IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING MOULDINGS, GROOVES, TONGUES, AND OTHER FORMS, AND IN PLANING WOOD
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TU
MAITHAND STAPLEY, of Cheapside, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Sixth day of July,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto 'me,
the said Edward Maitland Stapley, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Edward Maitland Stapley, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Edward Maitland Stapley, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTING MOULDINGS, GROOVES,
TONGUES, AND OTHER FORMS, AND IN PLANING WOOD," communicated to me
by a certain Foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso that I, the said Edward Maitland Stapley, should cause
a particular description of the nature of the said Invention, and, in what
manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said

page_text: in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Edward Maitland Stapley, do hereby declare that the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
-marked thereon; that is to say:-
The first part of the Invention consists in the arrangement and construction
of machinery for planing boards and planks, and the working of mouldings.
And in order that this part of the Invention may be fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same, reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings marked A.
Figure 1 represents a horizontal section through the planing machinery;
Figure 2 represents a top view of the machine; Figure 3 represents an end
view, and Figure 4 a side view, of one of the series of platforms for feeding in
the material to be planed, with some of its parts in detail. Similar letters in
the similar Figures represent the same parts. The nature of the Invention,
and that which distinguishes it from all other things before known, consists,
first, in the elastic stock and cutter, they being so attached to the side plates,
or knife-stock frames (to which all the stocks are attached) that the heel of
the stock is made elastic without varying the graduation of the cutting edge
of the knife. The knife is so fitted to the stock, and the stock so attached to
the knife-stock frame by a hinged bar and bolt, that the cutting edge is in an
exact line with the centre of the axle of the hinge. In all modes heretofore
known and used for fixing cutters to side plates or knife-stock frames diffi-
culties have occurred, and have thus far prevented their practical operation,
and which difficulties my improvements effectually remove and obviate. In
all fixed stocks and cutters, where they are firmly bolted to the side plates,
where the board or cutters be moved to produce a continued shaving, splinters
or "wedges" are taken from the board, where it is cutting against the grain,
and are firmly bedded under a fixed stock, thereby causing great resistance
and pressure, and frequently a "breaking up" of the stocks or bed. This is
an almost invariable result in "running" a larger portion of the lumber
required to be worked by power machines. But when the stocks are made
elastic this does not occur; if it should, however, the splinters and "wedges"
are permitted to pass out by the elasticity of the stocks. A fixed stock or
cutter without a self-adjustable throat is inoperative, from the fact that if the
cutters are graduated to any given thickness of shaving the lumber must be of

page_text: sufficient thickness to allow all the cutters to take off the shavings of the
graduated thickness; if, otherwise, it be thin (as most lumber from the saw
has great inoqualities in its thickness), and a cutter graduated to an eighth-
of-an-inch shaving, and the thickness of the board only permits it to take off
one half of that thickness (if against the grain), the wood before that cutter
will be raised to the thickness of the graduation, and the board split in the
direction of the grain to a considerable depth, and thereby clogging the throat,
breaking and tearing the board, and, if the board is separated, will form a wedge
under the stock, and the next board in passing will "break up" the machine.
Another difficulty is found in practical operation with a fixed stock and cutter
having a separate yielding bar for a throat or mouth-piece. The bar cannot be
made to operate as a self-adjusting throat; it being held by springs at each
end, and inserted between the cutters, it is raised by the board in passing, and,
being separate, it is raised unequally. If the spring be fixed at the same
pressure at the two ends, and the board pressed through at any point on one
side of the centre of the bar, that end to which the board passes the nearest
will be raised the highest, the result being that the bar bears hard on the edge
of the board nearest the centre whilst it is raised clear from the other edge;
this leaves that portion without a pressure, and if the cutters are working
against the grain the wood will be torn to a considerable depth, and broken, the
lumber destroyed, and the machine broken up. Separate bars combined with
stationary stocks and cutters are not self-adjusting, but require perpetually to be
altered to suit the width of lumber worked, and the difficulty in adjusting them
to the proper pressure at the two ends of the bar to suit all and every width of
board amounts to a prohibition of their practical use. In the improved stock
fastenings and cutters none of the above difficulties occur. The edge of the cutter
being at the point of the centre of the axle, and the heel of the stock elastic,
the stock itself presses upon the board, and holds it to the bed, and its bearing
is always in a line with the cut, whether the board is wide or narrow, or the
springs be of unequal pressure or not. It is a self-adjusting throat, and no
wedges will be caused by an unequal pressure in consequence of the bars not
bearing equally on the board, and if any do occur they will pass out with the
shavings, and in no event can the heel of the stock be fixed below the line of
cut, which is a great difficulty in all fixed stocks.
