Improvements in Machines for Preparing and Jointing Staves for Casks and Barrels.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1887
Complete Left, 2nd Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
Improvements in Machines for Preparing and Jointing Staves for
Casks and Barrels.
1, SAMUEL WRIGHT, of 96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction of
machine, or arrangement and combination of mechanism, susceptible of considerable
modification in the arrangement of its parts, for preparing, and jointing the edges of.
staves to a double taper or barrel shape for making casks and barrels ; which will
enable such staves to be more accurately made to suit the various sized widths of wood
and bilge of barrels required, with the least possible waste of wood, than has been
effected with the machines as heretofore in use.
The nature and novelty of the invention and construction of the machine, under
one modification, consist all as follows:-The machine would consist of two main
vertical iron side frames secured at a proper distance apart by transverse stays or
frames, all so as to carry the bearings of the horizontal and vertical driving and
working spindles of the machine below, and of the feeding rollers above the table,
and fitted with a table top for carrying the slide guides in the centre for traversing
the staves horizontally, and the horizontal and vertical slides and frames of the lateral
spindles on each side for sawing and jointing the edges as hereinafter more particularly
described. The centre guide slide might consist of a simple plain longitudinal groove
cut or planed along the centre of the upper metal table, into which would be fitted
the traversing metal frame or carriage carrying the stave horizontally on its upper
surface, secured on a blank tapered form made approximately to the double tapered
barrelled shape to which the staves had to be dressed and jointed. This traversing
carriage and blank shaping form with the stave secured on it between end pushers
and over sharp points or other equivalent to prevent the stave from shifting, would be
traversed forward by three or more transverse horizontal feeding rollers, fitted over it
to press on the stave at different convenient parts of its traverse, so that as it passed
one roller, it would be drawn forward by the one in front, and always held firm on its
traversing shaping frame while having its edges dressed approximately by small
circular saws on horizontal spindles on each side. And then pass on to be jointed
plain or with tongue and grooves by suitable tools on cutting barrels carried on
vertical spindles in advance of the saws to the exact shape desired, regulated by the
edges of the shaping blank below the stave as will hereinafter be explained. The
horizontal spindles of the circular saws would be carried in journal bearings, in the
centre of movable side slide frames, each portable and fitted in horizontal lateral dove-
tail or V slides in or on the upper table of the frame, so as to allow of shifting these
frames out or in laterally in their guides to suit any desired width of staves. The

page_text: saws would be secured on the inner overhung ends of their spindles, so as to work and
cut close up to the stave, and the spindles made to move laterally in their bearings to
suit the double angled shape of the stave the saws were cutting, regulated by the
shaping blank below them acting positively on the inner end of a slide bar made to
traverse the spindles laterally outwards on opposite sides, against the power of a
weight or spring pressing them in while the stave and its carriage were traversing
between and acting on the ends of the slide bars, so that the saws would cut the stave
approximately to the shape desired, leaving sufficient wood on the edges for being
truly jointed by the cutting knives fitted in the jointing barrels on vertical spindles
considerably in advance of the saws. The vertical spindles of these jointing knives
would be carried in upper and lower shifting bush bearings in vertical slide guides,
carried in a strong transverse frame, secured between the main side frames with strong
brackets longitudinally secured to the side frames. These vertical spindles could have
their bearings shifted by pinching screws or otherwise to the radial angle it was desired
to dress the edge of the staves; and they would be traversed outwards in a positive
manner on opposite sides by a turned ring or rim at the lower end of their cutting
jointing boss rolling on the outer edges of the shaping blank below the stave, against
the power of a weight or spring pressing in each frame in its guides carrying the
spindles of the cutting bosses. These vertical jointing spindles would preferably be
driven by pulleys at their lower ends, and half twist belts or bands passed backwards
or it might be forwards over larger driving pulleys on a transverse horizontal first
motion shaft of the machine carried in bearings in the back end of the side frames,
and actuated by pulleys and belts from any adjacent motive power shaft of the work-
shop. This first motion horizontal shaft would also be made to drive a horizontal
shaft carried in bearings in the side frames below the saws of the machine, by a band
passed over pulleys on each shaft ; and band pulleys would be fitted on this forward
shaft, with open bands carried up from these over pulleys fitted on the centre of the
spindles of the saws. As the spindles of the saws would have to lie at a considerable
angle transversely to suit the double angular shape they have to cut the staves, the
saws would preferably be made convex on their front face, to give clearance, and the
driving pulleys would preferably be much rounded for flat belts, or driven with groove
pulleys for round bands, to allow of the free lateral motion of their spindles and bands
during the cutting of the staves to their said double tapered or bilge shape. One feed
roller would be fitted in front of the saws, and another between the saws and the
vertical frames carrying the jointing spindles, and another close behind the jointing
spindles, all in vertical guide brackets projecting up from each side frame of the
machine, and having their bush bearings in their vertical or segmental slide guides
tightened up by screws and spiral or other springs in a usual manner to press down
on the staves with sufficient force to feed it and its carriage forward, the spindles
being driven by wheel gearing or other means actuated by belts from the first motion
shaft. A horizontal spindle with a central cutting barrel would also preferably be
mounted in advance of the front feeding roller in vertical slide brackets over the two
slide frames, with set pinching screws for raising and lowering its spindle, so that its
cutting barrel in the centre would thickness the staves or round or hollow them on
the upper surface as desired, according to the shape of the knives used in the central
cutting barrel. This cutting spindle would also be driven by a belt passed over
overhung pulleys on the ends of these spindles, and all the cutting spindles would be
made to rotate and cut against or in the opposite direction to the traversing motion
of the stave.
