IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OB SHAPING WOOD, PARTS OF WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPINNING MACHINERY
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Schofield Whitworth, of Salford, in the
County of Lancaster, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OB SHAPING WOOD, PARTS OF
WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPINNING
MACHINERY."
Sealed the 2nd January 1855, and dated the 8th July 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Schofield Whit-
worth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th July 1854.
I, the said THOMAS SCHOFIELD WHITWORTH, of Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SHAPING WOOD,
PARTS OF WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPINNING
MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
My improvements relate, firstly, to an arrangement for cutting wood by
means of a circular saw. The saw, mounted upon a spindle, is carried by a
plate, so adapted as to be capable of sliding in a transverse direction, and of
being retained in any required position. The timber to be cut is clamped
upon a sliding frame, which alternately advances towards the saw and recedes
therefrom, so that by moving the plate which carries the saw across the frame,

page_text: successive cuts may be effected at any desired distances apart. In order to
effect the transverse motion of the saw, I cause the travelling of the sliding
frame to operate at the end of the cuts upon a rack and pinion, a screw and
nut, or other suitable apparatus, connected to the saw frame. Or, I adapt a
scale upon a fixed part, or upon the moveable saw frame, and communicate
motion to the latter by hand. I propose actuating the machine by an arrange-
ment of three pullies, that in the centre being loose upon its shaft, and those
on each side thereof causing the sliding frame to move in the two directions by
separate sets of gearing. The saw I drive by connecting it to the shaft of the
said pullies. I also propose causing a circular saw to operate upon the material
as it travels in both directions, that is to say, I effect a cut according to the
usual method, and then, during the return of the timber, cause the saw to
operate upon another portion. In this case the second cut will be effected by
the upward motion of the saw. I-therefore-prevent the timber from being
forced upward by pressure rollers or other suitable apparatus.
Secondly, my Invention relates to a morticing machine, the peculiarity of
which consists in mounting a series of sets of cutters upon a sliding frame, tho
advance of which causes two of the said cutters to operate, one at each end of
every intended mortice, whereby a number of holes are cut out at the same
time, to facilitate which I previously bore holes in the wood, of a diameter
about equal to the breadth of the mortices.
Thirdly, to an arrangement of apparatus for cutting tenons, and consists in
the employment of a rotatory cutter or series of cutters operating upon a
number of pieces of wood situate against each other. The material I place
between two plates, and confine it there by means of a screw, which is then
used for causing the wood to be brought within range of the revolving cutters;
when it is desired to form tenons at both ends of the pieces, I adapt a double
set of cutters; the cutters I mount in a frame capable of being set in as they
become worn away.
Fourthly, to a machine for cutting out rectangular recesses on the face of
boards for the reception of metallic or other pieces; to illustrate which, I will
suppose it desired to form cavities for the adaptation of the spindle "bolsters"
of a mule spinning machine. I first of all bore holes at the correct distances
apart for the reception of the round parts of the said "bolsters," which holes
constitute the medium by which a correct feed is secured to the machine; this
is done by causing a pin to enter one of the holes and then advance, carrying
the board forward, after which it leaves the hole and moves back to enter
another and operate in a similar manner; as the holes are brought forward they
arrive under a cutter or cutters, which, by then descending, effect a cutting of

page_text: the rectangular outline, after which a separate cutter advances from the front
and chisels out the required portion of wood.
Fifthly, to a method of boring wood, particularly applicable in forming the
holes of "mule" carriages used for the reception of the spindle bushes and
steps.
My improvement consists in causing the two portions of timber, in which
coincident holes are required, to be operated upon at the same time by the
boring tools, and to be regulated in their traversing motion by a notched bar
or dividing plate, by which arrangement considerable time is saved, and the
holes in the two rails are formed at equal distances apart.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Schofield Whitworth in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th January 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SCHOFIELD WHITWORTH, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Schofield Whitworth, Her especial licence that I, the said Thomas
Schofield Whitworth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Schofield Whitworth, my executors, administrators, 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SHAPING WOOD,
PART OF WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPINNING
MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Schofield Whitworth, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 Oflice within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Schofield Whitworth, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My Invention relates, firstly, to an arrangement for cutting wood by means
of a circular saw.
