IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING WOOD FOR VENEERS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
SKINNER, of Fen Court, in the City of London, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of December, in the sixth year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Skinner, His especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Joseph Skinner, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Joseph Skinner, my exors, adiñiors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to tinie and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
CUTTING WOOD FOR VENEERS AND OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Joseph Skinner, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said:
Joseph Skinner, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and:
in what manner the same is to be performed, are particularly described and

page_text: ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had
to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say): :-
The principal moving parts are supported between two parallel bearers or
framings A, A, Fig. 1, with flanges a, a, projecting from the upper edges at
right angles outward. One of the bearers has a piece projecting from the
upper flange of the riddle. The bearers are rabitted out at their upper
angles. Each bearer supports a slide B, B, Figure 1, with a flange b, b,
projecting from the upper edge outwards, occupying the rabit. Between
the slides are three plates C', C, C, Figure 3. The first plate C' has a
right-angled projection surrounding the border, two crossing laterally equi-
distant between the ends, and one longitudinally through the middle. This
plate is placed endwise between the slides with the face downwards, and on
a level with the lower edges of the slides, and one edge on a line with their
ends, the projections of the ends being fastened firmly to the slides with screw
nuts. The second plate C², in form and dimensions nearly resembles the
first, and is placed directly upon it with the face upwards, not fastened to the
slides, but moveable by means that will hereafter be described. The third
plate C has projections quite round the border, and one laterally through
the middle, all of the same width and thickness except that next the second
plate, which beginning at the face has a general inward inclination of about
forty-five degrees on an inward curved linc. The third plate C has its ends
secured firmly to the slides, the face being upward and on a level with their
upper edges, and the outward edge on a line with their end. The cutting
knifo D, D, Figures 2 and 3, is longitudinally straight, but transversely curved
in a degree corresponding with the curved projection of the third plate against
which it is placed, the upper part being on a level with the face of the plate and
the edge towards the second plate. The knife is secured firmly in its place by
a gripe d, Figure 3, which is of the same length as the knife, the projections of
which form angles corresponding to the position of the knife and the inside of
the projection on the plate, and adapted to them respectively, one terminating
in an edge, about an inch, more or less, below the edge of the knife, and the
other in contact with the plate. The gripe is secured in its place and made
to grasp the knife very firmly by means of screw bolts e, Figure 3, inserted
through it between the angles at proper intervals, and screwed into the edge
of projection which is on the plate, the projection varying in thickness
according to convenience. The edge of the second plate near the knife is
rabitted out, and in the bottom of the rabit pieces with one end wedged-
shaped are secured at proper intervals. A rod E, Figures 2 and 3. which I

page_text: call a compressing slide, the under edge being cut away at intervals in a
manner corresponding exactly to the wedge-shaped pieces aforesaid, is placed
in the rabit; the slides are cut away opposite the ends of the compressing
slide, permitting it to move endwise. Thus, by means of screws inserted
through the parallel slides, opposite the ends of the compressing slide, it may
be moved, and its height relatively to the face of the plate varied at pleasure;
or instead of the said slide a roller may be used. Between the first and second
plates, and parallel with the knife, are two adjusting slides G, G, Figure 3,
each each having two wedge-shaped projections near the edges on the under
sides. One of these slides is placed on the projections of the first plate, the
outward edge on a line with the edges of the first and second plates next the
knife. The other is placed at a proper distance from the opposite edges of
the plates parallel with the first. Both are bedded just their thickness into
the projections of the first plate, the beds being wider than the slides to admit
of their sliding laterally. The adjusting slides are connected near their ends
by connecting bars H, H, Figure 3, are inserted through the outward pro-
jection of the second plate a little above the ends of the connecting bars H, H,
and work in nuts which are attached to the upper side near their ends. By
turning the thumbscrews different ways the slides are made to advance and
recede; hence, by their rising and falling on their inclined projections, the
second plate, with the compressing slide, may be adjusted relatively to the
edge of the knife at pleasure. The bearers A, A, are connected by ties K, K,
Figure 1, the ends of which are fastened to the upper flanges by screw bolts.
Two transverse framings L, L, Figure 1, are placed upon the bearers at equal
distances from their centres; they are furnished with feet, which are fastened
to the flanges of the bearers. From the feet they rise perpendicularly.
to a proper height, then, curving inward, they cross over the plates at a
proper height, according to the proportions of the machine. Out of the
horizontal part of the sections rise two perpendicular branches M, M, each
pair of which is surmounted by a horizontal cap f. f, Figure 3. The first-
described part of the transverse bearings consists of a bar with an outward
projection from the longitudinal centre, increasing in width from the foot to
the middle. The perpendicular branches are transversely of a similar con-
struction, diminishing in size upward. A surmounting piece 9, Figure 2, is
placed upon the horizontal caps f, f, two parts of which extend laterally from
one cap to another, and a centre piece commences at the centre of one of the
lateral parts, crosses the centre of the other, and extends beyond it. The
parts of the surmounting piece have a projection from the longitudinal centre
of the under side. The ends of the lateral parts in size and form correspond