The three or more horizontal rollers which thus traverse forward the stave and its
traversing table, may have their spindles driven by spur bevel, or chain gear from
the said first motion shaft and it might be further and all simultaneously through one
horizontal longitudinal shaft by bevel or screw wheels at their one end."

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Preparing and Jointing Staves for
Casks and Barrels.
I, SAMUEL WRIGHT of 96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment in writing, reference being had to the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction
of machine, or arrangement and combination of mechanism, susceptible of consider-
able modification in the arrangement of its parts, for preparing and jointing the edges
of staves to a double taper or barrel shape for making casks and barrels ; which will
enable such staves to be more accurately made to suit the various sized widths of
wood and bilge of barrels required with the least possible waste of wood, than has
been effected with the machines as heretofore in use.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
two explanatory Sheets of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figures 1 and 2 on
Sheet 1 are a longitudinal elevation and corresponding plan respectively of my new
or improved machine complete for preparing and jointing staves for casks and barrels.
Figure 3 on Sheet 2 is a transverse section as taken near the line 1---1 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 represents a side view, plan, and end view respectively of one construction
of the traversing pattern or template T, for determining the size and shape of the
stave while it is carried through the machine. While Figure 5 represents a plan and
transverse section respectively of a modified construction of stave pattern or
template T, T, from that shown in Figure 4, and in which scrowed wedges t, con-
nected by a spindle t, are used for adjusting the width of the stave carried on it.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the cutter head and knives for jointing and shaping the
edges of the vertical carrying staves, and for tonguing and grooving them when that
is desired. And Figure 7 is a sectional elevation at right angles to Figure 6. While
Figure 8 is a corresponding plan of this cutting tool head. Figure 9 shows a set of
two cutting tools e, e, for making the tongue on the stave Z. Figure 10 represents
a side elevation, plan, and end view respectively showing the hollowing out stave
cutter K, k, and its horizontal carrying spindle K¹. And Figure 11 shows a trans-.
verse section of a grooved and feathered stave Z, and a plain stave after being
delivered from the machine; these detail views Figure 6 to 11 being shown to a
larger scale than in the general views Figures 1 to 3.
Referring to these Drawings, the nature and novelty of my invention and construc-
tion of machine, consist all as follows:-The machine consists of two main vertical
iron side frames A, A, secured at a proper distance apart by transverse stays or .