Secondly, to a machine for cutting mortices, applicable particularly to the
construction of spinning mule carriages or other machines, in which a number
of mortices are to be cut in certain relative positions to each other.
Thirdly, to an arrangement of apparatus for cutting "tenons," by a series of
rotating cutters operating upon a number of pieces of wood situate one upon
another.
And, fourthly, to a machine for cutting out rectangular recesses in wood,
applicable particularly to the formation of cavities for the reception of spindle
bolsters of spinning machines, or to other machines in which rectangular pieces
of netal are to be applied to wood.
My first improvement is shown in Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings;
Fig. 1 being a plan view; Fig. 2, a front view; and Fig. 3, a transverse
section. Upon the upper part of the framework a is mounted a plate extend-
ing the whole length of the bench, and provided with a shaped recess b; in this
are placed any desired number of blocks c, furnished with upright V pieces
d, to which are adapted clamps e, capable of being moved up or down by means
of winch handles f, the axes of which are screws working in nuts attached to
the clamps e; by this arrangement, therefore, a series of vices are formed, by
which the wood to be cut may be held; these vices sliding in the groove
may be affixed at any required distances apart to a bar "g, within which a 1
groove is formed, for the reception of bolts h, which pass through the blocks c.
Upon the under side of the bar g is formed a rack i, within the teeth of which
is a pinion j, mounted upon a shaft k, deriving rotary motion from a pulley 7,
through the intervention of a wheel and pinion m, n, and by this arrangement
the bar g and wood to be cut are caused to move in the direction of the arrow,
Fig. 1, during the operation of cutting. The pulley 7 is mounted loosely upon
its shaft, which also carries two other loose pullies o. p; the former of these is
not connected with any of the gearing, and therefore serves the ordinary
purpose of a loose pulley when the machine is in action. The boss of the latter
is furnished with a pinion q, which, through the medium of an intermediate r
gives motion to a pinion s upon the shaft k; the driving strap, therefore, when
on the pulley p, will communicate a travelling motion to the rack i in a
reversed direction to that above described, and which it receives through the

page_text: medium of the pulley and wheel and pinion q, r, s, these two motions of the
shaft k being unobstructed by means of both driving pullies running loosely
upon their shaft. Beneath the bench is a bar t, moving in guides, and pro-
vided with a fork u; to this bar is jointed a link v, the other end being
connected to a bell crank lever w, turning upon a fixed centre at x, by which
means the said bar may be made to slide so as to shift the strap on to either of
the pullies; when in the position shewn in Fig. 1, it is prevented from moving
therefrom by means of a catch y taking into a notch. To the bart are affixed
two projecting pins situate one on either side of a lever weighted at its upper
end, and by the falling over of which the bar t, when the catch y is removed,
may be made to shift the driving strap. A link ], one end of which is
attached to the bar t, is connected at its other end to a lever 2, in which a
slot 3 is formed (see Fig. 1); within this slot is a pin 4, projecting downwards
from a double lever 5, 5*, turning upon a fixed centre 6; this lever being
moved upon its centre will bring the pin 4 against the one or the other side of
the slot 3, and will thereby impart a sliding motion to the bar t. To the rack
bar ġ are affixed two adjustable studs 7, 7*, one being in a plane correspond-
ing to the end of the lever 5, but moving clear of 5*, and the other being in
a plane with the lever 5*, but moving clear of 5. The circular saw 8 is carried
by a frame 9, which is capable of sliding across the bench in guides; to this
frame is attached a rack 10, in gear with which is a pinion 11, mounted upon
a shaft, which may be turned by means of a pulley handle 12 and bevil
pinions 13, whereby the saw may be made to effect successive cuts at any
desired distances apart, in order to determine which I adapt a scale 14, affixed
to the bench. To the stationary frame is jointed a lever 15 (see the detached
