IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING VENEERS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING VENEERS."—
A communication.
Sealed the 31st July 1857, and dated the 11th May 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th May 1857.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING
VENEERS," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention has for its object the cutting of perfect
veneers from logs of any size by means of a knife.. To the knife and the log
separate and distinct rectilinear motions are given, as follows, namely:-To
the knife a rectilinear movement through the log, and to the log a rectilinear
movement transversely or diagonally to the movement of the knife, commencing
and terminating at or nearly at the same time therewith, and, being about
equal in length therewith, in order to give the log a long drawing stroke in
contact with the edge of the knife at the time the knife is being forced through

page_text: it: The effect obtained by the combined movements is the cutting of a veneer
or shaving which is perfectly smooth and free from cracks.
The second part of the Invention consists in making the ways upon which
the log carriage moves adjustable relatively to the ways upon which the knife
moves, for the purpose of giving more or less of a drawing action to the cut,
as may be required by different varieties of stuff.
The third part of the Invention consists in attaching all the necessary
appendages for holding the log and feeding it to the knife to a turntable of
circular or other form, which is fitted to a circular seat, or otherwise made
capable of turning upon the log carriage, and being secured in any position,
for the purpose of presenting the grain of the stuff at any desired angle to the
edge or movement of the knife.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to the manner of supporting the
log or block from which the vencers are cut during the cutting operation.
The knife is rigidly attached to the upper side of a table, of which all that por-
tion of the surface behind the cutting edge is perfectly level with the said edge,
and that portion in front of said edge is at a distance below said edge and
upper part of the table equal to the required thickness of the vencer to be cut."
The log, previously to having a veneer or shaving cut from it, is in contact
with the lower part of the table, and when the veneer or shaving has been
taken off, is on the upper part. In order to place it again on the lower part,
to take off another shaving, it must pass over the edge of the knife, and in so
doing, if it rests on the table and knife, is likely to break and injure the edge
of the knife. With a view to the prevention of this injury the log is suspended
above the knife and cutting table by means of clamps, which only allow it to
descend under the control of a proper feeding mechanism, which comes into
operation after the return of the knife subsequently to its having taken off a
shaving, and while the log is above the lower part of the table, so that when
the log passes the edge its weight does not rest upon it, and therefore cannot
injure it.
The fifth part of the Invention relates to a combination of mechanism for
setting free the clamps and releasing the uncut portion of the log from then
when the weight of such portion of the log is no longer sufficient to injure the
knife, and when the clamps have arrived so near the edge of the knife that
their further descent would endanger their being brought into contact with
the said edge and causing injury thereto.
A lever handle which holds the clamps upon the log is itself held in
position by contact with a notched bar. To release this handle, and thus
slacken the bite of the clamps, a bar and an inclined block are brought into

page_text: action, the former of which is attached to the suspended head, and the latter to
some fixed point on the turntable of the log carriage; the bar being made to
slide by coming at the proper time in contact with the inclined block will
raise the lever handle, and thereby free the uncut portion of wood from the
clamps.
The sixth part of the Invention relates to the construction of the clamps
which hold the log, whereby, when they are released from the log, the feed
motion will be allowed to continue, while the further descent of the clamps is
prevented by suitable stops provided for that purpose upon the log carriage.
The clamps are slotted to receive the bars which carry them, and they have
also a slot above this, through which adjusting screws are passed. The length
of these slots is such that, after the clamps are arrested by coming in
contact with the proper part of the log carriage or turntable, the motion of
the follower and other parts of the feed motion may continue until it is desirable
to stop them.
The seventh part of the Invention relates to a contrivance for rendering the
feed motion inoperative and stopping the descent of the follower when the log
is all cut up.
