IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SQUARING OR DRESSING ROOFING SLATES AND ON TO COUNTING AND REGISTERING THE SAME, AND LOADING THE SLATES WAGONS OR TRUCKS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO SAWING MACHINES FOR WOOD.
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Harrison, of Port Madoc, in the County
of Carnarvon, North Wales, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SQUARING OR DRESSING ROOFING SLATES AND
ON TO
COUNTING AND REGISTERING THE SAME, AND LOADING THE SLATES
WAGONS OR TRUCKS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO
SAWING MACHINES FOR WOOD.".
Sealed the 26th November 1869, and dated the 9th June 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Harrison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th June 1869.
I, ROBERT HARRISON, of Port Madoc, in the County of Carnarvon,
North Wales, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SQUARING OR DRESSING ROOFING
SLATES AND COUNTING AND REGISTERING THE SAME, AND LOADING THE SLATES ON
Price 8d1

page_text: TO WAGONS OR TRUCKS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO
SAWING MACHINES FOR WOOD," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to cutting both ends of the
roofing slates at one and the same time or to cutting the one end immedi-
ately after the other by machinery. Also the cutting of both sides of
the roofing slates at one and the same time, or the cutting one side im-
mediately after the other by machinery. By these means I complete
the squaring or dressing of roofing slates by two operations, that is, by
passing each slate twice through the machine, or if two machines are
used then once through each machine.
A second part of my Invention consists in showing on the surface of
a register or counter the number of finished or of partially finished roof-
ing slates as they pass through the machine.
A third part of my Invention consists in a means of piling or loading
the roofing slates after passing through the machine in a finished state
or in a partially finished state systematically by machinery.
A fourth part of my Invention consists in the general novel construc-
tion of the machine and the different parts thereof for perfecting and
completing the aforesaid operations.
The construction of the machine is as follows:-Two strong bars of
round wrought iron or steel turned parallel are supported at their ends
on two cast-iron stands through which the ends of the aforesaid bars
pass. The said bars act as slides for the two sides of the said machine
to slide upon, one side of the said machine is generally stationary. The
said two sides of the machine are placed at right angles to the aforesaid
iron or steel bars, and are set at different distances from each other by
the aid of a screw worked by a handle attached to one of the aforesaid
cast-iron stands, the distances being determined by an index marked on
one or more of the aforesaid iron or steel bars to suit the lengths or the
breadths, as the case may be, of the roofing slates to be made. The a
sides of the said machine move on double slides, one slide moving or
sliding on the other on the telescope plan. The outer slides are only
used when a difference in the thickness of the roofing slates requires a
greater or less angle to be given to them on their edges; this is accom-
plished by moving the aforesaid outer slides which carries the sides of the
machine with the cutting plate (to be herein-after described) further
from the revolving cutters (also to be herein-after described), all the

