IMPROVED CASK MAKING MACHINERY
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED CASK MAKING MACHINERY." -A communication from
abroad by La Compagnie de la Tonnellerie Mécanique, represented
by Auguste Francois Xavier Deroide of Dovic Urance
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the. Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 29th April 1875.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED CASK MAKING MACHINERY," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improved machinery for the manufacture of
casks and barrels of all sizes.

page_text: Third. A machine for cutting the staves of equal length after they
are set up, as also for chamfering and grooving or chining the ends to
receive the heads of the cask.
Fourth. A machine for bevelling the heads,-
The whole scries of operations required for making a cask are per-
formed with the aid of these four machines, with the exception of the
setting up, which is done by hand.
The stave blanks are first cut of nearly equal length and placed in
hermetically closed chambers, in which the waste steam from the engine
or steam from the boiler is introduced, where they are allowed to remain
a sufficient time to become softened; after which they are removed and
placed in the first machine for the purpose of being bent, shaped, and
bevilled or jointed.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal
clevation; and Figure 2, a plan of the above machine. a, framing, at
each end of which are bearings b, b, for the shafts c, c¹, carrying chain
wheels d, d¹, around which passes an endless pitch chain e receiving
continuous motion through shaft c¹ from the driving shaft by endless
screw gearing g, h. On the endless chain e are attached moulds made
in two parts i, i, to enable them to turn round the wheels d, d¹; and
when the two parts are brought by the chain to the upper part of the
machine they together form a complete mould of the curved form to be
given to the stave. As part i of the mould passes around the wheel d
the attendant places thereon a stave blank delivered from the steam
chamber, lodging it against the shoulder of the said part i, which in
swinging into a horizontal position deposits the other end of the stave
blank upon the other part of the mould. The entire mould i, i, with
the stave blank thercon, is traversed along the bed % of the framing
upon which the mould bears by side flanges 1, 1, with which it is pro
vided. The mould first passes between a pair of vertical rollers m, m

page_text: pressed towards each other by a spring n, so as to bear against the stave
blank o on either side; the stave blank then passes beneath a horizontal
roller p, by which it is prevented from rising, and then between two
other pairs of vertical rollers 1, 2, which serve to confine the stave blank
5 in the same way as rollers m, as well as for another purpose herein-after
described. The stave blank thus guided and held in position then passes
beneath two pairs of horizontal pressing rollers 8, 8, which are acted on
by weighted levers t, u, through the jointed connections v, which rollers
exert sufficient pressure upon the stave blank o to bend it to the curved
form of the mould i, 2, which is the form required for the cask. In this
position it passes between a pair of revolving cutter heads x, which shape
and bevil each edge as required for jointing the staves.
The revolving cutter heads are cylindrical, and have parallel blades,
and are keyed on spindles y inclined towards one another at the upper
ends, where they are journaled in bearings adjusted on horizontal
studs w fixed on a slide 1, which may be moved up and down in a
bracket 4 fixed on the machine framing by a hand screw 2, 3. The
lower end of each spindle y turns in a footstep bearing 5 pivoted on an
axis parallel to that of stud w carrying a nut at each end through
which work the transverse screw rods 6, 6.
The cutter heads x, x, are driven at a high speed by belt 7, pulleys 8
and belts 9 passing round pulleys 10, keyed on the cutter spindles y.
The parts being thus arranged it will be seen that by means of handle 2
the spindles y on which the cutter heads are mounted may be inclined
more or less to bring the cutting edges of the blades to the position
required to cut the staves to such an angle that the edges will be exactly
radial to the cask when made. In other words, if an imaginary line be
drawn in an upward direction from one of the blades of each cutter
head the point of intersection of these two lines would represent the
imaginary centre of the cask. The stave when on the mould being bent
downwards at the middle the ends will form the highest part and will
be cut narrower as they come between the higher part of the cutters
where the latter are closer together and the stave will be. cut of gradually
increasing width towards the middle, as the stave is bent downwards at
that part and consequently comes between the cutters at a point where
they are wider apart. The stave being thus cut whilst bent to its true
curvature its edges are bevelled with mathematical correctness at all