view, Fig. 4,) provided with a series of notches corresponding to the distances
apart of the intended cuts, in one of which notches a pin 16, extending from
the sliding frame 9, is situate. During the operation of sawing, this pin is
liberated to allow the saw to be moved transversely by turning the handle 17,
and thereby raising the lever upon its centre. The saw is driven by a strap
and pulley 18. The operation of the machine will be as follows:-The wood A
to be cut is placed within the vices, and secured therein by turning the
winches f; the catch is then removed, and the driving strap passed on to
the pulley 1, by which means a slow travelling motion will be imparted to the
rack i and material under operation. The motion of the bar t in putting on
the strap will have brought the double lever 5, 5*, into the position shewn by
red lines, and upon the cut being completed, a stud 7, affixed to the bar g, will
arrive in contact with the part 5, and by causing it to turn upon its centre,
will force the pin 4 against its slot, thereby communicating a sliding motion to
y

page_text: the bar t, which will move the lever Z beyond the vertical line, when its
weighted end falling over will complete the sliding of the bar t, so as to shift
the strap across the centre pulley on to that shewn at p. By this change
motion will be communicated to the rack i through the gearing g, r, s, the
effect of which will be a return motion and at an accellerated speed. The
timber under operation having passed clear of the saw, a second adjustable
stud 7 will arrive in contact with the part 5* of the lever, and move it and
the driving strap back into the first-mentioned position, and another cut will
be effected, the sliding frame 9 and saw 8 having in the meantime been moved
nward by the handle 12. At any desired time the strap may be moved on to
the pulley o, and the motion of the machine arrested, by placing the catch y
upon the bar, so that it will fall into its notch, when the lever 5, 5*, or the
hand lever w is turned, and thus prevent the carrying onward of the bar by
the weighted lever .
I have hitherto described the saw as cutting but one
way, but I also cause it to operate during the return motion of the timber.
When this is desired, I apply a roller 20, mounted upon arms 21, which turn
upon a centre so as to allow the said roller to press the wood downward by its
weight; the amount of resistance to the upward action of the saw will be
varied according to circumstances, by increasing the weight, cr the same effect
may be gained by the application of springs. I have mentioned above that
the return motion of the timber is quicker than its forward motion, but if the
machine be arranged for cutting during the return, the teeth of the wheels,
by which motion is imparted, should be so regulated in number as to effect an
uniform rates of travelling.
Under this head of my Invention I claim, firstly, mounting the saw in a
framo capable of being moved transversely; secondly, the use of the threo
pullies p, o, l, for traversing the material, and for removing the driving power
from the machine.
The machine for cutting mortices is shewn in Sheet 2 of the accom-
panying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Figs. 2 and 3, cross
sections, taken at the two ends of the machine; and Fig. 4, a horizontal
view, partly in section. The arrangement shewn is adapted for cutting
out mortices in the manufacture of spinning mule carriages, such mortices
being required in two sets at different parts of the wood. To accomplish
this, I employ two corresponding sets of boring instruments a and b, and
similar arrangements of cutting chisels c and d; by one of the former (a, for
instance,) the required number of holes is drilled, and the wood is subsequently
moved on, so that the holes shall come under the cutters c, there to be pierced
for the rectangular openings, during which piercing another set of holes is

page_text: formed by the boring tools; if, therefore, the boring and cutting tools be fixed
at situations corresponding to the required distance apart of the intended
mortices, it is evident that the wood will always be operated upon at the correct
points, the boring tools a, b, and cutters c, d, constituting registering points for
each other. The morticing tools c, d, are each formed by two chisels of the
