IMPROVE- MENTS IN SAWING MACHINERY, APPLICABLE ESPECIALLY FOR SAWING DEALS INTO BOARDS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Groves, junior, of Springfield Mount, Overhill
Road, Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SAWING MACHINERY, APPLICABLE ESPECIALLY FOR SAWING DEALS
INTO BOARDS."
Sealed the 1st Augnst 1876, and dated the 3rd February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Groves at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1876.
JOHN GROVES, junior, of Springfield Mount, Overhill Road, Dulwich, in
the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAWING MACHINERY, APPLICABLE
ESPECIALLY FOR SAWING DEALS INTO BOARDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in sawing machinery, applicable
especially for sawing deals into boards.
Upon the bed of the machine an axis is mounted horizontally in suitable
bearings. The axis is cranked in the centre, and has upon it a belt pulley, by
means of which it can be driven at a rapid speed.
The crank gives motion to a connecting rod, which passes up through a hollow
slide, and is jointed to the slide at its upper end.
From either side of the slide at the top and bottom bars project, and the saws
are strained parallel, the one to the other, between these bars. The number of the
saws and the distances between them can be varied to suit the work. In front of
the saws are tables on which the deals to be cut stand on edge, and they are
gradually fed forward up to the saws by means of rollers. The rollers are mounted
upon vertical spindles. They are arranged three in a row, and there are four
parallel rows.
Between the two deals which are simultaneously operated upon there are two
rows of spindles, and the rollers upon the spindles in one row are in contact with
those in the other row. The spindles are geared together by means of toothed
pinions, and they are driven by means of a worin wheel on one of the spindles
gearing with a worm upon a horizontal transverse axis, the speed of rotation of
which can be adjusted at pleasure.
The deals are pressed firmly against the outer sides of these rollers by means of
the rollers of the other sets. These are mounted in frames capable of sliding in
guides upon the tables. Each frame carries a set of three spindles and rollers.
Price 11

page_text: The spindles are geared together, and a worm wheel on one of them gears with a
worm on the horizontal transverse shaft already referred to. These frames with
their rollers can be moved forward and drawn back by means of hand wheels and
screws which are connected through springs with the frames carrying the rollers,
so that when the machine is at work the moveable sets of rollers hold the deals
firmly in contact with the outer sides of the rollers of the two sets which are fixed
at the centre of the machine.
The horizontal transverse axis is driven by means of a belt passing around a
belt pulley at its end, and also around a small pulley formed at the end of a cone.
The cone also receives a driving belt passing over a similar cone upon the crank
shaft of the machine. By shifting the belt along the cones the speed at which the
deals are fed forward up to the saws is varied.
In order that the rollers against which the deals rest on the inner side may not
become unequally worn by cutting stuff of various widths I prefer to make them
each in two lengths, and the upper length is moveable, and can be adjusted up or
down upon the spindle, according to the width of the stuff to be cut.
precaution is necessary only in the case of the rollers, which, in fact, form the
fence controlling the truth of the work.
This
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Groves in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August 1876.
JOHN GROVES, junior, of Springfield Mount, Overhill Road, Dulwich, in
the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAWING MACHINERY, APPLICABLE
ESPECIALLY FOR SAWING DEALS INTO BOARDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in sawing machinery, applicable
especially for sawing deals into boards.
Upon the bed of the machine an axis is mounted horizontally in suitable
bearings. The axis is cranked in the centre, and has upon it a belt pulley, by
means of which it can be driven at a rapid speed.
The crank gives motion to a connecting rod which passes up through a hollow
slide, and is jointed to the slide at its upper end.
From either side of the slide, at the top and bottom, bars project, and the saws
are strained parallel, the one to the other, between these bars. The number of the
saws and the distances between them can be varied to suit the work. In front of
the saws are tables on which the deals to be cut stand on edge, and they are
gradually fed forward up to the saws by means of rollers. The rollers are mounted
upon vertical spindles. They are arranged three in a row, and there are four
parallel rows.
Between the two deals which are simultaneously operated upon there are two
rows of spindles, and the rollers upon the spindles in one row are in contact with
those in the other row. The spindles are geared together by means of toothed
pinions, and they are driven by means of a worm wheel on one of the spindles
gearing with a worm upon a horizontal transverso axis, the speed of rotation of
which can be adjusted at pleasure.
The deals are pressed firmly against the outer sides of these rollers by means of
the rollers of the other sets. These are mounted in frames capable of sliding in
guides upon the tables. Each frame carries a set of three spindles and rollers.
The spindles are geared together, and a worm wheel on one of them gears with a
worm on the horizontal transverse shaft already referred to. These frames, with
their rollers, can be moved forward and drawn back by means of hand wheels and
screws, which are connected through springs with the frames carrying the rollers,
so that when the machine is at work the moveable sets of rollers hold the deals
firmly in contact with the outer sides of the rollers of the two sets which are fixed
at the centre of the machine.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figures 2 and 3 are end elevations, and Figure 4 is a
plan of a sawing machine constructed according to my Invention.
A is the bed or foundation plate, and B is the main framing; C is a cranked
axle, giving motion to a connecting rod D. This rod passes up through a trunk T
and lays hold of a pin at its upper end. The trunk T is able to inove vertically in
guides formed for it on the frame between the side plates O. R, R, are guides
bolted on at the top and bottom of the trunk. On either side dovetail recesses are
formed, into which are set the bars or arms T, T The saws are strained
between these arms, as is herein-after more fully described. N, N, W, W, are the
rollers by which the deals are carried forward to the saws. The rollers of each set
N are all geared together by pinions K, of which there are five in each row, and
the rollers W, W, are also geared together by means of pinions, so that the whole of
these rollers revolve simultaneously, and in a direction to carry the deals forward.
L, L, are worm wheels. There is such a wheel on the axis of one of the rollers in
cach set N, and a third on one of the rollers W. I is an axis carried in brackets J;
it has three worms formed upon it which gear with and drive the worm wheels L
The axis I receives motion by means of a driving belt passed around the belt
pulleys F and E, the latter of which is fast to the set of pulleys E', one or other of
which (according to the speed which is required) takes a driving beit, passing to it
from one or other of the pulleys in the set E upon the crank shaft C The belt
which encircles the pulleys E and F is kept tight by the pulley U carried by the
weighted lever U, and by raising this lever at any time the feed can be eased or
stopped. The rollers N, N, are mounted in frames or carriages N', which can slide
in guides to and from the middle or fence rollers W. M is a spring arm fixed to
the frame or carriage N'; its outer end is controlled by the screw and hand wheel
H, by means of which the rollers may be set to any distance apart, but neverthe-
less, in consequence of the elasticity of the spring M the rollers N are able to yield
somewhat to suit the varying thickness of the timber. M¹, M', are rollers for
steadying the timber after it passes the rollers N and W. They are carried at the
ends of the springs M, which are fixed to the frames or carriages N¹. S, S, are
rollers mounted on weighted levers St, S', to steady the boards after passing the
saws, and Z, Z, are other rollers on which the boards rest. The rollers Ware each
made in two parts, and the upper part is able to slide on the spindle of the roller,
which is square in section. The upper moveable portions of the rollers in each
row are contained between the top and bottom plates of the box frames WI, WI,
from which project upwards through the cap of the frame the bolts W², w², which
are connected at the top by the crosshead P. PI is a screw passing through the
head P; it is carried at its lower end in a fixed bearing, so that by turning the
screw by means of a suitable key, shown at Figures 5, the upper parts of the
fence rollers can be raised or lowered to adjust them to the width of the timber
and to prevent them from becoming unequally worn. Q, Q, are fast and loose

