Improvements in Machinery for Sawing and Boring Timber.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept, 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Sawing and Boring Timber.
I, GEORGE WOODBRIDGE PEARCE, of 53 Oxford Road, High Wycombe, in
the County of Bucks, Cabinet Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for sawing to length or
width and boring the holes for the dowels in the pieces of timber from which it is
intended to form the framework of doors or other similar structures for joinery,
cabinet-making, or other purposes.
In certain machinery now in use for the above purposes, two headstocks, carrying
the spindles for the boring tools, are mounted transversely on a slide in such manner
that they can be adjusted at distances apart to suit the material to be operated
upon and the dimensions of the framework it is intended to produce. The slide
carrying the aforesaid headstocks is arranged to slide in guides in a direction
transversely to itself, that is to say in a direction parallel to that of the boring
spindles, so that the latter can be moved along with their headstocks to and from
the work when it is desired to bore the holes therein. In front of the boring
spindles is usually arranged a sliding table or support on which the timber to be
operated upon is clamped in suitable positions; and on the frame of the machine is
arranged a circular saw so placed that it cuts the pieces of timber, clamped on the
sliding table or support, to the proper length or width before they are presented to
the action of the boring bits to be bored with the required dowel holes.
In this kind of machinery, as at present arranged and constructed, only one piece
of timber, intended for the style of a door for example, can be operated upon at one
time, that is to say one such piece of timber is clamped to the sliding table or
support, and the two boring headstocks operate simultaneously to bore the dowel
holes in the edge of the style. When this is done, the piece of timber is removed
and a fresh piece clamped in its place. When however it is required to bore the
dowel holes in the ends of pieces intended to form the rails of doors for example,
two such pieces can be operated upon at one time; that is to say two pieces can be
clamped on the sliding table or support, one opposite each of the boring headstocks;
but according to present arrangements, only one end of each of such pieces can be
operated upon at one time; and when one end of each piece is sawn to length and
bored, the two pieces have to be unclamped from the sliding table or support and
turned end for end and reclamped accurately in position for the other ends to be
acted upon. Now the object of my present invention is to provide means whereby
two pieces of timber intended to form styles can be each sawn and bored at one
edge simultaneously, or two pieces intended to form rails can be sawn and bored at
both ends simultaneously and at one fixing.
For this purpose I arrange two sawing and boring apparatuses opposite to each
other, having between them a sliding table or support on which the material to be
operated upon is clamped in such position that both the sawing and boring
apparatuses can act upon it simultaneously so as to bore the edges of two styles at
once or to saw both ends of two rails to length and to bore both ends of the two
rails after being so cut to length, at one operation. The sliding table or support,
between the two sawing and boring apparatuses, may be moved or traversed so as
to bring the pieces of timber into proper position for being acted on by the saws
and boring bits, either by hand or by automatic means. When moved or traversed
by hand, the motion may be conveniently effected by means of a rack and pinion,

page_text: the latter being turned by a crank handle or otherwise, and when moved or
traversed automatically the rack and pinion may be employed as in the hand-
worked arrangement, but the pinion would, in that case, be rotated by the driving
mechanism of the machine in such manner that when the material has been clamped
to the sliding table or support and the machine is set in motion, the sliding table or
support carries the material past the circular saws (which cut the material to width
or to length if necessary) and brings it into position opposite the boring spindles
and holds it there while the latter are moved forwards to effect the boring; when
this is effected and the boring spindles have retired, the sliding table or support
with the material clamped on it moved back into its normal position, the pieces of
material that have been operated upon are removed and fresh pieces clamped to
the table or support in readiness for the next operation.
The automatic actions of the sliding table or support and of the boring headstocks
may be derived from a suitable shaft connected with the machine and may be effected
by means of cams, clutch boxes, levers, links, or other suitable mechanical devices
on or connected with the said shaft.
Instead of a rack and pinion for moving the sliding table or support, a screw or
other suitable device may be employed and the various movements and adjustments
of the headstocks and other parts may be effected by traversing screws in the usual
well known manner, or otherwise as may be convenient and suitable for the
particular construction of machine employed.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1892.