The arrangement for stopping the feed when the log is all cut up consists of
a curved slotted bar secured to the top of the box in which the bearing for the
feed motion is mounted, but in a manner that will admit of its sliding upon
the box. This bar carries an upright pin, and by means of a spring a ten-
dency is given to the bar to carry the pin forward and trip up a pawl which
takes into the teeth of a central ratchet wheel, and thus prevent it from
operating on the wheel. During the time the feed motion is required to
operate the pin, the sliding bar is held out of contact with the pawl by means
of a rod, which connects with a short arm at the top of a vertical shaft which
protrudes through the gear box. The part of this shaft which is below the
box is furnished with a feather, which is caught by an angle piece attached to
one of the traversing heads which carry the clamps. This angle piece holds
the bar back in opposition to the spring, by preventing the turning of the shaft,
which the spring has a tendency to effect. The feather extends downwards
on the shaft to such point, that when the log is all cut up and the follower
arrives in contact or nearly in contact with the edge of the knife, the angle
piece passes below the said feather and sets it free, thus allowing the free
action to the spring connected to the curved bar, and preventing the con-
tinuance of the feed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the, said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th November 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRed
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Vincent. Newton, Her special license that I,' the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators; and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING VENEERS," being a communication
from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
relates to a novel construction of machine for cutting veneers, in which a knife
is employed of similar kind to those which have been used, but only with par-
tial success, in other machines. The knife, as used prior to this Invention, has
either been driven straight through the log without any drawing stroke, tear-
ing and roughening the surface of and cracking the veneer as it is shaved off,
or it has received a reciprocating endway motion.
The first part of this Invention has for its object the prevention of the
cracking or roughening the veneer and the cutting of perfect veneers from logs

page_text: of any size by means of a knife. It consists in giving to the knife and the
log to be cut separate and distinct rectilinear motions, as follows, namely:-
To the knife a rectilinear movement through the log, and to the log a recti-
linear movement transversely or diagonally to the movement of the knife,
commencing and terminating at.or. nearly at the same time therewith, and
being about equal in length therewith, in order to give the log a long drawing
stroke in contact with, the edge of the knife at the time the knife is being
forced through it. The effect obtained by the combined movements is, the
cutting of a veneer or shaving which is perfectly smooth and free from
cracks.
The second part of the Invention consists in making the ways upon which
the log carriage moves adjustable relatively to the ways upon which the knife
moves, for the purpose of giving more or less of a "drawing. action" to the
cut, as may be required by different varieties of stuff, but this power of adjust-
ment is not absolutely necessary, as a certain determinate angle of inclination
may be given to fixed guides to produce the required "drawing action."
The third part of the Invention consists in attaching all the necessary
appendages for holding the log and feeding it to the knife to a turntable of
circular or other form, which is fitted to a circular seat, or otherwise made
capable of turning upon the log carriage, and being secured in any position
for the purpose of presenting the grain of the stuff at any desired angle to the
edge or movement of the knife. This provision also, I should remark, although
advantageous for cutting knotty wood across the grain, may be dispensed with
when cutting up open grain woods in the plane of their fibres.
The fourth part of the Invention relates to the manner of supporting the
log or block from which the veneers are cut during the cutting operation.
The knife is rigidly attached to the upper side of a table, of which all that
portion of the surface behind the cutting edge is perfectly level with the said
edge, and that portion in front of the edge is at a distance below it and the
upper part of the table equal to the required thickness of the veneer to be
cut. The log, previously to having a veneer or shaving cut from it, is in
contact with the lower part of the table, and when the veneer or shaving has
been taken off is on the upper part. In order to place it again on the lower
part to take off another shaving, it must pass over the edge. of the knife, and
in so doing, if it rest on the table and knife, it is likely to break or injure the
edge of the knife. With a view.to the prevention of this injury, the log is
suspended above the knife and. cutting table by means of clamps, which only
allow it to descend under the control.of.a. proper feeding mechanism, which
comes into operation after the return of the knife, subsequently to its having

page_text: taken off a shaving, and while the log is above the lower part of the table, so
that when the log passes the edge its weight does not rest upon it, and therefore
cannot injure it.
