Means or Apparatus for use in Classifying and Packing Barrel. Staves into Shooks or Bundles for Shipment.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 10th July, 1890-Accepted, 16th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Means or Apparatus for use in Classifying and Packing Barrel.
Staves into Shooks or Bundles for Shipment.
I, ALEXANDER DUNBAR, of 65, South John Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as:
follows:-
11
This invention relates to means whereby barrel staves can be systematically classified*
or packed (or both) into shooks or bun lles for shipment without its being necessary
to employ skilled labour as is at present usual.
The staves are classified on a table or platform (hereinafter called a platform) that
has on it a number of vertical partitions arranged at varying distances apart. For
example the first space at one end of the platform may be 34 inches wide, the next
a quarter of an inch wider and so on up to 6 inches each space increasing in
width by a quarter of an inch and each space serving to receive staves of a width
suitable for it. The platform is sufficiently large to contain an ample number of
staves for a complete barrel rim.
Each division is marked in inches or otherwise as may be convenient. Directly in
front of the divisions a sliding scale is provided marked in divisions starting with 0;
(or zero) in the middle and numbered 1, 2, 3 &c. on each side.
When the classified staves are in their respective divisions the attendant can readily
see the number of each width. Knowing the width of a required shook he moves
the sliding scale so that the zero point will he opposite the division representing rd
the width of the shook.
The staves may then be sorted in either of the following ways viz., (1) Three
staves are taken from the division opposite to zero on the sliding scale and are placed
with their edges together to form the width or base of the shook. (2) One stave
is taken from the division opposite to zero and one from a division on the right hand
of zero and another from a division on the left hand of zero each of these last two
divisions bearing the same number on the sliding scale. (3) Two are taken from
divisions on one side of zero and one from a division on the other side, care being
taken that in each case the sum of the numerals opposite the divisions from which
two staves are taken is equal to the numeral opposite the division on the other side
from which one stave is taken. By this simple method each layer of staves in the
shook will be about the same total width and the sides of the shook will therefore be
parallel, or approximately so. In packing staves of extraordinary widths when three
will not make up the average width or base of shook the attendant must calculate the
widths by the figures marked on the partitions. For pressing together or bundling
staves, that may have been classified by the means hereinbefore described I employ
a machine in which the staves are pressed together on their sides by vertical screws
and on their edges by levers or like mechanism which retain them tightly together
whilst they are being hooped. This machine, which may be arranged in a convenient
position in relation to the platform herein before described comprises two > shaped
brackets or standards placed at such a distance apart as to allow the ends of the
staves to project sufficiently through to enable encircling retaining hoops to be
driven on.
The upper portion of each bracket is provided with a vertical screw and a hand
wheel for pressing the sides of the staves tightly together whilst for pressing their,
edges together there are provided foot levers and shoes or their equivalent pivoted to
the brackets.
The front or open sides of the brackets are provided with hinged bars connecting
e projecting arms of each bracket and against which the edges of the staves press.
when pushed forward by the pivoted shoes operated by the foot levers.

page_text: The lower ends of the vertical screws are provided with universal joints and clamping
discs or plates.
After a pack or shook has been pressed tightly in both vertical and horizontal
directions it is hooped; the clamps are then released, the hinged bars opened and the
shook removed.
It is to be understood that the apparatus may be variously modified without
departure from its distinctive characteristics; for instance the marking of the sliding
scale may be altered as may be necessary to suit different classes of staves, and the
clamping arrangements may be different to those described. Also that the table or
platform and the pressing or tightening apparatus may be used each alone or
conjointly.
Dated 1: 10th งา
1000
A. DUNBAR.
Per L. W.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means or Apparatus for use in Classifying and Packing Barrel
Staves into Shooks or Bundles for Shipment.
I, ALEXANDER DUNBAR, of 65 South John Street, 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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to means whereby barrel staves can be systematically
classified or packed (or both) into shooks or bundles for shipment without its being
necessary to employ skilled labour as is at present usual.