page_text: pulleys on the crank shaft, by means of which it is driven, and G, G, are plummer
blocks.
I will now proceed to describe more fully the method in which I strain the saws
upon the bars or arms T¹, T'. When the saws are not required very close together
I have recourse to the arrangement shown at Figures 6, 7, and 8, but where the
boards to be cut are thinner, and there is consequently less space between the saws,
I mount the saws in the manner shown in Figures 9 and 10.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of a portion of the saw; it is shown full size.
Figure 7 is an edge view, and Figure 8 is a plan of the same.
The upper part of the saw plate V has a notch or opening V1 cut in it, and the
two ends so formed are rivetted to the two sides of the plate V. On this plate a
boss is formed, through which the screw V³ passes. The bar or arm T¹ is received
into the opening V₁, and on the top of it a bar Y, shown at Figures 11, is placed.
It has holes bored in it to accommodate the points of the screws V³.
All the saws
which are required are placed on the bars or arms T', and then packing pieces of
wood are inserted between them. These packing pieces are of the same thickness
as the boards it is intended to cut, and they pass through slots or openings T³
formed in the arms T¹ to receive them. When all the saws are in their places the
pieces T are placed on studs provided at the ends of the arms T¹, and they are
secured by a pin passed through. Tare screws working in holes in the pieces T³;
by means of them the saws and the packing pieces are pressed and held firmly
together. The arrangement at the lower end of the saw is somewhat different
from that at the top. A slot V+ is cut through the saw blade to receive the arm T',
and at the bottom of this slot, to give a wider bearing surface, the thickening piece
V5, shown at Figures 12, is made to embrace the saw plate in the manner shown.
The filling pieces are inserted at the lower end and the saws are held together in
the same way as at the top.
Figure 9 shows in side view the arrangement which I adopt when the saws are
required to be closer together. Figure 10 is an edge view. The saw blade is
divided at the upper end, as before, to receive the arm T, and two straps V are
rivetted to it. At the top they pass over the bar V7, which is shown also at
Figures 13, and to which also the straps are rivetted. The bar Y'shown at Figures
14 is placed upon the top of the arm T, and the filling pieces having been inserted
and the saws held together in the manner already explained, the keys Vs are driven
in. The arrangement at the lower end of the saw is the same as in the former case.
X is a hollow bar, which is made use of when the work is heavy. This bar is
shown at Figures 15. It is placed on the same studs as the pieces T3, and in lieu
of them, so as to relieve the bars or arms. T¹ of the strain of the saws. The bar is
pinned on to the studs, and the screws T+ are passed through them.
The saws, it will be observed, are toothed on both edges, so that when one is
worn it may be turned without the trouble of shifting the buckle of the saw.
The crank is fitted with plummer blocks, which fall away from the foundation plate
when it is necessary to repair the bottom brass, thus saving the removal of the
crank. The loose pulley Qis fixed on a short separate shaft, thus it remains at
rest whilst the frame is at work, saving much wear, noise, and annoyance. This
loose pulley is made one inch less in diameter than the tight pulley or rigger, so
that when the strap is running on it it is released from the strain necessary to drive
the machine. The tight rigger is bevilled off on the edge next the loose pulley.
This allows the strap to mount on to the tight pulley.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,
First. The general arrangement of the machine, substantially as described.
Second. The arrangement of the connecting rod D passing up through the
hollow trunk T which carries the saws V, substantially as described.
Third. The arrangement of the two rows of fence rollers W which revolve in
contact the one with the other so as to give mutual support, and which are
suitably driven to carry the timber forward, substantially as described.

page_text: Fourth. The method of constructing the fence rollers W, with the upper parts
moveable, so that they may be adjusted to the width of the timber, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Groves, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOHN GROVES, JUNIOR. (L.S.)