IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING TONGUE AND GROOVE FLOORING
Year: 1886

page_text: Groove Flooring.
I, GREENLEAF JOHNSON, Jr, of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,
one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of.
my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MAKING TONGUE AND GROOVE
FLOORING, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the drawing forming a part hereof;-
Figures I, II and III, taken together, represent a side elevation of the improved
machine, and Figs. IV, V and VI a top or plan view of the same.
Figs. VII to XIII, inclusive, are details of the invention on an enlarged scale.
Figs. XIV to XX, inclusive, are cross sections of a board illustrating its condition
at various stages of the operation to which it is subjected, beginning with a rough
plank, as hereinafter described.
Fig. XXI is a cross section of a completed piece of flooring, the same being
shown on an enlarged scale.
Figs. XXII, XXIII and XXIV are cross sections of different kinds of weather
boarding.
Fig. XXV illustrates a modification in the arrangement of certain parts of the
invention, as hereinafter described.
Figs. XXVI and XXVII illustrate further modifications of the invention.
A is the frame of the machine which may be of any appropriate design. B B
and B¹ B¹ are, respectively, the first and second pair of feed rolls which correspond
in all essential' particulars with those ordinarily used in planing machines; and
they are supported in the frame A, and provided with pressure levers, a, and, a², as
is usual. These rolls are driven from a shaft, C, and by means of mitre gears, b,
which unite the said shaft with the shafts of the lower rolls. The upper and
lower shafts are connected by means of gears, b¹. The rough plank denoted by C¹,
a section of which is shown in Fig. XIV, is entered between the rolls B B, and as
it advances to the rolls B¹ B¹, one of it's edges comes in contact with the vertical
cutter head, D, and is dressed, see Fig. XV. The cutter head D is only used when
the plank is not parallel at its edges, has bark thereon, or is not of the exact width
desired. The dressed edge of the plank is then forced against the guide strip, c,

page_text: by means of springs, c¹, and remains in contact therewith until the completion of
the entire operation. The plank now passes between the rolls B¹ B¹ and under the
top dressing head D', which planes its upper surface. The plank now presents the
appearance shown in Fig. XVI. The dressing head D' is of the kind ordinarily
used in machines of this class, and needs no description herein. It has pulleys, d,
at the ends of its shaft which are driven by means of belts, d¹, from the pulley E
to which motion is imparted as hereinafter described.
The plank next passes to a second cutter head, F, having knives adapted to cut
a series of channels e e¹ as shown in Fig. XVII. The shaft of the cutter head F
has pulleys, f, similar to the ones d, and they are driven by the belt f1 from the
pulley E. This belt passes over the pulley E, as shown in Fig. II, and serves to
drive it.
The main driving shaft is denoted by F¹, and it has a main pulley F which
receives its motion through the medium of a belt G; but I do not limit myself to
any peculiar arrangement of pulleys and belts to effect the rotation of the various
cutter heads herein shown.
7 1
The plank now enters between the third pair of rolls G which are driven by
means of mitre gears, g, from the shaft C in a manner similar to the ones B B¹,
and connected by spur wheels g¹. After passing from the rolls G¹³, the plank is
dressed at its under side by means of a second dressing head H which corresponds
in all essential particulars with the first dressing head D¹. The plank now
presents the appearance shown in Fig. XVIII. The plank next comes in contact
with the second channelling cutter head H¹ which is similar to the one F, and
channels are cut in its under side, see Fig. XIX. The under channels are
denoted by h h¹.
Pressure bars, I, serve to prevent the plank from being raised by the cutter
heads Hand H¹.
1¹¹are circular saws driven in any suitable manner, and situated in the rear of
the second and lower channelling head H¹ to rip the plank, at the channels, into a
series of boards, as shown in Fig. XX; and it will be seen that the saws operate at
one edge of the grooves e and h which are the narrow ones, and centrally of the
ones e¹ and h¹. By this means the five boards which result from the action of the
circular saws, are each provided with an unfinished tongue at one edge. It will be
understood that I do not restrict myself to any particular number of boards into
which the plank is ripped, as the number depends on the width of the plank, or the
width of the boards, which may be varied.