The fifth part of the Invention relates to a combination of mechanism for
setting free the clamps and releasing the uncut portion of the log from them,
when the weight of such portion of the log is no longer sufficient to injure the
knife, and when the clamps have arrived so near the edge of the knife that
their further descent would endanger their being brought into contact with the
said edge, and causing injury thereto.
The sixth part of the Invention relates to the construction of the clamps
which hold the log, so that when they are released from the log the feed
motion may be allowed to continue, but the further descent of the clamps
may be prevented by suitable stops provided for that purpose upon the log
carriage.
The seventh part of the Invention relates to a contrivance for rendering the
feed motion inoperative and stopping the descent of the follower when the log
is all cut up.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a side elevation of the
improved machine; Fig. 2, Sheet II., is a longitudinal vertical section, taken
through the centre of the machine; Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig. 4 is a vertical
section, taken through the line 1, 2, of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, Sheet I., is a horizontal
section, taken in the line 3, 4, of Figures 1 and 2, and shewing a plan of the
adjustable circular turntable, with the mechanism for feeding the block down
to the knife; Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the adjustable circular turntable
detached; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the under side of the turntable; Fig. 8 is
a plan of part of the mechanism, by which the clamps are tightened to hold
the block or log; Fig. 9 is a plan of the cutting table; Fig. 10 is an inverted
plan of the same; and Fig. 11 is a cross section, taken in the line 5, 6, of
Fig. 10, and looking towards the edge of the knife; Figures 12, 13, and 14
are views of modifications of parts of the mechanism to be hereafter more
particularly referred to. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the several Figures.
A is the main frame of the machine, consisting of a bed supported upon
standards, and having ways a, a, see Figures 2, 3, and 4, arranged longitu-
dinally upon it, to receive the cutting table and guide its motion. At one end
of the framing suitable standards B, B, are placed, to carry the bearings for
two parallel transverse shafts D, E, which are geared together by toothed
wheels of equal size, so that both will revolve with equal speed. The shaft D
is the driving shaft, and receives rotary motion by means of a band from some

page_text: prime mover running on one of the two drums H, H. Motion is transmitted
directly from the driving shaft to the cutting table J, (see Figures 3 and 4,)
which carries the knife.C, by means of a wrist b on the outer side of one of the
arms of each drum H and connecting rods F, connecting the table therewith,
the wrists being adjustable in slots in the arms, so that they can be set at any
distance from the axis, thus constituting variable cranks capable of giving the
table a movement of any desired length. The shaft E transmits motion to
the log carriage K by means of a crank G and connecting rod I, the wrist of
the said crank being adjusted in slots, to vary the throws of the crank and
length of movement of the carriage, and the connections of the rods with the
wrist and also with the carriage being made by ball and socket joints, so as to
allow the movements of the carriage to deviate from a direction at right angles
to the shaft.. The wrists b, b, and the crank G are so adjusted relatively to
each other that the cutting table J and carriage K commence their stroke
together, but always move in opposite directions.
The log carriage K consists of a plate of cast iron, having a circular. opening,
around which is a rebate e, (see Figures 2 and 4,) to form the seat of the
adjustable turntable L. It is supported by four (or may be supported by any
other suitable number of) sliding feet M, which are fitted to slide freely on a
corresponding number of parallel ways or slides N, firmly secured to the bed
of the main framing A. The ways N are adjustable, in order to allow the
diagonal or transverse movement of the log carriage relatively to the cutting
table and knife to be varied, and the feet M are also adjustable for the same
purpose. The ways are made adjustable by being pivoted to small circular
beds d on the main frame, (see the plan view, Fig. 3,) and furnished with
proper means of securing them in any position, and the sliding feet are made
adjustable in a substantially similar manner.