The other improvement consists in the application for a bed or carrying
table for the board of the sectional endless platform. The operation of this,
for the purpose for which it is intended, is of great practical importance in
machines of this class, where the power is all exerted in the feeding of the
machine. The endless chain for this purpose being a pull instead of a push

page_text: has proved inoperative, from the fact that the machine is necessarily horizontal
instead of vertical, and consequently all the dirt and grit falls into the machine,
and remains in the cutters, and under the heavy strain required to move the
board the links in passing over the chain wheel cut upon their axles, and in a
short time become worthless. This has been the practical result of all
endless chains for this purpose. In the operation of the sectional plate bed
the plates push each other through under the cutters, and between the points
where pressure is brought upon the plates there is no lateral motion given to
them, and consequently no wear. In this mode of operation the whole power
of the machine is required at the point where the rollers clamp the board to
pass it through under the cutters. At this point, immediately under the
centre of the axle of the roller and under the plates, a little elevated from the
fixed bed, are placed two friction rollers, thereby relieving this point from the
friction of the bed and plates. In this machine, the cutter being placed vertical,
all the dirt, grit, and shaving pass off without aid. All the gearing belts and
pulleys are placed beneath the mill floor, thus avoiding the difficulties attending
gear and belts when in close proximity to the machine. Any desired speed
can be given to this machine without danger to any of its parts, the amount
which it can plane being only limited by the quantity which can be fed into the
machine. By the application of reverse cutters at the tail end of the machine
both sides of the board are planed at the same operation, and by also attaching
natchers to that point lumber can be planed and matched at the same operation,
and which I purpose doing in my machine. Immediately in front of the first
cutter is placed a cast-steel scorer of about two and a half inches in diameter, with
sharp cutting edges formed on its periphery, and which is held firmly against
the board by springs, and so fitted as to cut or score to the depth of the first
shaving to be taken from the board. This scores the board crosswise of the
grain, so that the shaving in separating from the board does not eat into the
board, but is broken up. To lubricate the sectional plates, if desired, a roller
of soft material may be fixed, conforming with the shape of the under side of
the plates, and held against them by springs on their passage on the back
of the machine, and which roller may receive or be saturated with the lubri-
cating compound which is distributed to the plates. The machine is con-
structed in the following manner:-The frame I, I, I, is cast with the side
plates and the cross bearers F, F, F, with the fixed bed 3, 3, 3, all in one
piece. In the grooves A, A, between the side plates, are fitted the sectional
plates B, B, B, to form the endless bed or carrying table for the lumber.
These plates are of cast iron, and planed to an equal thickness, and on the
under side of said plates is formed a recess to fit the bed 3, 3, 8, which guides

page_text: them sideways whilst passing under the cutters.
