Improvements in Planing Machine Mechanism.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1897-Accepted, 31st July, 1897
Improvements in Planing Machine Mechanism.
I, WILLIAM WALLACE DOOLITTLE of 10, North Jefferson Street, Chicago, Cook
County, Illinois, United States of America, Superintendent of Mechanical Works, 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:---
My present Invention is for the most part in the nature of an improvement over
that which forms the subject matter of an Application filed April 6th, 1897,
Serial No. 8714, but it includes also certain features of specific construction shown,
but not claimed, therein.
The application referred to, relates to mechanism designed for the purpose of
increasing the backing speed of planing machines and shows a construction in which
a supplemental fast backing mechanism is used to accomplish such purpose. In this
improvement I also propose to use such supplemental fast backing mechanism in
combination with shifting devices similar to those heretofore" shown, but adapted to
effect a pause during the operation of each of the several mechanisms.
In other words, the purpose of this present Invention is to reduce the amount of
strain incident to great changes in speed, by provision of means whereby the
mechanism which produces the successive changes in speed is permitted, after it is
thrown into operation, to continue operative for a sufficient length of time to fully
perform its assigned functions before it is thrown out of action.
A further object is to provide certain novel details and combinations of mechanism,
to be hereinafter particularly pointed out in the claims; and which I will now proceed
to describe more fully, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
:
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a planing machine embodying my invention.
Figure 2, is a partial plan view of the same.
Figures 3, 4, and 5, illustrate detail parts of the moving stops.
Figure 6, represents diagramatically the different positions of the stud 19.
Figure 7, is an enlarged side view of the moving stops and shifting lever.
Figure 8, is an end view of the same, partly in section.
Figure 9, is an end view of the block 31.:
Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that I have
shown a planing machine 1, employing a series of belts B, C, D, and E, for its cutting,
backing, fast backing, and extra fast backing mechanism; shifting arms (numbered 3),
for moving the same, and a cam-plate 4 for operating such shifting arms, substantially
the same as shown in the application hereinbefore referred to. Connected with the
cam-plate by means of a link 5 and the stud. 19 I have provided a reversing lever 6
pivoted to the body of the planer, and having connected with it a spring 7: Attached
to the planer table are the moving stops 8 and 9. On the stop 8 I have arranged two
approximately parallel faces 10 and 11, and two inclined faces 12 and 13; and on the
stop 9, or more accurately speaking, on the adjustable extension 14 of the stop 9, I
have arranged approximately parallel faces 15 and 16, and inclined faces 17 and 18.
These parts are best shown in Figures 7 and 8.

page_text: Projecting from, or attached to, the reversing lever 6, I have arranged a roller 20,
and a swinging pawl 21. From the back side of the lever 6 projects a lug 22.
A handle 23 is also provided in connection with the lever 6 for the purpose of moving
the latter by hand.
The pivot, or fulcrum, 24, of the lever 6, and the pivot or fulcrum, 25, of the spring 7,
are so arranged in relation to each other that the horizontal arm 26 of the lever 6
and the spring 7 will together form a kind of toggle joint. The blade 14 is adjustably
arranged with relation to the stop 9 by the provision of a thumb screw 27 to permit
the regulation of the parts with the greatest degree of nicety. Both the stops 8 and 9
are adjustable relative to the table 28 by means of their respective handles 29 and 30,
which provision is, of course, substantially identical with that in common use, As
an additional guide for the projecting end of the blade 14, I have arranged a block 31
(clearly shown in Figure 9) which may be when desired, slid out near to the
projecting end of the blade 14 for the purpose of supporting the same more rigidly in
place.
In the position of the parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 the planing machine is at
rest, all of the belts being on loose pulleys and the toggle formed between the spring
and the arm 26 of the lever 6 forming a straight line. If now it be desired to start
the machine on the cutting stroke, the lever is pushed downward, throwing the stud 19
over to the position "A" in Figure 6. This moves the cam-plate 4 to the limit of
its travel toward the left; and as may be readily seen by examination of the plan
view in Figure 2, will shift the cutting belt B, onto its tight pulley and so start the
machine. When the table has travelled to the end of the stroke for which it is
adjusted, the stop 8 will strike against the lug 22. and move the reversing lever 6 to
the right, bringing the roller 20 up to the parallel face 10 of the stop 8, in which
position the stop 8 will pass over the lug 22, and the cam-plate 4 will have been
shifted sufficiently far to throw the cutting belt out of action and to throw the ordinary
backing belt C into action, reversing the machine; and in this position the reversing
lever 6 and the connected shifting devices will pause until the backward movement
of the table 28 and the stop 8 permits the roller 20 to travel up the incline 12 by
the aid of the spring 7, which pause by properly proportioning the length of the
parallel faces 10, can be made of just sufficient duration to permit the speed of the
table to be increased to that of the mechanism then in gear. As now the roller 20
travels up the incline 12 (the moving force, or effect of the spring 7 being con-
tinuous), the cam-plate will be still further moved to the right, the backing belt C
will be thrown out of action and the fast backing belt D will be thrown into action,
the speed with which this change takes place being readily regulated by proper design
of the incline 12. After the fast backing belt D has come fully into action, the lever 6
and cam-plate 4 will again pause to permit such fast backing belt D to completely
perform its assigned functions before it is again thrown out of action, because the
roller 20 will continue to travel along the parallel face 11, and the lever 6 cannot move
farther until the roller 20 begins to travel up the incline 13. It is apparent that here again,
simply by a proper proportioning of the length of the parallel face 11, the period during
which the fast backing mechanism is allowed to remain in action can be regulated. As
the roller 20 travels up the incline 13 the fast backing belt D is thrown out of action
and the extra fast backing belt E is thrown into action by the last or final movement of
the reversing lever 6 and the cam-plate 4, and the machine continues on the backing
stroke at the highest rate of speed until it nears the point of reversal where now the
cycle of movements of the lever 6 and the cam-plate 4 is reversed. The incline 17 first
contacts with the roller 20, cutting the extra fast backing mechanism out of
gear and
cutting in the fast backing mechanism and the latter is continued in operation during
a proper length of time to completely perform its assigned functions (in this case to
reduce speed) by the movement of the roller 20 along the parallel face 15.
As soon as the roller 20 begins to travel down the incline 18 the lever 6 and the
cam-plate 4 are moved a farther step, throwing the fast backing mechanism out of
action and the ordinary backing mechanism into action, and then another pause in
the movement of the shifting devices is permitted by the travel of the roller 20 along

