IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING TIMBER
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN ROWLEY JEX LONG, of 345 Gallowgate, Glasgow, in the county of
Lanark, Timber Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING TIMBER," to be as follows:
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for forming match splints, fire
wood, scale-boards, and the like, by dividing timber which is intermittently fed
forward to be operated on by knives of a suitable kind.
As adapted for forming match splints or similar articles of uniform dimensions
the improved apparatus consists of a fixed framing in which are formed guides
wherein reciprocates a sliding frame carrying the knives which score the face of the
wooden block from which the splints are made, and those which slice off the
thickness of the wood which has been scored. Weights, levers, or other feeding
devices of well known kind being employed to move forward the timber as the
cutting proceeds.
.
.
The scoring knives have a reciprocating movement imparted to them in the
horizontal or vertical direction, and the slicing knives of which there are two, one
being on either side of the scoring knives, have a motion imparted to them, com-
pounded of a motion with the scoring knives, and a reciprocating movement at
right angles thereto. The motion of the knives is derived from a crank'on a
rotating shaft, the crank being fitted with a connecting rod or beam, attached by
a pin to a sliding frame carrying the scoring knives, and by short connecting rods
to sliding carriers on which are fitted the slicing knives. The rotation of the crank
traverses the scoring knives first in one direction, and effects one scoring operation,
and the slicing knife behind it then slices off the thickness of wood scored to form
splints. In the return traverse the scoring knives again score the face of the wood,
and the slicing knife on the opposite side descends and slices off the splints. The
motion of the slicing knives at the proper time, is obtained by connecting them by
rods at equal distances on either side of the centre pin to the rod or beam con-
necting the crank to the scoring knife frame, so that as the crank revolves, the
portion of the connecting rod or bar to which the slicing knives are attached, will
oscillate on the centre pin while it is reciprocated, and these knives instead of
chopping the splints off, will have a paring or slicing action which is not liable to
injure the splints:
As adapted for forming scale-boards or shavings, the use of the scoring knives is
dispensed with, or only such a limited number are employed as may be necessary
to cut the shavings to the desired breadth.

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
U.
I, JOHN ROWLEY JEX LONG, of 345 Gallowgate, Glasgow, in the county of
Lanark, Timber Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING TIMBER," and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
=
My invention relates to improved apparatus for forming match splints, fire-wood,
scale board, and the like, by dividing timber, which is intermittently fed forward
to be operated on by knives of a suitable kind.
As adapted for forming match splints or similar articles of uniform dimensions,
the improved apparatus consists of a fixed framing formed with guides, in which a
sliding frame reciprocates, carrying the knives which score the face of the wooden
block from which the splints are made, as also the slides and knives which slice off
the thickness of the wood which has been scored. Weights, levers, or other feeding
devices of well known kind being employed to move forward the timber as the
cutting proceeds.
The scoring knives have a reciprocating movement imparted to them in the
horizontal or vertical direction, and the slicing knives, of which there are two, one
being on either side of the scoring knives, have a motion imparted to them com-*
pounded of a motion with the scoring knives, and a reciprocating movement at.
right angles thereto. The motion of the knives is derived from a crank on a
rotating shaft, the crank. being fitted with a connecting rod or beam, attached, by
a pin to a sliding frame carrying the scoring knives, and by short connecting rods
to sliding carriers on which are fitted the slicing. knives.
The rotation of the crank traverses the scoring knives first.in one direction, and
effects one scoring operation, and the slicing knife behind it then slices off the
thickness of wood scored to form splints. In the return traverse the scoring.
knives again score the face of the wood, and the slicing knife on the opposite side.
descends and slices off the splints.. The motion of the slicing knives at the proper
time, is obtained by connecting them by rods at equal distances on either side of
the centre pin to the rod or beam connecting the crank to the scoring knife frame,
so, that as the crank revolves, the portion of the connecting rod or bar.. to which
the slicing knives, are attached, will oscillate, on the centre pin while it is recipro-
cated, and these knives instead of chopping the splints off, will have a paring or
alicing action which is not liable to injure the splint.
And in order that the nature and manner of performing or putting my said
invention into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended a Sheet of Drawings:-In which Figures 1, 2, and 3, are respectively,
front, end, and back elevations, and Figure 4 a plan corresponding to Figure 1, of
a complete machine for cutting splints for matches from blocks of wood, all con-
structed in accordance with my invention. Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section
through the knives and their carrying slides corresponding to Figure 2, but to a
large scale to show the construction and details more clearly; while Figure 6 shows
a sectional side and front view of the portable holder D, of the scoring knives d

