Improvements in Sawing Machinery.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 26th Sept.,
1891
Improvements in Sawing Machinery.
A communication to me from abroad by WILHELM BESSER, the Younger, Master
Carpenter, of Rauscha, in the Empire of Germany.
1, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in sawing machinery having horizontal
reciprocating saws for sawing logs of timber and it has for its object to provide
suitable guides for the log to be sawn, and mechanism connected therewith, for the
purpose of overcoming the difficulties which have hitherto been experienced in saw
frames with horizontal sets of saws such difficulties more than neutralizing the
many other advantages of the horizontal frame compared with the vertically
working saw blades generally in use.
The mechanism and devices comprised in the improvements of the present
invention allow of the construction of a set of saws in a saw frame, the horizontal
saw blades of which cut in both directions with a constant movement of advance of
the log or trunk which is being sawn.
Within a saw frame a sufficient number of saw blades are mounted by any
suitable means parallel to each other and adapted to work in a horizontal plane.
To the frame a reciprocating motion is imparted by the usual well known means
from a driving shaft each of the saw blades being made to cut in a horizontal
plane through the log or trunk which is fed forwards toward them.
The feeding of the log or trunk is effected by two moveable carriages of the
kind hereinafter described, the log being rolled up to and upon the said carriages
from the side. The forward carriage being that next to the set of saws, is fitted
with the mechanism commonly in use for lifting and lowering the log in addition to
which mechanism novel means are provided for laterally shifting or adjusting the
log supporting plate upon the carriage frame. The other or rear carriage sup-
porting the rear part of the log or trunk has applied to it a novel method of
construction for facilitating the passage of the log or trunk through the set of saw
blades.
Above the lower frame of the rear carriage a cross shaft is carried in suitable
bearings and upon the said shaft a frame is mounted capable of rocking or
oscillating in either direction. Within the two vertical arms or standards of the
said frame, guide ways are provided within which a cross rail has a sliding up
and down motion. To the said cross rail two standards are rigidly secured,
parallel to the standards of the rocking frame and guided in suitable bearings
in the cross bar or top of the said frame. A. top rail parallel to the lower cross
rail is arranged to slide by means of suitable collars or sleeves upon the last
mentioned standards, the said top rail being operated by a screw and hand wheel so
as to adjust the rail upward or downward on the said standards.
To roll the log or trunk up to the carriage the outer rocking frame, and the
inner frame described are turned or laid down to the rear, and the log or trunk is
then pushed up upon the lower carriage frame and the frames are turned or lifted
up again, the lower cross bar lifting the log, until the frames are brought into the
vertical position, where they are fixed by screwing the sleeves or bosses of the
rocking frame fast upon the transverse shaft on which they turn.
The top rail is then brought down to bear upon the log or trunk the sleeves or

page_text: bosses of the said rail are then firmly secured to the standards by screws. The log
or trunk thus firmly grasped between the upper and lower rails may now be easily
raised or lowered to adjust it as desired with reference to the set of saw blades.
The two carriages mounted on wheels which run upon shaped rails carry the
log or trunk up to the set of saws and present the front surface in a vertical plane
against the cutting blades, which, while the block is being fed forward, traverse
the log horizontally and cut it up into boards.
The log or trunk while advancing against the saw blades, is guided by two pairs
of vertical rollers, the axles of which rollers turn in fixed bearings, and rotary
motion is imparted to them, from the main shaft by suitable mechanism, such as is
commonly employed where vertical sets of saw blades are used, and consisting of
excentric rods, cam levers, grooved pulleys and bevilled toothed wheels. By means
of the first pair of rollers which are grooved or fluted the log or trunk is fed forward,
the other pair of rollers serving as pressure rollers, and being adjustable at right
angles to the longitudinal direction of the log, the adjustment being effected by
hand wheels which through intermediate gearing drive toothed wheels which shift
rack bars in either direction in the ends of which bearings are provided for the
shafts of the rollers. By the forward motion of the saw frame and cutting
operation of the saws against these rollers a considerable strain is put upon the
latter the said strain tending to separate the said pair of rollers from the other
pair. To neutralize this strain weighted levers are provided, and in addition the
following arrangement is used to prevent any undue shifting of the rollers.
