IMPROVEMENTS' IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WRITING OR FRAMED SLATES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO EFFECT THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I EDWYN JOHN JEFFERY DIXON of New Deanfield Works, Bangor in the county
of Carnarvon, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS' IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WRITING OR
FRAMED SLATES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO EFFECT THE SAID
IMPROVEMENTS to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates firstly, to the method of uniting one with the other, the
four pieces of wood (intended to form a slate frame) at their respective corners in
a firm, strong and substantial manner. The said fastening being from the outer
edge of the frame and inwards but not at all on the flat of the same.
Secondly. To the machinery or apparatus necessary to carry the foregoing into
effect.
In carrying out my invention I bore or drill the outer edge of each of the
"Styles" of the slate frame across their grain and into the end grain of the wood
of the "Rails" (or this may be reversed as to" Styles” and “ Rails"). Into the
holes thus made I introduce metallic screws for holders, fasteners or connectors.
The worm of these screws is cut as that for cominon
"wood screws "but they
have a specially adapted head. One, or more of the said screws are placed in each
corner of the frame of the slate, and by their action the latter is drawn up to its
shoulders, or joints, and it results in a firm and very strong frame.
Or I vary this process, by the use of metallic holders, fasteners or connectors not
having any screw, but which are forced into place by steam or other pressure, or by
a blow or blows, or in any manner most convenient.
These metallic holders, fasteners or connectors are formed of iron, or of any other
metal, and they may be forged; drawn, cut out or cast to the shape required, say a
head at one end like a nail, and the other end pointed or not, as shall be found
most desirable in practice. Care must be taken in either case that the end of the
metallic holder, fastener or connector opposite to its head be not allowed to
protrude through the outer edge of the wood and so admit the atmospheric air, by
which from forty to sixty per cent of its holding power would be lost.

page_text: The improved machinery or apparatus is for the purpose of setting the slate
frame well up to its joints at the four corners, and holding the same in position on
its edge while being bored or drilled with proper holes to receive the metallic
holders, fasteners or connectors as aforesaid.
In carrying out this part of my invention I provide an iron table or bench and
against its longest side I fix parallel slides. Between these slides I place an iron
frame which can thus alternate by slight over end pressure. One end of this iron
frame receives the slate with its wooden frame about it, but only held by the
grooves of the latter. At the other end of the said iron frame I fix a "clamp" or
squeezer worked by an eccentric.
The whole of this arrangement therefore alternates altogether in the slides
already described.
Upon the said iron table or bench two drilling machines are fixed. These drills
are rotated by steam power with great velocity. Their tool-points or drills rise
and fall while in motion by a treadle arrangement. The "clamp" or squeezer with
its slate and frame as aforesaid is then slid in its parallels and is made to stop
exactly under the said two drills, which descend simultaneously and bore two holes
(one at either end) in the places where the holders, fasteners, or connectors are to
be introduced. The slate is then turned and completed on the other edge.
Dated the 25th day of April 1884