Near either outer edge
are formed racks into which the cogs of the wheels G, G, G, work. The
plates at either end pass up and down in the grooves A, A, and are kept in
their proper position by the lugs x, x, x, and the wheels G, G. The grooves
at either end are in the form of a concentric, for the purpose of passing suc-
cessively each one of the series of plates from the back to the front of the
machine, and vice versa. The fixed bed of the machine and the grooves are
planed perfectly true to fit the plates. The feed rollers I, I, I, two in number,
are placed in advance of the cutters, and are operated by the gear wheels
0, 0, 0, underneath the floor, and are connected by the shafts Z, Z, Z, which
are united together by universal joints, to permit them to be operated at any
desired point from the plate, and having their bearings in moveable boxes h, h,
which are fixed in the stand E, E, E, and are adjusted to any desired point by
the spring bolts and nuts 4, 4, 4. The pinion M, M, M, operates the bevil
gear K, K, which is attached to the main driving shaft y, y, to which the
gear wheels G, G, are keyed, to operate the plates, also the gear wheels O, O,
to operate the rollers. The side plates or knife stock frames H, H, H, are
made of cast iron, planed true, and fitted to the main frame, to which they are
bolted by the bolts and nuts R, R, working in the slots in the side plates,
which permit them to rise to any desired point for the different thickness of
lumber. These plates are adjusted by the raising screws q, q, q, which may
be operated by bevilled gear and a hand wheel, so as to move both ends of
the plates simultaneously and with great precision. Upon these side plates or
knife stock frames sockets are formed equal in number to that of the cutters
into which the bolts p, p, p, are fitted. They are raised or lowered to any
desired graduation of shaving by the nuts m, m, m, and made fast by the set
screws L, L, L. The hinges i, i, i, are fixed to these bolts by the pieces
k, k, k. To these hinges are bolted the knife stocks a, a, a, by the bolts
and nuts e, e, e. These hinges are also held to the plates by the bolts
and springs n, n, n, and o, o, o. On the socket bolts lugs are formed to
support the heel of each preceding stock, which keeps it in the same
relative position to the cutting edge of the knife. To the knife stocks
a, a, a, are bolted the knives and caps B, B, and C, C, which are so
fitted to the stocks as to make the cutting edge of the knife in line with
the centre of the axle of the hinges, as shewn dotted lines in Figure 2.
Underneath the heel of each stock are fitted pieces of steel f, f,f, to form the
required throat. The cast steel scorer 5, 5, 5, is fitted in the front of the
first cutter, and held by the springs O', O'. The main driving shaft rests in
the step N, N,-placed underneath the floor of the mill. The rollers g, g, are

page_text: of such diameter as to travel with the same velocity as the sectional platform
or bed, and are fluted on their periphery. Figures 5 and 6 represent a modi-
fication of my general plan (Figure 5 being a section through the spring bar
throat piece, cutter and stock, and Figure 6 a front view of one half of one of
the throat pieces, cutter and stock, &c.), in which A¹ represents the spring bar
throat piece which is attached by arms B' to the frame by means of bolts a¹
on each side of the machine, upon which it may freely turn. The throat piece
in this plan is detached from the stock, and acts independently of it, being.
held down and allowed to yield to the varied pressure underneath them by the
bolt 6', around which is coiled a helical spring c'. C' is the stock, to which is
attached the cutter D'. The throat piece may have a roller E' on its under
side, to ease the board as it passes through, and the bed may be formed of a
series of rollers F¹ to prevent the friction on the board. G' are slotted plates
to which the guides H' are attached for guiding the board straight through
the machine. The yielding of this spring bar throat piece is upon the same
principle as the yielding of the rear of the cutter stock in the first described
plan, where the rear of each stock forms a part of the throat of the succeeding
cutter. The spring bar yields upon the fixed bolts a, and is held to the board
by the spring. c' may be held by weights or otherwise.
Having thus fully described this part of the Invention, what I claim therein
as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the yielding stocks and
cutters when made to yield upon an axle, the centre of which is in line with
the cutting edge of the knife. And this I claim, whether the socket bolt,
hinged bar, and nut, are or are not used for the purpose of graduating and
adjusting the cutters as herein set forth.
I also claim, in combination with the stationery cutters, the endless
platforms for forming the bed, and feeding the board through the machine,
substantially as described.
I also claim the independant self-adjusting or yielding spring bar throat
detached from the stock, arranged so as to yield upon a fixed point or points,
substantially as described and represented.
