IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING WOOD
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Richards, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, and Edward Atkinson, of the same Place, Engineer; for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING WOOD."
Sealed the 9th January 1880, and dated the 18th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Richards and Edward
Atkinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October
1879.
JOHN RICHARDS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, and
EDWARD ATKINSON, of the same Place, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING WOOD."
Our Invention consists in the combination of various appliances for planing,
sawing, rabbeting, grooving, moulding, morticing, boring, scroll sawing, and other
operations, also in the construction of the same. Our improved compound machine
consists of a central planing cylinder with two adjustable tables, one at each side,
which tables we mount on radial links so that they will move in the arc of a circle
and be always equi-distant from the axis of the planing cylinder. We extend the
spindle of the planing cylinder beyond one of the bearings and fit on it cutters,
saws, or other tools; these cutters or other tools can be readily changed or removed
without interfering with the planing cylinder. On a pivot at one side of the
extended spindle we place an auxiliary table which can be lowered towards the
cutters or other tools, or swung back out of the way. In this auxiliary table we
make a deep groove or channel opposite to, or over the cutters, saws, or other tools,
and this groove is fitted with bars of wood which can be made to approach
or recede from the cutters to form a throat or aperture of the requisite size and
shape.
We also adjust the tables or platens of planing machines by means of two screws,
one vertical and the other horizontal, connected by gearing; the pitch of the screws
and the relative size of the wheels being such that the tables can be raised or
lowered in a diagonal line as the circumstances may require. In connection with
the above mentioned machinery we combine band sawing and edge moulding
mechanism in such a manner that one table will be sufficient for both operations

page_text: the band sawing part consisting of a new method of mounting the top wheel on a
movable bracket carrying both the wheel and saw guides, the former running on
a stud which can be adjusted to various angles in a vertical plane and thus
determine the path of the saw blade on the wheels. The edge moulding spindle
runs in bearings beneath the band saw table, which bearings slide vertically on
the main casting, and are so mounted that the spindle with its bearings and
attachments can be readily removed or replaced without interfering with the band
sawing parts.
Our improvements are applicable to general as well as special purposes in wood
working, and some of them may be used separately and applied to machines of the
ordinary construction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Richards and Edward Atkinson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th April 1880.
JOHN RICHARDS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, and
EDWARD ATKINSON, of the same Place, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING WOOD."
Our Invention consists in improvements in machinery for planing, sawing,
rabbeting, grooving, moulding, morticing, boring, scroll sawing, and other operations,
also in the construction of the same. And in order that our Invention may be
fully understood, we will describe the accompanying three Sheets of Drawings,
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
In the accompanying Drawings similar letters of reference on the different
Figures indicate corresponding parts.
On Sheet 1, Figs. 1 and 2 are side and end elevations of one of our improved
combination machines arranged in its most simple form for planing and jointing
only. The two tables a and b are supported on links c, and may be raised or
lowered independently by means of the two hand wheels d, d. The table a is, for plane
cutting, kept level with the extreme sweep of the cutters at e, while the position
of the table b determines the amount cut away; f represents a piece of wood being
planed, and the difference in the plane of the tops of the two tables a & b
determines the amount cut away. The cutting implement employed is of the usual
form, consisting of two or more knives attached to a revolving spindle, driven by
the band pulley g, Fig. 2. The gauge or fence h is arranged to be set angular froin
the plane of the table top, if required, so that "bevilling" may be performed, or
angular pieces planed. This gauge can also be set at various points transverse to
the cutting implement so as to bring more or less of the cutting edge of the knives
into action as the width of the timber or other conditions may require. In raising
or lowering the two tables a and b, it will be understood that the links c are so
arranged that the "mouth" or "opening" between the tables is, at all positions,
as narrow as possible, the tables at their extreme ends next the cutters e moving
concentric, or nearly so, with the axis of the cutter spindle. We do not in all
cases employ this device for keeping the mouth or opening as narrow as possible,
but we employ a different method, which will be explained hereafter in connection
with Sheet 2 of the Drawings.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation, Fig. 4 an end elevation, and Fig. 5 a plan of our
improved combination machine with an auxilliary table i added on the front side;
and Fig. 6 on the same Sheet is a side view of the same machine illustrating
adjustments of the auxilliary table . This table is pivotted on a stud k projecting
from the main fraine m, and is adjusted up or down by means of the screw n to
regulate the distance which the cutters or saws may project through, and the
depth at which they will act upon wood that is passed over them. Beneath this
table there is an extension of the spindle carrying the cutters e, shewn at o,
Fig. 2. The opening or mouth through which these cutters or other implements
project requires to be not only adjustable, as in the case of the planing parts already
referred to, but must also be varied in form to suit the shape or form of cutters
when of irregular profile, and also circular saws. As such shapes are constantly
varying for different kinds of work, such as rebating, grooving, bevelling, notching,
moulding, sawing, and so on, we employ two wooden bars 8, 8', fitted into corre-
sponding grooves in the table, and capable of being slid forwards and backwards to
or from the cutters p, Fig. 3, as their shape may demand. These wooden bars or
mouthpieces are held by the screw wheels or nuts q, which are carried on bolts or
screws moving in slots, as shewn by the dotted lines r, Fig. 5. The advantages of
these wooden bars are that the required shape of the mouth can be formed by the

page_text: cutters themselves, and thus secure an accurate shape, and also in avoiding the
danger of metal parts coming in contact with the knives or cutters.