page_text: frames A', A", all so as to carry the bearings of the horizontal and vertical driving
and working spindles of the machine below, and of the feeding rollers C, C", above
the table and fitted with a table top B for carrying the slotted or slide guides B', B',
in the centre for traversing the staves Z, horizontally, and the horizontal and vertical
slides and frames of the lateral spindles on each side for sawing and jointing the
edges as hereinafter more particularly described. The centre guide B₁ B', consists of
a simplo plain longitudinal groove cut or planed along the centre of the front and
back parts of the upper metal table B, leaving a gap at B2, over which guide
groove B¹ of the table B is fitted the traversing metal frame or carriage b, carrying
the stave Z horizontally on its upper surface, or secured on a blank tapered dummy
pattern template T, made approximately to the double tapered barrelled shape to which
the staves Z have to be dressed and jointed. This traversing carriage and blank
shaping form T, with the stave Z secured on it between end pushers and over sharp
points or other equivalent to prevent the stave from shifting, is carried forward by a
feather on the underside of the plate working in the groove B¹ so as to guide the
travelling plate T and stave Z truly, through the centre of the machine while being
actuated by two, three, or more transverse horizontal feeding rollers C, fitted to roll over
it on transverse horizontal shafts C¹ to press on the stave Z, at different convenient
parts of its traverse, so that as it passed one roller, it would be drawn forward by
the one in front, and always held firm on its traversing shaping frame T, while
having its edges dressed approximately by small circular saws D D on horizontal
spindles D D at each side. And then pass on to be jointed plain or with tongues
and grooves on opposite edges, by suitable tools on cutting barrels F carried on
vertical spindles F working in recesses at B2 through the table B, in advance of the
saws D to the exact shape desired, regulated by the edges of the shaping blank T
below the stave, as will hereinafter be explained. The horizontal spindles D¹ of the
circular saws D are carried in journal bearings D₁, in the centre of lateral movable
side slide frames D³, each portable and fitted in horizontal lateral dove tail or
V-slides D³ secured by flanged brackets at D*, on each side of the upper table B of
the frame, so as to allow of shifting these slide frames D² out or in laterally
within recesses or gaps at B³ cut in the opposite sides of the table B, and guides B₁,
by long screws d in their guide frames D³. The saws D are secured on the inner
overhung ends of their spindles D¹, so as to work and cut close up to the stave, and
the spindles D' are made to move laterally in their bearings D" to suit the double
angled shape of the stave Z the saws D were cutting for the time being, regulated by
the shaping blank T below them acting positively on the inner curved end d', of a
slide bar d², working parallelly with another rod d", in guides d³ in the frames D" D³,
connected by a crosshead d₁, attached between collars to the outer end of each
shaft D¹ of the saws D, and so made to traverse the spindles and saws laterally to the
shape of the pattern T outwards on opposite sides, against the power of a weight w
pressing them in through the bell crank lever w¹, w", fulcrumed to a bracket at w
projecting down from the frame d³, so that the bow arm to³ of the bell-crank presses
on the crosshead *, keeping the guide d' bearing against the pattern T while the
stave and its carriage were traversing between the saws D, which would thus cut the
stave approximately to the shape desired, leaving sufficient wood on the edges for
being truly jointed by the cutting knives fitted in the jointing barrels F, on vertical
spindles considerably in advance of the saws D, as will hereinafter be described. In
place of curved ends d¹, of the parallel shifting frame d², d¹, bearing on the edges of
the blank pattern T, small rollers might be fitted in these ends d', to roll on the
pattern and act otherwise all as described. The vertical spindles F, F, of these
jointing knifeheads F, F, are carried in upper and lower shifting bush bearings F",
in vertical slide or oscillating frames F2, preferably the latter, so that each spindle F¹
and its frame F2, will oscillate laterally towards and out from the edge of the
staves Z, to be cut while passing between them in the centre of the machine. These
frames F2, to so oscillate the cutter spindles are preferably mounted by journal
bosses F, at top and bottom on strong central studs F³, secured to and projecting
down from the underside of the table B, each actuated by leyers f projecting .back.

page_text: from the lower bosses F, and by cords and weights f¹, f2, passed over guido
pulleys carried on spindles or studs f projecting from brackets secured to the side
frames A; all so as to press a guide boss E, against the template T, under the stave,
so as to cause the cutters to joint the edges of the staves to the exact shape of the
template T, which would press out the cutters against the power of the lever f, and
weighted cord f1f2. These vertical spindles can have their stop bearing F11, adjusted
to the proper height by a pinching screw at E' for the knives e in the cutting head F
to joint the edges of the stave Z. The levers are prevented from travelling too far
by stop levers fx, secured on one of the cross stays A", as seen particularly in
Figures 3, 6, and 7. The cutter heads F are thus as stated traversed outwards in a
positive manner on opposite sides by the turned ring or rim E, at the lower end of
their cutting jointing boss F, rolling on the outer edges of the shaping blank T below.