page_text: corresponding to Figure 5, and Figure 7 shows a full-sized edge and side view of a
scoring knife d, detached,
Referring to these Figures, this machine consists of a strong vertical cast-iron
box frame A, with side openings and a broad sole for being secured by screw bolts
to any suitable foundation, and having secured on top an upper horizontal plate A¹,
all so as to carry the driving shaft B in bearing blocks B', secured within one side
of the frame A; below the top plate A¹, carrying the other working gear of the
slides and cutting knives all as a self-contained or portable machine. The top
plate A has formed at its back edge a long planed vertical face plate with horizontal
recessed angle guides A³, into which is fitted the horizontal reciprocating vertical
plate or frame C, actuated by a joint pin at C, near its centre in the lower part of
the backet or arm C¹¹, projecting down from it for the purpose; and having secured
in a vertical central recess above, the portable holder D (Figure 6) of the horizontal
scoring or cutting knives & (Figure 7) fixed therein over each other by a screw and
jam nut d, with plates between them of a thickness to give the desired distance
between the cutters & and corresponding required size of splints. On the back face
of the horizontal slide frame C, and at equal distances on each side of the horizontal
cutters & vertical slide guides C are formed into which the vertically reciprocating
plate frames E are fitted, which have screwed on each of their upper front faces a
vertically and longitudinally cutting or slicing flat knife e, with screws and slots
at e for fixing and setting them, all so that they cut off the splints on their down-
ward and forward motion following that of the horizontal scoring cutters.d.. These
vertical slides E have a longitudinal recess E2 through them below each cutter e, to
allow the splints, or wood, as sliced off to be delivered into a spout or other
convenient receptacle at the back of the machine.
To regulate the thickness of the splints or shavings to be sliced off the wood by
these knives e, a plate e is secured in a recess at the lower part of the front face of
each slide E, under the cutting edge of the knife e and delivery recess E, so that
the splints as cut off can pass out over the upper edge of the plate e²; the distance.
the face of this plate is sunk in its recess beyond that of the cutter e determines
the thickness of the splints to be sliced off, and this is regulated by the set screws e³
as seen in Figures 3 and 5; and. each slide E is moved up and down in the
horizontal reciprocating frame C, by a pin E¹ in its lower end, so as to have a
duplex or curvilinear cutting motion imparted to its knife e, all as will hereinafter
be described.
The blocks of wood W are previously cut to a uniform proper size or length in
the direction of the reed of the wood the splints or slices are required to be cut, as
twice the length of the match desired. For the proper feeding forward of the
blocks W, an open transverse guide recess with vertical side F is formed or secured
on the top plate A' at the centre in front of the scoring knives d, and has grooved.
guides below, in which the pushing slide block F works to feed forward the
blocks of wood W from behind and keep their front face always up against the
gauge plates e² of the vertical slides E. The feeding block F¹ bas an actuating
cord f1, secured to a snug at F2 on its lower side, and passed over guide pulleys f
in front and rear below the table A¹. The front end of the cord f1 has a heavy
weight w attached to it, which feeds forward the wood blocks, while the back end
of the cord f is attached to a treadle f³ mounted on guides f* in front of the
machine where the attendant stands to draw back the feeding slide F¹ with his
foot each time he has to put in a new block of wood with his hands. A hand
swivelling catch F³ provided at the top of the feeding slide F¹ to hold down the
back end of the wood blocks; and a pressing roller may be provided to hold down
the front end when desired.
.
The driving shaft B is shown as actuated by a pulley b on it between its
bearings B¹ and by a belt b' passed over it from any adjacent transmitting motion
shaft, and for steadiness it is fitted with a fly wheel 6. A crank disc B' on the
back end of the shaft B gives the motions herein before stated to the slide frames C
and E and their respective scoring and slicing knives & and e, by the crank pin B³

page_text: * f
when set and turned in the direction indicated by the arrows, and jointed to one
end of the beam lever connecting rod 'G, which is connected to the actuating pin
of the frame.C, so as to reciprocate it to and fro as a connecting rod at each rovo-
lution of the shaft B and crank pin B, and at the same time oscillates on the pin C
as a fulcrum and act as a beam lever, and by the two short connecting rods g,
jointed at their lower end to it on opposite sides of the fulcrum C, at G, and at
their top ends to the pins E¹ of the slides E, and reciprocate those vertically at right
angles to the slide C, and so bring the slicing knives 'e of the former E, down just
after the scoring cutters d have completed their action through the face of the block
of wood W, in both directions, thus cutting and delivering two sets of splints, or
slices, off the front face of the block of wood at each revolution of the driving
shaft B.
५
When this machine is to be adapted for forming scale-boards or shavings, or other
strips of divided wood, the use of the scoring knives d' may be dispensed with, or
only such a limited number are employed as may be necessary to cut the shavings
or strips to the, desired breadth; and the machine, or the slides' C and E and
knives d and e, may be made of any desired sizes to suit the work required'; and
other sizes and forins of the feeding guides F, F, may be used to suit the work in
this wood-dividing and cutting apparatus or machine.
Although this machine is shown with the slides C and E and their cutter as
oscillating at right angles to each other in a vertical direction, or plane, it will be
understood that they might be set to so work in other planes, as horizontally, and
have their driving shaft and the feeding table vertical or at right angles to them.
*
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The construction of apparatus, or mechanism, for dividing (or scoring and
cutting) timber, substantially as herein described, or as shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
2. The construction of apparatus, or mechanism, for dividing (or scoring and
slicing off) match splints, scale-boards, or other such like strips, from blocks of
wood, substantially as herein described, or as shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
. 3. The construction of apparatus, or mechanism, for dividing wood into match
splints, scale-boards, or other such like strips, having scoring knives reciprocated
in one direction simultaneously with slicing or shearing knives nearly at right
angles thereto, by a lever acting connecting rod, substantially as herein described,
or as shown in the accompanying Drawings.