ordinary shape, placed face to face, as shewn in the Drawing; they are placed
within slots formed in brackets e, projecting from plates f, g, which move
in guides h, i, and are kept together by means of screws j; their vertical
adjustment is regulated by screws k, in which position they are retained by
other screws 6; there are two sets of these cutters c, d, being in like manner
mounted upon sliding plates f*, 9*, and in such manner as to occupy positions-
exactly beneath those of the upper set. To the back of the plate g is con-
nected a link m, jointed to one end of a lever », turning loosely upon a shaft
o, and provided with a counterpoise weight p. The lever n is connected by
means of an adjustable link q to a second lever r, one end of which is jointed
to the plate g of the lower set of cutting tools d*, and the other end carries
a roller, situate within the groove of a cam s, mounted upon a shaft t; as,
therefore, this cam is caused to revolve, the lower set of chisels may be
caused to rise and fall, communicating the like movements to the upper set d,
through the intervention of the link q. To the lever n is jointed a link u,
connected to a short lever v, affixed to a shaft w, the other end of which carries
past a lever, connected by means of a link a to a lever y, mounted loosely upon
the shaft o, before referred to; the lever y is connected to the sliding frame
of the set of boring tools a, by which arrangement it will follow, that upon the
chisels & descending, the boring tools a will also move downward. Upon the
shaft t is a second grooved cam ], operating upon a lever 2, connected in like
manner to that shewn at r, to the sliding plate f* of the set of chisels c*, and
also communicating motion to the corresponding upper set e, by means of links,
as already described in reference to the set d. In this case, however, the upper
lever (corresponding to that shewn at n,) is mounted fast upon the shaft o;
whenever, therefore, the cam 2 is in operation, the shaft o will be caused to
turn upon its centre, and in so doing will communicate motion to a lever 3,
affixed to it, and jointed at its end to the sliding plate 4, of the set of boring
tools b. By this arrangement, it will be perceived that the cam ] will cause a
simultaneous action of the boring tools b and chisels c, and that the cam s will
have, the like effect in reference to the boring tools a and chisels d. In order,
however, that these operations may take place, it is necessary to provide means
for giving rotatory motion to the cams s, 1, alternately; this is effected as

page_text: follows: The cams are loose upon the shaft t, their bosses being mounted in
the stationary framework, so as to be capable of revolving therein, and of being
confined in a lateral position. Upon the shaft t is fixed a spur wheel 5, driven
by a pinion 6, mounted upon the main driving shaft 7. The boss of the wheel
5 is provided with clutches 8, 8, capable of taking into clutches formed upon
the cams s, ], either of which may therefore be driven by turning the lever 9,
and thereby sliding the shaft t and clutches 8, 8. Upon the cams 1, 3, are
formed other cams 10, 10*, the peripheries of which act against levers 11, 11*,
turning loosely upon fixed centres at 12, and giving motion thereon to pressers
18, by which means a resistance is at required times obtained against the
upward action of the chisels. Upon the main shaft is a spur wheel 14,
communicating rotatory motion to a shaft 15, the other end of which carries a
bevil 16, in gear with another mounted upon a vertical shaft 17. This shaft
carries a pulley 18, over which a band 19 passes, and from thence around
pullies 20, formed upon the axes of the boring tools, and by which means,
therefore, they are caused to revolve. The bevil 16 is connected to the shaft
15 by means of a feather, and may therefore be moved to any required posi-
tion, so as to admit of the boring tools being brought nearer to or farther from
the chisels, and yet retain the means of being driven; for this purpose, the
framework 21 of the tools is mounted in V guides, and its lower part is pro-
vided with a rack 22, in gear with which is a pinion 23, provided with a
handle 24; the boring tools may therefore be brought to any required position,
and may be held there by means of tightening screws.