page_text: said slides being actuated by screws. Each of the sides of the machine
is formed of two parts bolted together on projecting ribs, leaving a space
or groove between them above the aforesaid ribs and at the ends. In
the said space or groove at both ends of each of the two sides of the said
machine are fixed are fixed pullies, four in all, with projecting pieces or
teeth on their peripheries to give motion to two endless pitched chains of
the same widths as the said spaces or grooves, and with one of which
each of the said sides of the machine is supplied running in the said
spaces or grooves. The pullies are fitted on two shafts which pass through
both the sides of the machine near the ends; the two pullies in the ends
of the stationary side of the said machine are keyed fast on the said
shafts, the other two pullies in the ends of the movable side of the said
machine slide on the said shafts on keys fitted in grooves in the said
shafts and move with the moving side of the aforesaid machine. On
one end of the said shafts is keyed fast a driving pulley to be driven
by a strap to give motion to both the aforesaid pitched chains. On the
outer running sides of the said pitched chains are fastened elastic bands
or straps, by preference of india-rubber or india-rubber combined with
cloth, and of the same breadths on the face as the said pitched chains;
the outer faces of the said bands or straps project from the aforesaid
grooves or spaces about a quarter of an inch higher than the aforesaid
sides of the machine. The slates to be squared or dressed are placed on
the said straps or bands fixed on the said pitched chains and carried by
them under rollers covered with india-rubber or india-rubber combined
with cloth, and under the aforesaid revolving cutters (to be herein-after
described), then under other rollers covered with india-rubber or india-
rubber combined with cloth, and finally through the machine. The said
rollers are fixed to four iron plates working in four vertical slides inde-
pendently of each other, so that in passing slates of different thicknesses
through the machine and under the said rollers the said plates and with
them the said rollers will (independently of each other) rise or fall. Two
of the said vertical slides are fixed to the bearing frame of each of the
two said sides of the machine. To each of these vertical slides are fixed
(in boxes attached to the slides) spiral springs of steel or india-rubber to
give pressure on the aforesaid rollers. These springs are regulated by
bolts and nuts on the tops of the said boxes; the bolts pass through the
springs and are attached to sliding pistons in the said boxes, under-
neath the said springs the pistons are attached to the vertical slides, or

page_text: the vertical slides can be actuated by levers and weights. The aforesaid
pitched chains are supported in the spaces or grooves under the rollers
by two bars of iron or steel resting on four spiral springs of steel or of
india-rubber to give pressure to the under side of the slates when they
are pressed on the top side by the aforesaid rollers and cause the slates
to pass steadily through that part of the machine. The said bars are
adjusted by regulating screws. There is an iron or steel bar fixed to the
outer sides of each of the two aforesaid sides of the machine; the upper
faces or tops of the said bars are on a level with the top edges of the
cutting plates (to be herein-after described). The said iron or steel bars
carry the pieces of waste slates being cut off from the roofing slates and
hinder them from breaking off by their weight; these bars can be slided
nearer to or further from the aforesaid cutting plates as the case may
require. Attached to each of the two outsides of the aforesaid sides of
the machine and forming a part thereof is a steel cutting plate; one edge
of each of the said cutting plates projects a little above the aforesaid
sides of the machine, so that the slates in passing through the machine
will bear upon them when pressed upon the top side by the aforesaid
rollers attached to the plates working in the vertical slides; the project-
ing edges of the said cutting plates are ground to an angle, the highest
sides of the edges being outside. In front of the cutting plates and with
their spindles set at right angles to the same are fixed the revolving
cutters, the cutting parts reaching below the level of the top edges of the
said cutting plates. The spindles and revolving cutters are regulated as
the cutters wear by vertical slides to which the bearings of the said
spindles are attached, the said vertical slides being bolted to the fram-
ing holding the aforesaid sides of the machine. The revolving cutters
are either plain discs of steel or discs of steel with a number of prominent
angles or angular points on the peripheries, such as would be formed
by dividing the peripheries into octagons, decagons, or other multi-
plicity of sides.
My system of securing the said discs to the spindles is also applicable
for fixing circular saws to spindles for sawing wood, slate, or any other
material where circular saws or discs are used, also for holding circular
saws and discs in a true position whilst being sharpened, especially when
machinery is used for the purpose of sharpening. It consists in having
spindles of the usual construction with fast face plates and loose washers,

