Improvements in Apparatus for Grooving and Cutting Wood suitable for Fire Lighters and other purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Grooving and Cutting Wood suitable
for Fire Lighters and other purposes.
We, EDWIN POLLARD, of The Wood Works, Keighley Road, Silsden, in the
County of York, Joiner, and POLLARD AND METCALFE LIMITED, of the same place,
Wood Workers and Fire Lighter Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:
-
The object of this invention is to construct a machine by which long laths of
wood fed to one end of the machine may be grooved longitudinally on one side
of the lath and diagonally on the other, and in addition to the grooving, to so
arrange the machine that, the grooved laths are cut into the required lengths
automatically without the attendant having to handle the wood after it has been
fed to the machine at the end thereof.
In carrying out the above object, the laths are fed one after another to one
end of the machine and carried forward by revolving pressure-rollers over revolving
cutters by which the longitudinal grooves are cut on the underside, the laths
then continue their course through the machine upon a rising and falling table,
to a position to be acted upon on the top side by revolving saws or cutters mounted
upon a saddle set diagonally or at a suitable angle to the travelling laths, and to
the rising and falling table.
The diagonally mounted saddle is supported by a reciprocating table mounted
upon a suitable and stationary bed plate, positive motion is iniparted to the said
table in a manner that it travels for some distance at or about the same speed as
the laths are travelling, and on arriving at the end of its traverse, the table is
liberated, and returned quickly to its original position, when the operation is again
repeated.
The saddle on which the revolving saws or cutters are mounted may be arranged
so that the said saws or cutters will cut grooves in the laths at an angle of say
45 degrees, or to any other desired angle corresponding with the angle at which
the saddle is mounted in relation to the lath and rising and falling table.
The saddle mounted in the manner as before described, has a reciprocating
motion corresponding with that of the table, but in addition, it is made to recipro-
cate in a diagonal direction also, by which motion, the revolving cutters are
brought into contact with the travelling laths and grooves cut across the same
at the desired angle, during the time the rising and falling table is elevated. After
the diagonal grooves are cut across the lath by the saws or cutters on saddle
moving in one direction, the rising and falling table is lowered a certain distance,
when the reciprocating table is liberated and allowed to return quickly to its

page_text: original position; and on the said table again moving forward, the rising and
falling table is elevated to the position that, the revolving saws or cutters will
cut another series of grooves in the lath on the return portion of the diagonal
stroke of the saddle, the table, saddle and Saws or the like travelling longitudinally
in the same direction and at the same speed, as the lath during the operation of
cutting the diagonal grooves.
The lath after being grooved in the manner described, continues its course
forward in the same direction until the end comes into contact with a plate
secured to a spindle, the travelling lath moves the plate and spindle a short
distance, thereby operating a lever which, through intermediary levers and con-
nections brings a pair of clutch boxes or the like into gear, and a table suitably
supported carrying a revolving circular saw is operated, in a manner that, the
revolving circular saw is brought into contact with the grooved lath by which
it is cut, the saw during the cutting operation travelling in the same direction
and at the same speed as the lath so long as it is cutting or in contact with the
lath and when the cut piece is liberated, the table and saw are allowed to recede
quickly, and the saw brought back to its original position quickly by means of
springs or other suitable appliance.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent, Sunbridge Chambers, Bradford.
Improvements in Apparatus for Grooving and Cutting Wood suitable
for Fire Lighters and other purposes.
We, EDWIN POLLARD, of The Wood Works, Keighley Road, Silsden, in the
County of York, Joiner, and POLLARD AND METCALFE LIMITED, of the same place,
Wood Workers and Fire Lighter Manufacturers, 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:-
--
The object of this invention is to construct a machine by which long laths of
wood fed to one end of the machine may be grooved longitudinally on one side,
and diagonally on the other, and in addition to automatically cut the grooved
laths into the required lengths without the attendant having to handle the wood
after it has been fed to one end of the machine.