Having thus described the general arrangement and construction of the
machine, I will proceed to point out the method of operating therewith. The
wood in which the mortices are required is placed upon the metal bed 25, and
is there held by two pairs of rollers 26, 27, the former of which rest by their
weight upon the material, and the latter project through the bed 25, so as to
bear against the under surface. In the bed 25 are formed apertures through
which the chisels u may pass, and it has also a cavity for the reception of a
block of wood beneath the boring tools. A mark having been made upon the
wood at the situation where the first set of mortices are to be formed, and
suppose it to be adjusted beneath the boring tools a, the driving power is to
be thrown on, and the shaft t slidden, so as to give motion to the cam s, by
which means the levers r, n, will be caused to turn upon their centres, and in
so doing will communicate motion to the shaft w, thereby moving the lever y
loosely upon its shaft o, and depressing the boring tools a into the wood, they
bcing at the same time caused to revolve by the means before described

page_text: During this operation the set of boring tools 6 have not descended, in conse-
quence of the lever n, being loose upon the shaft o, not having communicated
motion thereto, and through it to the lever 3. The holes having been bored by
the tools a, the cam s will cause them to rise, and the attendant will withdraw
the clutch 8 into the position shewn at Fig. 4, by which means the motion of
the cams will be arrested. The wood is now to be moved on until the bored
holes are beneath the chisels c, at which time, by a previous adjustment of the
sliding frame, the next set of boring tools 6 will be over the required positions
at which they are to operate; the attendant will then slide the shaft t, so as to
bring the clutch 8 into gear with the cam ]. by which means the lever 2 wil
be depressed, so as to cause the chisels c* to rise, and effect a cutting part of
the way through the thickness of the wood, previously to which the cam 10*
will have forced down the presser 13, so as to have afforded the required
resistance; this having been done, the return motion of the lever 2 will draw
downward the chisels c, and force them through the upper surface of the wood,
carrying them far enough to pass through the entire thickness, and the mortices
will be completed simultaneously with this operation; the lever 2, which is
fast upon the shaft o, will cause it to turn upon its centre, and will commu-
nicate motion to the lever 3, also fast thereon, whereby the boring tools 6 will
be depressed, and the other set of holes made; but as the lever y is loose upon
the shaft o, no motion to it or to the tools a will be transmitted. The clutch
boxes 8, 8, being again thrown out of gear, the wood is moved on until the
last bored holes are between the chisels d, d, when the same operation, as
first described, will be effected by the agency of the cams 8, 10. The several
tools may of course be adapted in any desired arrangement, and by forming
the bed 25 sufficiently long for the greatest width between the required
mortices, any intermediate distance may be obtained by sliding the frame
of the boring tools to and fro. The exact distance that the wood is to
be moved forward for arriving at the right position for the action of the
chisel, may be determined by setting out marks upon the board corre-
sponding to the position at which one of the boring tools is to act, and this
mark may be brought to a fixed pointer. adapted exactly beneath the said
tool.
Under this head of my Invention I claim, firstly, the use of the combined
action of a number of chisels or tools for cutting out the required mortices;
and, secondly, the combination of tools for drilling circular holes with other
tools for completing the mortices.
The machine for cutting "tenons" is shewn in Sheet 3 of the accompanying

page_text: Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section; and Fig. 2, an
end view of the same. Fig. 3 shews the object to be accomplished, being a
face view of a piece of wood cut into the desired form. The framework of the
machine is shewn at a, provided with parallel guides b, for the reception of a
sliding frame c, upon the bottom part cx of which the pieces of wood to be
operated upon are placed one upon another, and in this position they are held
by means of a plate d, which is pressed downward by the action of a nut e,
turning loosely in the frame c, and acting upon a screw f, aflixed at bottom to
the plate d. To the sliding frame c are attached the lower ends of chains g,
which, after passing over pullies h, carry weights i, which serve as a counter-
poise. Within a cross piece of the framework is a collar k, capable of turning
loosely therein; this collar is provided with a bracket 1, carrying two rollers m,
the peripheries of which are formed with indentations, for the reception of the
thread of the screw f; if, therefore, the said rollers be held stationary, as
regards their shafts, and caused to revolve bodily, they operate as a nut, and
cause the sliding frame to move in its parallel guides b. The rollers marc con-
nected together by pinions n, o, (see the detached view, Fig. 4,) and the axis
of one of them on the other side is provided with a winch and pinion 2, taking
into a wheel q. Upon the axis of the other roller to the bracket 1 is attached a
bar r, capable of retaining a pinion s when placed in gear with the pinions n, o,
such first-mentioned pinion, however, not being fixed upon an axis, but being
merely placed there so as to be removed at pleasure. It will be evident, that
when in that position the two pinions n, o, will be prevented from revolving,
and upon rotatory motion being communicated to the bracket 1, the rollers m
will act after the manner of a nut upon the screw f, as before mentioned; but
suppose the pinion s to be removed, and the winch handle and pinion p turned,
the rollers m will be caused to revolve upon their axes simultaneously, and the.