The method of adjusting and securing such slides or ways, and the feet or
sliding pieces which slide upon them, is well known to all skilled mechanics,
as such devices are common in various kinds of machinery, and therefore no
detailed description is necessary; but it is sufficient to say, that it is desirable
for such ways and feet to be capable of being adjusted in any position between
a line parallel with the ways a, a, on which the cutting table and knife travel,
and one at right angles to the said ways. The ball and socket connections at
the ends of the connecting rod I will allow motion to be transmitted directly
through the said connecting rod to the carriage at as great an angle at the
line of movement of the knife as will be in many or most cases desirable;
but if a movement at a right angle to the line of movement of the knife,.

page_text: or at a movement at any less angle than is capable of being given by the rod
be desired, the said movement may be transmitted from the rod to the
carriage by a bell crank or any other device for changing the direction
of rectilinear motion.
.. The adjustable turntable L consists of a circular platè of cast iron, properly
fitted to turn freely. in the rebate e, (see Figures 2 and 4,) in which it can
be secured in any position by set screws 39, (see Fig. 3,) and having a
quadrangular opening (see Figures 5, 6, and 7), to allow the log to pass through
it. This opening is surrounded on the under side of the turntable by four
sliding side pieces O, O, P, P, one on each side, all of which are adjusted to
form a quadrangular open box of any desired size, such size being always just
large enough for the log: to move through easily in the position in which it is
cut, but to hold it steadily, so as to prevent any longitudinal or transverse
movement of the log during the cutting operation.
The side pieces may be attached to the box, and made adjustable in various
ways. In the Drawing, they are shewn as attached by screw bolts f, f, which
pass through slots, and therefore allow them to move back and forth to enlarge
or contract the box. The pieces 0, 0, are adjusted by means of racks i, i,
and pinions 9, 9, and the pieces P, P, by means of long screws h, h, extending
through the pieces O, O; and confining them to the pieces P, P, by means of
nuts. The pieces P; P, which form the ends of the box, will not require to
be adjusted so frequently as the pieces O, O, which form the front and back,
as the log can in most cases be sawed to the proper length to suit the box, but
the thickness of the logs will vary considerably, and hence the advantage of a
quick adjustment of the pieces 0, 0, as by turning the pinions 9, g, whose
journals are fitted in. bearings in the turntable, the racks which are attached to
the pieces O, O, are made to adjust the said picces very readily. The several
pieces O, O, and P, P, are morticed into or otherwise fitted to each other, to
hold each other so as to keep the box square at all times, as the block will be
squared before being introduced to the 'machine. The turntable carries the
whole of the apparatus and mechanism which clamps and holds the log
suspended, and that which feeds it to the cutting table, the turntable, two
standards Q, Q, and a box R, forming à framing for the whole of the said
apparatus and mechanism. The clamping apparatus is all attached to and
supported by four strong heads S, containing female screws, fitting to four
long upright male screws T, of similar pitch, which have journals fitting to
bearings in the turntable and in the box R above, and which are all geared
by a train of toothed gearing within' the box, (as shown by dotted lines in

page_text: the plan view, Fig. 3,) with a large toothed wheel k on a shaft j, which passes
vertically through the centre of the box, and receives motion by the feeding
mechanism herein-after described. The gearing is arranged so that all the
screws turn together and in similar directions, and thereby raising or lowering
the heads S, S, simultaneously, and in an equal degree, and keeping all at the
same elevation.***
The heads S, S,' are furnished each with a lug 1, best shewn at Fig. 5.
These lugs are slotted to receive the ends of a pair of horizontal bars m, m,
(see Figures 1, 2, and 4), which are held at right angles with the sides of the
log, at a short distance above which they stand, their object being to support
a strong cross head U, which is firmly bolted to them. Above the bars m, m,
and parallel with them, there are two long screws n, n, which pass through
the lugs 1, 1, and through ears at the sides of the cross heads, without screwing
into any of them. These screws are secured rigidly to the lugs by set nuts
0, 0, and the cross head is capable of being adjusted upon the said screws and
secured in the desired position by nuts p, p, one on each side of the ears, the
bars m, m, sliding freely in the lugs 'l, l, to allow for such adjustment. The
cross head will always be required to be adjusted to a position as nearly as
possible over the centre of the box formed by the adjustable pieces O, O, and
P, P, under the turntable already described.