page_text: but in front of the fast faced plates and on each of the spindles I have
fitted a cone of steel, iron, or other hard and tough metal (by preference
of steel) to slide on the spindles. The largest end of the cone partially
slides into a cavity or groove in the fast face plate, and behind the cone
in the cavity or groove in the fast face plate is a spiral spring of steel or
one of india-rubber, or india-rubber combined with cloth (but by pre-
ference of steel), the said spring constantly forces the cone tight into the
centre hole of the disc or saw, and thereby holds it perfectly adjusted
though the different discs or saws to be used on the same spindle may
materially differ in the sizes of their centre holes from wear or other
causes. The slates after passing the aforesaid revolving cutters and the
guides and steadying rollers pass under a roller attached to a lever,
and the slate in lifting the lever gives motion to a register or counter
fixed on the stationary side of the aforesaid machine, showing on its
face by moving fingers and numbers printed thereon the number of
slates either in finished state or in a partially finished state that pass
through the said machine. This register or counter can be thrown
out of gear at pleasure by a key or otherwise, which also prevents its
being tampered with when not in use. The slates then pass
under two more rollers, and down slides on to the trucks or into
wagons placed to receive them. The last-named rollers are eccentric
in principle, having their bearing holes on the shaft a little out of
the centre; these rollers are stationary except when slates pass under
them and between them and the india-rubber straps placed on the afore-
said pitched chains beneath, when a slate passes under they then make
one revolution, the circumference of the rollers being equal to the
length of the largest ordinary roofing slates made. When the said
rollers are at rest their peripheries nearest the bearing hole are at the
bottom, leaving a small space between the rollers and the moving india-
rubber straps beneath; the rollers hold this position by being weighted.
The bearings of the said roller shaft work in slides in their pedestal.
Attached to the said pedestals are spiral springs of steel fitted in the
caps of the said pedestals, and the shaft is adjusted to the right height
by bolts attached to the aforesaid bearings and passing through the
spiral springs and through the caps of the pedestals to nuts on the top
of the caps.
When a large slate passes under the said rollers and
the full sides of the rollers to the bottom the said springs give the
space required. When a short slate has passed under the said rollers

page_text: it will have brought the full sides of the said rollers into contact with
the india-rubber straps moving below, and cause them to complete their
necessary revolution. The roller fixed to the stationary side of the
aforesaid machine is keyed fast on the shaft, whilst the roller fixed to
the movable side of the same slides on a key in a groove in the shaft
and moves with the side of the machine. On the end of the shaft
affixed to the stationary side of the machine is keyed fast a disc with
movable stud which can be worked by a screw and slide, or by having
different holes in the disc nearer to or farther from the centre of
the disc. The aforesaid slide for the slates to pass down on to the
trucks or wagons is formed of two parts or sides, the other is fixed to
the movable side of the aforesaid machine and slides on the shaft on
a key in a groove in the shaft; another lever keyed fast on the said
shaft at right angles with the other two is connected by a short rod
to another lever fixed to the stationary side of the said machine. This
lever is connected to the stud in the aforesaid disc by a rod with a slot
in the top; the slot allows the disc plate and rollers to make the last
half of their revolution without moving the said rods or levers. When
the said disc plate and rollers are at rest the stud in the disc plate is at
half centre or on a level with the shaft on which it works. When a
slate has passed down the aforesaid slide it remains leaning on the slide
at the bottom with one end of the slate resting on the truck until
another slate passes under the aforesaid rollers, causing the disc to
revolve. The stud in the disc plate then presses down the aforesaid
levers, and they (acting on the aforesaid connecting rods) lift the plates
that the previous slate is leaned upon at the bottom of the slide and
throw the slate forward against the others already piled on the trucks
or wagons, and at the same time pushes the truck or wagon the thick-
ness of the next slate. The said plates which hang on the bosses
through which the driving strap passes, the bottom ends of the slides can
be raised or lowered to suit either the different heights the trucks or
wagons may be, or for placing double tiers of slates on them. The
raising or lowering of the said slides is effected by having wheels cast
to their upper ends which fit on the aforesaid bosses; one portion of the
peripheries of the said wheels are ratchet wheels to hold the said
position; another portion of the said peripheries have spur teeth which
work in two pinions, these lift the slides to the required height. The
said pinions are fitted on a shaft which rests in bearings attached to the