the stave Z, against the power of the cord and weight f¹, f2, pressing in each oscil-
lating frame F, carrying the spindle F1 of the cutting boss F, or this frame F2,
instead of being so oscillated on a centre spindle F³, might be reciprocated in slide
guide frames to act in an equivalent manner by weighted levers. As seen in
Figures 6, 7, and 8, the cutting bosshead F, and its guide pulley E, are preferably
secured to a reduced turned part of the upper end of their spindle F¹ by a screw nut
on top, and the narrow steel cutters e or el for forming the tongue and groove on the
opposite edges of the stave, as seen in Figure 11, are secured in slots at 2 through
the bosshead F by pinching screws e³, and these steel cutters e, e¹, may be made in
one, two, or three parts, according to the form of the joint edge of the stave desired ;
that is for plain jointing only one blade e is necessary in each recess e³, and for
tonguing two knives are required in each recess as shown in Figure 9, and for
grooving three blades e¹, are preferred, one for forming the groove, and two for
forming the joint on each side of the groove as seen particularly in Figure 7;
Figure 11 shows sections of the stave Z, both tongued and grooved and plain.
Figure 4 shows a plain form of the traversing shaping pattern or template T, with
ribbon its lower side, for working in the groove B₁ in the stationary table B as seen
in Figure 3. This pattern T may be either made of wood or metal, but the lower
sliding part b would preferably be made of metal, and have sharp points 1 projecting
up through the template pattern T entering the stave Z to be shaped and jointed as
shown dotted in, and which is placed on the top of the points and in front of the
pushing projections &³, the rollers C, pressing down the stave and carrying it and its
traversing guide template T forward, so as to be cut by the saws D) and jointing
bossheads and knives F all as described. Figure 5 shows a modification of this
template which is made in two parts T, T¹, the feather b being secured to the under-
side of the former, while the two parts are attached by inclined plane nuts with slotted
grooves and guide pins at t, mounted at opposite ends on a screw spindle t¹ which
shifts these inclined or wedge nuts t, and so opens or closes the two parts T, T¹, to.
make it wider or narrower to suit different sized staves, in a few minutes and so save
having a great number of different sized plain templates T, as shown in Figure 4, the
two parts T T, being half checked and guided together at their ends t². These
vertical jointing spindles F¹, are preferably driven by pulleys G at their lower ends,
driven by half-twist belts or bands G¹ passed backwards (or it might be forwards)
over large driving pulleys G², on a counter or first motion shaft G³, of the machine
carried in pillar block bearings G on the foundation z preferably some distance out in
front of the end of the machine frame A, and actuated by a fast and loose pulley H
and belt H, from any adjacent motive power shaft of the workshop, controlled by a
hand fork lever mechanism H2, carried in guide brackets II³, supported by the bearing
blocks G. This first motion horizontal shaft G³ is also made to drive a horizontal
shaft I, carried in bearing blocks 1' on the side frames A A, below the saw.
spindles D, D', of the machine, by a band I", passed over pulleys 12, 13, on each
shaft 1 and G³; and broad band pulleys J, are fitted on this forward shaft I, with
open bands J carried up from these over pulleys J2 fitted on the centre of the
spindles D¹ of the saws D to drive them at a very high speed, all in the direction
indicated by the arrows in Figures 1 and 2. As the spindles. D' of the saws D would.