The clamps Y, Y, of, which there are intended to be two on each side of
the log, making two pairs, consist of plates of iron or steel, whose form will
be understood by reference to Figures 2 and 2*, the former of which Figures
exhibits their sides, and the latter a back view. Each bar m receives two
clamps, upright slots being made in the clamps to fit easily to the bars and
move thereon. The screws n also pass through the clamps. The slots in
the clamps are of such length as to permit of the clamps moving a considerable
distance upwards and downwards, for a purpose herein-after described. They
are adjusted at the proper part of the screws n and bars m by means of nuts
9, 9*, one on each side, which are so set that the clamps are free to vibrate
to a limited extent, but not to move very far bodily upon the bar and screw.
Between the clamps a follower V is attached to the cross head U in a rigid
manner. This follower consists of a 'flat wooden board attached to a suitable
frame of iron, its under face being parallel with the face of the cutting table
and the plane in which the cutting edge moves. The follower is of a length
and width somewhat less than the smallest sized log that the machine will
ever be required to cut, in order that it may pass freely through the adjustable
box under the turntable; it is intended to follow the log as the latter

page_text: descends upon the turntable, and to prevent it from rising during the cutting
operation, and thus ensuring the even cutting of the veneer. When the
clamps are banging free their jaws depend, far enough below the bottom face
of the follower to take a firm hold of the log, as shewn in Figures 2 and 4,
where a log is represented in the machine. The clamps are made to grip or
fasten upon the log by means of two cords or chains r, r, which are connected
to their lower parts, each of the said cords being attached to one clamp of
one pair and to that clamp of the other pair which is on the opposite side of
the log, and passing partly around one of the pairs of pulleys s, s, s, 8, (which
turn loosely in the posts t, t, which connect the follower to the cross head,)
and connecting to a central shaft v. The drawing of the clamps together is
effected by turning the said shaft partly around, and thus winding up or
drawing tight both the cords or chains, at one time. The shaft v is turned
by means of a wheel X, firmly secured to its upper end above the cross head
and a lever handle x (see Figures 4 and 5), the said wheel having a raised
rim with notches y, y, to receive the handle, which also fits to the upper end
of the shaft. This handle can readily be unshipped and inserted into another
notch when it is in danger of coming in contact with one of the screws T
in winding up the cords or chains. The tightness of the cords or chains and
the grip of the clamps is preserved by means of a tooth (see Figures 1 and
4), which engages in any one of the series of notches in the upper edge of
a bar 12, secured to two of the heads S, S. When the clamps are in operation
the screws n are in the upper part of the slots, as the weight of the clamps
before they are made to grip the log carries them to this position. The
heads S, S, and all the mechanism which they support may be termed the
suspending head.
Instead of the log being suspended by clamps operated as above explained,
the arrangement shewn in cross section at Fig. 12 may with advantage be
employed. The suspending frame S, S, which is carried by the vertical screws.
T, is fitted with sliding dogs 9, for gripping the log. These dogs work upon
horizontal screws 10, which turn in bearings in the frame S, and as the screws
are turned by hand the dogs are moved forward and caused to grip the log.
The mechanism by which the necessary intermittent movements are given
to the toothed wheel k, for the purpose of transmitting the proper movements
to the screws T, T, to move downwards the heads S, S, the clamping apparatus,
and the log after each successive operation of shaving off a veneer, does not
essentially differ from the feed motions of many other machines. Mounted
on the box R is a vertical shaft j, to which a toothed wheel 13 is keyed.

