Certain Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Barrel Staves.
Year: 1888

page_text: COME LEIE DIECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of
Barrel Staves.
We, GEORGE REHFUSS, JOHN GEORGE REHFUSS and MARTIN OSCAR REHFUSs all
of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania United States of America do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our Invention consists of improvements in that class of barrel stave-cutting
machines in which the stave completed in its passage through the machine, our
invention comprising certain details of construction fully described and specifically
claimed hereinafter.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1. A is a plan view of one half of the machine.
Figure 1. B is a plan view of the other half of the same.
Figure 2. A, is a side view looking in the direction of the arrow of that portion of
the machine shown in Figure 1. A.
Figure 2. B a like view of that portion of the machine shown in Figure 1. B.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 1-2 Figure 1. A.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 3. 4 Figure 1. A.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-6 Figure 1. A.
Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 7-8 Figure 1. A.
Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line 9-10 Figure 1. B.
Figure 8 is a transverse section on the line 11-12 Figure 1. B.
Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line 13-14 Figure 1. B.
Figure 10 is a transverse section on the line 15-16 Figure 1. B.
Figures 11 and 12 are detached views of a clutching device forming part of the
machine.
1
Figures 13 to 25 are diagrams illustrating the successive operations resorted to in
forming a stave in our improved machine and
Figure 26 is a view of a detail of the machine.
We have thought it best to illustrate on as large a scale as possible the full plan
and side views of the machine and have therefore placed these views on separate
sheets one-half of the machine being shown on each sheet and one-half being..
lettered A and the other half B as described above.

page_text: A is the frame of the machine composed of a series of frames A¹ and longitudinal
bars or girders A² which carry the different parts of the machine referred to hereafter.
At the front end of the machine is a table B on which the stave blanks are
supported prior to being fed to the cutters. This table B is supported by suitable
frames B¹ secured to the main frame A of the machine as fully shown in Figures 1 A
and 2 A.
C. is the driving shaft of the machine which has a pinion c gearing into a wheel d
fast on a shaft D which we will term the cam shaft as on it are secured the cams E
for operating the stave retaining devices described hereafter.
The gear wheel d meshes with a wheelf loose on a shaft F and adapted to be
thrown into and out of gear with the shaft by mechanism fully described hereafter.
Travelling in suitable guides e which are secured to the longitudinal bars A² are
carriages G H and I, these carriages being provided with racks g h and i on their
undersides which mesh with pinion wheels g¹h' and ' on a longitudinal shaft J the
latter being also provided with a pinion wheel j fig. 2. A. which gears with a
segment K pivoted at k to the frame of the machine. This segment is connected to
a crank K¹ on the shaft F by a connecting rod attached to the segment at such a
distance from the point kas to give said segment the required throw during one
revolution of the shaft F (see Figure 5).
It will thus be seen that as the shaft F revolves the segment will be vibrated
and the carriages G, H, and I will be simultaneously reciprocated in a direction
transversely to the length of the machine.
Each carriage is provided with a stave blank locking device and when the stave is
placed on the carriage it is automatically locked thereto and held firmly while it
passes under the cutter heads as described hereafter.
The stave holders on the carriages G. H and I are similar in every respect and we
will only describe the stave holder on the carriage H reference being had to Figure 5.
At one end of the carriage is a shoulder against which the stave bears and at the
other end of the carriage are guideways in which slides a bar 12 connected at one
end to a link 3 which in turn is connected to one arm of a lever L pivoted to the
carriage G, the other arm of this lever being adapted to a recess m in a vertically
guided bar M, the guides for which are firmly secured to the frame of the machine.
At the lower end of this bar M is a friction wheel m³ adapted to a cam slot E¹ of a
cam E on the shaft D so that as said shaft revolves the bar M will be moved in the
direction of its arrow (Figure 5) which will push the clamp 12 against one end of the
stave and force the opposite end of the same against the shoulder 7 the knee joint
formed by the lever Land link 13 passing the centre as shown in Figure 5 so as to
firmly lock the stave blank to the carriage.
After the stave has been cut by passing under the cutter, the bar M will be drawn
down by the cam, thus raising the toggle and releasing the stave blank which will be
removed and a new blank put in its place.