G. W. PEARCE.
W. H. Beck,
Per S. E. Gunyon,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.
I, GEORGE WOODBRIDGE PEARCE, of 53 Oxford Road, High Wycombe, in
the County of Bucks, Cabinet Manufacturer, 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, that is to say :-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for sawing to length or
width and boring the holes for the dowels in the pieces of timber from which it is
intended to form the framework of doors or other similar structures for joinery,
cabinet making, or other purposes.
In certain machinery now in use for the above purposes, two headstocks, carrying
the spindles for the boring tools, are mounted transversely on a slide in such
manner that they can be adjusted at distances apart to suit the material to be
operated upon and the dimensions of the framework it is intended to produce. The
slide, carrying the aforesaid headstocks, is arranged to, slide in guides in a direction
transversely to itself, that is to say in a direction parallel to that of the boring
spindles, so that the latter can be moved along with their headstocks to and from
the work when it is desired to bore the holes therein. In front of the boring
spindles is usually arranged a sliding table or support on which the timber to be
operated upon is clamped in suitable positions; and on the frame of the machine is
arranged a circular saw so placed that it cuts the pieces of timber, clamped on the
sliding table or support, to the proper length or width before they are presented to
the action of the boring bits to be bored with the required dowel holes or
mortises.
In this kind of machinery, as at present arranged and constructed, only one piece

page_text: of timber, intended for the style of a door for example, can be operated upon at one
time, that is to say one such piece of timber is clamped to the sliding table or
support, and the two boring headstocks operate simultaneously to bore the dowel
holes in the edge of the style. When this is done, the piece of timber is removed
and a fresh piece clamped in its place. When however it is required to bore the
dowel holes in the ends of pieces intended to form the rails of doors for example,
two such pieces can be operated upon at one time; that is to say two pieces can be
clamped on the sliding table or support, one opposite each of the boring headstocks;
but, according to present arrangements, only one end of each of such pieces can be
operated upon at one time; and when one end of each piece is sawn to length and
bored, the two pieces have to be unclamped from the sliding table or support and
turned end for end and reclamped accurately in position for the other ends to be
acted upon.
Now the object of my present invention is to provide means whereby
two pieces of timber, intended to form styles, can be each sawn and bored at one
edge simultaneously, or two pieces, intended to form rails, can be sawn and bored
at both ends simultaneously and at one fixing.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed
to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying four sheets of drawings in
which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of so much of a sawing and boring machine
constructed in accordance with my invention as is necessary to elucidate the same,
Figure 2 is a side or end elevation, Figure 3 a plan showing the upper parts of the
machine, and Figure 4 a plan with certain of the upper parts removed so as to
show the gearing below.
A is the main framing of the machine on which I arrange two sawing
apparatuses B B' adjustable on the slides B2 B3, and two pairs of boring
apparatuses C C' mounted respectively on the cross slides C2 C3 on which they can
be adjusted laterally to and from each other. The cross slides C' C³ are mounted
respectively on the longitudinal slides C C on which they and the boring headstocks
on them can be moved to and from the material to be bored. These sawing and
boring apparatuses are placed opposite to each other and have between them a
sliding table or support D on which the material to be operated upon (as for
example the pieces of timber E) is clamped in such position that both the sawing
apparatuses B and B can act upon it at the same time to cut it at both sides or
both ends according to the position in which it has been fixed on the table D and
that both pairs of boring apparatuses C and C¹ can act upon it .simultaneously so
as to bore the edges of two styles at once or to bore both ends at once of the two
rails after being so cut. The sliding table or support D between the two sawing
and boring apparatuses is adapted to slide on dovetail guides on the fixed bed F
secured to the main frame A and it may be moved or traversed so as to bring the
pieces of timber E into proper position for being acted on by the saws and boring
bits either by hand or by automatic means. When moved or traversed by hand,
the motion may be conveniently effected by means of a rack, such as that shown
at G for example, and a pinion gearing therewith (not shown in the drawing).
