IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Baker, of Bellefield, Birmingham Heath,
in the Borough of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Baker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th January 1870.
I, GEORGE BAKER, of Bellefield, Birmingham Heath, in the Borough
of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR CUTTING SPLINTS FOR MATCHES AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:--
My Invention consists of the construction and arrangement herein-
after described of the parts of machinery for cutting splints for matches
and other purposes. By my improvements the splints are cut more rapidly
and economically than by machinery of the ordinary construction.

page_text: In constructing a machine according to my Invention I employ two
cutters, each cutter consisting of a series of parallel lancet blades
situated at the required distances apart. The blades of one cutter are
situated at right angles to those of the other cutter, the blades of the
two cutters being inclined in an opposite direction at an angle of forty-
five degrees to a vertical plane. The block of wood from which the
splints are to be cut is fed diagonally against the said cutters, the
direction of motion of the said block being parallel to the lancet blades
of one cutter and at. right angles to the lancet blades of the other
cutter. The surface of the block from which the splints are cut is
inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees to the sides of the block. By
the motion of one cutter a series of parallel incisions is made in the
inclined face of the block, the said incisions being in planes parallel to
the sides of the block. By the motion of the other cutter a scries of
incisions is made at right angles to the former, and as the depth of the
incisions is somewhat greater than the thickness of the splints to be
cut, the incisions made by the motion of the second cutter detach a
series of splints from the inclined face of the block. The block is fed
forward during the action of the machine by a feeder advanced at cach
half revolution of the principal shaft of the machine to a distance equal
to the thickness of a row of splints. An alternating sliding motion is
given to the cutters by means of cranks and connecting rods worked.
from the principal shaft. Both cutters are fixed in the same carrying
frame and their cutting edges terminate in the same plane, and they
effect the cutting of a row of splints when moving in either direction.
The essence of my Invention consists in constructing and arranging
the parts of machinery for cutting splints for matches and other
purposes so that the block from which the splints are cut advances in
a direction parallel to the lancet blades of one cutter and at right
angles to those of the other cutter, the splints being cut from the
block in a plane inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees to the sides
of the said block, the said, cutters having a reciprocating motion and
cutting a row of splints by their motion in either direction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Baker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th July 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
BAKER, of Bellefield, Birmingham Heath, in the Borough of Birming-
ham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors; give
and grant unto me, the said George Baker, Her special. licence that.
I, the said George Baker, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said George Baker, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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, excrcise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,.
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
CUTTING SPLINTS FOR MATCHES AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said. George Baker, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 George Baker, 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 thereof, that is to say :--
My Invention consists of the construction and arrangement herein-
after described of the parts of machinery for cutting splints for matches
and other purposes. By my improvements the splints. are cut more
rapidly and economically than by machinery of the ordinary construction..
In constructing a. machine according to my Invention I employ two.
cutters, each cutter. consisting of a series of parallel lancet. bladeş

page_text: situated at the required distances apart. The blades of one cutter are
situated by preference at right, angles to those of the other cutter, the
blades of the two cutters being inclined in an opposite direction at an
angle of forty-five degrees to a vertical plane. The block of wood
from which the splints are to be cut is fed diagonally against the said
cutters, the direction of motion of the said block being parallel to the
lancet blades of one cutter, and at right angles to the lancet blades of
the other cutter. The surface of the block from which the splints arc
cut is inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees, to the sides of the block.
By the motion of one cutter a series of parallel incisions is made in the
inclined face of the block, the said incisions being in planes parallel to
the sides of the block. By the motion of the other cutter a series of
incisions is made at right angles to the former, and as the depth of the
<incisions is somewhat greater than the thickness of the splints to be cut
the incisions made by the motion of the second cutter detach a series
of splints from the inclined face of the block. The block is fed forward
during the action of the machine by a feeder advanced at each half
revolution of the principal shaft of the machine to a distance equal to
the thickness of a row of splints. An alternating sliding motion is
given to the cutters by means of cranks and connecting rods worked
'from the principal shaft. Both cutters are fixed in the same carrying
frame, and their cutting edges terminate in the same plane, and they
-effect the cutting of a row of splints when moving in either direction.
The essence of my Invention consists in constructing and arranging
the parts of machinery for cutting splints for matches and other
purposes, so that'the block from 'which the splints are cut advances in a
direction parallel to the lancet blades of one cutter, and at right angles to
those of the other cutter, the said cutters having a reciprocating motion
and cutting a row of splints by their motion in either direction.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 représents in front elevation; Figure 2 in plan; and Figure 3
in cross section taken on the line 1, 1, Figure 2, a machine for cutting
splints constructed according to my Invention; Figure 4 is an end
elevation of the same drawn to a larger scale; Figure 5 is a part of the
machine detached. The same letters and figures of reference indicate
the same parts in each of the Figures of the Drawings.

