Improvement in Wood Graining Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Wood Graining Machines.
I, JOHN SHANNON, Manufacturer, residing at No. 102 Seventh Avenue, in the
City of Pittsburgh, County of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, and United States
of America, 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 :-
My improvement relates to the general class or type of appliances employed for
producing imitations of the grain or natural growth of hard woods by scoring or
incising corresponding designs on the surfaces of such softer and less expensive
woods as do not naturally present them, and to which it is desired to impart their
appearance for the purpose of ornamentation. The object of my invention is to
provide a device of such character, which shall be of simple and inexpensive
construction, and which, in operation, will accurately and expeditiously effect the
surface graining of wood, without liability to mar or deface it by bruising or
breaking down its fibres. To this end, my invention, generally stated, consists in
the combination of a table or rest, a design plate having an embossed or relieved
surface and fitted to move above the table, and a series of scoring blades, which are
actuated to mark or incise the surface of wood supported on the table, in desired
and determined patterns, by the movement of the design plate. The improvement
claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings:
:―
Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation, of a wood graining machine embodying my
invention;
Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section through the same;
Fig. 3, a plan or top view;
Fig. 4, a vertical longitudinal section, illustrating a modification;
Fig. 5, a similar section, illustrating a further modification;
Fig. 6, a view, partly in end elevation and partly in section, of a machine adapted
to the graining of mouldings;
Fig. 7, a vertical longitudinal section through the same;
Fig. 8, a similar section showing means for adjusting the scoring blades to
different thicknesses of mouldings;
Fig. 9, a vertical longitudinal section illustrating a modification in which a
rectilineally moving plane surfaced design plate is employed; and,
Fig. 10, a similar section illustrating a modification in which the design plate is
in the form of a series of sections connected in an endless belt.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a table or rest 1, which is ordinarily a
substantial plate of metal, having a truly plane upper surface and supported upon
legs or standards 2. A design plate 3, upon the surface of which a pattern or
representation of the design of graining which is desired to be produced, is
embossed or formed in low relief in any suitable manner, is fitted to move above
the table, in such manner that different portions of its surface shall be caused to
successively pass a determined vertical transverse plane. Such traverse of the
design plate is desirably effected by making it of cylindrical form, so as to constitute
a roll, to which rotary motion is imparted, and this form is herein particularly
exemplified. The cylindrical design plate or roll 3 is fixed upon a shaft 4, which
may either extend entirely through it, or be made in separate sections, secured to
and projecting in line axially from its opposite ends. The shaft 4 is mounted in
suitable bearings 5 upon the table, and carries upon one of its ends a driving
pulley 6, to which rotation is imparted by a belt from a shaft driven by any suitable
prime mover.

page_text: The scoring or incising of the wood, whereby the desired imitation of hard wood
grain is produced, is effected by a series of pointed or sharp edged scoring blades 7,
which are arranged side by side above the table 1, and are suitably supported with
the capacity of intermittent vertical movement relatively thereto, in position to act
upon a strip of wood A, traversed thereon, such movements being imparted to the
scoring blades, by the embossed or relieved surface of the design plate 3, and being
dependent, as to duration and relation, upon the movement and form thereof. The
movements of the scoring blades in one direction, as either towards or from
the surface of the strip of wood to be grained, are effected by the pressure of the
design plate upon their stocks or bodies 8, and are effected in the opposite direction,
as either from or towards the surface of the wood, by the oppositely acting force of
a pressure device, consisting of a spring or weight, the function of which is to
continuously maintain the scoring blade stocks in working contact with the design
plate by which they are actuated.
In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the stocks 8 of the scoring
blades 7 are journalled, at or near the middle of their length, upon a transverse
shaft 10, supported in standards 11, secured to the opposite sides of the table. The
scoring blade stocks are each provided at one end with a curved bearing face 9,
which abuts against the surface of the cylindrical design plate 3, and their opposite
ends are subject to the downward pressure of a spring 12, fixed upon a transverse
rod or bar 13, above and substantially in line with the points of the scoring blades.
The parts are arranged in such relation that the point of each scoring blade will
stand at or very slightly above the upper surface of the strip of wood A, when the
bearing face 9 of the stock of said blade is in contact with a raised portion of the
surface of the design plate 3, the bearing face being pressed upwardly against
the same by the spring 12. It will thus be seen that when, in the rotation of the
design plate, a depressed portion of its surface is brought opposite the bearing
face 9 of scoring blade stock, the bearing face will, by the downward pressure of
the spring on the opposite end of the stock, be forced upwardly and abut against
the depressed portion of the surface of the design plate, permitting the opposite end
of the stock and the scoring blade to be coincidently forced downwardly by the
spring. The scoring blade is held in such depressed position, in which it forms a
longitudinal score or incision in the strip A, which is fed longitudinally along the
table, until another raised portion of the design plate is brought in contact with the
bearing face 9, when the latter is thereby depressed, the opposite end and scoring
blade elevated, and the scoring action of the blade is intermitted until another
depressed portion of the design plate is brought opposite the bearing face. By such
movements of the scoring blades a series of longitudinal scores or incisions, in
imitation of natural grain, will be made by the blades in the surface of the strip A,
the lengths and relative arrangement of said incisions corresponding with the
pattern of the design plate and being dependent upon and controlled by the form
and movement of the design plate and the feed of the strip to be grained. It will
be seen that while the downward pressure by which the scoring blades are forced
into the wood is imparted by the spring, said blades are none the less actuated by
the design plate, inasmuch as said plate, in and by its alternate presentation of
depressed and of raised surfaces to the stocks, alternately permits and intermits the
exertion of the pressure by which the scoring blades are depressed to and maintained
in working position.
Any suitable and preferred mechanism may be employed for effecting the
longitudinal feed of the wood to be grained, or, in some cases, feed mechanisni may
be dispensed with and the strip fed by hand. In the instance shown, a lower feed
roll 14 is mounted in bearings on the table 1, below a transverse slot therein, its
periphery being tangential to the upper surface of the table, and an upper feed
roll 15 is journalled in bearings on arms 16, which are coupled to blocks or dies 17,
fitted to slide in curved slots 18, formed in standards 19, fixed to the sides of the
table, and adjustable in said slots by screws 20. A spur gear 21, fixed on the shaft
of the design plate, engages a corresponding pinion 22, journalled in a bearing on

page_text: one of the arms 16. The pinion 22 engages a corresponding pinion 23, on the shaft
of the upper feed roll 15, and also engages an idle pinion 24, which is fixed upon a
shaft journalled on the table and engages a pinion 25, ou the shaft of the lower
feed roll 14. The feed rolls are thereby rotated in opposite directions, coincidently
with the rotation of the design plate, and the upper feed roll may be raised and
lowered, as desired from time to time to accommodate different thicknesses of stuff,
without impairing the operative relation of the driving gearing.
Figs. 4 and 5 show modified forms of the machine in which the same elements of
the graining mechanism as above described are combined in the same operative
relation, differing, however, in the particular that the movements of the scoring
blades in the figures last specified are reversed relatively to those in the instance
first described, that is to say, the scoring blades are moved downwardly by their
stocks being brought into contact with the raised portions of the design plate,
effecting their scoring or incising action while such contact continues, and are
elevated by their springs when the stocks are brought into contact with the
depressed portions of the design plate.
As shown in Fig. 4, each of the scoring blade stocks 8 is journalled at one end
on the common transverse shaft 10, and its curved bearing face 9 is formed upon
its opposite end above the scoring blade. The springs 12ª bear against and exert
pressure on the lower sides of the stocks 8°. Figs. 5, 9 and 10 show a further
structural modification, the scoring blade stocks 8 having a direct reciprocating
movement, instead of an oscillatory movement as in the former cases.
To this end,
they are fitted to slide vertically in a supporting and guide bar 10, and are
provided with scoring blades 7 at their lower ends, and curved bearing faces 9 on
their upper ends. The springs 12b, two springs or two spring leaves being provided
for each scoring blade stock, engage notches or shoulders on the sides of the stocks,
and exert upward pressure by which they are elevated, to withdraw the points of
the scoring blades from the wood, when and during the periods in which the
depressed portions of the design plate are brought opposite to the bearing faces of
the stocks as before noted.
While I have herein set forth, as the preferred construction, a design plate of
cylindrical form, I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to such specific
form, for the reason that a plate 3 having the desired pattern for graining
embossed or relieved upon a plane surface, different portions of which are suc-
cessively brought into contact with the stocks of the scoring blades by rectilineal
movement, as shown in Fig. 9, or a series of flat embossed or relieved plates 3º,
connected in series to form an endless traversing belt, as shown in Fig. 10, would,
in each case, operate in combination with a series of scoring blades, similarly to the
cylindrical design plates shown and described, and would act as the mechanical
equivalent thereof when substituted therefor. Said plane surface plates, either
singly or connected, when combined with a series of scoring blades as hereinbefore
set forth, I therefore consider to embody the essential principle of my invention
and to be within its scope.
Figures 6 to 8 inclusive illustrate a modification of structure whereby the machine
is adapted to operate upon mouldings, that is to say, strips of wood having a surface
whose contour in transverse section is made up of one or a series of connected
curves, with or without intermediate straight lines. In such case two cylindrical
design plates 3 are secured by nuts 4*, upon a shaft 4, journalled in bearings 5
above the table, the distance of the design plates apart being adjusted as desired
by a series of interposed removable rings or washers 3. Each of the design plates
is formed with an embossed or relieved surface, so as to present irregularly disposed
raised and depressed portions, adapted to alternately make contact with bearings on
a shaft to which the scoring blades are connected. A series of scoring blade
stocks 8c is journalled upon a transverse shaft 10, each stock having a downwardly
projecting scoring blade 7 on its free end. The vertical centre lines of the several
scoring blades are located at substantially equal distances from the centre of the
shaft, but their downward projection therefrom, that is, the depth of the scoring

page_text: blade stocks, varies in accordance with the contour of the moulding, being less or
greater, as the case may be, proportionately to the elevation and depression of the
different portions of its surface in transverse section. A shaft 9 extends through
the series of scoring blade stocks, in line vertically with the points of the scoring
blades, the stocks being fixed thereto by nuts 9h, by which they are clamped end-
wise thereon, rings or washers 9° being interposed between the adjoining stocks.
Cylindrical bearing faces 9 are formed upon the shaft 9", said faces being caused to
abut against the surfaces of the design plates 3 by the upward pressure of a spring
or springs 12. In operation, the scoring blade stocks and blades are simultaneously
.depressed, to effect the scoring or incising action of the blades, when, in the
rotation of the design plates, the bearing faces are brought into contact with the
raised portions of their surfaces, and are elevated by the spring or springs, to
intermit the action of the scoring blades, when the bearing faces are brought into
contact with the depressed portions of the design plates, as in the form shown in
Figs. 4 and 5. The simultaneous elevation and depression, respectively, of a series
of scoring blade stocks of different downward projection, enables the action of the
blades to be exerted uniformly throughout the width of the vertically varied contour
of the moulding.
As shown in Fig. 8, the scoring blade stocks 8c are provided with horizontal
slots 10, to receive the shaft 10, and angular or inclined slots 9ª, through which
the shaft 9 passes. This construction admits of adjustment to suit mouldings of
different thicknesses, by longitudinal movement of the stocks relatively to the
shafts 10 and 9, such movement raising or lowering the points of the scoring blades,
by reason of the inclination of the slots 9ª, accordingly as the stocks are moved in
one or in the other direction. The scoring blades are clamped and held in adjusted
position by the nuts 9'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a wood graining machine, the combination of a table or rest, an embossed
or relieved surface design plate fitted to move above the table, and a series of
scoring blades fixed upon stocks abutting directly and continuously against the
alternately raised and depressed portions of the design plate, movement towards and
from the table being imparted to the scoring blades in and by the movement of the
design plate and the continuous bearing thereof upon the scoring blade stocks,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a wood graining machine, the combination of a table or rest, an embossed
or relieved surface design plate fitted to move above the table, a series of scoring
blades fixed upon stocks abutting directly and continuously against the alternately
raised and depressed portions of the design plate, movement towards and from the
table being imparted to the scoring blades in and by the movement of the design
plate and the continuous bearing thereof upon the scoring blade stocks, and a feeding
device for longitudinally traversing a strip of wood to be grained relatively to the
scoring blades, substantially as set forth.
3. In a wood graining machine, the combination of a table or rest, an embossed
or relieved surface design plate fitted to move above the table, a series of scoring
blades fixed upon stocks abutting directly and continuously against the design plate
and fitted to move towards and from the table, and a pressure device transmitting
pressure to the scoring blade stocks in direction to maintain continuous con-
tact of said stocks with the surface of the design plate, substantially as set
forth.
4. In a wood graining machine, the combination of a table or rest, a cylindrical
design plate having an embossed or relieved surface and journalled to rotate in
bearings above the table, a series of scoring blades, fixed upon stocks which are
fitted to traverse towards and from the table and to abut directly and continuously
against the design plate, and a spring bearing against the scoring blade stocks in

page_text: direction to maintain continuous contact of said stocks with the surface of the design
plate, substantially as set forth.
5. In a wood graining machine, the combination of a table or rest, a cylindrical
design plate having an embossed or relieved surface and journalled to rotate in
bearings above the table, a series of scoring blades, fixed upon stocks which are
fitted to traverse towards and from the table and to abut against the design plate,
a spring bearing against the scoring blade stocks in direction to maintain
continuous contact of said stocks with the surface of the design plate, a pair of
transverse feed rolls journalled in bearings above and below the table respectively,
and gearing through which rotation is imparted to one of the feed roll shafts from
the shaft of the design plate, substantially as set forth.
6. In a wood graining machine, the combination of a table or rest, a cylindrical
design plate having an embossed or relieved surface and journalled to rotate in
bearings above the table, a series of scoring blades, each fixed upon and projecting
downwardly from a stock or body having a bearing face abutting directly and
continuously against the design plate, a shaft on which said scoring blade stocks are
fitted to oscillate, and a pressure device transmitting pressure to the scoring blade
stocks in direction to maintain continuous contact of said stocks with the surface
of the design plate, substantially as set forth.
7. In a wood graining machine, the combination of a table or rest, a cylindrical
design plate having an embossed or relieved surface and journalled to rotate in
bearings above the table, a series of scoring blades fixed upon and downwardly
projecting from stocks of different vertical depths which are fitted to traverse, side
by side, towards and from the table and to abut against the design plate, and a
spring bearing against the scoring blade stocks in direction to maintain continuous
contact of said stocks with the surface of the design plate, substantially as set
forth.
8. In a wood graining machine, the combination of a table or rest, a cylindrical
design plate having an embossed or relieved surface and journalled to rotate
in bearings above the table, a series of scoring blades fixed upon and downwardly
projecting from stocks of different vertical depths, a shaft on which said scoring
blade stocks are fitted to oscillate, a shaft fixed to the scoring blade stocks
adjacent to their free ends and above the scoring blades, said shaft having
a cylindrical bearing face abutting against the design plate, and a spring exerting
pressure upon the scoring blade stocks in direction to maintain continuous contact
of the bearing face with the surface of the design plate, substantially as set
forth.
9. In a wood graining machine, the combination of a table or rest, a cylindrical
design plate having an embossed or relieved surface and journalled to rotate in
bearings above the table, a series of scoring blades fixed upon and downwardly
projecting from stocks of different vertical depths, said stocks having inclined slots
above their scoring blades and horizontal slots near their opposite ends, a shaft
passing through the horizontal slots of the scoring blades and on which they are
fitted to oscillate, a shaft passing through the inclined slots of the scoring blades,
said shaft having a cylindrical face abutting against the design plate, and a
spring exerting pressure upon the scoring blade stocks in direction to maintain con-
tinuous contact of the bearing face with the surface of the design plate, substantially
as set forth.
Dated at Dittabh P TT SA this 92 dar of Narember A D 1891
Witnesses:
J. SNOWDEN BELL.
F. E. GAITHER.
JOHN SHANNON.