In the case
of circular saws the table i can be raised; as shewn in Fig. 6, and after putting in a
saw can be lowered down, the saw cutting through and forming an exact fit in the
wood. These bars being of wood can be readily replaced if injured or worn, and
different ones can be prepared by an attendant if required. This auxilliary table i,
it will be observed, does not in any way interfere with the flat planing and jointing
details of the machine shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. If required it can be readily
removed from the stud and replaced when wanted, or it can be swung out of the
way entirely, as indicated by the dotted lines at i, Fig. 6. Fig. 7 shews an end
view of the same machine supplied at its rear side with boring and morticing
mechanism. n is a strong bracket fastened to the main frame m, and arranged to
receive the sliding table v, with its supports, as shewn. This table vis supported
on a cylindrical stem w, which can be adjusted up or down by means of the screw x,
and set to angles by loosening the screw y, which clamps the piece z to the stem w.
a¹ shews a piece of wood clamped by the screw 6', and in position to be acted upon
by an auger c¹, or other implement of the kind. The sliding carriage or table v,
besides its motion transversely to the cutting implements, is moved forwards and
backwards upon the ways d by means of the handle e¹ and a screw arranged in
the usual manner. For morticing the table vis traversed by a lever f¹. When
the machine is arranged with all the various details, or in any case when preferable,
two driving pulleys of different sizes are employed, as shewn at g, Fig. 7. In this
same Figure at t is shewn a sliding gauge or fence for moving timber transversely
to cutters or saws employed in cross cut sawing, also for cutting notches, and so
This gauge or fence t is arranged to slide on the edge of the table i, and to
be instantly removed or replaced, as occasion may require.
on.
On Sheet 2, Fig. 8 is a side elevation of our compound machine herein before
described, connected with mechanism for sawing curved lines, and also for irregular
or edge moulding, these last operations, together with those that may be performed
on the machine, as described on Sheet 1, comprising nearly all that are necessary
in shaping and cutting wood for ordinary purposes. Fig. 9 is an end view of the
combined machine corresponding with Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a detail to be hereafter
referred to in connection with the band sawing part. Fig. 11 shews a modification
of the planing parts of our combination machine, in which the tables are not
mounted on links but on guides, and are moved by differential screws, to be
hereafter more fully described and explained. Similar letters of reference on this
Sheet indicate corresponding parts on Sheet 1. At A, Fig. 8, is shewn a rear view
of the combination machine already described, but without the morticing and
boring details, which however can be applied the same as when the band sawing
part at B and the moulding part at D are not connected. A central driving shaft
at h communicates power to the planing cylinder by a band, as shewn on the front,
and also by other hands, shewn in dotted lines, to the band saw and moulding
spindle. The machine A having been already described we will refer to the band
sawing part at B. m' is table on which the timber to be sawn is placed; n¹, n¹,
are wheels on which the saw o' is carried. The top wheel and the guide bar pl
are both mounted on a bracket q¹, which slides up and down on the column l
by means of the wheel 81, and a screw inside the column, as shewn by dotted lines;
this adjustment being to regulate the tension and provide for saws of different
length within the limits of the movement. The top wheel is mounted on a stúd o³,
as shewn in Fig. 10. This stud is square at x where it passes through, and has a
bearing in the framing. At the other end at t¹ this stud passes through a slot
which permits that end to be adjusted up or down by means of the screw u¹, so as
to alter the plane of the wheel n¹ and thus cause the saw to run forward or back
on the face of the wheels as may be desired, the main object being to cause the
saw to bear on the guide at v₁ and not come off the wheels when they are in
motion. Atv is shewn a device for lessening the danger of small pieces of wood
falling in between the saw and face of wheel. We prefer to make it wedge shaped
-

page_text: and of wood, attaching the same to the main frame by suitable iron bracket.