page_text: cask.
The stave on the carriage after passing the cutters x is carried beneath
pressing rollers 81, 81, similar to 8, 8, and operated on by weighted levers
t, t, u, through connections v¹, said rollers serving to maintain the
pressure upon the stave o, and hold it down on the mould carriage which
then passes beneath a horizontal roller p', which retains the stave upon
the one half i of the mould while the half ¹ begins to pass round the
wheel d. The stave is in this position supplied direct to the machine
for dressing and hollowing the staves, which machine is placed adjacent
to the first for the purpose.
In this machine it is not necessary that the stave blanks should be all
of the same width, the cutter heads being self adjusting to suit the
breadth of the stave blank operated on, so that only just the necessary
amount of material is removed for shaping and jointing the stave
whereby a saving of material is effected.
The above result is obtained in the following manner as will be seen
in Figure 2, the two pairs of side rollers r, r, are geared together by
toothed sectors 11, controlled by springs which tend to bring said rollers
together, while one pair has a second toothed sector 12 gearing with a
rack 13 fixed on a longitudinal rod 14, sliding in guides 15, on one side
of the machine framing.
The rod 14 carries another rack 16 gearing with a small pinion 17,
keyed on a shaft 18, which also carries a toothed wheel 19 gearing with
two pinions 20, 20, keyed on to the ends of the screwed shafts 6, oper-
ating the nuts attached to the footsteps 5, in which the cutter head
spindles y are mounted. Thus when a stave passes between the rollers
r,r, r, r, the latter are forced apart more or less according to the width of
the stave, thereby oscillating the toothed segment 12, and sliding rod 14,
and so operating through the rack and and pinions above mentioned the
screw rods 6, whereby the cutter heads are automatically adjusted at the
proper distance apart to suit the width of the stave passing between the
rollers v, ; 21 is a brake block faced with leather' or india-rubber 22,
which is caused to bear by means of a weighted lever 23 upon the
toothed wheel 19, and stop the same, when the cutter heads are moved
sufficiently far apart for properly acting on the stave, in which position

page_text: they are retained by the brake. By a suitable modification also the
the moulds may be adapted for shaping staves of various lengths.
The second machine is illustrated in longitudinal elevation in
Figure 3 of the Drawings, Figure 4 showing a transverse section, and
Figure 5 plan of the part of the same. The staves after having been bent,
shaped, and bevelled or "jointed" are fed one by one from the machine
before described, to the machine Figure 3 for dressing or smoothing the
outsides of the staves, and for bringing the two ends to a uniform
thickness as well as for thinning the stave at the belly or bilge. Each
stave as it enters the machine first passes between a pair of vertical
guide rollers & geared together like those of the former machine by
toothed sectors b, and weighted at c to ensure their perfect contact with
the edges of the stave. The latter is then taken by the feed rollers d,
d, d, d³, d, driven from the shaft e, the upper rollers being pressed
upon by weighted levers f. While passing between the rollers d', d³, the
outside of the stave is planed or smoothed by a rapidly revolving cutter g
placed below, and when between the rollers d², d³, a certain portion of the
length of the stave on its inner surface is operated on by another revolving
cutter placed above for the purpose of producing the cavity or bilge of
the stave as well as for bringing the ends to the desired thickness.
The staves after being thus prepared are thon temporarily set up into
the form of a cask by hand. For this purpose the attendant first
arranges a sufficient number of staves to form a cask within a hoop, and
then tightens up the staves by means of a cord passed around the middle
of the cask, after which a hoop is placed on each end so as to ensure
that all the joints of the staves are perfectly fitted together. In this
condition the cask body is placed in the grooving or chining machine
represented in vertical section in Figure 6, and in plan at Figure 7 of the
Drawings. a, framing of machine; b, vertical shaft carrying a cutter
head c at each end, comprising, first, a horizontal saw d for cutting the
staves of equal length; second, cutters e for bevelling; and third,
cutters g for chamfering and cross cutting or grooving the stave at j to
receive the head of the cask. The shaft b may be moved in an upward
or downward direction by rotating the screw shaft k, which passes
through corresponding nuts on the frame in which said shaft is
mounted. The two cutter heads c, c, may be keyed at different distances
apart to suit casks of varying length. The upright m also may have a
horizontal adjustment in guides on the bed plate a. This movement of