The boards now pass collectively between the fourth pair of rolls, J, which are
similar to those herein before described, and by them conveyed between the rolls J¹
and K, the one J¹ of which has an intermittent vertical movement, as and for
purposes hereinafter described. Of the two rolls J and K, the latter only is a
driving one, the former merely exerting a pressure to keep the boards in contact
with the latter. The boards are then fed to the rolls K¹ and L, and immediately
before entering between them pass under a smaller roller, L', on a bar, i, supported
at the ends by arms 2¹. These arms are fastened to studs which rest in
bearings, k on the frame A. The stud j¹ has an extension, in the form of an arm
which is connected to a semi-circular collar, l, with pins, l', which rest in a
groove, m, in a clutch, m³, adapted to slide on a feather in the shaft M. M¹ is a
clutch placed loosely on the shaft M, with a spur wheel, n, attached thereto in gear
with a spur wheel n³ on the shaft C. The shaft, C, is driven from the main
shaft F as follows: A pulley, o, on the shaft F', is united with another pulley o¹
on the shaft p, by means of a belt, p¹. A train of gearing denoted by q q, see
Figs. II and V, communicates movement from the shaft p to one end of the lower
roll K, and the other end of the said roll is provided with a mitre wheel, q¹ in gear
with a similar mitre wheel, r, on the shaft C. From this it will be seen that the
shaft C is in constant rotation when the machine is in operation. As the boards
come in contact with the small roller L¹ the same is raised in view of its normal
position being slightly below the upper surface of the boards. In the elevation of
t

page_text: the small roller L', and the bar, i, on which it revolves, the arms, ¹, are moved
forward, and the clutch m¹ thrown in contact with the similar clutch, M, on the
shaft M, through the medium of the extension k¹ on the stud j¹, the circular collar,
and the pins which rest in the groove m in the longitudinally moving clutch.
By this means, the shaft M is put in revolution before the boards reach the rolls K¹
and L. At this time the boards are held tightly to the lower roll K, by the pressure
of the upper one J', and as the next operation is the separation of the boards, it is
necessary, as a preliminary measure, that this pressure should be removed. To
accomplish this, I adapt the bearing boxes. 1 of the roll J to slide in the
frame-work which supports them, and connect the said bearings to bell cranks;
8, 8, and 8¹ 8¹.
•
The bell cranks s are connected to the ones 81 by means of rods, N, see
particularly Fig. XI, in order that both ends of the roll may be equally elevated
and depressed when in operation. The bell cranks 8 have arms, N¹, with rollers, t,
at their lower ends which bear against cams, O, on the shaft M. 0¹0¹ are bevelled
wheels on the shaft M, in gear with similar wheels, P, on vertical shafts t¹ which
are suitably supported in the frame A. P¹ P¹ are disks keyed to the lower ends of
the vertical shafts t¹, and u u are pins projecting from the under faces of the
said disks.
QQ are extensible separators, for the boards, and they consist of a series of
diagonal bars, u¹, pivoted together after the manner of "lazy tongs," and attached
to the under side of a track, Q. At the points of intersection of the bars u³, are
situated blocks, v, see particularly Figs. X and XII, which slide between the grooved
rails of the track Q. Each block, v, has a separating finger v¹ pivoted thereto, and
the pins w which connect the said fingers to the blocks, rest in slots, w¹, which
admit of their being adjusted. The fingers, v¹, are weighted to retain then
yieldingly, in an upright position. The pins u on the disks P¹, are united to the
separators, Q, at x, by means of connecting rods x', see particularly Figs. VII, VIII
and IX, and in one revolution of the said disks, the separators are first extended
and then contracted.