page_text: aforesaid sides of the machine; one pinion is fixed to the stationary side
of the machine and keyed fast on the shaft, the other is fixed to the
movable side of the machine and slides on a key in a groove in the
shaft. The aforesaid slides which the slates pass down on to the trucks
have hinged joints at the bottom to which are attached movable plates,
and which form when at rest parts of the beds of the slides; to these
plates on their under sides are other joints to which two rods of iron are
attached. These rods are connected at the other ends with two levers
which are fitted on a shaft. One of the levers is fixed to the stationary
side of the aforesaid machine and keyed fast on the shaft, and then
fall back on the slides to receive the next coming slate. The pitched
chains are supported when passing under the aforesaid rollers by
two fixed plates in
plates in the grooves with rollers in the centre over
which the pitched chains pass. There are two fixed and two or more
movable brackets attached to the sides at the entrance end of the said
machine, which act as guides for entering the slates in the machine
when the slates are first operated on, or in other words, when the
slates are the first time put through the machine, but at the second
operation of passing the slates through the said machine these brackets
are not used. There is also a roller brought down by a lever & treadle
to hold the plate and steady it as it enters the machine, so that as soon
as the workman has placed a slate on the bands or straps he has both
hands at liberty to take up another slate. Instead of the slide above
described for depositing the slates in the trucks or wagons I sometimes
employ an endless elastic web travelling over two rollers in a perpen-
dicular direction or nearly so, which catches the leading edge of the
slate, tilting it up on end and delivering it into the truck. A bell
is also attached to the machine and caused to ring when the truck
is full.
0 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th December 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
HARRISON, of Port Madoc, in the County of Carnarvon, North Wales,
5 send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Ninth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Harrison, Her special license
that I, the said Robert Harrison, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Harrison, 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 SQUARING OR DRESSING ROOFING SLATES AND
COUNTING AND REGISTERING THE SAME, AND LOADING THE SLATES ON TO WAGONB
OR TRUCKS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO SAWING
MACHINES FOR WOOD," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Robert Harrison, my executors or administrators, 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 Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Harrison, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
The first part of my Invention relates to cutting both ends of the
roofing slates at one and the same time and to cutting the one end
immediately after the other by machinery. Also the cutting of both sides
of the roofing slates at one and the same time, or the cutting one side
immediately after the other by machinery. By these means I complete
the squaring or dressing of roofing slates by two operations, that is, by
passing each slate twice through the machine, or if two machines are
used, then once through each machine.
A second part of my Invention consists in showing on the surface of
a register or counter the number of finished or of partially finished
roofing slates as they pass through the machine.

page_text: A third part of my Invention consists in a means of piling or loading
the roofing slates after passing through the machine in a finished state
or in a partially finished state systematically by machinery.
A fourth part of my Invention consists in the general novel con-
struction of the machine, and the construction of the machine and the
different parts thereof for perfecting and completing the aforesaid
operations.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improve-
ments in Machinery or Apparatus for Squaring or Dressing Roofing
Slates, and Counting and Registering the same, and Loading the Slates
on to Wagons or Trucks, Part of which Improvements is also applic-
able to Sawing Machines for Wood," I will now proceed to describe
more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed and carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may
be clearly understood, I have annexed hereunto two Sheets of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters
of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof.
In Sheet 1 of the annexed Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view, Fig. 2 a
side elevation, and Fig. 3 an end view of my improved machine for
squaring, counting, and loading or packing the roofing slates at one
continuous operation. Two strong bars a, a, are mounted parallel to
each other between two cast-iron standards b, b, and act as guides for
the two sides of the machine c, c, to slide upon. One side of the
machine is generally stationary, and the other side may be set nearer to
or further from it by means of a screw d, d, worked by a handle e, e, (or
two screws may be used if preferred,) the distance apart of the two sides
being determined by an index marked on one or both of the aforesaid
bars as at a, Fig. 1, to suit the lengths or breadths (as the case may be)
of the roofing slates to be made. The sides of the machine are carried
on double slides f, f, one set of slides moving or sliding telescopically on
the other set, the outer slides are only used when a difference in the
thickness of the slate requires a greater or less angle to be given to them
on their edges. This is accomplished by moving the aforesaid outer
slides and with them the two slides of the machine nearer together and
further from the revolving cutters (hereafter described), all the said
slides being actuated by screws. Each of the sides of the machine is