Every time that the saws cause a strain upon the roller cams are brought into
engagement with the grooves of grooved pulleys, by means of a rod and lever
the said pulleys being mounted upon the same shafts as the hand wheels. The
grooved pulleys are thereby locked, thus preventing their axles from being moved
under the strain of the saw blades. The adjustment of the pressure rollers may
also be performed by turning the grooved pulleys and in this case the hand
wheels may be omitted. As soon as the log or trunk has been fed forward
between the two pairs of rollers, the screws, which hold the rocking frame secured
in the vertical position upon its shaft are released, to allow the log to adjust
itself laterally, in case it should be curved instead of straight in the longitudinal
direction, thus adapting itself to the guide rollers between which it is passing.
During such a position of the log or trunk, the forward carriage is made inoperative
by screwing its supporting plate down. The main operative parts for guiding
the log will now consist of steel discs mounted upon the axles of the two forward
rollers of each pair in such a manner as to separate each roller into two portions,
between which the said discs are held. The two portions of the rollers together
with the said intermediate discs which are of larger diameter are adjustable on
their shafts by means of hand wheels, and by lifting the said discs about half
way up the set of saws, they will enter into the cut immediately behind the saw,
and the discs will thus guide the log.
At the opposite side of the set of saws, two other carriages of the same kind as
the rear carriage described, are arranged to receive the log and grasp the same as
soon as its forward end has left the guide rollers. Just before the log or trunk
entirely leaves the set of saws, its rear end is fixed or clamped by the second
supporting carriage.
The saw blades are secured within their frame by tangs in the ordinary way, and
they are held apart and suitably distanced by registers and indices at the right and
left hand sides.
Dated this 6th day of November 1890.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: A communication to me from WILHELM BESSER, the Younger, Master Carpenter,
of Rauscha, in the Empire of Germany.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this 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:
This invention relates to improvements in sawing machinery having horizontal
reciprocating saws for sawing logs of timber, and it has for its object to provide
suitable guides for the log to be sawn, and mechanism connected therewith, for the
purpose of overcoming the difficulties which have hitherto been experienced with
saw frames with horizontal sets of saws, such difficulties more than neutralizing the
many other advantages of the horizontal frame compared with the vertically
working saw blades generally in use.
The mechanisin and devices comprised in the improvements which form the
subject of the present invention, allow the construction of a set of saws in a saw
frame, the horizontal saw blades of which cut in both directions with a constant
feed forward of the log or trunk which is being sawn.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are in illustration of the
invention,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 an end elevation and Figure 3 a plan or top
view of a set of saws and mechanism for working the same.
In Figures 4 and 5 are separately represented the particular device for holding
the log or trunk firmly secured upon its carriage, whilst
Figures 6 and 7 represent the apparatus for adjusting as well as for lifting and
lowering the carriage which supports the log or trunk.
Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are detailed views of the several devices.
Within a saw frame r a sufficient number of saw blades s are mounted by any
suitable means, parallel to each other and adapted to work in a horizontal plane.
To the frame a reciprocating motion is imparted by the usual well known means
from a driving shaft, each of the saw blades being made to cut in a horizontal
plane through the log or trunk which is fed forward towards them.
The feeding of the log or trunk is effected by two moveable carriages of the
kind hereinafter described with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, the log being
rolled up to and upon the said carriages from the side. The carriage A. being that
next to the set of saws, is fitted with the mechanism commonly in use for lifting
and lowering the log.
The other or rear-carriage B, supporting the rear part of the log or trunk, has
applied to it a novel method of construction for facilitating the passage of the log
or trunk through the set of saw blades.
Above the lower frame of the rear carriage B a cross shaft a is carried in suitable
bearings and upon the said shaft a a frame is mounted capable of rocking or
oscillating in either direction. Within the two vertical arms or standards of the
said frame, guideways are provided, within which a cross rail c has a sliding up and
down motion.
To the said cross rail c two standards d, d, are rigidly secured, parallel to the
frame sides or standards b, b, and guided in suitable bearings in the cross bar or top
of the frame b. A top rail e, parallel to the lower cross rail c, is arranged to slide
by means of suitable collars or sleeves upon the said standards d, d, the said top
rail e being operated by a screw and hand wheel g, so as to adjust the said top
rail upward or downward on the standards d. To roll the log or trunk up to the

page_text: carriage B, the outer frame b, together with the inner frame c, d, e, are turned or
laid down to the rear and the log or trunk is then pushed up upon the lower
carriage frame and the cross rail c, and the frames and d are turned or lifted up
again, the lower cross bar c lifting the log until the frames are brought into a
vertical position, where they are fixed by screwing the sleeves or bosses of the
rocking frame b fast upon the shaft a. The top rail e is then brought down to bear
upon the log or trunk, and the sleeves or bosses of the said rail e are then firmly
secured to the standards d by screws. The log or trunk, thus firmly grasped between
the rails c and e, may now be easily raised or lowered to adjust it as desired with
reference to the set of saw blades.