screw f, together with the frame c, will be moved in the guides b, the screw
and rollers being then a similar arrangement to a rack and pinion. Upon the
stationary framework a are mounted guide pieces t, within which are situnte
frames u, capable of being adjusted thereon by screws v, and carrying axes w;
to these axes are affixed drums a, furnished with projecting V shaped pieces y,
on which blocks are adjusted in required positions, cutters 1 being mounted
thereon, and held in firm position by means of plates 2 held down by screws 3;
and in order to prevent the cutters from turning thereon as centres, there are
also pins 4, which project through them, and are attached to the blocks =.
These cutters are intended to operate upon the two side parts A, A, of Fig. 3,
the tools 1 for forming the central parts B being fixed upon projections

page_text: formed with the drum; but if desired, the whole series may be rendered
adjustable transversely, by adapting them to sliding pieces. The main driving
shaft of the machine is shewn at 5, upon which is mounted loosely a collar 6,
carrying a spur pinion 7 and bevil 8, the latter of which is in gear with a
bevil 9, formed upon the collar k, before mentioned. The shaft 5 also carries
a pinion 10, mounted loosely thereon, which pinion is in gear with a wheel 11,
mounted upon a shaft (behind 5), which also carries a pinion 12, taking into that
shewn at 7. Upon the pinion 10 is a clutch 13, capable of being slidden into gear
with a clutch 14, formed upon the boss of a drum 15, fast upon the shaft 5, and
over which an endless band 16 passes; this band is guided by pullies 17, so as
to run in contact with the peripheries of pullies 18, mounted upon the axes of
the drums a. The boss of the pinion 10 is provided with a groove, within which
is situate a pin, extending from a lever 19, mounted upon a centre at 20,
which, being turned thereon, will consequently place the gearing 10, 11, 12, 7,
in or out of gear with the driving power, accordingly as it is connected with or
disconnected from the fast drum 15, and by this arrangement therefore the
collar and rollers m may be caused to revolve at pleasure for the purpose
before mentioned. One end of the lever 19 carries a pin 21, which rests in
one of the other of two notches 22, 23, formed upon a catch 24, and into
which it is drawn by the force of a spring 25.
Having thus described the general construction and arrangement of the
parts, I will proceed to point out the combined operations. In order to
prepare the machine for work (the driving strap being on the loose pulley), the
pinion s is removed, so as to unlock the roller m, and the winch handle P is
turned; by this operation, the rollers m, acting as pinions upon a rack, will
lower the screw f, and with it the frame c, this being at the bottom of the
machine. The pieces of wood to be cut are placed upon the part cx, after which
the pinion s is placed in the position shewn in Fig. 4, and the driving power
thrown, on, by which means motion will be communicated to the shaft 5. The
lever 19 is also turned by hand upon its centre, so as to move the pin 21 into the
notch 22, whereby the clutch 13 will be passed into gear with that upon the boss
of the drum 15, by which means the rollers m will be caused to revolve bodily
around the periphery of the screw f. and the frame c will be raised. As the
wood moves upward toward these instruments it is gradually cut away into
the desired form, as shewn in Fig. 1, the rate of which cutting, it will be
evident, may be regulated by adjusting the gearing above described. When
the several pieces of wood forming the mass shall have been cut through, the
frame c will arrive in contact with the catch 24, and by causing it to turn
upon its centre, will allow the pin 21 to move by the force of the spring 25 into

page_text: the position shewn at Fig. 2, whereby the clutch will be disengaged, and the
motion of the rollers m and frame c arrested. Should the spring fail in
completely withdrawing the clutch, that operation will be completed by the
arrival of a roller 26 in contact with the part 19* of the lever 19. I have
shewn three cutters adapted to the drums a, but it will be evident that any
practicable number may be applied, mounted adjustable as at 1, or fixed as at
1; as they become worn away by use, their frames u may be slidden forward
and maintained in position by means of the screws. Two sets of cutters are
shewn in the accompanying Drawings, but if tenons on one side of the board
only are required, one set may of course in like manner be applied.