page_text: formed of two parts bolted together on projecting ribs, so as to leave a
space or groove between them above the said ribs as seen at g, g, Fig. 1.
In these spaces or grooves at both ends of the machine are fixed pulleys
(four in all) with projections or teeth set to pitch on their peripheries to
give motion to two endless pitched chains h, h, Fig. 2, running in the
said spaces or grooves g, g, at each side of the machine. The said
pulleys are fitted on shafts i, i, which pass through both sides of the
machine and near their ends, the two pulleys in the stationary side
of the machine being fixed fast on their shafts, and the other two pulleys
in ends of the moveable side of the machine sliding on keys fixed in
grooves in the said shafts. On one of these shafts is keyed fast a
pulley i, j, to be driven by a strap to give motion to both the said
pitched chains. On the outer running sides of the said chains are
fastened elastic bands or straps of the same breadth on the face as the
said chains, by preference of india-rubber or india-rubber combined with
cloth. The outer faces of these straps project from the said grooves or
spaces g, g, about a quarter of an inch higher than the sides of the
machine. The slates or slabs to be dressed are placed on the said bands
or straps, and are carried by them under rollers k, k, covered with india-
rubber, (or india-rubber combined with cloth,) and under the aforesaid
revolving cutters 1, 1, Figs. 1 and 2, then under other similar covered
rollers, and finally through the machine. The said rollers are fixed to
four iron plates working in vertical slides m, m, (see detached view
Fig. 4) independently of each other so that in passing slates of different
thicknesses through the machine and under the said rollers they will
rise or fall as the case may require. Two of the said vertical slides are
fixed to the framing of each side of the machine, and to each of the
said slides are attached in boxes n, n, spiral or other springs to give
pressure on the aforesaid rollers, the said springs being regulated by
bolts and nuts on the tops of the boxes, or the slides can be fitted with
levers and weights for the same purpose. The pitched chains h, h, are
supported in the spaces or grooves g, g, underneath the aforesaid rollers
by two iron bars o, o, (see detached view Fig. 5) resting on four springs
of steel or india-rubber to give certain pressure to the under side of the
passing slates when pressed on the top side by the aforesaid rollers, and
cause the slates to pass steadily through that part of the machine.
These bars are adjusted by regulating screws p, p, underneath. There is
an iron or steel bar q, q, Fig. 1, fixed to the outer side of each side c, c,.

page_text: of the machine, and the upper faces or tops of these bars are on a level
with the top edges of the said sides and opposite to the said rollers.
These iron or steel bars carry the pieces of waste slate being carried off
from the roofing slates and hinder them from breaking off, and can be
slidden nearer to or further from the outer sides of the said machine as
the case may require. Attached to each side of the said machine and
under the said rollers is a steel plate r, r, Fig. 5, about three feet long
more or less, and herein-after designated the cutting plate, on which the
slates in passing under the rollers bear. The upper edges of these
cutting plates are ground to an angle, the highest side of the edges
being the outer side. The spindles of the revolving cutters 1, 1, are
mounted above the centre of the cutting plates and at right angles
thereto, their cutting edges reaching below the top edges of the plates.
The spindles of these revolving cutters are regulated as the cutters
wear by screws s, s, working in vertical slides bolted to the sliding
frames f, f. The revolving cutters 1, 1, are either plain discs of
steel or hardened iron, or discs with a number of prominent angles on
the circumference, such as would be formed by dividing the periphery
into an octagon, decagon, or other polygonal figure. I fasten the said
cutters on to their said spindles in the following manner:-I employ
spindles of the usual construction with fast face plates thereon, and loose
washers, but in front of the fast face plates and on each spindle I
have fitted a cone of steel or other suitable hard metal to slide loose
on the said spindle. The larger end of the said cone partially slides
in a cavity in the fast face plate and behind the cone in the said
cavity is a spiral spring of steel (or india-rubber), which constantly
forces the cone tight into the centre hole of the cutter perfectly
adjusted, whatever may be the variation (through wear or otherwise)
in the size of the central holes of the various cutters employed. The
smaller end of the cone partially slides in a cavity in the loose
washer, which latter is secured in its place on the spindle in the
ordinary way by a nut. This arrangement is equally applicable for
fixing or securing and adjusting circular saws, discs, or other circular or
similarly shaped revolving cutters on to thin spindles for cutting wood or
other materials, and also for holding circular saws or other cutters in a
true position whilst being sharpened. The slates, after passing the
aforesaid revolving cutters 1, 1, and under other guide or steadying
rollers k, k, pass under a roller attached to a lever, and in lifting the