page_text: .
a, b, are the two compound: cutters of the machine, one cutter being
placed in: advance of the other cutter as best seen in the plan Figure 2.
By an examination of Figure 4 it will be seen that each of the said
cutters a, b, consists of a series of parallel lancet blades, the blades of
one cutter being situated at right angles to those of the other cutter,
the blades of the two cutters being inclined in an opposite direction at
an angle of forty-five degrees to a vertical plane. It will also be seen
by reference to the said Figure 4 that the cutting or acting ends of the
of
two compound cutters a, b, terminate in the same plane, a series
rectangular spaces. being enclosed by the acting ends of the said cutters
where they cross. the said spaces corresponding to the row of splints to
be cut. The said cutters. a, b,, are secured in the blocks c, d, fixed in
the horizontal cutter frame or slide e,. the lancet blades constituting the
said cutters being placed side by side in slots in the blocks c, d, and
bound together by the wedges f, g, and the ends of the said slots. Tho
wedges f, g, are carried by screws h (see Figure 4) working in the
cutter frame or slide e.. The said screws h. are fixed by the lock nuts.&.
By first loosening the lock nuts i,, and. afterwards. turning the screws /
the wedges f, g, may be depressed in the slots in the blocks c, d, and
the lancet blades removed for grinding or otherwise. The cutter framo
or slide; e. works in a dovetail k in the bed 7 of the machine, and the
said frame or slide has a reciprocating motion given to it in the manner
herein-after described., mis the block of wood from which the-splints.
are to be cut. The said block m is situated in the inclined holder. n.
and has an intermittent motion given to it in the manner hercin-after
described for the purpose of bringing its end at the proper times within.
range of the cutters. a, b. The block of wood m is fed diagonally against.
the cutters: a, b, the direction of motion of the said block being parallel
to the blades of the cutter b, and at right angles to the blades of the
cutter a, as seen in Figure 4.. The end or surface of the block m from
which the splints are cut is inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees to.
the sides of the said block. The block m is advanced a distance equal
to the thickness of a row of splints at each half revolution of the driving
shaft p of the machine, that is, at the end of each advance stroke and
cach back stroke of the cutters. By the reciprocating motion of the
cutter frame or slide e the two compound cutters a, b, are carried
backwards and forwards. against the inclined projecting end of the
block m, and a series of splints is cut from the said block at each advance
•

page_text: stroke and at each back stroke of the said cutters, that is to say, as
the cutter 6 advances against the inclined end of the block m a series
of parallel incisions is made in the said block, the said incisions being
in planes parallel to the sides of the said block, and as the second cutter
a follows the cutter 6 another series of incisions is made in the block at
right angles to those made by the cutter b. As the depth of the
incisions made by the two cutters is somewhat greater than the thick-
ness of the splints to be cut, the incisions made by the motion of the
second cutter a detach a series of splints from the inclined face of the
block m.
When the cutters a, b, have finished their stroke the block m
is fed forward a distance equal to the thickness of a row of splints, and
by the back motion of the said cutters another row of splints is cut, and
so on, a row of splints being cut at each stroke of the said cutters.
:
I will now describe the mechanical arrangements by which motion is
given to the working parts of the machine. The reciprocating motion
of the carrying frame or slide e of the cutters a, b, is effected by the
crank plate q on the driving shaft p, a connecting rod. from the said
frame or slide e being jointed to the crank pin q² of the said plate q in
the manner represented in Figures 1 and 2.
•
The feeding of the block m is effected as follows:-The said block m
is held firmly in the holder n during the action of the cutters a, b, by
means of the weighted lever 8, 82 (see Figure 4), the short arm 82 of the
said lever bearing against one side of the said block and pressing the
opposite side against the holder n. At one side of the said holder n is a
´horizontal axis t turning in the upright or. frame u, u. This axis t
carries at each end a toothed wheel w and at the middle a ratchet
wheel of less diameter. The toothed wheels w, w, are pressed upon
the block m so as to cause them to bite and carry forward the said block
by means of two strong springs y, y. In Figure 2 the springs y, y, are
omitted. The said springs y, y, carry adjustable pins 2, 2, which bear
upon blocks 3 through which the axis t carrying the wheels w, w, x,
passes. These blocks 3 are capable of a sliding motion in the frame or
upright supporting them, the said blocks resting upon elastic or yielding
beds 4 (see Figure 4). An intermittent rotary motion is given to the
wheels wo, w, and the said wheels made to advance the block m at the
proper times by means of the pall 5 pushing forward the ratchet wheel x,
the return motion of the said ratchet wheel being prevented by the
:

page_text: second pall 6. The advance of the pall 5 is effected as follows:-7 is a
rocking shaft passing nearly from end to end of the machine and turning
in the bearings 8, 8, u. One end of the rocking shaft 7 carries a slotted
arm 10 to which the pall 5 is connected, and the other end of the said
shaft 7 carries a second slotted arm 11. To the slotted arm 11 a second
and parallel slotted arm 12 is connected by the pin 13 (see Figures 2
and 3). The slotted arm 12 is formed on a slide 14 having a rising and
falling motion. The slide 14 is shown separately in Figure 5. The
shaft 7 passes through an opening in the said slide. Guidé pins 15, 15,
on the slide work in the bearings 16 and 17, and a roller 18 on the said
slide works in the groove q³ of the box cam q³, fixed to the face of the
crank plate q. At opposite points of the groove q³ of the cam a risc q*
is made (see Figure 1). At each half rotation of the cam q³ one of its
rises q acts upon the roller 18 of the slide 14, and raises the said slide.
By the rising of the slide 14 together with its slotted arm 12 the latter.
raises the slotted arm 11 of the rocking shaft 7 and turns the said shaft
in its bearings. This motion of the rocking shaft is transmitted through
the arm 10 to the pall 5, and the said pall is made to advance the ratchet
wheel and cause the toothed wheels w to feed forward the block m
after each stroke of the cutters a, b. On the rise of the cam passing
the roller 18 the slide 14 falls and brings the rocking shaft 7 into its
original position.
:
Although I have found the arrangements of parts described for giving
motion to the cutters and for feeding the block to answer well, yet I do
not limit myself thereto as other mechanical equivalents may be em-
ployed for effecting the said motions.
Instead of securing the lancet blades of which the cutters are com-
posed in contact with each other as in the machine already described,
cach blade may be placed in advance of the next one and so separated
from one another that a single blade may be removed from the machine
without disturbing the others. This arrangement of my Invention is
represented in Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings; Figure 6 representing
a plan of the bed of the machine, and Figure 7 a cross section of the
same taken on the line 20, Figure 6; Figure 8 represents one of the
In this arrange-
lancet blades of the cutters drawn to a larger scale.
ment the blocks c, d, which are fixed to the slide or cutter frame e are
provided with a series of cross slots 21, in each of which a lancet

page_text: blade 22 is fixed, each blade being situated in advance. of the next..
Each blade 22 is separated from the next by a distance piece 23, and
each blade is fixed in its slot by the block and set screw 24. The
manner in which the lancet blades are fixed in the blocks will be readily
understood by an examination of Figure 7. The block c for the second
cutter is provided with slots similar to those in the block d. When it is
wished to remove any one of the blades 22 the screw. 24 of the said
blade is loosened when the said blade may be removed without disturbing
the other blades. When this arrangement of the blades is used the
machine is made much wider than that represented in Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4.
:.
Instead of making the compound cutters of a series of separate lancet:
blades as described and illustrated, each of the said cutters may be made
of a single plate or block from the end of which a series of blades is
made, or in which a series of separate blades is fixed. Although I
prefer to make the ends of the lancet blades terminate in a plane making
an angle of 45 degrees with the sides of the cutters, yet the said lancet
blades may be made to terminate in a plane at right angles to the sides
of the cutters, the face of the block from which the splints. are cut in
this case being at right angles to its sides.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated,
as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my
Invention, but I claim as my Invention of improvements in machinery.
for cutting splints. for matches, and other purposes,—.
Firstly. The combination or arrangement of two compound cutters
having a reciprocating motion, the said cutters being constructed and
operating substantially as hercin-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Advancing the block of wood from which the splints are to
be cut by the compound cutter's described in a direction parallel to the
blades of one cutter and at right angles to those of the other cutter,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.

page_text: Thirdly. The general arrangement or combination of parts of machinery
for cutting splints for matches and other purposes, herein-before described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Baker, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Ninth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
GEORGE BAKER. (L.S.)