I will now describe the second part of the Invention, which relates to
improvements in "jackers" or planing machines, reference being had to
Drawing B. Figure 1 represents a side view; Figure 2 represents the bolt
and nut for adjusting and allowing the front of the cutter to rise and fall with
the different thicknesses of boards or planks to be planed; Figure 3, a
sectional top view of the stock and cutter. Similar letters in the several Figures
represent like parts. The nature of this part of the Invention consists in the
application of springs or weights to each edge and end of cutter stocks, on

page_text: which knives with caps are bolted for the planing of boards or planks, whereby
they are caused to yield both on the heel and edge. To enable others skilled
in the art to make and use the Invention, I will proceed to describe the same.
with reference to the Drawing. In the practical use of all continued shaving
cutters in power machines for planing planks and boards, the following
difficulties have occurred, and have to a great extent rendered them
inoperative. By far the larger proportion of lumber that is planed by power
machines has imbedded in its surface sand and other gritty substances, which
destroy the keen cutting edge of a series of knives, and also all lumber before
it is planed is of various thicknesses. The first difficulty the improved cutter
stock to a great extent obviates in the following manner:-This stock is
placed in advance of a series of stocks, which are fixed by any of the known
modes upon side plates, for the purpose (by a series of cuts) of reducing
boards to a uniform thickness. In this position, by the action of the springs,
the knife stock a is firmly bolted on the metal bar e, with the bolt and nut o.
This being firmly attached, through the said bar e are passed the bolts r and n
(Figures 2 and 1) in a mortise, and the pink are kept from a backward
or forward movement, and allowed to rise and fall at the point of the cutting
edge to a given height by the slot p. The heel of the stock is held firmly by
the spring and bolt and nut n, m. The steel plate t is firmly bolted to the
under side of the stock at the heel, and forms a throat for the next knife, and
by the spring is firmly held upon the board while passing through under the
cutters. The front edge of the cutter is adjusted by the nut working in the
socket h on the bolt r, by which the edge can be fixed to any desired height
from the bed, but the top spring 7 and the slot p is permitted to rise to the
inequalities of the boards or plank. The improved stock is made with a fixed
throat, like a hand plane, and always takes a given shaving, or one of a given
thickness, which is governed by the bar of steel u, which is firmly bolted on
the front edge of the stock. It will readily be perceived that the double
action given by the above-described arrangement causes this plane to take the
first shaving off the board or plank, whether it is thick or thin, or of an
unequal thickness, and thereby removes all dirt and gritty substances from the
plank or board before it comes in contact with the cutting edges of the
remaining cutters, hence they are protected from the causes which destroy the
keenness of their cutting edges, or, in other words, it becomes a "jacker" to
every board or plank, whether thick or thin. In the running of lumber
of great inequalities of thickness it will be perceived that this cutter
accommodates itself to such. inequalities, and forms a self-adjustable
throat to the next cutter, which takes the unequal shaving from tho
board or plank, In the double action of this stock, if the cutting edge

page_text: of the knife is in the act of removing a shaving from a thin board, and a
thick one is approaching it, the bar u that forms the thread to this cutter, it
being rounded on the under side for this purpose, is caused to rise by the
thick board; it being firmly fixed to the stock, it carries up the cutting edge
with it to the plane of the thick board, but the heel is still held firmly to the
thin board until raised by the thick board. The bolt n, which supports the
upper spring, is hinged to the bolt r by the steel pin q, by which arrangement
it is allowed to vibrate with the rocking or oscillating motion given to the
stock. By the square part of the bolt r, at the point where the bolt passes
up through the mortice in the bar e, they are so fitted and adjusted that both
ends of the stock rise equally, being guided by the said bolt. When this
stock and cutter is used for a whole series of cutters, the adjustment of the
side plates is made in the same manner. When used thus, all these stocks,
after the first one, would be held to a fixed position by the top springs or
weights being applied with greater force. The object of this arrangement is
to permit the cutting edge to rise when one board runs under the other.