The two carriages mounted on wheels which run upon the [-shaped rails 1,.
carry the log or trunk up to the set of saws and present the front surface in a
vertical plane against the cutting blades, which whilst the block is being fed forward,
traverse the log horizontally and cut up into boards.
The log or trunk whilst advancing against the saw blades is guided by two pairs
of rollers i, i, and k, k, the axles of the rollers i, i, turning in fixed bearings, and
rotary motion is imparted to them, from the main shaft of the machine, by suitable
mechanism, such as commonly employed where, vertical sets of saw blades are used,
and consisting of excentric rods 1, 1, cam levers m, n, grooved pulley o, and bevilled
toothed wheels and spur wheels 7. By means of the fluted rollers i, i, the log or
trunk is fed forward, the rollers k, k, serving as pressure rollers and being adjustable
at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the log, the adjustment being
effected by turning the grooved pullies o', which through intermediate gearing u, v,
cause the toothed wheels, a to shift the rack bars y, y, in either direction,
bearings being provided in the ends of the rack bars y, y, for the journals of the
shafts k, k.
By the forward motion of the saw frame and cutting operation of the saws
against the rollers k, a considerable strain is put upon the said rollers k, such strain
tending to remove the said pair of rollers k from the other pair of rollers i, i. To
counterbalance and neutralize the said strain weighted levers t', t', are provided,
and, furthermore, the following arrangement is used to prevent any undue shifting
of the rollers. Every time that the saws cause a strain upon the rollers k, k,
(tending to force them away) the cams or brakes n' are brought into engagement
with the grooves of the grooved pullies o', by means of the rod l (worked by one
of the excentric rods 1) and levers m' the said pullies of being mounted upon the
same shafts which are geared with the gearing u.
The grooved pullies thereby are locked, thus preventing the gearing u from
turning under the strain of the saw blades and the racks y, y and rollers k k from
being forced back from the log.
As soon as the log or trunk has been fed forward between the two pairs of
rollers i, and k, the screw which holds the frame secured in the vertical position
upon the shaft a, is released, so as to allow the log to adjust itself laterally, in case
it should be curved instead of straight in the longitudinal direction, thus adapting
itself to the guide rollers between which it is passing. During such a position of
the log or trunk, the carriage A is made inoperative by screwing its supporting
plate down.
The main operative parts for guiding the block will now consist of the steel
discs mounted upon the axles of the guide rollers i and k. The rollers are
composed of shafts upon which cylinders are mounted. The peripheries of the
cylinders are channelled, as shewn in Figures 11 and 12. In these channels, plates i
and between them steel discs are placed, which are held together by means of
bolts. The said discs will enter into the cut immediately behind the saw blade
being of the same size as the saw cut, and carrying the log they will guide
the same.
The feed rollers i, and k, may also be channelled and their peripheries provided
with edging tools as shewn in Figures 9 and 10 thus causing the block to be pushed
with certainty through the set of saws. Having passed the set, the log may be

page_text: supported by a steel plate 2, Figure 8. At the opposite side of the set of saws s,
two other carriages of the same kind as the carriage B are arranged to receive the
log and grasp it as soon as its forward end has left the guide rollers and the steel
plate. Just before the log or trunk entirely leaves the set of saws, its rear end
will be bound or clasped by the second supporting carriage.
The saw blades are secured within their frame r by tangs as commonly used,
and held apart and suitably distanced by registers at the right and left hand side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
1. In a horizontal set of saws, the combination with a suitable number of
horizontally working saw blades, of two pairs of feed and guide rollers i, i, and k, k,
to feed forward and guide the log or trunk, one pair of the said rollers having a
rotary motion to feed the log or trunk forward, the other pair of rollers being
laterally adjustable to and from the log, and one roller of each pair being provided
with discs, which discs enter into the cuts prepared for the saw blades and
thereby provide bearing surfaces for the log, to guide the same between the axles
of the two guide rollers, substantially as and for the purpose described.
C
2. In a horizontal set of saws, the combination with a suitable number of
horizontally working saw blades, of a feed carriage B, comprising an outer
frame b, b, arranged to swing backward and forward on a shaft, and carrying a
sliding frame consisting of vertical standards d, d, a lower cross rail c and an upper
cross rail e, the latter being guided and adjustably secured upon the said
standards d d, and also capable of being lifted and lowered in the outside frame
by a screw and hand wheel g, for the purpose of holding and adjusting the logs
with reference to the saw blades, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 6th day of August 1901
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.