which pinion may be turned by a crank handle or otherwise. When moved or
traversed automatically the rack may be operated by a spur wheel H rotated by
the driving mechanism of the machine in such manner that when the material É
has been clamped to the sliding table or support D by the clamping frame D¹
(which is pressed down on to the timber by the weight and lever D') and the
machine is set in motion, the sliding table or support D carries the material E past
the circular saws B* B* (which cut the material to width or to length as the case
may be) and brings it into position opposite the boring spindles of the boring
headstocks C C and holds it there while the said spindles are moved forward by
their cross slides C C to effect the boring; when this is effected and the boring
spindles have retired, the sliding table or support D, with the material E clamped
on it, is moved back into its normal position and the pieces of material that have

page_text: been operated upon are removed and fresh pieces clamped to the table or support
in readiness for the next operation.
The automatic actions of the sliding table or support and of the boring headstocks
may be effected by mechanism shown in the drawings and which I will now proceed
to describe.
I and J are two driving shafts mounted in suitable bearings attached to the
framework of the machine and rotated by belts taking on to the fast and loose
pulleys I J respectively. The shaft I rotates in the direction of the plain arrow,
the shaft J in the direction of the feathered arrow. The shaft I has secured on it
the spur wheel 12 and the shaft J the spur wheel J. K is a shaft turning in
bearings attached to the frame and having mounted on it the following parts,
namely the spur wheel H which gears with the rack G. This spur wheel runs
loosely on the shaft K between two fixed collars. It has formed with or connected
to it the halves of two clutches K' K2. The other half of the clutch K' runs
loosely on the shaft K and is free to slide longitudinally thereon to a small extent
defined by the adjustable collar K³. It has cast on it the teeth of a spur wheel L.
The other half of the clutch K¹ has cast on it the teeth of a spur wheel M and
forms at its other side one half of a clutch N the other half of which is formed
with or connected to the spur wheel O which turns loosely on the shaft K. The
part K¹ N, forming the second halves of the two clutches K' and N respectively, is
caused to rotate with the shaft K by means of a feather P but is free to slide
longitudinally on the said shaft so as to engage either with the clutch K' or N as
may be required. Q is a shaft rotating in suitable bearings in which it is free to
slide end wise to a small extent. It is constantly pressed to the right in Figure 1
by the spring Q. It has fixed in it a stud Q which takes into a notch Q³ in the
end of its fixed bearing or bush Q and holds the shaft stationary when the machine
is not operating. R is a spur wheel fixed on the shaft K and gearing with the
spur wheel S which rotates freely on the shaft Q or on the bush Qforming one of
the bearings for the said shaft. The spur wheel S has formed on or secured
thereto one half of a clutch T the other half of which is secured to the shaft Q.
UU U are tappets secured to the shaft Q and adapted to operate the clutch
levers VV the former of which operates the movable part of the clutches K N
and the latter the movable part of the clutch K. Q are collars fixed on shaft Q
between which takes one end of a lever Q by which the shaft Q can be moved
end wise against the action of the spring Q. W is a shaft revolving in suitable
bearings and driven from the shaft K by the gearing O, W₁ W³.
It carries a
crank plate W having an adjustable crank pin W on to which takes one end of a
forked connecting rod W the forked ends of which are jointed to the bell crank
levers X X connected by links X'X' to the cross slides C' C³ which move the
boring headstocks C C¹ forward to effect the boring operation and backward to
withdraw the boring bits when the boring has been effected.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Assuming that the table D has been moved out to the position shown in dotted
lines in Figure 3, that the pieces of timber to be operated upon have been clamped
thereto, and that the shafts I and J are rotating in opposite directions by means of
their respective driving belts:-The spur wheel I rotates the spur wheel M and
sliding part of clutches K' N, this drives the shaft K by means of the feather P.