N, N1 N2, N3 and N₁ are the cutters which act upon the stave. The cutters N,
N1, N2 are each mounted on independent bearings P, which are guided in V-shaped
ways p and are adjusted to or from the path of the carriage by a set screw p¹.
Each cutter is provided with a driving pulley g to which is adapted a belt from a
pulley on a suitable countershaft.
The cutter N is provided with suitable bits n which roughly plane the side of the
stave blank and is also provided with saws n¹ n' at each side of the planer n these saws
serving to cut the blank to the right width as will be seen in the diagrams Figures 14
and 15.
The blades of the cutter N¹ are concave and will consequently form a convex face
on the blank, the radius of the concave being regulated by the diameter of the barrel
which is to be formed from the cut staves (see Figures 16 and 17).
The cutter N2 is convex and consequently will form a concave face on the stave
blank, the blank being turned over after leaving the cutter N' and before reaching
the cutter N Figures 20 and 21.
The three cutters above referred to cut the stave to the required width and impart

page_text: to it the desired concave and convex surfaces and the cutter N³ (Figures 22 and 23)
chamfer and croze the staves for the reception of the heads of the barrels.
The cutter bits N³ are mounted on wheels or circular frames as shown in
Figure 22 and said frames are fast on a transverse shaft R which is driven by a belt,
passing over a pulley at one side as shown in Figure 1. B.
The stave instead of being passed under the cutters N³ by a transversely moving
carriage as in the other mechanisms is moved vertically from and towards the cutters
as we will now describe reference being had to Figure 9.
The stave blank is passed onto a platform S which is adapted to slide in guides s s
on the frame and is moved up and down by means of an eccentric S¹ on a shaft S²
having its bearings in hangers S3 on the frame of the machine.
This shaft is geared to the shaft J by gear wheels s¹² so that it will rotate once
while the shaft J is rotating twice.
The eccentric S¹ raises and lowers the platform S through the medium of a toggle
joint composed of the two links t t¹ the link t being secured to the platform S and the
link t¹ being secured to a bar t2 adjustable on the frame of the machine by means of
a set screw t³ a set screw t locking the bar after adjustment.
The eccentric rod u is connected to the links t t' at the point u¹ so that as the
eccentric revolves the platform S will be raised and lowered.
A block carries the pivot pin u' and is adapted to a slot u² in the connecting
rod u and is adjustable therein by means of a set screw u³ swiveled to the block and
passing through a threaded orifice in the rod so that a certain amount of the move-
ment of the eccentric S' is lost this amount depending upon the adjustment of the
block in the slot. The position of the platform S can thus be regulated by the
adjustment of either the set screw u³ or the set screw t³ or both as will be readily
understood.
The stave blank is clamped to the platform by devices similar to those above
described the only difference being that the devices are duplicated one set being used
at each end of the stave and in place of the sliding bar we use pivoted levers 7. One
arm of each lever is connected to a link 13 and the other arm is U-shaped in order to
pass around the cutters N³ and clamp the blank between the cutters. In place of the
vertical bar M a transverse bar M' is used which has openings m² m² for the reception
of the ends of the levers L and is operated by a cam E through the medium of a
lever M² connected to the bar M' and pivoted to a bracket M³ on the frame of the
machine.
We will now describe the devices for beveling the edges of the stave, reference being
had to Figures 10, 24 and 25.
T is a carriage having a concave top and having on its underside a rack T¹ which
gears with a pinion wheel T2 on the shaft J.
Sliding in a frame U on this carriage is a clamp U₁ with a convex
underface the segment being of the same radius as that of the concave surface of
the carriage T.
This clamp bends the stave blank as shown in Figures 10, and 24 and secures it in
its bent position until the carriage has passed between the cutters N₁. The devices
for securing this clamp are similar to the devices above described for securing the
blanks on each carriage with the exception that the toggle point is vertical and that
the lever L is connected to one arm of a bell crank lever L' by a rod L³ the other
arm of this lever L' being adapted to the recess m in a vertical bar M under the
control of the cam E.
The cutters in this instance are cone shaped and are secured to vertical shafts V
having their bearings in standards V₁ longitudinally adjustable on the machine by
means of set screws v passing through oblong slots in the standards in order to cut
different width staves as shown in Figure 26. These cutters are driven by belts passing
around pulleys v.