page_text: I EDWYN JOHN JEFFERY DIXON of New Deanfield Works, Bangor, in the County
of Carnarvon, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF MANUFACTURING WRITING OR
FRAMED SLATES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO EFFECT THE SAID
IMPROVEMENTS" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates,
Firstly, to the method of uniting and fastening, one with the other, the four
pieces of wood intended to make a slate frame A A A A figure 1, the said four,
pieces of wood being previously prepared in the usual manner as to lengths sizes
and grooves and provided with any suitable description of joint; the said uniting
and fastening is effected at each corner of the slate frame in a firm strong and
effective manner from the outer edges of the said slate frame B and inwards
towards the slate-but not at all at, or from, the flat or flats of the said frame and.
without the addition of any wooden or other tenons pins or rivets of any kind or
description.
Secondly to the machinery or apparatus necessary to carry the foregoing into
effect.
In carrying out my. invention I bore or drill the outer edges of each of the
"styles" (or two longest pieces) of the said slate frame across the grain of their.
wood, and into the end-grain of the wood of the "rails" (or two shorter pieces).
Or this may be reversed by making the connection from the two shorter pieces of
the wood (the "rails") and into the two longer pieces of the wood (the "styles")..
Or the holders fasteners or connectors may be crossed at each corner, and two of
the same (or more if necessary) be placed in each corner of the frames of every
slate.
Into the holes made as aforesaid I introduce metallic screws, serving for holders,
fasteners, or connectors. The worm or thread of the said screws is cut as that of
a commom wood screw. One, or more, of the said screws is or are placed in each
corner of the frame of the slate as aforesaid, and by the action of "screwing" the
latter is drawn up to its shoulders, or joints, and when the work is completed as
hereinafter described it results in a firm and very strong frame. Or I may vary
this process as regards screws or "screwing" by the use of metallic holders,
fasteners, or connectors, not having any screw thread but which are forced into
their place or places by steam power or any other power or mode of pressure-
by a blow or blows-or in any other manner most convenient.
-or-
These metallic holders, fasteners or connectors are formed of iron, or of any other
suitable metal (but I prefer iron) and they may be forged, drawn, cut out, cast or
pressed to the shape or shapes required, say with a head at one end like a nail, or
a nail itself may be employed, and the other end pointed or not pointed, and the
same may also be barbed or cut like a smith's rough file, or fashioned in any other
shape or form which shall be found the most desirable in practice. In using any
or either of the herein before described metallic holders, fasteners or connectors;
I arrange that on the slate frame being finished, no part or portion whatever of any
or either of the said holders, fasteners or connectors, shall be visible on the edge or
edges, or on any other part of the said slate frame, excepting on the tops or flats of
their heads. It is of great importance as regards my invention of fastening the
said slate frames at and from their edges only, that the holders, fasteners, or
connectors should be firmly embedded in the grain of the wood into which they are

page_text: screwed, or pressed, or driven, as already described (except that part under the head-
or heads of the said holders, fasteners or connectors' and which is made air tight by
the said steam or other pressure applied as aforesaid). Any other fracture or
disturbance of the grain of the wood of the said slate frame at this part or these
parts would admit the atmospheric air and lessen the holding power from 40
to 60 per cent.
The improved machinery or apparatus is for the purpose of setting the slate
frame "square" and keeping the same well up to it's joints at each of its four
corners while in position on its edge for being bored or drilled, with the proper
holes to receive the screws or other metallic holders, fasteners, or connectors as
before described.. In carrying out this part of my invention I provide an iron table
or bench c, c, c, figures 2, 3 and 4 and against one of its longest sides I fix
parallel slides 1, D, D, of planed and well fitted iron-Between these slides I place
an iron frame or frames E, E, E, E, E, E. This is also well fitted so that it or they
can alternate by slight over-end pressure. One end of this iron frame-or frames-
receives the slate with its wooden frame about it (F, figure 3) but the latter is
only at first held in place by its grooves clasping the slate. At the other end
of the said iron frame or frames I fix a clamp or clamps or a squeezer or
squeezers G, G, G, figures 3 and 4. These are worked by an excentric or by a
crank or screw or by any other suitable mechanical contrivance.
The whole of the last described arrangement therefore alternates altogether in
the slides D, D, D. Upon the said iron table, or bench, I fix two drilling.
machines H, H, H, H, Their drills are rotated by steam or other power with great
velocity Their tool-points, or "drills," are made to rise and fall while they are in
motion by a treadle arrangement. The clamp or clamps, squeezer or squeezers,
with their slate or slates and frame or frames as aforesaid are then slid in the
parallels and are caused to stop exactly under the said two drills which by a simple
árrangement descend simultaneously and bore two holes on the uppermost edge of
the slate frame (one at each end) and in the exact places where the holders,
fasteners, or connectors are to be introduced. The slate or slates are then turned
up edge downwards and the herein before described process is then completed on
the other or corresponding edge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
Firstly The improved method herein described of uniting an fastening
together the parts forming the frames of writing slates by means of the described
metallic holders, fasteners, or connectors introduced at, and from, the outside edges
of the said frames substantially as herein before described.
Secondly The improved construction of machinery for perfecting the manu-
facture of writing, or framed slates as hereinbefore described and represented in
figures 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 31st day of December 1884.
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicant.