CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR MACHINERY FOR CUTTING TIMBER INTO VENEERS OR OTHER USEFUL FORMS
Year: 1830

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CRAIG, of Ann Street, Saint Bernard's, in the Parish of Saint Cuthberts, in
the County of Mid Lothian, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twentieth day of October, in the first year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Craig, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Alexander Craig, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said Alexander Craig, 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 mentioned, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR MACHINERY
FOR CUTTING TIMBER INTO VENEERS OR OTHER USEFUL FORMS," communicated to
me by a certain Foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso that I, the said Alexander Craig, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said 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 Alexander Craig, do hereby declare that the nature of the Invention

page_text: communicated to mo by a certain Foreigner residing abroad, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described in and by
the following description thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
The Invention of improvements in machinery for cutting vencers, consists,―
First, in applying circular saws fixed on a moving carriage or frame to the
purpose of cutting vencers from the circumference of a revolving log of wood,
such carriage or frame having a reciprocating motion at the time the saws
fixed thereon have a rotary motion. And,
Secondly, in placing a small circular saw in a sliding framing for the purpose
of cutting veneers from the surface of a log of wood, the width or depth of
such log being greater than the length between the centro and the circum-
ference of such saw, this improvement being in giving to the saw a rotary
motion and a reciprocating action at the same time.
But in order that the Invention may be more fully known and carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, which
represent two arrangements of machinery for carrying the above improvements
into effect, and in these Drawings, Drawing marked No. 1 represents an arrange-
ment of machinery for carrying the first part of the Invention into effect,
Fig. 1 being a side view of the machinery, Figure 2 an end view thereof,
Figure 3 a plan, in each of which Figures the same letters of reference indicate
the similar parts, A, A, A, A, being four circular saws, the spindles or axes
having bearings B on each side of the carriage C, C, which carriage consists
of two parallel framings, having cross framings affixed at each end, and one in
the middle at right angles. This carriage is supported on bearings D, aflixed
to the framing of the machine. These bearings have grooved friction rollers.
To the under part of the carriage C on each side there is an angular bar
which enter into the grooved rollers on the supports D, by which means the
carriage may be forced backwards and forwards; but in consequence of the
grooves in the rollers, and the angular form of the under sides of the carriage,
the carriage is prevented from moving laterally. To the spindles or axes
of the circular saws A there are driving drums or pulleys E, E, E, E, and by
means of an endless strap F the circular saws are made to revolve, as will be
more fully described hereafter. G, G, are two drums or pulleys with axles,
having bearings affixed to the carriage C, C. These drums or pulleys G, G,
aro for the purpose of causing the endless strap F to give sufficient pressure to
the drums or pulleys affixed on the axes or spindles of the saws to turn them.
Il is a tightening pulley, by which the endless strap F is kept sufficiently tight

page_text: to drive the circular saws; the axis of this pulley has its bearings in a
moveable standard I, which standard is affixed to the framing of the machinery
by a moveable joint J, and is regulated by the regulating screw K, as is repre-
sented in the Drawing at Fig. 1. L, a pulley or drum, having its bearings
on standards affixed to the framing of the machinery. This pulley is for
pressing the endless band on to the pulleys affixed to the axes or spindles of
the circular saws. M is a large drum wheel which gives motion to the endless
band or strap F. The shaft or axis which carries this drum wheel M has its
bearings in upright standards affixed to the framing of the machinery; and on
this axis or shaft there is a smaller drum or rigger N, which, by means of the
driving strap O from the engine or moving power which gives motion to the
machinery. P is a pinion affixed on the shaft or axis which carries the drum
wheels M and N. This pinion gives motion to the toothed wheel Q, and the
axis which carries this toothed wheel has its bearings in the framing of tho
machinery, distinctly shewn in Fig. 3. On the axis which carries this toothed
wheel there is an endless screw R working into a toothed wheel S.
Through the toothed wheel S there is a shaft or rod T, which forms the axis
of the toothed wheel S, and which axis has its bearings représented in the
Drawing Figures 2 and 3. To the end of this shaft or rod T there is affixed a
cylindrical piece of metal U, which is roughed similar to a rasp throughout the
surface of its circumference; and it is by the revolution of this cylinder U,
that the log of wood is caused to turn on its axis, and which will be more fully
described hereafter. V, (Figure 3) is a weighted lever, which presses upon
the shaft T, and thus keeping the cylinder U in close contact with the log
of wood. W is a connecting rod affixed moveable joints at one end to
the saw carriage C, and at the other end to the toothed wheel Q, and by the
revolution of this wheel Q, the end of the connecting rod being fixed out of the
centers thereof, the carriage C will be caused to reciprocate, and thus cause tho
circular saws A to pass along the whole length of the log of wood. X is what
may be called the log carriage, and consists of the two end pieces X, X, of
metal, and the cross framings Y, Y, of wood, and strongly bolted together with
screw bolts, as represented in the Drawing. The log carriage X, Y, is sup-
ported by a railway Z at each end of the machine, which railways are
supported by upright posts or standards, having mortices cut therein to allow
of the railways to be raised or lowered, the railways being attached to the
upright posts by screws and nuts, and the upright posts are firmly fixed to
the framing of the machinery. a is the mandril passing through the end
framing X of the log carriage, having a conical collar 6 affixed to the end
framing X. This mandril-has a male screw at one end, which screws into the

page_text: log of wood, and to the other end is affixed a bevelled toothed wheel c. d is a
point which supports the opposite end of the log to that which receives the
screw of the mandril. This point is screwed through the bearing or collar c
affixed to the end framing X of the log carriage. f. f, aro bevelled toothed
wheels affixed to the ends of the screws 9, 9. These screws g, g, are affixed
(but allowed to turn) by bearings h, h, at each end. To the ends X, X, of
the log carringe i, i, are nuts affixed to the railways at each end of the
machine, through which the screws 9, 9, pass. k, k, are two bevelled wheels,
fixed to the ends of the shaft 7, which shaft passes through the two end
framings X of the log carriage; and the wheels k, k, take into the wheels f. f,
affixed on the screws g. 9. m, m, is a curved piece of sheet iron, extending
the whole length of the saw carriage C, C, and is affixed thereto by the
supports n, n. This curved piece of iron is for the purpose of guiding off the
veneer as it is cut, the upper part of this curved piece being just below the top
of the circular saws, as shewn in Figure 1.
Having now described the various parts represented in the Drawing marked
No. 1, I will now describe the manner of their action, in doing which I will
suppose that motion is communicated to the driving band or strap O by means
of a steam engine or other power. Such motion will, by means of the drum or
rigger N, give motion to the Inrge drum wheel M, which will drive the endless
strap or band F, which will drive the circular saws A, in consequence of the
band or strap F being tightly pressed on to the drums affixed to the spindleš
or axes of the saws, as will be evident by tracing the red line which represents
the endless band or strap F, at the same time the turning of the drum
wheel M the pinion P will cause the toothed wheel Q to turn; and by
means of the connecting rod W (affixed out of the centre thereof) the car-
riage C, C, will be drawn backwards and forwards, and thus cause the saws
to traverse along the log of wood, whilst, by means of the endless band or
strap F, the saws will be making a quick rotatory motion, cach in the samo
direction, and thus will the veneer be constantly cutting from the circum-
ference of the revolving log of wood. The revolving of the toothed wheel Q
will cause the endless screw R to turn, which, taking into tho wheel S, will
turn it, and with. it the shaft or rod T and the roughed cylinder U, which,
being kept in close contact with the log of wood by the weighted lever V, will,
by the rough surface of the cylinder U, lay hold of the wood, and cause it to
turn on its axis; and the motion given thereto will cause the mandril a to
turn, and with it the bevelled wheel c, which, by taking into the bevelled
wheel, will cause the scrow g to turn, which by the other bevelled wheels
f, h, k, f, and the shaft 7, will cause the other screw 9 to turn; and theso

page_text: screws being secured to the log carriage, and passing through the nutts i, i,
affixed to the railways, the log carriage C, C, will be continually advancing
towards the saws as the log decreases in size, and the thickness of the veneer
will depend on the relative rate at which the log carriage approaches the
circular saws; and care must be taken that the veneer should always be cut
sufficiently thin to allow of its being conducted off from the log as it is cut by
the saws, which conducting off is performed by the curved piece of iron m, m,
as above described. The Drawing represents the machinery as constructed to
saw a log eight feet long, but it will be evident that machinery may be con
structed capable of sawing a log of much larger or smaller dimensions, and it
will be evident that a larger or a smaller number of saws may be used without
departing from the nature of the Invention. Note, the log of wood is to be
raised into its position by means of the windless above the mandril a, which
consists of the long cylinder or roll o, having bearings p, p, on the upright
ends X, X, of the log carriage. 9, 9, are handles to turn the cylinder o; and
when it is desired to raise a log of wood to be supported by the mandrill and
point a, d, such log is to have bands or cords passed under it, and then
around the cylinder of the windlass, when, by turning with the handles q, q,
the log will be raised into position for the screw of the mandril to enter at one
end, and the point d at the other.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of the Invention, which is
represented in Drawing marked No. 2, Figure 1 being and end view, and
Figure 2 a side view, of the machinery, in each of which Figures' the same
letters of reference indicate similar parts, A, A, being strong framing of wood
which supports the machinery. B is a small circular saw, its spindle or axis
C being fixed to one side of the saw, leaving a clear surface on the other side
of the saw which comes in contact with the log of wood. The spindle or axis
C is supported in bearings affixed to the moving frame, which frame consists
of the upright part D, and the two cross heads E. At each end of these cross
heads there is a groove formed to fit the projecting pieces F affixed to the
upright parts of the framing A. G is a drum wheel or rigger, which receives
motion from a steam engine or other power by means of the strap H. The
shaft which carries the drum G also carries a larger drum whcel I, and a
pinion J, shown by dotted lines in Figure 2. The large drum wheel I gives.
motion to the endless band or strap K, which endless band or strap K passes
from the drum wheel I downwards to the tightening pulley or drum L, tho
bearings of which are affixed the moveable arms M, which is affixed by a
moveable joint to the fixed framing A. From the pulley L the strap passes
partly around the pulley or drum N affixed to the spindle or axle which
K

page_text: carries the saw thence under the drum or pulley O, which has its bearings in the
framing which carries the saw, by which means the endless band or strap K is
mado at all times to press sufficiently on the drum N to drive the saw. From
the drum O the strap or band K passes to the drum wheel I; whereby the saw
will constantly make a quick rotatory motion in whatever position the moving
framing D, E, E, may be in. The revolution of the axis which carries the drum
wheels G and I will cause the pinion J to turn, which will give motion to the
toothed wheel P, and the connecting rod Q, which is connected out of the center
of the wheel P by a moveable joint, and also to the moving frame D, E, E,
by another moveable joint, and by the revolution of the wheel P the moving
frame which carries the circular saw will be caused to rise and fall the whole
depth of the log of wood intended to be cut, the length of this sliding
motion being adjustable by means of a gap or mortico cut in that part of the
spoke of the wheel P where the connecting rod Q is attached by means of a
screw and nut, as shown in the Figures. To the end of the shaft or axle
which carries the wheel P there is a small drum or pulley R affixed, from
which descends an endless band S to the pulley or drum T, and on the
same axle there is a pinion U, which takes into and drives the toothed
wheel V, which toothed wheel has its axis in bearings affixed to the frame-
work A, as shown in the Drawing. To the front of this axle there is a
small pulley or drum W affixed, which drives the endless strap or band
X, which passes round a larger pulley or drum Y, affixed on the same
axle which carries the pulley or drum T, and it is by this strap or band X,
and the pulleys W and Y, that the slow furrowed motion is given to the
carriage which bears the log of wood, and by means of the pulleys R
and T, and the endless band S, which passes round them, the backward
or return motion is given to the log carriage, as will be more fully described
hereafter. The carriage which bears the timber or log to be cut consists
of a rectangular open framing of wood a, supported on a railway b, b.
c. c, are two pieces of planking affixed at right angles, as shown in the
Drawing at Figure 1, and are for the purpose of pressing up the log to the
saw. d, Figure 1, is a pinion aflixed on the spindle or axle which carries the
drums or pulleys T and Y. This pinion takes into a rack e placed under the
whole length of the log carriages a, so that by the revolution of the drums or
pulleys T and Y the carriage will be caused to pass along the railway b, b, and
back again. ff. Figuro 1, is a descending nut affixed to the under part of
c, c, and slides in a groove cut in the framing of the carriage a, one at each
end of the carriage. 9, 9, are two pulleys of equal size, having an endless
strap or bandh passing around them. The axes i, i, which carry the two