We will now describe the feed table and the machine for feeding the stave blanks
from one cutter to another reference being had to Figures 1. A, 2A, 3 and 4.
As previously mentioned B is the feed table which consists essentially of two

page_text: bars 6 6 slotted at b₁ to allow a stave to drop in front of a pusher 62. This pusher
is attached to a movable platform W, having a rack w which gears with a pinion w
on the transverse shaft w², the latter being driven by bevel gears from the shaft J of
the machine.
When the machine is in motion the platform W is reciprocated carrying the stave
blank with it on the forward movement until said blank strikes a projection a on the
frame, the platform being then retracted but the stave blank being prevented from
receding with the platform, two spring catches a clone on each side of the frame
engaging with the stave and retaining it in the position to which it has been moved
by the pusher.
When the platform has receded to its full extent, the stave drops clear of the
platform W and on the next forward movement of the platform fingers w pass over
the stave blank and hold it firmly in position so as to prevent it from rising when
the blank is fed against the saws Y, Y, which are mounted on a spindle Y¹ and serve
to cut the blank to the required length.
The saw spindle Y¹ is driven from a counter shaft Y2 by a belt y (Figure 2A).
After the stave has been sawed to the proper length the platform W pushes it into
suitable grooves zz (Figures 1 A and 5) and the stave there comes into the path of
feed fingers on a reciprocated frame Z composed of two side bars 9, 9, and a cross
bar 10 the bars 9, 9, being guided at each end in suitable guide boxes 11 secured to
the frame of the machine and being reciprocated by means of a cam 12 on the
shaft D (Figures 1B, 2B and 7) this cam acting through the medium of a lever 13,
which is pivoted at 14 to the frame of the machine one arm of the lever having
roller which travels in the scroll of the cam 12 and the other arm of the lever being
connected by a universal joint to an arm 15, which is pivoted at 16 to a bracket 17
on the frame of the machine the inner end of the arm 15 forming a yoke which
receives a pin 18 on the cross bar 10 of the frame Z.
i
The frame Z thus has an intermittent longitudinal reciprocating movement and is
provided with fingers 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 and 8 pivoted to each side frame 9.
Each pair of these fingers carries a stave blank from one set of cutters to another
consequently when the stave blank has been pushed by the platform W into the path
of the fingers 2 they in turn push it onto the carriage G, and it is then clamped to
the carriage and passed under the cutters N the fingers 2 returning to their original
position.
On the return of the carriage G the stave blank is disconnected therefrom and as
the fingers 3 have passed back of the stave blank said fingers will on the next forward
movement of the frame Z push the blank onto the carriage H to which it is clamped
and by which it is passed under the cutters N¹.
When the frame Z and carriage H have again returned to their normal positions
the fingers 4 are back of the stave blank and on the next forward movement of
the frame Z the blank is pushed between two jaws 19 (Figures 7. 18 and 19)..
Each of these jaws is mounted on a shaft 20 at the side of the machine said shafts
being geared together by means of suitable gear wheels and a shaft 21, the latter
being geared by bevel wheels to a vertical shaft 22 turning in suitable bearings 23
on the frame of the machine-This shaft 22 derives its motion from the shaft F
through the medium of bevel gears 24, 25 (Figure 7) and the shaft F is as before
remarked intermittently driven.
After the stave blank has been inserted in the jaws 19 it is turned by the above
described mechanism to the extent of one half of a revolution in order that the
underside of the blank may be properly presented to the cutters N2 spring friction
pins 26 on the jaws 19 keeping the blank steady while it is being turned.
After the stave blank has been turned the fingers 5 on the frame Z drop back of it
and on the next forward movement of the frame Z push the blank into position on
the carriage I, to which it is clamped and then passed under the cutter N2.
After the stave has been released by the clamping device on the carriage I, it is
pushed onto the platform S (Fig. 9.) by the fingers 6 and there clamped and raised
by the mechanism previously described until it comes in contact with the cutters N³

page_text: by which the blank is chamfered and crozed as in Figures 22 and 23, the platform
being then depressed the fingers 7 drawn back of the stave, and the latter released
from the control of the clamps of the platform S so that the fingers 7 may push the
stave blank into position on the carriage T. The clamp U¹ is then forced down on
the stave blank so as to bend it as shown in Figures 10 and 24 after which the
carriage is passed between the two cutters N¹ which bevel the edges of the stave to the
radial line required. On the return of the carriage T to its normal position
the clamp U is raised and the fingers 8 push the blank out clear of the machine.