page_text: the upright is effected by means of a winch handle placed on the square
end n of a shaft o gearing by worm p, and worm wheel r with screw
shaft & mounted in the lower part of upright m, and working through a
nut in a lug t attached to the bed plate.
8
The cask after having been temporarily set up as before mentioned is
placed within the bottom ring u which is fitted to turn on a fixed ring v,
and is operated by a worm a keyed on main shaft y and gearing with
corresponding teeth on the exterior of said rings z is an upper ring
composed of an inner movable ring provided with friction rollers and
attached to a slide 1 made vertically adjustable upon the upright 2 by a
screw 3 turned by handle 4, gearing with a pinion 5 keyed on shaft 6,
which carries a pinion 7 gearing with a rack 8 fixed on upright 2. The
ring is first lowered down upon the cask and fixed in position by set
screw 9, and the cask being thus fixed shaft o is turned to bring the
cutter heads up to their work, whereupon the shaft y is set in motion
for revolving ring u, and with it the cask, the cutter shaft being at
same time driven at a high speed by means of a belt on the lower
extremity, whereby the cask is bevelled, chamfered, and grooved at both
ends, whereupon it is ready to receive the heads.
To make the heads, the planks of which they are composed are united
by dowelling in the ordinary way by hand, and a circle of the proper
diameter for the head is marked thereon, the head being then cut round
by a saw or otherwise. The head thus prepared is now transferred to
the machine for finishing, the heads represented in part sectional elevation
in Figure 8, and in plan at Figure 9 of the Drawings.
This machine serves to bevel the edges of the head for insertion in the
groove made in the end of the cask by the machine last described. The
novelty consists in the particular arrangement of this machine which is
composed of two revolving discs or chucks a, a', capable of being moved
towards or away from the cutter carrier. Between theses two chucks is
mounted a vertical shaft c provided with cutters d, d, and rapidly rotated,
by which the head is bevelled on its two edges simultaneously. Onc
head only is bevelled at a time, and during this operation the other
huck is moved away for the purpose of removing the finished head,
and inserting a fresh one which is clamped thercon by screw ƒ and
plate e provided with clamps g faced with india-rubber.

page_text: In order to ensure the proper centering of the heads on the chucks a
piece of sheet iron having a small hole at the centre is nailed to the
head, in which hole fits a projecting spring point 7 at the centre of the
chuck; i, clutches for throwing the chucks a and a into gear
alternately; j, belt for transmitting motion to cutter shaft c. The cask
is headed and hooped by hand in the usual manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVED CASK MAKING MACHINERY," a communication to me from abroad by
La Compagnie de la Tonncllerie Mécanique, represented by Auguste
François Xavier Deroide, of Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or ad-
ministrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the three accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :-
This T
manutouture af
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the three accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to improved machinery for the manufacture of
casks and barrels of all sizes.
The machinery comprises,-
First. A machine for shaping and bending the staves to the proper
form, and also for "jointing" them, that is to say, bevelling the edges
to the required angle in order that the staves when set up may be
accurately fitted together.
Second. A machine for dressing the outsides of the staves (backing),
and also for hollowing them out on the inside and making the ends of
uniform thickness.
Third. A machine for cutting the staves of equal length after the cask
is set up, also for bevelling and chamfering or chining and grooving or
creuzing the ends to receive the heads of the cask.
Fourth. A machine for bevelling the heads.
The whole series of operations required for making a cask are per-
formed with the aid of these four machines, with the exception of the
'setting up," which is done by hand.
<<
The stave blanks are first cut of nearly equal length and placed in
hermetically closed chambers, in which the waste steam from the engine
or steam from the boiler is introduced, where they are allowed to remain
a sufficient time to become softened, after which they are removed and
placed in the first machine for the purpose of being bent, shaped, and
jointed.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal
elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of the above machine. a, framing, at
each end of which are bearings b, b, for the shafts c, c¹, carrying chain
wheels d, d', around which passes an endless pitch chain e, receiving
continuous motion through shaft c¹ from the driving shaft ƒ by endless
screw gearing g, h. On the endless chain e are attached moulds or