page_text: with the horizontal caps, and are fastened to them by screw bolts. A screw N,
Figures 1 and 2, with a square axis, is placed between each pair of the per-
pendicular branches M, M, working in a box fixed at the lower end of the
branches, the screw extending downward near the plate, and the axis extending
upward through the horizontal cap. Centrally over each cap, and resting in
the surmounting piece f, is placed a toothed wheel O, Figure 1, which has a
cylindrical nave projecting from the under side, the nave occupying a hole
through the cap and surmounting piece. The axis of the screw passes up
through the hollow of the nave and through an opening in the centre of the
wheel. A toothed wheel P is placed centrally between the four wheels
0, 0, 0, 0, gearing into them, its axis being inserted into the surmounting
piece. Two wheels Q, Q, Figure 1, are placed upon the projecting part of
the surmounting piece, the first movable on an axis and gearing into the large
central wheel P, and the other gearing into that and-fixed-on-the-upper
end of a perpendicular shaft R, Figure 1, which passes down through the
surmounting piece, and has its lower end inserted into the piece that projects
from the centre of the bearer. On the lower end of the perpendicular shaft,
immediately above the bearer, is a reciprocating piece S, Figure 1, .movable
on the shaft, extending from the shaft inward, and is terminated by a
toothed segment.
Immediately above the reciprocating pièce S. á ratchet
wheel T is made fast on the shaft; a rack r having a downward projection .at
either end, and also an inward projection gears into the segment on the reci-
procating piece, the downward projection occupying a slot on the flange of the
bearer. On the outward end of the reciprocating piece a clutch is fixed for
taking hold of the ratchet when moving in one direction. Parallel to cach
.tie K, K, inward, and just above the plates, is a moveable bar V, Figure 2, the
inward edge having a groove in filled with firm wood or other suitable
material for the edge of the knife to come in contact with as it finishes its
stroke. Three lateral pieces Y, Y, Y, Figures 1 and 2, having a groove in
the under side and a slot n in the centre, are connected with each bar
at suitable intervals, and are notched into the under side of the ties. Thumb
screws p, p, p, pass through the ties and slots and screw into nuts occupying
the grooves. Thus the bars can be accommodated to blocks of different sizes
and fastened by 'thumb screws. A plate Z, Figures 1 and 2, with 'suitable
projections on the upper side, is suspended in the centre of the machine by
being attached to the lower ends of the large screws. A piece or dog X,
Figure 1, with a slot in the centre, is fastened by a screw bolt to the flange
next the rack, at suitable distances from either end. A block of wood, maho-
gany, or other timber W, Figure 3, properly squared, is placed upon the

page_text: centre of the machine, the bars V, V, brought in contact with the edges of the
same, the suspended plate Z brought down upon the top thereof, all parts
properly adjusted, a reciprocating motion given to the knife by crank power
or any other mechanical means, the compressing slide E being little elevated
above the face of the plate suitably near the edge of the knife, a thin piece is
cut from the under surface of the block without being fractured, as the timber
is prevented from parting in the grain before the knife by the compressing
slide. When the knife has completed its stroke, within two or three inches
more or less, one of the dogs X comes in contact with the rack, the recipro-
cating piece is moved, but the clutch is so situated as to slide on the ratchet.
But as the knife returns the other dog brings back the rack, the clutch takes
hold of the ratchet, all the wheels are moved, and the screws receive a turn
sufficient to bring down the suspended plate firmly again on the block.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
combining the various parts of the machine in order to work the knife or
cutting edge D by continually pressing the same forward till it has completed
the cut of the veneer or thin sheets of wood for the purposes, I would have
it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement shown
and described, provided the essential properties of the machine are retained,
that is to say, the blade or cutting edge D and the compressing rail or
roller e, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Skinner, have hereunto set my
bond and cool this Tighth donos