Improvements in Machines for Planing Venetian Blind Laths and similar Articles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Planing Venetian Blind Laths and
similar Articles.
I. JOHN HATHWAY, of Eldon House, Peckham Road, Peckham, in the County
of Surrey, Timber Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines for planing laths such as are used in the
construction of Venetian blinds and other articles, in which the attainment of a
smooth and even surface over their entire length is of great importance. In
existing known methods of planing laths, it has been the custom to pass the
lath through guiding rollers, after which it is operated upon by rotary cutters,
which though rotating at a high speed, cause a wavy or ribbed appearance to be
left on the surface of the wood. This wavy appearance is more apparent after the
lath has been painted and varnished. The object of this invention is to obviate
this defect, and to produce planed laths smooth in appearance, at the same time
facilitating and increasing the rate of production.
To carry my invention into effect, I construct a bed or table similar to that
of an ordinary lathe, having a dove-tailed slot running central through its entire
length. On this bed I mount a frame or carrier adapted to hold two planes, these
planes being so held in the said carrier as to allow of their receiving an upward and
downward motion when required, and also of being easily removed for the purpose
of inserting fresh ones, in the case of the planing irons becoming blunt
through use.
The lower central portion of the before-mentioned plane-carrier terminates in a
nut, and fits into the dove-tailed slot, and is caused to travel along the entire length
of the bed by means of a guiding screw running parallel to and central between
the cheeks of the bed. At the end of this guiding screw are fitted three pulleys,
the middle one being loose, so that by having one of the driving belts crossed, a
striking gear actuated automatically by the travelling carrier, causes the direction
of travel of the said carrier to he reversed when the planes and carrier have
reached the end of the lath. This is effected by means of a lower vertical
extension of the before-said carrier nut, formed so as to engage with suitable
projections or tappets situated on a rod or strip running parallel under the said
guiding screw, the said rod or strip being connected at the driving end of the
machine to the striking gear, so that the carrier and planes can be stopped and
reversed at any point of their travel by means of adjusting the said tappets.
To cause the said planes to be pressed against the laths which are being planed,
I provide the plane-carrier-frame with a suitable number of spring-bolts, arranged
so that by screwing them up or down, the pressure exerted by the planes on the
laths can be diminished or increased.
In order that the planes may be let down gradually on to the laths when
commencing a cut (to prevent springing of the lath), and gradually lifted when
finishing it (to prevent cutting the butting stop on planing bed), I attach at each
side, and at both ends of the planing bed, a slanting rail. On the outer sides of
the plane-carrier are pivoted two levers, one on each side, each terminating in a
small pulley, which on engaging with the said side rails, causes the spring

page_text: pressed planes to be lifted within the carrier-frame clear of the laths on the
planing bed.
I attach to, and in front of the plane-carrier, a cage or box, long enough
to contain the laths to be planed, one box being provided for each plane,
the said boxes, travelling backwards and forwards with the plane-carrier.
These boxes are open at the top in order to allow of any required number
of laths being dropped therein, the two cheeks of the planing bed of the
machine forming the bottom of each said cage or box, and supporting the laths
which are placed one on the top of the other. The bottom laths of each box
rest on the bed of the machine and butt against stops fixed thereon at the further
end of the machine.. The height of these stops above the planing bed are less
than the thickness of a lath, so that the back portion of the planes on dropping at
the completion of the forward travel can engage with the ends of the two laths
just, planed, and push them off the machine during the backward travel. As soon
as this is done the next bottom laths of each box occupy the places of the previous
two, butt against the said stops and are planed during the forward travel, being
taken off the machine in the same manner as just described. This operation or
cycle as it may be termed is repeated automatically, the machine minder
replenishing the lath boxes when required.
On each cheek of the bed of the machine I construct two guiding rails, against
which the said boxes containing the laths may bear, the boxes being coupled
together, so that they are compelled to follow the same straight line course as the
plane-carrier to which they are attached.
I may employ any number of planes arranged side by side, in conjunction with
a corresponding number of lath feed-boxes, such as previously described, so that à
number of laths equal to that of the planes employed, may be operated upon
simultaneously during the forward travel of the plané-carrier, and taken off the
machine during the backward travel.
Dated this 10th day of September 1896.
LETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Planing Venetian Blind Laths and
similar Articles.
1, JOHN HATHWAY, of Eldon House, Peckham Road, Peckham, in the County
of Surrey, Timber Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to machines for planing laths such as are used in the
construction of Venetian blinds and other articles, in which the attainment of a
smooth and even surface over their entire length is of great importance.
In
existing known methods of planing laths it has been the custom to pass the lath
through guiding rollers, after which it is operated upon by rotary cutters, which
though, rotating at a high speed, cause a wavy or ribbed appearance to be left on
the surface of the wood. This wavy appearance is more apparent after the lath
has been painted and varnished. The object of this invention is to obviate this
defect, and to produce planed laths smooth in appearance, at the same tinie
facilitating and increasing the rate of production..
And in order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed; and to the
letters and figures marked thereon:
Figure 1 a side elevation of the machine.