page_text: bending blocks, made in two parts i, i¹, to enable them to turn round the
wheels d, d¹, and when the two parts are brought by the chain to the
upper part of the machine they together form a complete mould
or bed of the curved form to be given to the stave. As part i of the
5 mould passes around the wheel d the attendant places thereon a stave
blank delivered from the steam chamber, lodging it against the shoulder
of the said part i, which in swinging into a horizontal position deposits
the other end of the stave blank upon the other part of the mould.
The entire mould i, i, with the stave blank thereon is traversed along
the bed of the framing, upon which the mould bears by side
flanges 1, 1, with which it is provided. The mould first passes between
a pair of vertical rollers m, m, pressed towards each other by a spring n,
so as to bear against the stave blank o on either side, and prevent any
lateral displacement. The stave blank then passes beneath a horizontal
roller p, by which it is prevented from rising, and next between two.
other pairs of vertical rollers r, r, which confine the stave blank in the
same way as rollers m, and also serve another purpose hereafter
described. The stave blank thus guided and held in position then
passes beneath two pairs of horizontal pressing rollers s, s, which are
acted on by weighted levers t, u, through the jointed connections v,.
which rollers exert sufficient pressure upon the stave blank o to bend it
to the curved form of the mould i, i, which is the form of stave required
for the cask. In this position it passes between a pair of revolving
cutter heads x, which shape and bevil each edge as required for jointing
the staves.
The revolving cutter heads are cylindrical, and have parallel blades,
and are keyed on spindles' y inclined towards one another at the upper
ends, where they are journaled in bearings z adjusted on horizontal.
studs w fixed on a slide 1, which may be moved up and down by a hand
screw 2, 3, in a bracket 4 fixed on the machine framing. The lower end
of each spindle y turns in a footstep bearing 5 pivoted on an axis
parallel to that of stud w, carrying a nut at each end, through which
work the transverse screw rods 6, 6.
The cutter heads x, x, are driven at a high speed by belt 7, pulleys S,
and belts 9 passing round pulleys 10 keyed on the cutter spindles y.
The parts being thus arranged, it will be seen that by means of handle 2
the spindles y on which the cutter heads are mounted may be inclined
more or less to bring the cutting edges of the blades to the position

page_text: required to cut the staves to such an angle that the edges will be exactly
radial to the cask when made. In other words, if an imaginary line be
drawn in an upward direction from one of the blades of each cutter
head, the point of intersection of these two lines would represent the
imaginary centre of the cask. The stave when on the mould being bent
downwards at the middle to its proper curvature the ends will be the
highest part, and will be cut narrower as they are presented to the
cutters at a point where the latter (which are inclined towards one
another, as before mentioned) are closer together, and the stave will be
cut of gradually increasing width towards the middle, as the stave is
bent downwards at that part, and consequently comes between the
cutters at a point where they are wider apart, the width gradually
diminishing again from the middle to the opposite end. The stave being
thus cut whilst bent to its true curvature its edges are bevelled with
mathematical correctness at all points of their length, having regard to
the varying diameter of the cask.
The stave on the carriage after passing the cutters x is carried beneath
pressing rollers s¹, s¹, similar to s, s, and operated on by weighted
levers t¹, t¹, u', through connections v¹, said rollers serving to maintain
the pressure upon the stave o, and hold it down on the mould carriage,
which then passes beneath a horizontal roller p', which retains the stave
upon the one half of the mould while the half begins to pass round
the wheel d. The stave is in this position supplied direct to the machine
for dressing and hollowing the staves, which machine is placed adjacent
to the first for the purpose.
The above description of the progress of one mould will apply to all
succeeding ones. The machine is constructed to prepare. three and a
half staves per minute.
In this machine it is not necessary that the stave blanks should be all
of the same width, the cutter heads being self-adjusting to suit the
breadth of the stave blank operated on, so that only just the necessary
amount of material is removed for shaping and jointing the stave.
this manner a saving of material is effected.
In
The above result is obtained in the following manner :—.
-As will be
seen in Figure 2, the two pairs of side rollers ", ", are geared together
by toothed sectors 11, controlled by springs which tend to bring said
rollers together, while one pair has a second toothed sector 12 gearing

