IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRESSING SLATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hugh Jones, of Clwt-y-bont, in the County of
Carnarvon, Quarryman, and Griffith Ellis, of Llidiart-y-clo, Llanberis, in the
said County, Quarry Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
FOR DRESSING SLATES."
Scaled the 9th June 1876, and dated the 3rd April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hugh Jones and
Griffith Ellis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd April
1876.
THOMAS HUGH JONES, of Clyt-y-bont, in the County of Carnarvon, Quarry-
man, and GRIFFITH ELLIS, of Llidiart-y-clo, Llanberis, in the said County, Quarry
Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRESSING SLATES."
The object of this Invention is to produce a machine to dress slates more per-
fectly and rapidly than those now in use. On the upper part or edge of a metal
or timber framing or bench, about 3 feet high, we fix a longitudinal knife of any
convenient length, generally about 3 feet. The upper or moveable knife (which
acts against the said fixed or lower knife somewhat similarly to the blades of a pair
of scissors or those of a chaff cutter) instead of being jointed to one end of the
said fixed knife, or the beam which carries it, is jointed to the outer part of a
disc or wheel mounted on an axle placed in bearings a little above the level of the
upper edge of the said lower knife. The other end of the said upper knife, or the
beam carrying it, is similarly jointed to another disc or wheel of the saine diameter
as the other one, or it may be larger; this knife or beam thus forms a coupling to
the said two discs. The said upper disc is mounted on an axle placed in bearings
some 9 inches (more or less) above the bearing of the first-named disc. The axle on
which the said lower disc is mounted is cranked and carries a fly wheel at its other
end.
This machinery is operated by an ordinary treadle arrangement.
In operating our said machine the workman places the rough edge of a slate in
the desired position upon the upper edge of the lower knife, at the same time
working the treadle with his feet, which gives the upper knife, by being jointed to
the said two discs, a downward motion that neatly trins the edge of the slate with
a curvilinear cut. The fly wheel and discs cause the said upper knife to work up-

page_text: wards and downwards with regularity and rapidity, and the workman has only to
place the rough edges of the slates in the proper position on the lower knife and to
gently work the treadle, when the said slates are neatly and cleanly dressed with
great rapidity and ease.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Hugh Jones and Griffith Ellis in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th July 1876.
THOMAS HUGH JONES, of Clwt-y-bont, in the County of Carnarvon, Quarry-
man, and GRIFFITH ELLIS, of Lidiart-y-clo, Lanberis, in the said County, Quarry
Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRESSING SLATES."
Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved machine and shewing a workman
operating the same.
Figure 2 is a horizontal plan of the said machine.
The object of our present Invention is to produce a machine to dress slates more
perfectly and rapidly than those now in use, which object we attain by the follow-
ing means: On the upper part or edge of the metal or timber framing or bench a,
which is shewn about three feet high, we fix a longitudinal knife b of any convenient
length. c is the upper or moveable knife which acts against the lower fixed knife b
somewhat similarly to the blades of a pair of scissors or those of a chaff cutter ;
instead of jointing or pivotting this moveable knife c, or the beam which carries it,
to one end of the fixed knife b, or to its beam, or to the framing near thereto, wo
joint or pivot it to the outer part of the disc or wheel d, which disc d is mounted
on the cranked axle e fitted in bearings secured to the fraine a, and placed a little
above the level of the upper edge of the lower or fixed knife b. The other end of
the upper moveable knife c or its beam is similarly jointed to the disc or wheel f
by preference of the same diameter as that of the disc d; the knife c or its beam
thus forms a coupling rod to the two discs d and f, so that as the disc d is operateḍ
by the treadle arrangement g, e, the disc f rotates in perfect unison therewith. The
disc is mounted on a short axle or pivot / placed in a suitable bearing or bearings
some nine inches (more or less) above the bearings of the disc d. The cranked
axle e on which the disc d is fixed carries a fly wheelj at its other end.
Our improved machine is now shewn as operated by the simple treadle arrange-
ment g, e, worked by the foot, but it may be operated by any other suitable and
convenient arrangement and motive power; and several such machines may be
arranged to be operated at one and the same time by such power.
In operating our said machine the workman places the rough edge of a slate in
the desired position (as shewn) upon the upper edge of the lower knife b, at the
same time working the treadle arrangement y, e, with his foot, which gives the
upper moveable knife c, by being jointed or pivotted to the two discs d, f, a down-
ward circular motion that neatly trims the edge of the slate with a curvilinear cut.
The fly wheel j and discs d, f, cause the upper moveable knife c to work upwards
and downwards with regularity and rapidity, and the workman has only to place
the rough edges of the slates in the proper position on the lower knife and to
gently work the treadle, when such slates are neatly and cleanly dressed with great
rapidity, precision, and ease.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
and the method of performing the same, we desire it to be understood that we do
not restrict ourselves to the precise arrangement or dimensions of the several details,
nor to the relative diameters of the two discs or wheels d and f, as now illustrated,
but we claim as our Invention, and desire to secure by the herein-before mentioned
in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly. The application and use of the two circular discs or wheels d and fin
operating the upper moveable knife c.

page_text: Secondly. The application and use of a fly wheel in the working or operating
our said improved machine, all substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Hugh Jones and Griffith Ellis, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
THOMAS HUGH JONES. (L.S.)
GRIFFITH ELLIS.
(L.S.)