The staves are classified on a table or platform (hereinafter called a platform) that
has on it a number of vertical partitions arranged at varying distances apart. For
example the first space at one end of the platform may be 34 inches wide, the next a
quarter of an inch wider and so on up to 64 inches, each space increasing in width by
a quarter of an inch and each space serving to receive staves of a width suitable
for it. The platform is sufficiently large to contain an ample number of staves
for a complete barrel rim.
Each division is marked in inches or otherwise as may be convenient. Directly
in front of the divisions a sliding scale is provided marked in divisions starting
with 0, (or zero) in the middle and numbered, 1, 2, 3, etc. on each side.
When the classified staves are in their respective divisions the attendant can
readily see the number of each width. Knowing the width of a required shook
he moves the sliding scale so that the zero point will be opposite the division
representing rd the width of the shook.
The staves may then be sorted in either of the following ways viz.: (1.) Three
staves are taken from the division opposite to zero on the sliding scale and are
placed with their edges together. (2.) One stave is taken from the division opposite
to zero one from a division on the right hand of zero and another from a division
on the left hand of zero each of these last two divisions bearing the same number on
the sliding scale. (3.) Two staves are taken from divisions on one side of zero and
one from a division on the other side, care being taken that in each case the sum
of the numerals opposite the divisions from which the two staves are taken is equal
to the numeral opposite the division on the other side from which one stave is taken.
By this simple method each layer of staves in the shook will be about the same total
width and the sides of the shook will therefore be parallel or approximately so. In
packing staves of extraordinary widths when three will not make up the average width
or base of shook the attendant must calculate the widths by the figures marked on the
partitions. For pressing together or bundling staves that may have been classified by
the means hereinbefore described I employ a machine in which the staves are pressed
together on their edges by levers or like mechanism and on their sides by vertical
screws which retain them tightly together whilst being hooped. This machine, which

page_text: may be arranged in a convenient position in relation to the platform herein before.
described comprises two C shaped brackets or standards placed at such a distance
apart as to allow the ends of the staves to project sufficiently through to enable
encircling retaining hoops to be driven on.
The upper portion of each bracket is provided with a vertical screw and a hand'
wheel for pressing the sides of the staves tightly together; whilst for pressing their
edges together there are provided foot levers and shoes or their equivalent pivotted to-
the brackets.
The front or open sides of the brackets are provided with hinged bars connecting
the projecting arms of each bracket and against which the edges of the staves press.
when pushed forward by the pivotted shoes operated by the foot levers.
The lower end of the vertical screws are provided with universal joints and clamping
discs or plates.
After a pack or shook has been pressed tightly in both horizontal and vertical
directions it is hooped; the clamps are then released, the hinged bars opened and the
shook removed.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings,
Fig. 1. is a front elevation of a classifying platform according to this invention and
in which ordinary widths of staves to form a barrel are placed.
Fig. 2. is a similar view but the staves shewn in this case are of rather unusual
widths.
Fig. 3 shews the packed shook made from the staves in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4. is a similar view of a shook made from the staves shewn in Fig. 2.
Fig. 5. is an end elevation partly in section of the packing machine with a made up>
shook.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation with the clamped or pressed shook ready for hooping.
Fig. 7. is a plan or top view.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
The classifying or gauging platform comprises a long bench or table having vertical
dividing pieces arranged so that starting from one end each space shall be about.
inch wider than the preceding one.
Each division is marked in inches representing.
its width as shewn in Figs. 1. and 2.
The staves are placed in the division nearest its width, thus for example a stave-
38 inches wide would be too wide for the space marked 3 inches and would therefore.
be placed in the 3 inches space and so on until the complete barrel rim has been
classified.
In front of the classifying platform A. there is arranged a sliding scale B. marked
with numerals as shewn in Figs. 1. and 2.
Immediately above the sliding scale and in any convenient place say on the front.
of the platform A. the widths in inches of the openings are marked as shewn.