This difficulty is of common occurrence in all machines where the whole power
of planing is applied to the feed, and one board pushes the other through
between a fixed bed and cutters, as not unfrequently boards are wedge-shaped
at their ends, or wedges are formed by the separation of boards in cross-
grained lumber. By permitting the stocks to rise if the above difficulty
occurs, the breaking up of the stocks. or bed is prevented. Thus by the
improved double elastic stock, by the application of weights or springs both
to the point on the stock in line with the cutting edge of the knife and also to
the heel, this difficulty is effectually removed.
Having thus fully described the nature of the second part of the Invention,
what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is, the
application of springs or weights to cutter stocks both at their point in line
with the cutting edge of the knife and also to the heel, by which a double
action is given to the stock both at the heel and edge, allowing it to rise and
oscillate to the inequalities of boards or plank, substantially as described, and
for the purposes herein set forth.
I will now describe the third part of the Invention, reference being had to
Drawing C. Figure 1 represents a side view of the cutter stock, with the
cutters arranged in place; Figure 2 represents a view on the edge of the
cutter stock; Figure 3 represents a side, front, and end view of one of the fleam
cutters detached; and Figure 4 represents a side, front, and end view of one of
the gouge cutters detached. Similar letters in the several Figures denote the
same parts. The nature of this part of the Invention consists in arranging a
series of alternate gouge and fleam or chisel-edged cutters, with cutting lips

page_text: on each side on a cutter stock, for flanging and grooving boards, the gouge
cutter taking off the bulk of the wood, and the fleam cutter cutting out the
tongue or groove, the lip of the cutters cutting in advance of the edge
preventing the wood from tearing up or being roughened in the grooves. In
the tonguing and grooving cutters heretofore in use the shaving taken off is
the whole width of the cutter. This it has been found by experience chokes
the throat of the cutter, tears the wood, and makes rough joints. By my
process of taking out the shaving in three pieces, viz, by the gouge cutting a
semicircular groove, and the fleam or chisel and lip-edged cutter taking out
the corners, the tongue and groove are left smooth. The shaving being taken
out in three pieces allows it to be discharged more freely, and also makes the
throat of the cutter less liable to choke.
up
Another part of this Invention consists in the arrangement of two sets of
stationary rebating cutters for tonguing boards in separato stocks, with a space
between them for the escape of the shavings. On a cutter stock A, of
sufficient length to admit of a series of cutters, which will, by each one taking
out a portion of shaving, leaving the tongue or groove of the desired depth,
I arrange alternately the cutters B, B, &c., and C, C, &c.; the cutters
B, B, &c. being gouge cutters, having a semicircular cutting edge which
removes the greater portion of the wood, and the cutters C, C, &c. being
chisel-edged, with a cutting lip on each side projecting beyond the edge, and
which I call fleam cutters, for cutting out the corners and smoothing the
tongue and groove. The points of the cutting edge of the lips on the fleam
cutters are in advance of the chisel edge of said cutters, as shewn at Figure 4,
so as to cut the wood away from the sides of the groove in advance of the
chisel-edge, which takes out the bottom, and smooths the groove. On each
of the series of gouge and fleam cutters are the inclined planes b, c, Figures 3
and 4, both of which incline upward, and the first of which 6 is for guiding
that portion of the shaving which is taken off next the cutter stock up,
through, and out of the throat; the other plane c is for throwing the shaying
clear of the machine. These planes also give to the cutter the desired shape
for being fitted close to the stock at top, and have clear ways or throats each
side at the bottom or cutting part. In cutting green or wet boards the
double throat is found to be indispensable, as the gum forced out of them
whilst being operated upon would choke up entirely a single throat, or so
clog the machine as to make bad work. On the upper part of the cutter,
where they rest against the cutter shock, are slots for adjusting them to the
proper cutting depth, and by means of screws fastened in the cutter stock, and
passing through said slot, and fastened by a nut, are the said cutters secured

page_text: to said cutter stocks. On the side of the cutter stock next the cutters are
cast angular projections or lugs D, which project sufficiently far from the
face of the cutter stock A to make a free way for the shavings between
said stocks and cutters. Against the inclined front side of these angular
projections rest the cutters, which makes a firm support for said
cutters against the board as it is driven through the machine. On the
edge of the projections D, and immediately in the line of the cutters, and in rear
of the same, are flanges or rests d, Figures 1 and 2, and which answer for guides
for the cutters. The plane of the series of rests or guides is at such angle
with the plane of the guiding edge of the cutter stock, as seen in Figure 1, as
that the gradual projecting of said rests, which also are the guides for setting
the cutting tools, will be sufficient to cut the desired depth for the tongue or
groove, each cutter taking out its respective proportion of wood or shaving.