In explaining the invention in detail, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the nfachine.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 3 an elevation of the opposite side to that
shown by Fig. 1. The other figures are enlarged detached details and are herein-
after referred to.
The machine is driven by the main shaft A, a small pulley secured on the said
shaft drives by means of a belt the pulley B, secured on shaft C, this shaft drives
by bevel wheels 1), the diagonal shaft E, which by bevel wheels D' drive the
shaft II, on which is secured a small spur pinion G, gearing into wheel G¹.
secured on shaft J, to one end of which is secured a pinion K. gearing through
an intermediate pinion with spur wheel L, secured on shaft M, on the opposite
end of which is secured a pinion N, gearing through an intermediate pinion with
the wheel O, partly cut away in elevation for more clearly showing the mechanism
behind.
The spur wheel O, is secured on shaft P, and on the opposite end is secured a

page_text: pinion Q, gearing into pinions R, and R', secured on the axles of the bottom feed
rollers S, the top feed rollers S¹, being driven from the shaft P, by similar spur
pinions T, shown in plan Fig. 2.
The top feed rollers S', are supported by brackets U, U, carried by pin V, passing
through the brackets B', and to the opposite end of the brackets U, U, rods W,
are attached, which are also secured to a plate X, for giving pressure to the top
feed rollers S¹. This plate X, is attached by rod Y, to a lever Z, secured on
shaft 1, on the end of which is secured another lever 2, coupled by a link 3, to long
lever 4, supported on pin 5, secured to the machine frame.
When the long lever 4, is in the position shown, the top feed rollers S¹, are
in position for feeding the wood laths to the machine, but if the said lever be
depressed so that the pin 6, secured to the lever engages with the curved portion 7,
of slot hole in arm S, the top feed rollers S', are then raised clear of the wood
lath, hus stopping the feed.
Wood laths are fed one after another and carried forward by the revolving feed
rollers S, and S¹, over revolving cutters secured in the ordinary manner to the
square portion 9, of revolving shaft 10, driven by pulley 11, from a pulley 12,
on main shaft A. A pressure roller 13, is mounted in cage 14, hinged at 15, to
bracket 16, to which are also hinged two bars, the lower bar 17, is so placed that
the laths travel over the upper surface, and above is the top bar 18, supporting a
small roller 19, kept in contact with the lath below by the compression of spiral
springs 20.
Hinged to the bar 17, at 21, is a table 22, arranged with a fence or guide 23,
along one side of same, the table being supported by upright bars 24, and recipro-
cated in a vertical direction in the manner as hereinafter described, the wood laths
being kept in contact with the table 22, and fence 23, by pressure rollers, springs,
or other well known means.
Between the side frames of the machine is secured a bed plate 25, shown by
details Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, Fig. 4 representing a longitudinal section through the
said plate, upon which is placed à reciprocating table 26, provided with a
saddle 27, placed diagonally across same.
Upon the said saddle are mounted two adjustable standards 28, each standard is
provided with a sliding block 29, operated by a hand wheel and screw 30, a
revolving spindle passes through each sliding block, and each spindle is fitted
at one end with a driving pulley 31, and at the other with one or more circular
saws 32.
Reciprocating motion is given to table 26, by the rotating cams 33, driven by
a train of spur wheels 34, mounted within the side frames of machine, one of the
train of wheels gearing with a spur wheel secured on shaft 36, some distance behind
the wheel 37, which is also secured on shaft 36.
Engaging with the groove of each cam 33, is a lever 38, and to each lever is
coupled a rod 39, the said rods engaging in a suitable manner with the underside
of table 26, so that by the rotation of cams 33, a reciprocating motion is imparted
to the said table, and standards 28, mounted on the diagonally placed saddle 27.
As the wood laths are propelled through the machine in the manner as before
described, longitudinal grooves are cut on the underside by the revolving cutters
secured to the square portion 9, of shaft 10, and diagonal grooves on the top
side of the laths by the circular saws 32, the standards 28, reciprocating longi-
tudinally with the table 26, and in addition, they reciprocate in a diagonal
direction; thus a compound motion is given to the standards and circular saws 32,
one direction being longitudinally, and the other diagonally.
The rotary motion imparted to shaft 36, is derived from shaft C, upon one end
of which is secured a pinion 40, gearing into spur wheel 41, secured in shaft 42.
and on the opposite end of said shaft is a spur wheel 43. driving through the
wheels a, b, and c, the wheel 44, secured on shaft 45, on which is also secured
within the bed plate 25, a bevel wheel 46, gearing into bevel wheel 47. secured on
shaft 48, upon which is mounted a bevel wheel 49, backed up by bracket 50.

page_text: The sliding bevel wheel 49, gears into a larger bevel wheel 51, shown by plan
view of 'bed 'plate, see Fig. 5, the larger wheel being supported by a bracket 52,
secured to the underside of reciprocating table 26.
Attached to the saddle 27, is a bracket 53, having a slot hole 54, with which
engages a wheel stúd 55, so that on the rotation of the bevel wheel 51, the
stud 55, travels in the slot hole 54; thus causing the saddle 27, to reciprocate
diagonally in relation to the table 22, and side frames of machine, the circular
saws travelling across the lath' supported by table 22, cut diagonal grooves in the
lath during the time the table 22, is elevated.
The diagonal grooves are cut in the lath when the reciprocating table 26; is
travelling in the direction of the arrow, see Fig. 2, and the saddle 27, travelling
diagonally in one direction or the other. After the diagonal grooves are cut
by the circular saws travelling across the lath, the table 22, descends quickly a
distance for the lath' to be clear of the circular saws, and. there remains until the
table 26, is moved quickly. by the cams 33, to its original position, the said
table taking the bevel wheels 49, and 51, along with it. The table 22, is then'
raised and other diagonal grooves cut across the travelling lath, on the return
of the diagonally placed saddle 27, and circular saws 32, to their original position,
when the table 26, is again returned quickly and the operation repeated.
The rising and falling of table 22, is 'accomplished by the rotating cam 56,
mounted on shaft 57; driven by spur wheel 58, the table 22, is shown in the
position for the 'lath to be clear of the 'circular saws 32, and in order to raise
the said table into position for effecting the diagonal cutting, the rotating cam 56,
acts upon a stúd secured to plate 59, and depresses the same. To this plate
lever 60, is connected, the opposite end being supported by a bracket 61, and
to the said lever is connected a shackle 62, coupled by links 63, to levers 64,
supported on fulcrüm pins; the opposite ends of the levers being coupled by
links 65, to arms 66, secured to upright bars 24, attached to table 22.
The revolving cam 56, is mounted on shaft 57, and may be moved clear of the
stud projecting from plate 59, by the operation of lever. 67, one end of which
engages with the 'cam, and the other by a stud with the groove 68, in sliding
plate 69, connected by a rod to lever 70, secured on a shaft to which is also secured
a lever 71, coupled by a link to lever 7, secured on shaft 1, so that should the
lever 4, be depressed for the stud 6, to engage with the curved portion 7, of slot
hole, the plate 69, will slide in the supporting bracket and move the cam 565,
clear of the stud.
The table 22, is also hinged at 72, and in order that the grooved laths may be
cut into short lengths, a circular saw 73, is mounted on a rising and falling
bracket 74, made to slide on a bracket 75, secured to the side frame.
Above the said brackets the table 22, is continued, but this portion is stationary
and provided with pressure rollers 76; mounted to levers 77, between which" is
a bar and compressed spiral spring 78. The grooved lath passing under the
pressure rollers 76, is held close to the continued fence 23, by a flat spring St,
and on the lath coming in contact with a small pulley 1", on cam 79, the cam
is moved 'in the direction of curved arrow, the said cam being mounted upon an
upright shaft, connected to another upright shaft, to which is attached another
cam 80, provided with a flat spring for keeping the lath in contact with the
pulley P, during the cutting of the lath by the circular saw 73, made to travel in
the same direction as the lath whilst cutting.
The circular saw 73, is driven by pulley 81, mounted on the said spindle
provided with a feather key engaging with the said pulley, the rising and falling
bracket 74, is operated by clutch, 82, the top portion of which is secured to
bracket 74, the bottom-portion of said clutch is free on the upright shaft. 83, .and is
driven at intervals from a pulley, 84, secured on shaft 36, by a belt passing over
pulley 85, thence through the bevel wheels 87.
.
The lower portion of the clutch 82, spur wheel 88; and upper portion 89; of
catch box are secured together, free on upright shaft 83, and supported by a fást

page_text: collar on said shaft recessed within the upper portion 89, of catch box, .below
which is the sliding portion 90, mounted on the upright shaft provided with
feather keys engaging with the said sliding portion, so that when the two portions
are brought into gear by the operation of lever 91, the lower portion 82, of the
clutch rotates, thereby raising the upper portion and bracket 74, a. distance
equal to the height of the clutch inclines, when the said bracket and attachments
descend to the position shown.
The spur wheel 88, drives spur wheel 92, to which is secured a bevel wheel 93,
gearing with a similar wheel secured on shaft 94, upon which is secured cam 95,
with the groove of which engages a stud projecting from lever 96, carried by
a pin at the top; the bottom end of lever being connected by bar 97, to lever 98,
hinged on a stud supported by bracket 99. This lever is shown in detail sidė
elevation by Fig. 8 and front elevation by Fig. 9 drawn to an enlarged scale,
and within the recess of the said lever is pivotted a frame 100, in which is mounted
a sliding block 101, flanged on each side so as to slide easily within, the said
frame, and connected with the end of the saw spindle S2, so that on the oscillation
of the lever 96, by cam 95, a varying lateral reciprocating motion is given to the
circular saw 73, the saw travelling during the cutting at the same speed as the
lath, and on the saw descending returns quickly.
Connected to a stud projecting from lever 98, is an arm 102, secured to one end
of bar 103, to the opposite end of which is secured an arm 104, attached to a
narrow sliding plate 105, mounted in end plate. To plate 105, a similar and
simultaneous sliding motion is given to that of the circular saw .73..
The putting into gear of the sliding catch box 90, with the upper portion, 89,
for raising the circular saw for cutting the grooved laths into lengths is accom-
plished in the following manner, and shown more particularly on reference to
Fig. 10 drawn to an enlarged scale, representing an end view of the machine,
parts of which are removed for more clearly showing the mechanism for raising
the circular saw 73. Fig. 11 represents a plan partly in section showing the
mechanism for putting the sliding catch box 90, into gear with 89, and Fig. 12 an
and view partly in section showing the arrangement of levers, both these illustra-
tions are drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 10.
The cams 79, and 80, are secured to the respective upright shafts 105, and 106,
each provided with a short crank arm coupled together by a link 107, the, link
being continued to lever 108, secured on shaft 109, on which is secured another
lever 110, the upper portion being arranged with a slot hole through which
lever 111, passes. The shaft 109, extends through the bracket 75, and on the
shaft is secured a short slotted lever 112, and also at the end a weighted lever 113
Supported by a bracket is a lever 114, coupled by rod 115, to lever 91,. engaging
with sliding catch box 90, and to lever 114, is. hinged another lever 116, notched
at the upper end, and held in contact with slotted lever 112, by spring S³, and to
the end of lever 114, is hinged a short catch arm 117.
On the end of a grooved lath proceeding under the pressure rollers 76, coming
in contact with small pulley P¹, the cams 79, and 80, are moved in the direction
of the curved arrows, thus moving the lever 108, and shaft 109, in the direction
that the catch on lever 111, engages with the side of lever 110, holding the said
lever in a more vertical position, the slotted lever 112, moving the upper portion
of lever 116, such a distance ithat, the notch near top of same is disengaged from
the slotted lever 112, thereby liberating levers 114, and 91, so that by. the gravity
of the long ends of said levers, the revolving and sliding catch box 90, is moved
into gear with 89, thus putting the clutch 82, into motion and thereby raising the
sliding bracket and circular saw 73, a sufficient distance to cut. through the
travelling grooved lath, the saw whilst cutting moving in the same direction and
speed as the lath.