page_text: with a rack 13 fixed on a longitudinal rod 14 sliding in guides 15 on one
sido of the machine framing.
The rod 14 carries another rack 16 gearing with a small pinion 17,
keyed on a shaft 18, which also carries a toothed wheel. 19 gearing with
two pinions 20, 20, keyed on the ends of the screwed shaft 6, operating
the nuts attached to the footsteps 5, in which the cutter head spindles y
are mounted. Thus when a stave passes between the rollers 1º, 1', 1', 1,
the latter are forced apart more or less according to the width of the
stave, thereby oscillating the toothed segment 12 and slide rod 14, and
so operating through the rack and pinion above mentioned the screw
rods 6, whereby the cutter heads are automatically adjusted at the proper
distance apart to suit the width of the stave passing between the
rollers 1, ".
This self-adjustment of the cutter heads to suit staves of
different widths obviates the necessity of any personal supervision of the
machine. 21 is a brake block faced with leather or india-rubber 22,
which is caused to bear by means of a weighted lever 23 upon the
toothed wheel 19, and stop the same when the cutter heads are moved
sufficiently far apart for properly acting on the stave, in which position
they are retained by the brake.
In the machine illustrated in the Drawings the moulds are about 5 ft.
in length for staves of the longest dimensions, but it will be understood
that by providing suitable attachments the moulds may be adapted. for
shaping staves of various lengths. The staves, after having been bent,
shaped, and jointed are fed one by one from the machine before described
to the machine for dressing or smoothing the outsides of the staves, and
for bringing the two ends to a uniform thickness, as well as for thinning
the stave at the belly or bulge. This machine is illustrated in longitudinal
elevation in Figure 3 of the Drawings, Figure 4 showing a transverse
section, and Figure 5 a plan of part of the same. Each stave as it enters
the machine first passes between a pair of vertical guide rollers & geared
together like those of the former machine by toothed sectors b, and
weighted at c to ensure their perfect contact with the edges of the
stave. The latter is then taken by the feed rollers d, d', d², d³, d³,
driven from the shaft e, the upper rollers being pressed upon by weighted
levers. While passing between the rollers d', d², the outside of the
stave is planed or smoothed by a rapidly revolving cutter placed below,
and when between the rollers d², d, a certain portion of the length of
I

page_text: set
the stave on its inner surface is operated on by another revolving cutter h,
placed above, for the purpose of producing the cavity or bulge on the
inside of the stave, as well as for bringing the ends to the desired
thickness. The staves after being thus prepared are then temporarily
up into the form of a cask by hand. For this purpose the attendant
first arranges a sufficient number of staves to form a cask within a hoop,
and then tightens up the staves by means of a cord passed around the
middle of the cask, after which a hoop is placed on each end so as to
ensure that all the joints of the staves are perfectly fitted together. In
this condition the cask body is placed in the grooving and chining
machine represented in vertical section in Figure 6, and in plan at
Figure 7 of the Drawings. a, framing of machine; b, vertical shaft.
carrying a cutter head cat each end, comprising, first, a horizontal
saw d for cutting the staves of equal length; second, cutters e for
bevelling; and, third, cutters g for chamfering and grooving the stave
atj to receive the head of the cask. The shaft b may be moved in an
upward or downward direction by rotating the screw shaft k, which
passes through corresponding nuts on the frame 1, in which said shaft is
mounted. The two cutter heads c, c, may be keyed at different distances
apart to suit casks of varying length. The upright m also may have a
horizontal adjustment in guides on the bed plate a. This movement of
the upright is effected by means of a winch handle placed on the squared
end n of a shaft o gearing by worm p and worm wheel 2 with screw
shaft s mounted on the lower part of upright m, and working through
a nut in a lug t attached to the bed plate.
Y,
and
The cask after having been temporarily set up, as before mentioned, is
placed within the ring or annular chuck u, which is fitted to turn on a
fixed ring v, and is operated by a worm a keyed on main shaft
gearing with corresponding teeth on the exterior of said ring. is an
upper ring composed of an inner movable ring provided with friction
rollers, and attached to a slide 1 made vertically adjustable upon the
upright 2 by a screw 3 turned by handle 4 gearing with a pinion 5 keyed
on shaft 6, which carries a pinion 7 gearing with a rack 8 fixed on
upright 2. The ring z is first lowered down upon the cask, and fixed in
position by set screw 9, and the cask being thus fixed shaft o is turned
to bring the cutter heads up to their work, whereupon the shaft y is set
in motion for revolving ring u, and with it the cask, the cutter shaft b
being at same time driven at a high speed by means of a belt on the