Under this head of my Invention I claim. firstly, the adaptation of a
revolving cutter or cutters for the purpose above set forth; secondly, placing
a number of pieces of wood to be operated upon in a suitable frame; and,
thirdly, the application of the screw f, for effecting the double purpose
of con-
fining the material, and acting as an instrument by which the same may be
raised and lowered.
The machine for cutting out rectangular recesses, applicable particularly to
the construction of spinning machinery, is shewn in the several Figures of
Sheet 4, in which Fig. 1 is a front view, complete; Fig. 2, a cross section, and
Fig. 3, a detached view, of a portion of the operating parts. The object I will
now suppose is to obtain cavities suitable for the reception of bolsters of spin-
ning mules, one of which is shewn in two views at Fig. 4; the wood has there-
fore to be removed, as shewn in cross section and plan at Fig. 5. In order to
effect this, I first bore the cylindrical holes a through the wood by ordinary
means, and securing the correct distance apart by means of a dividing bar or
other such apparatus; the boards thus perforated are ready for use in the
machine constructed according to my Invention, the operation of which will
be understood by the following description:-The wood perforated, as before
mentioned, is placed upon a metal plate b, forming a part of the framework
of the machine, and is kept down thereon by means of a roller c, mounted
upon an arm d, capable of turning upon a fixed centre; to the arm d
is connected a spring e, its other end being fixed to a stationary part, and
by this means the necessary pressure for keeping the wood in place is
obtained, the force required for this purpose being considerable. A screw f
is adapted to the end of the lever, its lower end working against the frame-
work; by turning this screw, therefore, in one direction, the roller may easily
be raised, in order to introduce the wood, and by turning it in the other, the
spring e may subsequently be allowed to bear it downward on to the material
to be cut. The front edge of the wood- bears against a projecting part g

page_text: of the framework, and it is kept in that position by means of a roller h,
forced forward by the action of a spring. The part 6 of the framework is
formed with a V groove, within which is situate a sliding piece h, a portion of
its width being cut away for the reception of a finger i, turning on a centre
attached to the sliding piece.at j. This finger is connected by a link to a lever
k attached to a shaft l, which also carries another lever m, provided with a
roller n at its upper end, and bearing against one end of a lever o, the centre
pin p of which carries a lever q, bearing by means of a roller against a cam r;
this cam is mounted upon a shaft s, which derives rotatory motion from the
driving strap, as shewn in the Drawing. To the shaft 7 is attached a short
lever t, to which a spring u is connected, its other end being attached to a
stationary part. The action of this spring therefore is to impart to the shaft
a tendency to turn upon its centre, and thereby communicate motion to the
sliding piece h and finger i;. but this turning of the shaft would bring the
roller n of the lever m to bear against the lever o, which to allow it must also
turn upon its centre, and this is prevented, except at certain intervals, by the
contact of the roller 9 with the surface of the cam r. Upon the side standards
of the machine are mounted V guides, within which are placed a sliding piece
w; this piece is furnished at the upper part with a roller a, against which a
lever y is caused to bear by the action of a spring, by which means the sliding
piece has a continued tendency to rise, but it is at times forced downwards by
the operation of a cam 1, mounted upon the shaft s, and acting against a roller 2.