page_text: Above this wheel a disc 14 is fitted loosely, the said disc carrying on its under
side a spring pawl 15, which engages with the wheel when the disc is turned
the way for the shaft to turn to work down the heads S, S, (indicated by the
arrows 36, Fig. 3,) but passes over the teeth in turning the other way.
Above the disc is a forked arm 16, of which the forked part is secured to
the disc, one end of the fork being turned up to come in contact with a stop
piece 17, which is secured to the top of the box R, and controls the disc in
one direction. A circular frame 18 is supported by standards 19 upon the
main framing A. This frame surrounds the box R, and upon one side of it
is fixed a block 20, of wood or metal, which is bored to allow à rod 21, which
is connected with the arm 16, to pass through it freely. The rod 21 is screwed
for some distance from its end to receive two nuts 22, which are made to
jam and secure each other in a fixed position on a screw outside the block
20, and serve as stops to prevent the rod being drawn through the block by
a spiral or india-rubber spring 23, which connects the arm with the opposite
side of the frame 18. The movement of the carriage K in the direction of
the arrow 37, shown upon it in Fig. 3, which is the return stroke after the
shaving operation, brings the nuts 22 in contact with the block 20, and
arrests the motion of the rod 21, and causes it to hold back the end of the
arm 16. The continued motion of the carriage after the rod is arrested.
causes the arm to turn the disc 14 in the proper direction for the pawle to
engage with and act upon the wheel 13, which it continues to do till the
direction of the motion of the carriage is changed, when the spring acting
on the arm draws the pawle back over the teeth until the end of the fork
comes in contact with the stop pieces 17. The feed is lengthened or shortened
by placing the nuts 22 further from or nearer to the end of the rod.
In place of the arrangement just described for feeding down the log to the
knife after every successive cut, the modification shewn in elevation at Fig. 13,
and in plan view at Fig. 14, may be adopted. On a fixed part of the framing
A an adjustable stop 1 is mounted, and in a line therewith, mounted on the
reciprocating turntable, is a sliding ratchet 2. This ratchet works in a spring
box, which forms its guide and support, and by means of the spring it has a
tendency to move backwards. This ratchet engages in the teeth of a ratchet
wheel 3, keyed to a vertical shaft 4, which carries at its upper end a bevil
wheel 5. Above the box R, which carries the driving gear for the vertical
screws T, is mounted a cross shaft 6, furnished with bevil wheels 7 and 8, the
former of which gears into the wheel 5 on the vertical shaft 4, and the latter
into a bevil wheel on the short vertical shaft j before mentioned. It will now

page_text: be understood that at each backward movement of the table the rear end of
the ratchet 2 will strike against the stop 1, and be driven forward, thereby
causing the ratchet wheel to turn and communicate through the bevil and
other gearing an axial motion to the vertical screws T, sufficient to depress
the log a distance equal to the thickness of the veneer desired to be cut. This
distance may be regulated to the greatest' nicety by simply turning the screw
stop 1 to the right or left, whereby the axial motion of the ratchet wheel will
be proportionately increased or diminished. A spring catch is applied to
this wheel, to prevent it from turning back when released from the thrust of
the ratchet 2.
Instead of using a self-feeding motion, the feeding can, if desired, be per-
formed by hand through the handle 38 on the top of the shaft j. This handle
serves to draw back the feeding mechanism after the operation of cutting up
a log has terminated. The adjustment of the knife to cut different thick-
nesses of veneer is effected by making the upper part of the forward end of
the table moveable. The contact surfaces of this upper part and the under
part of the table are inclined, as shewn at Fig. 11, and the parts are held
firmly together by binding screws. When it is desired to raise this movable
part, to reduce the distance between it and the knife edge, or to lower it and
increase the distance, the binding screws are slackened, and a wedge piece (see
Fig. 10), which operated by a horizontal screw having its bearing in the main
portion of the table, is caused to bear against an inclined rib on the under side
of the upper or movable part of the table, and shift it laterally, whereby it is
raised or depressed, as required. The like effect may be produced by the use
of set screws at the opposite sides of the table (in place of the travelling
wedge) bearing against the edges of the adjustable piece.
