected by a rod Y to the longer arm of the bell crauk lever X
and is also connected by another rod Z. to a short lever Z1 (Fig. 8) pivotted to the
fixing W. The lever Z is so arranged that one of its ends shall press against the
longer arm of the bell crank lever Wi.
Thus when the lever Y is caught by the tappet V the two bell crank levers and
spring catches are withdrawn to allow the tumbler levers U³, and X, or either of them
to drop and withdraw the dogs or detents from the chain T, in case, from any cause
they should not have disengaged the weighted levers or tumblers previously.
To the lower end of the dog lever there is fixed a projection so that when both
weighted levers are brought up together only one dog can engage with the endless
pitched chain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed what I claim is in machinery
or apparatus for jointing the edges of staves
1. The combination with cutters of template bars so arranged and operated that
they move the cutters to and fro, during the time that a stave is passing them at such
a rate that the finished stave is correctly proportioned for the barrel of which it is
designed, whether it be broad or narrow, substantially as described.
2. Revolving circular cutters carried on links or slides and guided by,hinged
templet bars substantially as described.
3. A feeding box provided with a pusher or stave deliverer driven by endless chains
moved to and fro by a crank and a connecting rod working onto a toothed segment
which drives a train of wheels substantially as described.
4. The combination with cutters between which the stave to be jointed passes, of
templet bars moved by three right and left hand screws, or their equivalents two of
which feed faster than the third and can be moved nearer together or farther apart
substantially as described.
5. The combination with templet bars of the kind referred to in the preceding
claim of opening and closing flanges which adjust their positions to receive the stave
to be cut whether it be broad or narrow substantially as described.
6. In combination with flanges which adjust their positions to suit the width of the
stave, opening and closing-clamping bars and tumbler levers moving backward and
forward between revolving cutter heads substantially as described.
7. In combination with a travelling frame work which carries a stave between
cutters, fences which guide and automatically set the stave in position substantially
as described.
8. A stave extractor or deliverer placed between the table flanges comprising a
weighted lever with a curved spring and an extending pivotted arm for catching
the slave substantially as described.
9. For jointing the edges of staves an automatic gauging spring roller actuating a
lever for the purpose of releasing the driving gear employed for actuating the templet
bars when the revolving cutters are the required distance apart for the guaged stave
substantially as described.
10. The mechanisin substantially as described for rotating the four screw threaded
spindle first to open and then to close the templet bars &c. a given amount and com-
prising an endless pitched chain travelling backward and forward with the framework in
combination with two dogs or detents moved in or out of gear with the chain
automatically for the purpose specified.
11. A fixed tappet bar with tappets so placed that as the table or platform
approaches the end of its outward stroke it causes the tumbler lever U³ controlling
the dog or detent U¹ to lift up and the dog or detent to gear with the endless pitched
chain to open the template bars immediately the jointed stave has been expelled from
the machine and to automatically release the same at a given time substantially as
described.

page_text: 12. A fixed tappet bar with tappets as described in the preceeding claim for raising
the tumbler lever X, controlling the dog or detent U2 and allowing it to drop into
gear with the endless pitched chain to close the template bars simultaneously with the
feeding of a stave to be jointed and to automatically release the same at a given time
substantially as described.
13. I also claim the improved machinery or apparatus for shaping or jointing the
edges of staves for the manufacture of barrels and the like constructed arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 11th day of December 1888
A. DUNBAR,
Per F. J. B.