page_text: the parallel face 16 until the stop 9 proper strikes the swinging pawl 21, when the
ordinary backing mechanism is thrown out of action and the cutting mechanism is
again thrown into action, whereby the machine is finally reversed, and begins another
cutting stroke.
It will be noticed from the position of the parts shown in Figure 3 particularly,
that the blade 14 is arranged to slide past the stop 8 in such a manner that the
parallel faces 10 and 16 may form practically one continuous surface. This is provided,
to the end that on very short strokes the fast backing mechanism and the extra fast.
backing mechanism may both be prevented from coming into operation. If it be
desired to permit the fast backing mechanisın to operate, but to prevent the extra
fast backing mechanism from operating, the stops are arranged so that the parallel
faces 10 and 15 will form practically a continuous plane.
In some cases it may be desirable absolutely to prevent the cutting in of the
extra fast backing mechanism, and for that purpose I have provided an eccentric
block 33.pivoted on a stud 32, which when turned to the position shown accomplishes
the result. When turned to the position indicated in dotted lines this eccentric
block does not interfere with the action of the mechanisın at all.
While I have confined this description to a planing machine in which a backing,
fast backing and extra fast backing mechanism only are employed, it is perfectly
obvious that another, and still another, backing mechanism or belt could be provided
if it were desirable, by reason of the machine having an exceptionally long stroke.
While I have secured by the specific arrangements shown, a means whereby the
duration of time occupied in throwing any particular mechanism into or out of
action, and the duration of time which such particular mechanism may continue in
action can be regulated with great nicety, it is perfectly obvious that a similar
result could be obtained in something of a similar manner by a proper arrange-
ment of the inclines or groves in the cam-plate 4, although one objection to such an
arrangement would be the great increase in the travel of the cam-plate. Such modi-
fication, however, not departing in any material respect from the spirit of my
invention, I would include as fully as within the scope of my claims.
Approximately the same results as are secured by the specific method I have illus-
trated could also be obtained by the use of a series of stops, or any other means
whereby an intermittent action of the shifting mechanism is secured, in place of the
several inclines and parallel faces which I have shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a planing machine, the combination with a cutting, backing, and fast backing
mechanism, and shifting devices controlling the same, of mechanism co-acting with
said shifting devices to effect pauses between the intervals of movement of the latter,
substantially as shown and described.
2. In a planing machine, the combination with a cutting, backing, and fast backing
mechanisin, and shifting devices controlling the same, of stops provided with parallel
faces located in different planes, co-acting with said shifting devices to effect pauses
between the intervals of movement of the shifting devices substantially as shown and
described.
3. In a planing machine, the combination with a cutting, backing, and fast backing
mechanism, and shifting devices controlling the same, of stops provided with inclines
and parallel faces co-acting with said shifting devices to effect pauses between
the intervals of movement of the shifting devices, substantially as shown and
described.
4. In reversing mechanism for planing machines, the combination with the reversing
lever, of a spring connected therewith and moving stops provided with inclines
adapted to co-act with said spring in the movement of said lever substantially as
described.
5. In a planing machine, the combination with its cutting, backing, and fast backing
mechanism, and shifting devices controlling the same, of stops provided with parallel

page_text: faces located in different planes, and means whereby said shifting devices are held
in operative contact with said parallel faces; substantially as shown and described.
6. In a planing machine, the combination with its cutting, backing, and fast
backing mechanism and shifting arms-for moving the same, of a cam-plate controlling
the movement of said shifting iarms and devices for actuating said cam-plate
constructed to secure an intermittent movement of said shifting arms, substantially
as shown and described.
*1
..
7. In a planing machine, the combination with a cutting, backing, and fast backing
mechanism, and shifting devices controlling the same, of stops provided with inclines
12, 13, 17 and 18, and parallel faces 10, 11, 15, and 16, and means whereby said
shifting devices are held in position to co-act with said inclines and parallel faces in
the operation of said various mechanisms, substantially as shown and described.
J
8. In a planing machine, the combination with a cutting, backing, and fast
backing mechanism, and shifting devices controlling the same, of stops for actuating
said shifting devices, one of said-stops being provided with a blade or extension con-
structed to pass the other stop and thereby prevent the operation of the fast
backing mechanism, when' on short strokes, the two stops are brought sufficiently
close together, substantially as shown and described. .
"
MAL
2001
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.