page_text: Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the planes removed from the plane-carrier
or carriage.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the machine on the line (Figure 1).
Figure. 5 is a sectional plan of the planes and plane-carrier on the line y y
(Figure 4).
Figure 6 is an enlarged part sectional elevation, showing 'detail of spring bolt
adjustment for varying pressure on planes.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the machine in which two side driving chains
are used instead of a longitudinal driving screw, the plane lifting gear being
omitted.
Figure 8 is an end elevation of the same.
i
To carry my invention into effect I construct a bed or table A similar to that."
of an ordinary lathe, having a dove-tailed slot B running central through its entire !
length. On this bed I mount a carrier or carriage C adapted to hold two
planes D D. On the top of each of the planes I screw an overlapping piece E
which bears on the upper portion of the transverse sliding frame G and receives.
a downward pressure by the spring pressed strips H H, which can be varied by
means of the screwed bolts K K. This sliding frame G is lowered at the
commencement of planing and raised at the completion by means of the side
levers L L engaging with the loose wheels M M pivotted to the lower portion of
the transverse sliding frame G. This movement is derived when the levers LL
come in contact with the inclined rails N N. The side pieces O O bolted to the
body of the plane-carrier C prevent any lateral play of the sliding frame G
and also serves as a support for the levers LL. The upper central extension P
of the plane-carrier supports two cross arms Q, through which pass the adjustable.:
pressure bolts K. K. The lower central extension R passes through the slot B.
and forms a nut S through which passes the driving screw T. This nut S has.
an under projection U which at the completion of the forward and backward
travel engages with the adjustable tappets VV, attached to a strip W under
the planing bed A, and actuates a striking gear Z, thereby reversing the action.
of the machine when the planes have reached the end of the lath a.
尊
I attach to, and in front of the plane-carrier C, a box b long enough to contain
the stacks cc of laths to be planed, one stack in front of each plane.. This.
box is open at the top in order to allow the laths to be easily dropped therein
by the machine minder, after the top face of the lath has been planed. The
two end portions of the box are connected by a piece b. Supports d d are i
provided to prevent any side movement of the laths. The bottom laths of the i
stacks rest on the planing bed and butt against stops e e fixed thereon. The
height of these stops above the planing bed is less than the thickness of
the lath, so that the back portion of the planes D D on dropping at the completion {
of the forward travel can engage with the front ends of the two laths just
planed, and push them off the machine during the backward travel. As soon!
as this is done the next bottom laths occupy the places of the previous two,
butt against the stops ee and are planed during the forward travel, being taken"
off the machine in the same manner as just described. This operation or cycle.
as it may be termed is repeated automatically, the machine minder replenishing
the lath boxes when required. I find the weight of the stack sufficient to prevent!
any springing tendency on the part of the under laths whilst being planed.
any
may employ any number of planes arranged side by side, in conjunction with a
corresponding number of lath stacks, so that a number of laths equal to that of
the planes employed, may be operated upon simultaneously during the forward
travel of the plane-carrier and taken off the machine during the backward
travel....
In Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings I show an alternative
arrangement of driving the plane-carrier C along the planing bed A. In this case
I use two chains and g, one on each side of the machine, the upper portion of each.

page_text: chain being connected to the plane-carrier C at hh. These chains pass round
toothed wheels ii placed at each end of the planing bed A, the shaft i at one end
being driven by gear wheels and l. The shaft m to which the wheel is keyed is
driven in the usual way by pulleys and straps, having a striking gear Z fitted to
the open and crossed belts as in Figure 1. In this arrangement of the machine, the
striking or reversing gear Z is actuated in the following way:
Two cords n and o are attached to the chains f and 9 respectively. The cord n
being connected to the top of the chain and the cord o' to the under portion of
the chain g. These cords n and o' pass through guiding eyelets p and g, and are
fastened to the pivotted swinging arm r to which is attached the striking gear Z.
It will thus be seen that when the plane-carrier C together with the lath stacks cc
have reached say the end of the forward travel, the cord n is pulled, which causes
the arm to move to the left, thereby reversing the travel of the plane-carrier, the
cord o at this point being slack. When now the plane-carrier is at the end of the
backward travel, the cord o' tightens, moves the arm r to the position shown in
Figure 8 causing the plane-carrier and lath stacks to move forward again.
Figures 7 and 8 represent the machine starting on its forward travel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. In a machine for planing Venetian blind laths and the like, a sliding carriage
holding one or more planes adapted to travel backwards and forwards along a
plauing bed, a lath holder or receptacle (for receiving the stack of laths to be
planed) attached to and in front of the said carriage, said plane or planes operating
upon the bottom lath of said stack during the forward travel and throwing same
off machine during the backward travel, the direction of said travel forward and
backward being reversed automatically, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
2nd. In a machine for planing Venetian blind laths and the like, a planing bed
having a sliding carriage adapted to slide along same, said sliding carriage holding
one or more planes, driving screw traversing length of said planing bed and central
under same driving said carriage backwards and forwards, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
3rd. In a machine for planing Venetian blind laths and the like, a sliding carriage
holding one or more planes adapted to travel backwards and forwards along a
planing bed, a lath holder or receptacle (for receiving the stack of laths to be
planed) attached to and in front of the said carriage, reciprocating chains attached
to and driving the said carriage along said planing bed, flexible connections
between said reciprocating chains and reversing gear, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
4th. In a machine for planing Venetian blind laths and the like, a sliding carriage
holding one or more planes, said carriage allowing planes to be removed when
required and having adjustable spring bolts (for varying pressure on said planes),
vertically sliding frame in said carriage for lifting planes, said sliding frame being
raised by side levers attached to said carriage and engaging with inclined rails
situated at certain distances along the sides of the machine, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
5th. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved machine for planing Venetian blind laths and the like, substantially as
hereinbefore described and with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1897.
JOHN HATHWAY.