When the log is all cut up the feed is stopped by the following means:-In
Fig. 3, 24 is a curved bar, which is secured by screws 25 to the top of the
box R, but slotted where the said screws pass through it to allow it to slide
upon the box. This bar 24 carries an upright pin 26, and has a spring 27
applied to one end in such a way as to have a tendency to push the bar to
such a position as to make the said pin come in contact with the handle of
the spring pawle 15, protruding from under the disc 14, as soon as the nuts
22 come in contact with the block 20, and commence moving the arm 16.
The strength of the spring 27 is greater than the spring which holds the pawle
in gear, and consequently the pin 26, when in contact with the pawle, throws
it out of gear, and prevents it from operating on the wheel 13. During such
time as it is desirable that the feed motion shall be operative the bar 24 is

page_text: held in the position shewn in Fig. 3, where the pin is out of contact with the
pawle by means of a rod 28, which connects with a short arm 29 at the top
of a vertical shaft 30 which protrudes through the box R. The part of the
shaft 30 which is below the box R is furnished with a feather (see Fig. 5),
which is caught by an angle piece 32, attached to one of the traversing heads
S, which carry the clamps. This angle piece.32 holds the bar back in oppo-
sition to the spring by preventing the turning of the shaft 30, which the spring
has a tendency to effect. The feather extends downwards on the shaft to
such point that when the log is all cut up and the follower arrives in contact,
or nearly in contact with the edge of the knife, the angle piece passes below
the said feather and sets it free, thus allowing the spring 27 free action, and
preventing the continuance of the feed.
The clamps Y, Y, are set free to release the log sometime. before the feed
motion stops by means of a bar 33 (see Figures. 1, 4, and 5), attached to
the lugs of two of the heads S, S, by bolts or pins 34, which pass through
inclined slots in the ends of the said bar. When the feed motion is in. opera-
tion this bar falls by its own weight, or is pushed down by hand, so that the
top parts of the slots rest on the bolts, and when it is in this position, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 4, its upper edge is immediately below or touching the lever
handle, by which the clamps are made to grip the log. One end of this bar
is brought at a proper time, by the descent of the heads S, S, in contact with
the inclined face of a small metal block 35 (see Fig. 1), secured to one of
the standards Q, Q, which block forces it upwards against the lever handle x,
until the tooth z, under the said handle, is raised from the notch which it
occupied in the bar 12, and the clamps are thereby set free. Immediately
after the setting free of the clamps it is desirable that their descent should be
stopped; this stoppage is effected by the clamps coming. in contact with the
side pieces O, O, but no impediment is offered to the continuation of the feed,
as the slots in the clamps, through which the bar m and screw n pass, allow
the said bar and screw to descend freely as far as is desired. The releasing
of the clamps and stoppage of their descent are not required to take place so
soon as the bottom of the clamps arrive on a level with the top of the side
pieces O, O, and therefore recesses 40 are made in the said side pieces for the
clamps to work in freely, and the clamps are not released till their points or
bottom edges arrive nearly at the bottom of the recesses. The stoppage is
caused by their coming in contact with the bottoms of the recesses, which may
therefore.be considered as stop pieces.
The wood to be cut is first subjected to the operation of steaming to soften
it. For this purpose it is put into a steam-tight box containing water enough

page_text: to cover the wood; the box is then closed, and steam is let into the water at
the bottom. The wood must be kept in long enough for the steam to pene-
trate it thoroughly; soft and green woods need not be steamed.