When the edge moulding spindle is to be used the saw o' is removed, the guide v
raised up to its highest position, thus clearing the table m' to receive the timber
to be moulded. The moulding spindle w₁ is mounted on a strong plate or frame y
which is attached to the main frame m by means of the bolts or clamps 21, 2².
Between these two bolts or clamps is a boss or lug 1 projecting from the plate y¹,
through which passes the screw 2, connecting it with the lower clamp z'. By
turning this screw 2 the plate or frame y¹ is moved up or down on the frame m,
sliding under the heads of the clamps or bolts 21, 22, slots being provided for that
purpose. If the plate y with the moulding spindle w¹ is to be removed, this can
be done by removing two screw nuts from the inner ends of the clamps z¹, 2³, when
the whole will come away. This vertical adjustment just described is to enable the
knives at 3 to be set up or down as occasion may require. The top of the moulding
spindle 4 is fitted into a socket on the top of the moulding spindle w₁, so that it
may be easily removed when band sawing is to be done, and thus leave the top of
the table m¹ clear. If the top of the spindle is not removable, or in any case, by
preference, the plate y with all its attachments can be removed as before explained.
The machine represented by the parts B and D we sometimes construct separately
from the part A, to be driven from one shaft placed between or from separate shafts
as may be desired, the combination or system of machines remaining the same in
so far as their use and general objects are concerned. Referring now to Fig. 11,
the tables a and b corresponding in their use to that described in connection with
Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1, are mounted on slides instead of links, as in the previous
case; these tables slide out and in upon the brackets 5 and 6, and these latter slide
up and down on the main frame m, the horizontal movement being produced by
the screw 7, and the vertical movement by the screw 8. These two screws are
connected by bevel gear wheels, shewn at 9, so that they turn together; but the
pitch of the screw threads is different, so that the horizontal and vertical movement
is not coincident and may be varied as the relative pitch of the two screws may
determine. By preference, we employ in most cases screws with such relative pitch
as will produce a movement of the tables approximating the direction indicated by
the dotted lines 10 and 11 at the table a. The purpose of this angular movement
is to guard against the danger of the tables a and b being moved into contact with
the knives or cutters on the spindle e, and also to keep the mouth or opening
between the two tables at all times as narrow as possible. The bevel wheel on the
horizontal screw spindle is secured in such a manuer that it may be readily
disengaged from that on the vertical spindle, so that by turning the hand wheel d
the tables may be drawn away from the cutters in a horizontal direction only, and
thus facilitate the changing of the knives or cutters without altering the vertical
adjustment. Other details of the machine are the same as described in connection
with Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to
the exact details given, as the same may be modified and their application varied,
but what we claim is,-
First. The method of mounting the plattens or tables a and b, Sheet 1, on the
links c.
Secondly. The detachable outside spindle or continuation of planing spindle for
sawing, moulding, and other purposes.
Thirdly. The pivotted auxilliary table, with its mountings for cross cutting,
ripping, and tenoning, and the hard wood "slip mouthpieces."
Fourthly. The arrangement of horizontal and vertical screwed spindles, with
differential pitches for adjusting the plattens, together with the gear wheels and
stop pieces on the horizontal spindle.
Fifthly. The combination of a band sawing machine, an edge moulding or
shaping machine, with a machine for planing, jointing, and other purposes,
substantially as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

page_text: Sixthly. The method of mounting the top wheel of band sawing mechanism on
an arm or bracket, with an adjustable pivot by which the tension may be regulated,
and the plane of rotation of wheel adjusted; also the device vs for lessening the
risk of pieces of wood getting in between the saw blade and the wheel rim, and
Lastly. The detachable "head" of moulding spindle and the device for raising
and lowering this spindle, substantially as shewn and described in reference to
Figs. 8 and 9.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Atkinson, for myself and on behalf of
the said John Richards, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth
day of April, One thousand eight hundred and eighty.