It must be borne in mind that each of the cutters or sets of cutters in the machine
operating on a stave blank at the same time so that eight stave blanks, in different
stages of manufacture are in the machine at one time.
We will now describe the clutch for throwing the shaft F in and out of gear with
the shaft D reference being had to Figures 6, 11 and 12.
On the loose gear wheel is a disk 27 having three orifices 28 and on the shaft F
and secured thereto is a disk 29 provided with a pin 30 acted on by a spring 38 and
having an arm 31 to engage with an inclined projection 32 (Figure 2 A) on an arm 33
pivoted to a bracket 34 on the frame of the machine the end of this arm having a
pin 35 which is adapted to a cam groove 36 in a disk 37 on the shaft D.
The spring 38 forces the pin 30 into one or other of the orifices 28 of the disk 27
but at each revolution of the shafts D and F the pin is retracted by the action of the
projection 32 of the arm 33 on the arm 31 of said pin and the motion of the said
shaft F will hence be stopped until another of the orifices 28 is brought into line
with the pin 30 and as the arm 33 has by this time become retracted the pin will
enter the orifice and the shaft will be rotated until the pin is again forced out by the
projection 32 of the lever 33 as will be understood on reference to Figure 6.
The shaft F will thus have an intermittent movement and the devices for locking
the stave blank in position on each of the carriages and on the platform T will be
actuated before the carriage or platform is moved and the said devices will be kept
locked until the movement of the carriages and platform is completed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is,
1st. The combination of a series of stave cutters, feeders for the staves and rever-
sible stave holders located between successive cutters by which the staves are reversed
side for side between the successive cutters.
2nd. The combination of a series of cutters a series of transverse reciprocating
stave-holding carriages, feeding devices for directing the staves from one carriage to
another, and clamps on each carriage for automatically locking and releasing the
staves.
3rd. The combination in a stave cutting machine of the travelling carriage having
a fixed jaw at one end and a moveable jaw at the opposite end, a link and lever
forming a toggle connected to said moveable jaw, with a cam moving said lever to
lock the blank to or release it from the carriage.
4th. The combination in a stave-cutting machine of the travelling carriage having
a fixed and a moveable jaw, a link and lever forming a toggle and a sliding bar and
cam for operating said toggle.
5th. The combination in a stave-cutting machine of two cutters and platforms
therefor with a pair of stave reversing jaws situated between the platforms and adapted
to grasp only the ends of the staves with devices for feeding the staves into and out
of the jaws.
6th. The combination of a pair of jaws geared together with devices for turning
the jaws and friction pins for retaining a stave blank when fed into the jaws.
7th. The combination in a stave cutting machine of concave and convex cutters
and reciprocated carriages therefor, stave feeders, stave turning jaws between said
concave and convex cutters and devices for simultaneously operating said carriages
stave feeders and turning jaws.

page_text: 8th. The combination in a stave-cutting machine of chamfering and crozing cutters
with a platform moveable to or from said cutters with automatic locks for the stave
blanks with a reciprocating feeder to carry a stave onto the platform prior to cutting
and remove it after cutting, the whole being timed to work automatically.
9th. The combination of the chamfering and crozing cutters, with a sliding plat-
form a driving shaft, an eccentric thereon having a slotted rod, and a toggle joint
connection between the eccentric rod and the platform a block carrying the pivot of
the toggle being adapted to the slot in said rod.
10th. The combination of chamfering and crozing cutters, a sliding stave carrying
platform and adjustable bar t2 toggle levers connecting the platform to the bar and
devices for operating said toggle, levers to move the platform towards and from the
cutters.
11th. The combination in a stave cutting machine of stave cutters and stave-holding
carriages on which the staves rest a frame adapted to guides on the machine and
having fingers adapted to push the stave blanks from one carriage to another and
devices for reciprocating the frame.
12th. The combination of the cutters, travelling carriages each provided with a
rack, a shaft having pinions gearing into the racks of the carriages, a segmental rack
geared to a pinion on said shaft with devices for intermittently rotating said
segmental rack.
1000