Upon the lower part of the sliding piece w is adapted a cutter 3, the horizontal
section of which is of a rectangular form, thus , corresponding to the out-
line of the recess to be cut out; this cutter is mounted upon a piece 4, and is
capable of exact adjustment thereon in a vertical direction by set screws 5,
and of being confined laterally by a nut 6; the piece 4 which carries it is also
capable of. adjustment in a vertical direction by means of the set screws and
nut 7. Within the bed plate of the machine is a V groove, in which is situate
a sliding piece 8, provided at one end with lugs, carrying a centre pin, upon
which is placed a rod 9, the other end of which being connected to a lever
10, mounted upon a stud 11, which stud also carries another lever 12, bearing
by means of a roller against a cam 13, in which situation it is kept by the
action of a spring 14, one end thereof being connected to a fixed part and the
other to the sliding piece 8, which is thus continually drawn forward. Upon
the front of the sliding piece 8 are formed V guides 15, in which is placed a
block 16, capable of being adjusted up or down thereon by means of a screw
and nut 17. This block carries a chisel 18, which is held accurately in its
place by means of a screw 19.

page_text: Having thus pointed out the arrangement and construction of the parts
separately, I will proceed to describe the combined operation for effecting
the desired object. According to the positions shewn in the Drawing, the
plank of wood A has just been carried forward into a position, which has
brought one of the holes a formed therein beneath the cutter 3; the revolu
tion of the shaft s will now cause the cam 1 to press the sliding piece w
downward, thereby causing the cutter 3 to enter the wood and pass through
the outline of the required recess; this having been accomplished, the smaller
radius of the cam will allow the cutter to be withdrawn by the force of the
spring 2, by which time the prominence of the cam 13 will have arrived in
contact with the lever 12, which, by causing the lower lever 10 to turn upon
its centre, will communicate a sliding motion to the piece 8, by which means
the chisel 18 will be forced forward and caused to enter the wood, so as to
remove that part already cut through in a vertical direction; this having been
accomplished, the smaller radius of the cam 13 will allow the chisel to be
withdrawn by the action of the spring 14, and the plank of wood is ready to
be carried forward for another cut. In order that this may be effected, the
rotation of the shafts will have carried round the cam 1, so that the roller g
may move inward upon its surface; this it will do through the medium of the
spring n, which, now being at liberty to contract, will force forward the roller
n, at the same time, by the turning of the shaft 1, causing the lever k to move
the finger i upon its centre j, so as to withdraw the pin 20 from a hole of the
board under operation. This turning of the finger i will continue until the tail
end 21 thereof shall have arrived in contact with the sliding plate h; after
which, its motion in that direction being prevented, the force of the spring will
carry backward the finger and plate h, guided by the V grooves. The cam r
will allow this motion to continue until the pin 20 is beneath the succeeding
hole a* in the board, at which time the roller q will again be forced outward,
so as to turn the finger upward upon its centre, and cause the pin 20 to enter
the hole a; but as this turning cannot continue after the two surfaces are in
contact, the remaining incline of the cam will, through the lever k, cause a
sliding motion of the plate h, and the wood will, through the medium of the
pin 20, be carried forward, so as to present the hole a* beneath the cutter 3
for another operation. In order to secure exactly the distance to which the
sliding plate h shall move forward, I adapt an adjustable stop, as at 22, which
stop may therefore be altered according to the distance apart of the intended
Upon the main shaft is a pulley, which, by means of a band, communi-
cates rotatory motion to a brush 28, employed for the purpose of removing the
severed portions of wood.
cuts.

page_text: Under this part of my improvements I claim, firstly, the use of drilled
holes or other openings in the material to be operated upon, as a medium for
carrying it forward to receive successive cuts by which rectangular recesses are
formed; secondly, the combined action of a cutter for piercing the outline of the
rectangular cut, and a second cutter for removing the portion so marked out;
thirdly, the general arrangement and construction of machinery shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas. Schofield Whitworth, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
THOMAS SCHOFIELD WHITWORTH. (L.S.)