IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING, DRESSING, PLANING, AND OTHERWISE WORKING SLATE, AND ALSO FOR FRAMING AND SETTING THE SAME
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BROWN JORDAN, of Belvedere Road, in the County of Surrey, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of
August, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in the fifteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Brown Jordan, my exors, adññors, and assigns, Her especial.
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas
Brown Jordan, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said.
Thomas Brown Jordan, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her
Majesty's Colonies. and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING, DRESSING, PLANING, AND OTHERWISE WORKING
SLATE, AND ALSO FOR FRAMING AND SETTING THE SAME;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Thomas Brown Jordan, shall:
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed. by an instrument in writing under my
SUNU

page_text: hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her 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
Thomas Brown Jordan, hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being had to
the illustrative Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of a series of machines, or system of machinery,
whereby a number of operations belonging to the manufacture of slate
into articles of use, such as roofing slates, school slates, counting-house
slates, &c., &c., &c., hitherto imperfectly accomplished, and at a heavy
expense, by hand, are performed by the said machines or machinery in a
much better manner, at much less cost, and. with greater dispatch than is
practicable by manual labor, of which machines or machinery some portions
are new and some old (separately considered), but the whole of each machine
as here combined, adapted, and applied is new in the aggregate.
The first of this series of machines is a cutting and dressing machine (more
particularly applicable to roofing slates), the constructive details of which are
represented in Sheets I. and I'. of the Drawings annexed. Figure 1 is a longi
tudinal elevation of the machine; Figure 2, a cross section; and Figure 3,
Sheet I', is a plan of the machine. A, B, are two end standards, to which
the bed C, D, is bolted, and E, F, two wrought-iron turned bars which are
let into these standards at top, all these parts taken together forming a fixed
framing for the cutting part of the machine. The sides of the bed C, D,
support under cutters u, u, and the round bars E, F, form a horizontal
slide on which a cutter carriage a, b, c, d, travels from end to end of the
machine. e and fare upper disc cutters, which do not receive any independent
rotary motion from the power applied, but are fixed on an axis g, which is free
to revolve in the cutter carriage, which carriage, with its axis and cutters, is
made to reciprocate on its slide (by steam or water, other power). The
motion of the cutter carriage may be made either continuous or intermittent,
as may be found most advisable for the description of work which the machine
is intended to produce. When it is desired to drive the machine from a
revolving power shaft, I employ the following peculiar mode of converting the
rotary into a continuous reciprocating motion, i, is a main shaft, which
derives its motion from overhead shafting. j, k, l, are fast-and-loose pullies for
stopping or starting two pullies or drums m, m³, of equal size, one of which (m).

page_text: is mounted on sliding bearings, and may be drawn off by the screw n for the
purpose of straining the band o, p, q, r, which must be kept rather tight.
This band is employed to give the reciprocating motion to the cutters. It
moves in the direction indicated by the arrows, and both its upper and lower
portions pass through the clamping box of the cutter carriage, as shewn in
section at Figure 4. In the position in which it is represented it would, if
moving, be going in the direction of the upper portion of the band. The
dotted lines in Figure 4 indicate the situation of inclined planes on each side
of the travelling band, by means of which the loose portion of the clamping
box s, t, u, v, when pushed into the position represented, is brought down with
sonie force on the upper portion of the band, so that, as the motion of the
band tends to pull the box in the direction it is going, its hold on it is
tightened, and it carries it along with it until it reaches the buffer w, when
the loose box s, t, u, v, is struck back, and rises on its inclined planes, so as to
clamp the lower portion of the band, which still tends to bring the inclines into
their seats. The carriage consequently travels with the lower part of the band
back to the buffer a, which again reverses the direction, and so the operation
goes on producing a continuous reciprocating action from the constant rotation
of the axle h, i, and this without reference to the number of revolutions. It
is sometimes advisable to continue this band through several machines, and
one of the advantages of this arrangement is, that each machine, although
driven by the same band may be making its working stroke at a different
time and of a different length.
I do not confine myself to the construction of the clamping box in the
particular manner just described, because it may be desirable to construct
it in a variety of ways, according to the purpose for which it is intended.
For instance, I should consider it sometimes better to make the outside the
fixed piece and the inside the shifting or clamping piece. What I regard as
especially novel in this part of my Invention is, the application of the going
and returning portions of an endless band to the conversion of a rotary into a
reciprocating, or conversely of a reciprocating into a rotary motion.
The cross portion X, X, of the framing of this cutting and dressing machine
is used for determining the size and ensuring the perfect squareness of the slates.:
When a rough slate is to be cut, the workman places one side of it against
either of the stops z, z, and lays the portions he intends to cut off over the edge.
of the under knife, when the next stroke of the disc cutter removes all the:
overhanging portion and leaves a perfectly straight edge. The slate is instantly:
turned round a quarter, and the newly-cut slide placed in contact with the fence..
Another side is then cut, which will be exactly square with the first, because