The rests d are alternately rounded to match the shape of the gouge cutter,
and square edged to match the shape of the fleam cutter, which respectively
rest against them, and correspond in width with the cutting tools. E, E, are
screw bolts, firmly secured to the cutter stock, and by which said cutter may
be fastened and adjusted to the frame of the planing machine. F is a large
reducing gouge in front of the series of cutters, for reducing the boards to an
unitorm width.
Having thus fully described this part of the Invention, what I claim as new
therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is, the combination of a gouge
or gouges for removing the bulk of the wood with smoothing tools having
a cutting edge and side lip on either or both sides thereof, for smoothing the
sides and bottom of the groove, and gouges being set in front of said smoothing
tools, as herein described and represented. I also claim, in combination with
said gouge and smoothing cutters, the lug D and rests or guides d thereon,
for the purpose of forming a throat on each side of and supporting and guiding
said cutters, as herein described and represented. I also claim the arrange-
ment of two sets of stationary rebating cutters, for tonguing boards in
separate stocks, with a space between them for the escape of the
shavings.
I will now describe the fourth part of the Invention, which relates to a new
and useful improvement in the construction of cutters and stocks for tonguing
and grooving boards and planks, &c., reference being had to Drawing D, in
which Figure 1 represents a perspective Drawing of one of the cutters to form
the tongue; Figure 2 represents the back or throat part of the stock and
cutters to form the tongue; Figure 3 represents the top of the same stock ;
Figure 4 represents the cutting face of the same stock; Figure 5 represents

page_text: a transverse or cross section of the same stock. Similar letters in the several
Figures denote the same parts. The nature of this part of the Invention
consists in the form of a series of cutters firmly bolted and adjusted to a
flaring stock, to form a tongue upon boards and planks, &c. The stock for
this purpose is made in two parts, of iron or other metal, the one portion, to
which the cutters for forming the under side of the tongue, has two jointers in
advance of the cutters, for forming the tongue to joint the edge of the board
and to corner the tongue. This lower portion of the stock is firmly bolted or
otherwise fastened to a frame, which can be attached to any planing machine
now in use, for the purpose of tonguing the boards or planks after they are
brought to any required thickness. To this lower part of the stock is bolted
the upper portion of the stock, with a series of cutters attached, to form the
upper part of the tongue, and by the set screws can be adjusted to any desired
points, to give the required thickness of tongue. Both portions of these stocks
are so made as to increase the opening of the throat or discharging of the
shavings, thereby obtaining an unobstructed egress from the throats of the
shavings removed from the boards or planks by the cutters. The cutters to
form the tongue are so graduated upon the stocks as to take a double
shaving both from the edge of the board and from the top or bottom, as the
case may be, at each graduated cutter removing more and more of the
wood from above and below the tongue, and from the shoulder, until the last
two cutters complete the desired size and shape of the tongue. By this
process it will be readily perceived, each cutter having its throat made by the
lug against which the preceding cutter rests, the lug is so formed as to make
the throat for both cuts of the knife, thereby producing a double shaving,
which in its passage out is held together, and is freely discharged from the
open flaring stock. The lugs also form a series of graduated planes, which
guide the board after the cutters have removed the shavings. Each cutter
being set in a line with the lug against which it rests, this graduation of a
series of cutters in these stocks is made both to cut away from the top and
bottom of the board, and also in from the edge, until the required form of
the tongue is obtained. To this stock, as a guide a gauge for the required
distance of the tongue from the top of the board or plank, an iron gauge or
straight edge is bolted to the required point, up against which the board is
firmly held while passing by another bar fixed with springs below or on the
under side of the board. The stock for forming the groove is also made of
iron or other metal. In the forward part of this stock are placed any desired
number of jointer irons, which, with the jointers on the tongue stock, reduce
the board or plank to any desired width. The board, by these jointers being

page_text: made parallel, the board passes a short space on each stock with the line of
the board; it then approaches a card of knives fixed to a plate or plates
graduated upon lugs or rests, which also not only form a guide to the board,
but throats to the cutters. These cutters are alternated, first a V or cutter,
and then a fleam cutter. The V cutters remove the centro of the shaving, and
the fleams the corners, until the desired depth of the groove is obtained.. For
different sized grooves cutters of the required width of groove are used.