page_text: lever gives motion to a registerer or counter t, t, fixed in the most con-
venient place on the side of the machine, showing on its face by moving
fingers and numbers printed thereon the number of slates either in a
finished state or in a partially finished state that pass through the
machine. This counter can be thrown out of geer at pleasure, which
prevents its being tampered with when not in use. The slates then
pass under two more rollers k, k, of about twelve inches diameter,
covered with india-rubber, or india-rubber combined with cloth. Both
rollers are fitted on one shaft, one of the rollers being fixed to each side
of the machine; the slates then pass down slides u, u, on to the trucks
or into the wagons placed to receive them, see Fig. 2. The last-
named rollers are eccentric in principle, having their bearing or centre
holes on the shaft a little out of the centre, about an eighth of an inch
more or less; these rollers are stationary, except when slates pass under
them and between them and the india-rubber straps placed on the
aforesaid endless pitched chains h, h, beneath. When a slate passes
under they then make one revolution, the circumference of the said
rollers being equal to the length of the largest ordinary roofing slates
made. When the said rollers are at rest their peripheries nearest their
bearing or centre holes are at the bottom, leaving a small space between
the peripheries of the said rollers, and the india-rubber moving straps
beneath the rollers hold this position when at rest by being weighted.
The bearings of the said roller shaft works in vertical slides in their
pedestals v, v. Attached to the said pedestals are spiral springs of steel
(in the caps of the pedestals), and the roller shaft is adjusted to the
right height by bolts attached to the said sliding bearings, and which
pass through the said spiral springs in the said caps of the pedestals
to nuts on the tops of the caps. When a large slate passes under the
said rollers and the full sides or peripheries of the said rollers come to
the bottom the said springs give the space required. When a short
slate has passed under the said rollers it will have brought the full
sides of the said rollers into contact with the said india-rubber straps
running beneath, and cause them to complete their necessary revolution.
The roller fixed to the stationary side of the machine is keyed fast on
its shaft. The roller fixed to the movable side of the machine slides on
a key in a groove in the shaft, and moves with the side of the machine.
On the end of the shaft affixed to the stationary side of the machine
is keyed fast a disc w, w, with a movable stud x, which can be worked