On the descent of the circular saw and sliding bracket 74, a projection 118; on
same strikes the upper side of catch arm 117, thereby raising rod 115, and
disengaging the sliding catch box 90, but so long as the cams 79; and 80, are

page_text: held apart by a lath between them, the sliding catch box 90 is allowed to go into
gear after each descent, but in case the said cams are allowed to move towards each
other to the position shown, the sliding catch box 90, is held out of gear by the
notch near the top of lever 116, engaging with the slotted lever 112.
Each time the circular saw and sliding bracket 74, are raised, a projection 119,
secured to said bracket raises one end of lever 111, thus liberating same from
lever 110, and providing the cams 79, and 80, are not held apart by a grooved
lath proceeding from under the pressure rollers 76, the notch on lever 116, engages
with the slotted lever 112, and keeps the sliding catch box 90, out of gear with 89.
The raising of the bracket 74, and travelling of the circular saw 73, and the
putting into and out of gear of the catch boxes 89, and 90, may be accomplished
as shown by detached detail views, Fig. 13 representing an end view, Fig. 14 a
side elevation, Fig. 15 a sectional view showing the levers with one removed, and
Fig, 16 a plan of some of the levers.
The principle difference between this method and that before described is, the
introduction of levers shown by Fig. 16, and the connection of the lever 98, by
a chain to a pulley mounted above catch box 89, the catch box being so connected
to the clutch 82, that the said catch box may slide on the upright shaft and also
drive the clutch 82.
In carrying out this arrangement, levers 119, 120, and 121, are introduced,
and means for operating the said levers by a spring bar 126, the lever 119, is
supported by fulcrum pin 122, and levers 120, and 121, by fulcrum 123, a pin 124,
passes through all three levers.
When the lever 116, is released in the manner as before described, the outer or
long ends of the levers 114, 121, and 91, descend by gravity, by which the catch
boxes 89, and 90, are brought into gear with each other, thus rotating the
clutch 82, and pulley 124, the latter by suitable stops placed on the catch box 89,
and pulley 124, which on rotating draws the chain 125, around its circumference
and operates through lever 98, the saw spindle S³.
On the downward movement of sliding bracket 74, a notch on spring bar 126,
comes in contact with end of lever 120, by which rod 115, is raised and the catch
boxes moved out of gear, thus liberating the pulley 124, which is brought back to
its normal position by the contraction of spiral spring 127, attached to lever 98,
and some rigid part of the machine.
An inclined end is formed on spring bar 126, which on coming into contact with
a screw 128, moves the said bar clear of the end of lever 120, thus allowing the
catch boxes 89, and 90, to gear together and raise bracket 74, and circular saw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim
is:-
:-
1. A machine in which are combined rotary cutters for cutting grooves longi-
tudinally on the underside of laths fed to the machine, and diagonal grooves on
the top side, by mechanism arranged substantially in the manner as shown and
described.
2. A reciprocating table 26, with a saddle 27, placed diagonally thereon in
relation to the said table, the said saddle supporting circular saws 32, all arranged
and operated for the purpose substantially in the manner as shown and described.
3. A reciprocating table 26, with a saddle 27, supporting circular saws 32,
placed diagonally thereon in relation to the said table, combined with a rising
and falling table 22, arranged and operated for the purpose substantially in the
manner as shown and described.
4. The cams 79, and 80, combined with the intermediate levers and connections
with the levers 91, and sliding catch box 90, substantially in the manner shown
and described and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
'5. The combination of the rotating cam 95, with the saw spindle S³, and sliding

page_text: plate 105, operated through the intermediary connections, arranged substantially
in the manner as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination of the slotted lever 112, and the intermediary levers and
connections with the clutch boxes 89, and 90, for the purpose set forth, arranged
substantially in the manner as shown and described.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1899.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent, Sunbridge Chambers, Bradford.