Supposing the boards have just raised the roller L', the shaft M is put in motion,
as before described, which causes the roll J to be raised from contact with the
boards, and while the roll is thus elevated the disks revolve, and the separators are
extended. In this extension of the separators, the fingers v¹ which have been
properly set, enter the channels h h¹ and force outward all the boards except the
one next to the guide strip c, and places them in the positions shown in full lines
Figs. V and VI, and in dotted lines Fig. VII.
As it requires considerable force to bring the clutches m¹ and M₁ into full
engagement, I do not depend entirely on the pressure of the boards or the roller L',
but effect the result with a cam, R, keyed to the shaft M. The semi-circular
collar has friction rollers, y, which follow the face of the cam in its revolution,
and are forced in, carrying with them the clutch m². During the time that the
cam R is forcing the two clutches m¹ and M' together, the sections of the board'
are being separated as before described, and the roller L, therefore becomes
inoperative, and would, if released, drop between the boards, see Fig. VII. The
cam R, however, keeps the clutches together, and the extension arm in its
extreme angular position. As the cam completes its revolution, the extension
arm is carried back, and the weight of the arm i', bar i and the roller L'
effects a disengagement of the clutches, and allows the pressure roll, J, to fall on
the separated boards, the forward end of which have at that time entered between
the rolls K and L.
The forward ends, of the separated boards now enter passages, R¹, formed of
bars S, which are adjustable in position, and pass to the cutter heads S¹, and T.
The cutter heads S₁ groove the plain edges of the boards, and prepare them to
receive the tongues; they also bevel the edges T¹ as shown in Fig. XXI., The
cutter heads T, round the ends of the tongues and bevel the adjoining edges, U, as
shown also in Fig. XXI. The object of bevelling the edges T¹ and U is to give the

page_text: board some lateral compressibility and effect a tight joint. The completed boards
are now carried off by the rolls U¹. I have described the tongued and grooved
boards as planed on both sides, and such material is known in the market as
partition stuff.
'
In what is termed flooring, the upper side only of the board is planed, and to
produce it, the under side dressing head will not be required.
. It is evident that a great variety of forms of boards may be produced with this
machine, by merely changing the character of the cutters employed, for instance,
weather boarding of different kinds such as is shown in Figs. XXII, XXIII and
XXIV can be worked equally as well and as satisfactorily, as flooring and partition
stuff. In Fig. XXV the channelling heads are placed in advance of the surface
dressers. In Fig. XXVI is shown parts of two. machines, or a double machine, with
the operating mechanism of both driven by a single shaft which has been herein-
before denoted by C, and a single driving pulley. In this design two frames are
employed where the machines approach each other, but it is evident that a single
frame constructed as shown in Fig. XXVII could be used if desired. The saws
which I employ are only about 1-32 part of an inch in thickness, and there is
practically no waste in ripping the boards. While I prefer separating devices for
the boards which consist of pivoted bars after the manner of "lazy tongs," and
fingers to enter the channels where the boards are to be separated, I do not wish
to be restricted to the construction shown, as my invention extends broadly to the
construction and combination of devices for the lateral separation of boards after
being channelled and sawed or cut from a plank.
Having now particularly described and 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. In a machine for making tongue and groove flooring, the combination with
the frame thereof, suitable feed rolls to carry the plank to be operated on longi-
tudinally of the said frame, rotary shafts carrying surface dressing cutters, rotary
shafts with cutters adapted to groove the plank longitudinally thereof, arranged
above and below the said plank, rotary shafts carrying circular saws arranged to
rip the plank at the channels into boards, grasping devices to engage with the
boards and separate them laterally and parallelly, vertical rotary shafts provided
with cutters arranged to groove the edges of the separated boards which are not
furnished with tongues, all the said elements being located in consecutive order as
described, and means to effect their joint operation, substantially as specified.