Similar stops or gauges are fixed to this stock, as to that for the tongue.
One great advantage is attained by this improvement, that of producing
equally as good on unseasoned lumber as on that which is seasoned, and also
lumber can be passed through these matches at the rate of from one to
three hundred lineal feet in per minute, and the more rapidly it is passed
the better work will be produced, and the cutters being only brought in
contact with the planed portion of the board, they will run from
twenty to fifty thousand feet of lumber without sharpening, they having
already produced that amount of work without sharpening, in practical
operation, and from their open and unobstructed throats the shavings are
freely discharged without clogging. This difficulty of frequent sharpening
and clogging has attended all modes of construction of matchers where a series
of shavings are taken off in close proximity to each other; but it is by this s
construction entirely obviated, no clogging occurs in the practical operation
of these matchers. The groove work is firmly bolted to slide boxes which
are placed on round rods or slides extending from one side to the other of the
frame. A parallel movement is given to these slide boxes by screws worked
by gear upon the outside of the frame. By this arrangement the grooves can
be adjusted to any desired width of board or plank, &c.
a, a, a, Figure 1, represents the cutters. q, q, q, the lug or throat to form
the tongue. e, e, e, the lower part of the tongue stock. b, b, b, the upper
part of the same stock. c, c, the spring stop, or straight edge under the board
which keeps the board up to the top guide or guage. d, d, the upper gauge
or straight edge. ff, ff, jointers in tongue. 9, 9, 9, the hollow bolt for
supporting the springs for lower straight edge or gauge, and adjusting the
same. h, h, h, bolts that fasten upper stops or straight edge. I, I, springs
to lower straight edge. J, J, J, lugs that receive and support springs to
lower gauge, and also lugs that receive the upper gauge or straight edge.
K, K, K, are steady pins or bolts that are firmly fixed into lower straight edge
or gauge, and pass through hollow bolts on which the springs rest. L, L, L, aro
bolts that fix and graduate the upper part of the stock to the lower part.
m, m, are set screws to adjust the upper guage or straight edge. n, n, a lug

page_text: that receives the end of lower gauge or straight edge. O, O, the board.
p, p, are bolts that fasten the stocks to frame. r, r, r, are bolts that fasten
cutters to stocks.
Having thus fully described this part of the Invention, what I claim as new,
and desire to secure by Letters Patent, in the above-described matching
apparatus, is,―
First, the V-form of the cutter when used in the flaring stock, as above
described, and for the purposes set forth.
Also, I claim the side graduation of cutters working from the top and
bottom of the board, substantially and for the purposes set forth.
Also, I claim the flaring stock in combination with the V or any other form
of cutter, and also in combination with both a side and edge graduation of
cutters, substantially and for the purposes set forth.
Also, I claim the flaring stock, the side and edge graduations, and the
V cutting knife combined in one stock for forming the tongue, for which stock
all the above claims are made, substantially and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Maitland Stapley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.