page_text: pullies g, g, are screws which pass through the grooves cut in the end
framings a, a, of the timber carriage, having their bearings in each end of
such end framings; and it is by means of these screws i, i, passing through
the descending nuts f, which have female screws cut within them, that the
timber is forced up to the saw. j is a tightening pulley affixed on the end of
the lever k, which lever has its fulcrum at l..
Having now described the various parts which are represented in the Draw-
ing marked No. 2, I will describe their action, in doing which I will suppose
that motion is communicated to the drum or rigger G, which will give motion
to the large drum wheel I, which, by the endless band or strap K, will give
motion to the circular saw B; at the same time the pinion J will give motion
to the toothed wheel P, which, by the connecting rod Q, will cause the saw
frame D, E, E, to slide up and down along the projecting pieces F, during
which time the endless band or strap K will be kept sufficiently tight by the
pulley L, whereby the circular saw will at all times receive a reciprocating
together with a rotatory motion, and the log of wood being continually brought
up to the saw in the manner hereafter described, a veneer may be cut, how-
ever deep the log, so long as a sufficiently extensive reciprocating action bo
given to the saw to enable it to pass from one side to the other.
The veneer
is conducted or turned off from the spindle or axle of the saw by the bent
piece of iron Z, which is connected to the two cross heads E, E. This bent
piece of iron Z is bent off from the saw, the edge of it coming nearly up to the
edge of the saw, so that when the saw has made its cut into the log the
veneer coming in contact with the curved surface of the bent iron Z is turned
out of the way of the saw, so that the log may be continually approaching the
saw without being impeded by the veneer which is cut, and at the same time
the saw is enabled to pass freely up and down from the upper side to the
under side of the log. By turning of the toothed wheel P, the pinion U
affixed to its axis causes the toothed wheel V to turn, and with it the pulley or
drum W affixed to its axis, which puts in motion the endless band X and the
pulley Y which turns the pinion d, which taking into the rack e affixed under
the log carriage a, causes the carriage a to advance along the rail b, b, and so
soon as the saw B has cut through the whole length of log the pulleyj is to be
withdrawn from the endless band X, and presses against the band or strap S,
which descends from the pulley R to the pulley T, by which means the strap X
will become too loose to cause the drum or pulley Y to turn whilst the pressure
caused by the pulleyj against the endless band S on the pulleys R, T, will cause
the pulley T to turn the pinion d in an opposite direction to that which it was
turned by the pulley Y, and this will bring back the log carriage a, when by
turning either of the drum wheels g, they being connected by the strap h, the

page_text: two screws i, i, will turn also, and by the sliding of the nuts f, the part c, c, will be
forced forward equally at each end, which will force up the log to a position to
be again cut by the saw, when the lever k is again to be brought in the position
shown in the Drawing, which will tighten the endless strap X, and again give
motion to the carriage a. In the Drawing there is no log of wood shewn, but
it is evident that it is to be laid from end to end of the carriage a, and in front
of the upright part c, and if necessary, secured thereto in the usual manner. By
'this second part of the Invention greater thicknesses may be cut than what
are termed veneers, depending on the elasticity of the wood, and the extent
to which it may be bent out of the way of the axle of the saw.
Having now described the nature and manner of carrying the Invention of
the improvements communicated to me into effect, I would have it understood.
that although I have here described various parts which are separately well
known and in use, yet 1 lay no claim to the same separately; neither do I con-
fine myself to the precise arrangement herein shown, as that may, in some
degree, be varied, without departing from the essential properties of tho im-
provements herein described and set forth, which consist,-
First, in applying circular saws having a rotary and a reciprocating motion to
'the purpose of cutting veneers off the circumference of a revolving log of wood.
Secondly, in placing a small circular saw in a sliding framing, whereby n
rotatory motion and a reciprocating action are given to such saw at the same
time, and thereby being enabled, in consequence of the saw moving from side
to side of the log, to cut veneers off the surface of a log of wood, in size ac-
cording to the length of motion given to the sliding or moving frame D, E, E,
in the manner above described.
In witness whereof, I, the sail Alexander Craig, havo hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-one.
Taken and acknowledged by Alexander
Craig (party hereto), the Eleventh
day of April 1881, at Edinburgh,
before me, one of tho Justices of
the Peace for the County of Mid
Lothian..
ALEX (L.8.) CRAIG.
ALEX. YOUNG, J.P.

page_text: Thomas Graham, of Serjeant's Inn, Solicitor-at-Law, maketh Oath, that he
is acquainted with the handwriting of Alexander Young, of Harburn, Esquire,
a Justice of the Peace for the County of Mid Lothian, in Scotland; and
this Deponent further saith, that the signature to the acknowledgment of
Alexander Craigh (of his Specification, is in the handwriting of the said
Alexander Young, who was at the date of signing such acknowledgment a
Justice of the Peace in Scotland.
Inrolled the Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-one.