2. In a machine for making tongue and groove flooring, the combination with
the frame thereof, and suitable feed rolls to carry the plank to be operated on
longitudinally of the said frame, rotary shafts carrying surface dressing cutters,
rotary shafts with cutters adapted to groove the plank longitudinally thereof,
arranged above and below the said plank, rotary shafts carrying circular saws
arranged to rip the plank at the channels into boards, grasping devices to engage
with the boards and separate them laterally and parallelly, vertical rotary shafts
provided with cutters arranged to groove the edges of the separated boards which
are not furnished with tongues, vertical revoluble shafts fitted with cutters against
which the said boards are forced by. means of rolls, to bevel the edges of the
boards and round the tongues, all the said elements being located in consecutive
order as described, and means to effect their joint operation, substantially as
specified.
3. In a machine for making tongue and groove flooring, the combination with
the frame thereof and suitable feed rolls to carry the plank to be operated on,
longitudinally of the said frame, circular saws to rip the said plank into-boards,
and devices to receive and laterally and parallelly separate the boards, which
consist substantially of a series of diagonal bars pivoted together and attached to
a stationary part of the machine, grasping devices situated at the intersection of
the pivoted diagonal bars to engage with the boards; guides for the grasping fingers,
i

page_text: and means to effect the extension and contraction of the diagonal pivoted bars,
substantially as specified.
4. In a machine for making tongue and groove flooring, devices for laterally
separating boards cut from a plank to admit of their being grooved at the edges,
which consist of a series of diagonal bars pivoted together and attached to a
stationary part of the machine to which the boards are delivered, grasping devices
situated at the intersection of the pivoted diagonal bars to engage with the boards,
guides for the engaging fingers, and means to effect the extension and contraction
of the said pivoted bars, all combined, substantially as specified.
5. In a machine for making tongue and groove flooring, devices for laterally
separating boards cut from a plank to admit of their being grooved at the edge,
which consist in the combination of diagonal bars pivoted together and attached to
a stationary part of the machine to which the boards are delivered, grasping devices
situated at the intersection of the pivoted diagonal bars, to engage with the boards,
guides for the grasping devices, a revoluable crank disk having a crank pin, and a
rod which connects the said pin with the said pivoted diagonal bars, whereby the
same are alternately distended and contracted, substantially as, and for the purpose
specified.
6. In a machine for making tongue and groove flooring, devices for laterally
separating boards cut from a plank to admit of their being grooved at the edge
which consist of the combination of diagonal bars pivoted together and attached to
a stationary part of the machine to which boards are delivered, grasping devices
situated at the intersection of the pivoted diagonal bars, to engage with the boards,
guides for the grasping devices, means to effect the alternate extension and con-
traction of the said pivoted diagonal bars, and a roller situated near the said
diagonal bars and transversely of the path of the moving boards, with suitable
mechanism to alternately raise and lower the same to release and hold the boards
and to co-act with the distensible diagonal pivoted bars, substantially as, and for
the purpose specified.
7. As means to effect the rotation of the shaft M for the purpose described, from
the boards while the same are moving longitudinally of the machine, the con-
tinuously rotating shaft C having the gear n¹, loose gear wheel n on the shaft M in
engagement with the one n¹, the clutch N₁ fastened to the gear n, the sliding
clutch m¹ on the shaft M, a roller suspended over the path of the boards and
slightly below their upper surface, and suitable levers and rods to connect the said
roller with the clutch m² whereby in the elevation of the said roller the clutch m¹
is forced to engage with the one M' all combined, substantially as specified.
8. As means to force and hold the clutches m¹ and M¹ in full engagement after
the one m has been brought in contact with the other M' through the agency of
the roller L and its connections, the combination with the shaft M and clutch m¹,
of the cain R keyed to the said shaft and in engagement with the collar and its
mechanism whereby the clutch m¹ is moved toward the one M¹, substantially as
specified,