In the following description it will be understood that the staves are marked with
the same numerals as those on the sliding scale opposite to the divisions from which
they are taken and that the letters R. and L. placed after the numerals refer to the
right hand and left hand respectively of the 0, or zero mark. The first layer of staves.
consists of two staves taken from the division opposite 1. on the right of the 0, or
zero mark and one taken from the division marked 2. on the left-hand side, the sum
of the numerals on the right hand side equalling the number on the sliding scale.
opposite which the third stave on the left hand is taken. The second layer of staves.
(marked 2-R. 2-R.) consists of two staves taken from the divisions opposite 2. on
the right hand side of zero and one from the division opposite 4. on the left hand side,´
the sum of the former equalling the latter. In the third layer one stave is taken
from the division opposite zero and one from next to it on each side. The fourth layer
consists of three out of the division opposite zero. In this pack of staves there are
no other staves such that the sum of their widths will amount to three times the
width of the division opposite zero therefore the attendant knowing the number and
different widths of staves he has left takes those that will add up the nearest to-
14 inches.

page_text: In the staves and packed shook illustrated in Figs. 2..and 4. it will be seen that the
numerals marked R. or L. correspond with each other in the first five layers but in
the sixth the numerals and letters are 4. R. and 1. R. = 5. therefore a stave must be
taken from the division opposite 5. on the sliding scale on the left hand side of zero.
The sizes in inches of these three staves would therefore be on the classifying
platform 53", 5", and 31" the sum being 144 inches.
The width of the classifying platform may conveniently be about equal to half the
length of the staves it is intended to hold.
It will be understood that the above illustrations of the formation of shooks from
classified staves are given simply as examples.
The packing machine illustrated in Figs. 5. 6. and 7. comprises two C shaped
brackets or standards D. D. mounted on a suitable wooden frame E. and placed at
such a distance apart as to allow the stave ends to project through sufficiently_to
enable packing hoops to be driven over them whilst the staves are clamped. The
lower projecting arms of each bracket has an arm F. hinged thereto which may be
opened as shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. to allow the staves to be fed into the
apparatus and the finished and hooped shook removed therefrom. On the upper end
of each hinged arm F. is a short projecting piece that can take onto the upper arm of
the bracket D. where it is retained by a drop catch G. pivotted to the bracket as shewn
in Fig. 5. For pressing the layers of staves tightly together whilst in the packing
machine two vertical screws H. are provided each having a hand wheel J. and a
clamping disc K. The clamping discs are made circular in plan their lower sides
being rounded, and they are attached to the screwed spindles H. by ball or universal
joints to allow them to cant and take a fair bearing on the staves as shewn in
Fig. 6.
Centrally with the brackets D. and opposite to the hinged side F. there is provided
a side clamp M. supported and pivotted to the upper ends of two foot clamping
levers N. N., the foot levers are bent as shewn in Fig. 5. and project outside the
supports of the frame E. conveniently for the operator to place his foot on. When the
pressure on the foot levers is removed the side clamps M. are moved away from
the staves by the action of springs P. connected to the foot levers and the
frame E.
For packing shooks of various widths and retaining the pack centrally beneath the
screwed spindles H. loose packing pieces Q. Q. are provided on the side clamps M. and
the hinged arms F.
The working of the machine is as follows:-The edges of the staves forming the
shook are placed against the side clamps M. (which are drawn back by the springs P.),
the hinged arms F. are closed and are held by the catch G, the staves are then pressed
tightly together edgewise, the hand wheels are turned to clamp the staves vertically,
retaining or packing hoops are driven over the ends of the staves, which are then
released, the hinged side bars opened and the finished shook removed. It is to be
understood that the gauging or classifying apparatus may be used separately or
conjointly with the pressing apparatus, also the sliding scale may or may not
be dispensed with without departure from the essential features of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is.
1. Apparatus for classifying barrel staves comprising a platform having a number
of receptacles of different widths for the staves to be classified and a sliding scale these
being constructed and arranged for use substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. My improved apparatus for packing barrel staves into shooks or bundles sub-
stantially as described and shown in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 8th day of July 1890