The construction and individual operation of the several parts of the Inven-
tion having been described, I will proceed to describe the manner in which
the operation of cutting veneers is conducted. The shafts are turned to bring
the box or opening in the turntable through which the log descends over the
highest part of the cutting table, or that part which is level with the edge of
the knife, and the log is then placed on the said part of the table in the
position in which it is to be cut; the side pieces O, O, and P, P, are then
adjusted to bring them close to the log, but to allow it to descend between
them freely. The feeding gear is next worked down by hand until the
follower is in contact with the top of the log, and the clamps are then
tightened by the lever handle, and secured by bringing the teeth under the
handle to a notch in the bar 12. The feed motion is supposed to have been
adjusted before the putting in of the log, the adjustable portion of the cutting
table in front of the edge of the knife being also adjusted at that time when
adjustment is necessary. The machine may now be set in operation by giving
revolution to the driving shaft D, which will cause the shaft E to revolve also,
and give a reciprocating motion to the cutting table and the log carriage,
causing the log and the knife to meet and pass each other at every stroke.
The log is suspended in the clamps so that its weight does not bear on the
cutting knife or the table as they pass, and is caused by the feed motion every
time it is brought over the lower part of the table during the backward
motion of the knife and forward motion of the carriage, to descend upon the
said lower part. Every forward action of the knife shaves off that portion of
the log which is below the edge of the knife, and the shaving passes under the
knife, as shewn in Fig. 2, and falls into a suitable receptacle below. As the
weight of the log is all borne by the clamps, it does not drag upon and
thereby injure the edge of the knife during the backward movements made by
the latter and forward motion made by the carriage preparatory to each new
cut, but cannot descend until the clamps are caused to descend by the
operation of the feed motion, which does not take place until the log has
passed in front of the knife edge.
The liberation of the log from the clamps does not take place until so little
of the log remains that it is not heavy enough to injure the knife, and when
liberated the log continues to be fed by falling over the edge of the knife to
the lower part of the cutting table, and being followed by the follower until it
is reduced to such a thickness as to slip between the carriage and the cutting

page_text: table, after which the stoppage of the feed takes place. The improved
machine may be employed either in the manner represented and described,
both the knife and the log being drawn directly from the shafts D and E, or
by returning the knife in the same position and giving it the same motion, but
drawing the log across it or nearly at a right angle, as mentioned in the carly
parts of the Specification, to the movement of the knife; or the knife may be
arranged parallel, or nearly so, with the ways, and both it and the log be
driven directly from the shafts, as described; or the log may be driven across
at or nearly at right angles to the knife, while its edge retains its last named
position relatively to the ways. If, however, it may for any purpose be
desirable, all the movement may be given to the log while the knife is
stationary; and in cutting in either of these ways, the position of the knife and
direction of the motion of the log may be varied in the same manner as when
motion is given to both.
This machine is adapted to the cutting of all kinds of thin stuff, and may be.
used for cutting shingles by feeding the two ends or two sides of the log
alternately a greater amount of feed than the other.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improved Machinery
for Cutting Veneers," as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,―
First, cutting veneers or other thin stuff by giving to the shaving knife a
rectilinear movement towards and through the log, so as to produce long
continuous drawing cuts, as described.
Second, making the ways N, N, upon which the log carriage moves,
adjustable, as described, relatively to the ways in which the knife and cutting
table move, for the purpose of giving more or less of a drawing action to the
cut, as the nature of the stuff operated upon may require.
Third, attaching all the necessary appendages for holding the log and
feeding it up to the knife to a turntable capable of being adjusted circularly
within the main frame of the log carriage, as described, for the purpose of
presenting the grain of the stuff at any described angle to the edge of the knife
or direction of the cut.
Fourth, suspending the log or block above the knife by gripping clamps
from a travelling head, whereby the log or block is prevented from dragging
over the edge of the knife during the backward movement of the latter.
Fifth, setting the lever handle x, which holds the clamps upon the log, free
from the notched bar 12, by means of the bar 32 and the inclined block 35
acting as above described.

page_text: And, lastly, the mechanism, herein described, for stopping at the
the descent of the suspending head and the feed of the log.
proper time
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
FRED. WALKDEN,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)