The spur wheel R, on shaft K, turns spur wheel S at one third its own speed. The
spur wheel J' turns the loose half of clutch box K2 in the direction opposite to that
of the shaft K. On moving the lever Q so as to slide the shaft Q to the left in
Figure 1, the clutch T engages with spur wheel S and the stud is drawn out of
the notch Q³ The shaft Q then revolves, making one revolution for three
revolutions of the shaft K. Each of the tappets U U U³ is adapted to act upon
the clutch levers V V' during about one third of the revolution of the shaft Q.
During the first third of the revolution of the shaft Q, the tappet U' acts upon the
lever V and keeps the clutch K' in gear with the spur wheel H, causing the latter

page_text: to rotate and to move the table D by the rack G from the position shown in dotted
lines in Figure 3 into the position shown in full lines in that figure, the saws B* B¹×
acting upon and cutting the timber E as it passes them. When the shaft Q has
nearly completed its first third of a revolution, the tappet U2 ceases to act on the
lever and the tappet U₁ comes to act upon it on the opposite side, taking
clutch K out of engagement with wheel H (thereby stopping the table D) and
engages clutch N with the spur wheel O. The shaft W is thus caused to make a
revolution by means of the gearing O W and W while the shaft Q is making its
second third part of a revolution, during which the tappet U' continues to act on
the lever V so as to hold the clutch N engaged with the spur wheel O. This
revolution of the shaft W draws down the connecting rod W operating the bell
crank levers X, moving forward the cross slides C C³ with the boring head-
stocks C C to effect tlie boring of the pieces of timber E, and then presses the
said connecting rod upwards, thereby moving backward the cross slides C C³ and
the boring headstocks C C'. When the second third part of a revolution of the
shaft is nearly completed, the tappet U leaves the lever V, the clutch N is
disengaged from the spur wheel O, and the shaft W is stopped. At the
commencement of the third third part of the revolution of the shaft Q, the
tappet U³ comes in contact with the lever V', thereby moves the clutch K so as to
engage with wheel H, causing the latter to rotate in the opposite direction to bring
the table forward again into position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. By that
time the shaft Q will have completed its third third part of a revolution, the
tappet U will have left the lever V, the clutch K' will thus be freed from the
wheel H, which therefore stops and with it the carriage D. The stud Q will also
have returned to the notch Q³, the spring Q then comes into action and forces the
shaft Qto the right in Figure 1, disengaging the clutch T from the spur wheel S ;
the shaft is thereby stopped, and consequently any further action of the machine
until the lever Qis again moved so as to draw the stud Q2 out of the notch Q³ and
to engage the clutch T with the spur wheel S when the shaft Q is restarted and
the same cycle of operations is repeated on other pieces of timber which have been
in the meantime clamped to the table D.
The various clutches above described are shown as friction clutches but it is
obvious that they may be of any suitable construction according to circumstances.
In some cases, instead of a rack and pinion or wheel for moving the sliding table
or support, a screw or other suitable device may be employed, and the various
movements and adjustments of the headstocks and other parts may be effected by
traversing screws in the usual well-known manner, or otherwise as may be
convenient and suitable for the particular construction of machine employed.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts. in all the figures of the
drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The combination of two sawing apparatuses and two sets of boring
apparatuses placed opposite to each other with a sliding table or support between
them, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Second. In machinery for sawing and boring timber, the mechanism for moving
the table supporting the timber to be operated upon and the boring headstocks
automatically, which consists of a shaft K revolving constantly in one direction
and carrying a spur wheel H gearing with the rack G of the table D, clutches K' K'
for driving the said spur wheel in either direction, a clutch N and spur wheel O for
driving the shaft W, and a spur wheel R for driving the shaft Q, a sliding shaft Q
carrying tappets U₁ U U operating clutch levers V V, a clutch T and a spur
wheel S, a shaft W with crank W³ and crank pin W₁; a connecting rod W³, bell

page_text: crank levers X X, gearing J³, L, 1', M, W' and W', and the driving shafts I
and J, combined arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third. The improved sawing and boring machinery substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1893.
G. W. PEARCE,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.