page_text: lower extremity, whereby the cask is bevelled, chamfered, and grooved
at both ends in readiness to receive the heads.
To make the heads the planks of which they are composed are united
by dowelling in the ordinary way by hand, and a circle of the proper
diameter for the head is marked thereon, the head being then cut round
by a saw or otherwise. The head thus prepared is now transferred to
the machine 'for finishing the heads represented in part sectional
elevation in Figure 8, and in plan' at Figure 9 of the Drawings.
This machine serves to bevel the edges of the head for insertion in the
groove made in the end of the cask by the machine last described. The
novelty consists in the particular arrangement of this machine which is
composed of two revolving discs or chucks a, a', capable of being moved
towards or away from the cutter carrier. Between these two chucks is
mounted a vertical shaft c provided with cutters d,'d, and rapidly rotated,.
by which the head is bevelled on its two edges simultaneously. Onc
head only is bevelled at a time, and during this operation the other
chuck is moved away for the purpose of removing the finished head and
inserting a fresh one, which is clamped thereon by screw fand plate e
provided with clamps g faced with india-rubber.
In order to ensure the proper centering of the heads on the chucks,
a piece of sheet iron having a small hole at the centre is nailed to the
head, in which hole fits a projecting spring point at the centre of the
chuck i, clutches for throwing the chucks a and a' into gear alternately;
j, belt for transmitting motion to cutter shaft c. The cask is headed and
hooped by hand in the usual manner.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The machine for shaping, bending, and jointing the staves, as
described and shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, the charac-
teristic features of which consist,-(a) in the employment of an endless
pitch chain receiving continuous motion, and to which are attached
moulds for giving the desired longitudinal curvature to the staves as
described; (b) in performing the operation of jointing simultaneously
with shaping of the staves while the same are held down upon the
travelling mould, the jointing being effected by means of a pair of
inclined revolving cutter heads as set forth; (c) in the automatic

page_text: adjustment of the cutter heads to suit the breadth of the stave, whereby
staves of varying widths may be operated on as specified; (d) in
adapting the moulds for preparing staves of different lengths as
described.
2ndly. The machine for dressing and hollowing the staves shown in
Figures 3, 4, and 5, and consisting mainly in the combination of pairs of
vertical guide rollers a, pairs of horizontal feed rollers d, d', d³, d³, d',
(the upper ones of the latter being pressed down by weighted levers ƒ), a
lower revolving cutter g, and an upper revolving cutter b, all as herein-
before shown and described.
3rdly. The machine for cutting to a uniform length, chining, and
grooving the staves shown in Figures 6 and 7, and consisting mainly in
the combination of a vertical shaft 6 carrying a compound cutter head c
at each end, and capable of adjustment at different distances apart
(the said shaft being also movable in an upward and downward
direction) together with a lower ring or chuck and upper rings in
which the cask is held and turned, all as herein-before shown and
described.
4th. The machine for finishing the heads illustrated in Figures
8 and 9, and consisting principally of the two revolving chucks a, a²,
with revolving cutters d, d, disposed between the said chucks in which
the heads are fixed, being so mounted and operated so as to be brought
alternately up to the cutters, which bevel both edges of the heads
simultaneously, all as herein-before shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.