page_text: by a screw or slide nearer or farther from the centre of the disc so as
to give more or less throw to the levers y, y, for working the aforesaid
slide for the slates to pass down on to the trucks or wagons; the said
slide is formed of two parts or sides (one part or side being fixed to
each side of the said machine) and hangs on the bosses through which
the driving i, i, shaft passes. The bottom ends of the slides can be
raised or lowered to suit the different heights the trucks may be, or
for placing two tiers of slates on them. The raising or lowering of the
said slides is effected by having wheels fitted to their upper ends and
which fit on the aforesaid bosses; one portion of the peripheries of the
said wheels are ratchet wheels (see Fig. 2) to hold the said slides in any
position. Another portion of the said peripheries have spur wheel
teeth, which are actuated by two pinions z, z; these lift the said slides
to any desired height. The said pinions are fitted on a shaft 1, 1, the
said shaft resting in bearings attached to the sides of the machine; one
pinion is fixed to the stationary side of the machine and keyed fast on
the shaft, the other is fixed to the movable side of the machine, and
slides on a key in a groove in the shaft. The said slides u, u, have
hinged joints at the bottom, to which are attached movable plates, which
plates form when at rest parts of the beds of the slides. To these
plates on the under sides are other joints, to which two rods of iron 2, 2,
are attached; these rods are connected at the other ends by one of the
levers y, y, and the rod 3, 3, to the stud x in the aforesaid disc; the
slot in the top of the latter allows the disc plate and the aforesaid
rollers to make the last half of their revolution without moving the
said rods or levers, and thereby leaves them at rest. When the disc
plate and rollers are at rest the stud in the disc plate is at half centre,
or on a level with the shaft on which it works. When a slate has
passed down the aforesaid slide it remains leaning on the slide at the
bottom, with one end of the slate resting on the truck until another
slate passes under the aforesaid and last-named rollers, causing the disc
to revolve the stud in the disc plate, then presses down the aforesaid
levers y, y, and they acting on the connecting rods 2, 2, lift the plates
at the bottom of the slides that the previous slate is leaning upon, and
throws the slate forward against the others already piled on the truck
or wagon 4, 4, and at the same time pushes the truck or wagon the
thickness of the next coming slate; the said plates then fall back on
the slides to receive the next coming slate. The endless pitched

page_text: chains h, h, are supported underneath when passing under the last-
named rollers by two fixed plates in the said grooves, with rollers in
the centre, same at 5, in Fig. 5. There are two fixed and two or more
movable brackets 6, 6, attached to the sides at the entrance end of the
said machine, which act as guides to keep the slates square on entering
in the second operation, or when passing the slates a second time
through the machine. These brackets are not necessarily used when
the slates are first operated on, or, in other words, when the slates are
the first time put through the machine.
In Sheet 2 of the Drawings Fig. 6 is a side elevation, Fig. 7 an end
view, and Fig. 8 a plan of a modification of the arrangement for
delivering and stacking the slates. a, a, is the endless chain covered
with india-rubber, which carries the slates through the machine; b, b,
is another pair of endless bands which work over two rollers c, c³, in
the direction of the arrow, and tilt the slates up on end and direct them
down into the slides d, d, the slates being held between the lower band
roller c and a covered roller e, e, and thereby lowered quietly into
the truck; f, f, is a lever which pushes the truck sideways the thickness
of a slate each time a slate passes under the eccentric pulley g, g. The
handle h, h, and bevil wheels i, i, are for raising or lowering the lower
band rollers. k, k, is a bell, which rings when each pile of slates across
the wagon is finished, by means of the lever l, l, coming against the
side of the truck.
Fig. 9 is a plan view, and Fig. 10 a side elevation of a further modi-
fication of the arrangement for loading the slates on to the wagons. It
is worked similarly to the first arrangement by the disc and eccentric
pulley, but the slide lifts wholly, as shewn by the red lines in Fig. 10,
when the slates are lifted into their upright position. m, m, is a lever
working on a fulcrum at n, n, and connected at one end by the slotted
rod o, o, to the crank pin p, p, on the disc q, q, and jointed at its other
end to the slide r, r; s, s, is a weight to bring down the lower hinged
portion of the slide when released; and t, t, is a pin to prevent the
lever m, m, from rising further than is requisite.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be per-
formed or carried into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I
claim as my Invention, the peculiar novel construction and arrange-

page_text: ments of machinery or apparatus for squaring or dressing roofing
slates and counting and registering the same, and loading the slates
on to wagons or trucks, as herein-before described and illustrated
in the Drawings annexed, or any mere imitation or modification
thereof, constructed and operating in substantially the same or a similar
manner.
And I also claim the method herein described of fixing the revolving
discs, cutters, or saws on to their spindles, as applied to sawing machinery
for wood.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Harrison, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
ROBERT HARRISON. (L.S.)