page_text: have to lie at a considerable angle transversely and horizontally to suit the double
angular shape they have to cut the staves, the saws are preferably made concave on
their front face, to give clearance next the staves and convex on the opposite side,
secured by a round screw nut dx on the extreme end of the spindle D, and the
driving pulleys J2, would preferably be considerably rounded for flat belts, or be
driven with groove pulleys for round bands, to allow of the free lateral motion of their
spindles and hands, during the cutting of the staves, to their said double tapered or
bilge shape all as hereinbefore described. The staves Z when fed into the machine
would preferably be wider at the middle part than at the ends, thus a two inch stave
would be made two and a quarter inches at the middle, and a three inch, three and
three eighths inches at the middle, and so on, which would give the advantage that
any number of staves could be used to form the same size of cask or barrel. One
feed roller C, and its spindle C³, are fitted in front of the saws D, and another between
the saws and the vertical frames F2 carrying the jointing spindles F¹, and other two
rollers, in advance of these jointing spindles F1 on opposite sides of a cutting
bosshead K, for hollowing out the upper surface of the staves all as will hereinafter
be explained, and as shown in detail views in Figure 10. These rollers CC, are
preferably carried in bearing oscillating brackets C, and fulcrum studs or centres C³,
in brackets C, projecting up from the top plate B over each side frame A A, of the
machine, and pressed down by weighted levers C, or it might be springs or other
equivalents so that the feed rollers C press down on the stave Z, to be cut, and also
its traversing template T and bed over the groove B₁ in the centre of the table B,
so as to have its edges all cut by the saws D, and jointed and tongued and grooved
by the bossheads F and their cutters e e¹ and hollowed out on the upper surface by
the barrel K. These spindle C" of these feed rollers C, are primarily driven at a slow
feeding speed by the cross belt c¹ from the small pulley c on the counter shaft G³,
passed over the large pulley el on a hollow spindle or sleeve eye c³ with a pinion
on its inner end, both running on a strong stud in one of the central studs C³, carried
in a central bracket c. This spur pinion c³ gears into corresponding wheels con
the spindles C, C1, of the central feed rollers CC, on either side of the jointing
heads FF. Chain wheels on the outer ends of these spindles C₁₁, of the
central feed rollers CC are geared by chains to corresponding wheels on the
spindles C, C, of the entering and discharge feed rollers CC. Instead of carrying
the transverse spindles C, C, of all these feed rollers C C", in oscillating brackets C
as shown, they might be as in many other wood cutting machines carried in raising
and lowering bush bearings in slotted vertical guides pressed down by spiral springs
and pinching screws or by weighted or spring loaded levers. A horizontal spindle K¹
with a central cutting barrel K, and knives & secured by nuts k¹, on it as shown in
detail views in Figure 10, is mounted between the front feeding roller C", ("¹¹, in
bearings K", of a vertical or angular slide frame K2, working on dovetail slide guides
on a strong bracket frame K³ bolted to the one side of the top plate B, of the
machine and actuated by a hand screw and screw wheel A³, to raise and lower the
spindle K¹, and cutter head K, so that the knives k, hollow out the upper part of the
staves to the desired thickness and curves for size of barrels according to the shape
of the knives used in the central cutting barrel, the knives & being shifted and secured
on the cutter head K, by dovetail headed screws k¹. This cutting spindle K¹ is also
driven by a twist belt j, passed over the small pulleys on the spindle K¹, from a
large pulley J on the counter shaft G³; and all the cutting spindles would be made
to rotate and cut against or in the opposite direction to the traversing motion of the
stave as will be seen by the arrows in Figures 1 and 2. In some cases, as shown in
longitudinal and transverse sectional details in Figures 12 and 13, an under feeding
roller C, might be fitted in bearing brackets secured under the table B, so as to
work up through recesses, cut in the slide part B' for it in the table and having a
groove bx cut in the centre of this roller to clear the guide feather b, and press on
the inner plate of the template T, and receive the strain of the upper feed roller, and
so roll and traverse forward the stave Z and its template. T between the two rollers C
and C all without friction on the grooved slide part B of the bed table B.
"

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is:
First. The construction, or general arrangement and combination of the parts of a
machine for feeding forward the staves and preparing or sawing and jointing the
edges of staves to a double taper or barrel shape and hollowing them out on their
inside, for making casks and barrels, all substantially as and in the manner herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In a machine for the preparing or jointing of staves for the manufacture
of casks or barrels, the fitting of cutter heads and cutters so as to form and joint the
staves with tongues and grooves, on their opposite edges, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In a machine for the preparing or jointing of staves for the manufacture of
casks or barrels the fitting of concave saws mounted on horizontal spindles in
adjustable slides or frames on each side of the horizontal traversing pattern and stave,
for roughly shaping and breadthening the staves, substantially as herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In a machine for the preparing and jointing of staves for the manufacture
of casks or barrels, the fitting of saws on each side of the traversing pattern and
staves for roughly shaping and breadthening the staves, in combination with cutting
tools to joint the staves either plain or with tongues and grooves, all substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In a machine for the preparing and jointing of staves for the manufacture
of casks or barrels, the fitting immediately under the stave of a traversing pattern
or template, of the same contour on its edges as the stave to be jointed, and actuated
by horizontal rotating feed rollers acting on the top of the staves, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Sixth. In a machine for tho preparing or jointing of staves for the manufacture of
casks or barrels, the fitting of a traversing pattern or template, of the same contour
on its edges as the stave to be jointed, with a T or equivalent feather or projection on
its under plate or surface, to slide and be guided in a groove or slot formed in a
horizontal stationary table, substantially as and for the purposes herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated th: 01 1
1000