page_text: the under knife is square with the fence, and the disc cutter travels parallel to
it. The corner formed by these two newly-cut sides is now placed against
one of the stops, which is to determine the size of the slate. In one direction
it is kept in contact with the fence and the under knife. The cut is made as
before, the slate again turned, and the last made corner put into the proper
stop, when another cut completes it. Each machine is made double, so that
two workmen may be operating at one time; and sometimes the cutting
slide, &c., &c. is also doubled, which brings the stops shewn on the opposite
side of the measuring tables into work, and then four men would be working
close together, and both the going and returning strokes of the machine would
be employed in cutting. The distance of the disc cutters from the under
knives, the proper angle of cutters, and a variety of minor particulars, are
fully shewn in the Figures.
A modification of the disc dressing machine just described is represented in
Sheet II., Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, which is adapted to cutting slates, both in the
going and returning stroke of the cutters, so that the pair of cutters repre-
sented employ four men and dress from fourteen to fifteen thousand slates per
day. This machine is more particularly suitable for the largest and heaviest
descriptions of work; it is framed for great strength, and in every way
adapted for the use of large quarries where the dressing is carried on upon
the terraces. Any required number of such machines may be connected end
to end, and may then be conveniently worked by a continuous rod passing
from one cutter axle to the other, and this rod may be continuation of the
iston rod of an engine having the required length of stroke. When the
situation admits of a supply of water from a considerable head, it is desirable
to. make this a water pressure engine, and it can then be very conveniently
framed in the centre of two or more machines, having its piston rod carried
through both ends of the cylinder, and each end fixed to one of the slides of a
cutter axle, which may be considered the cross head of the piston rod. In
this way the power would be conveyed directly to the work without the inter-
vention of any straps, pullies, or gearing of any kind, and I would thus omit
the parts most liable to derangement, avoid the expense of repair, and the
loss of power which they necessarily involve. It is not requisite to repeat a
minute description of the parts of the machine, because the construction of
every part is clearly shown in the Drawings, and the principal parts have the
same letters of reference as the corresponding parts of the." disc dressing"
machine first herein-before described.
Another modification of the before-described dressing machine adapted to
the case of one machine being constantly employed in the production of slates-

page_text: of one given size, is represented in Sheet III., Figures 1, 2, and 3. This
machine is so constructed that it may be used for different sizes at different
times by adjusting the disc cutters the required distances asunder, and at the
same time clamping the under knives or rests in appropriate adjustment with
them on the rolling table. However, whenever there is a sufficient demand for
slates of one size, I prefer making the machine with permanent adjustments
adapted to that size alone. Figure 1, Sheet III., is a plan; Figure 2, a front
elevation; Figure 3, a side elevation, of this modification. a, b, c, d, is the
bed plate or fixed railway on which the rolling table or frame c, f, g, h, travels
backwards and forwards. i, j, k, l, and m, n, o, p, are the under cutters,
securely bolted to the rolling frame and fixed parallel to the rails on which it
travels. Those marked i, j, k, l, are placed at a distance asunder nearly equal
to the length of the slate to be cut, and those marked m, n, o, p, at a distance
from each other nearly equal to the width of the slate to be cut. q,.r, is a
two-inch turned shaft of wrought iron supported in bearings and between
centres, the latter intended to prevent end play and to give nice adjustment.
The
To the shaft q, r, four disc cutters are fixed at the points. s, t, u, v.
pair s, t, have their cutting edges separated from each other by a space exactly
equal to the breadth of the slate, and the other pair have the distance between
them exactly equal to the length of the slate. w and a are two stops, which
are fixed on the rolling table and rise above the top of the under cutters, as
seen in the elevations, Figures 2 and 3. The stops i, a, are intended to
receive the first or rough edge of the slate and prevent it from being pushed
off the under cutters when brought in contact with the discs. y, z, is another
stop, which is intended to perform a like office when the slate is being cut
by the other pair of discs. The latter stop forms a continuous straight line
exactly at right angles with the under cutters, because there will always be a
straight line of slate to press against it. The operation of this machine is
simple and rapid. One workman stands at A and another at B. A places a
piece of rough slate on the under cutters, and in contact with the stops wand a..
The rolling table then makes the forward stroke, and all the portions of the
slate outside the under cutters are instantly removed, making two parallel
straight edges. The workman at B takes up the newly-cut slate and places
one of the straight edges against the stop y, z, when the back stroke is made
and the slate instantly reduced to its proper width by the other pair (s, t) of
disc cutters. A labourer at C removes the slate to a train wagon employed to
carry away the work, and the slates are turned out fast enough to keep him
constantly in action. I have not thought it requisite to shew any means of
applying the power to this machine, because that may be done in any way

page_text: convenient, and the power may be of any elemental kind. The rolling frame
should make about fifteen double strokes per minute, and the same means of
obtaining the reciprocating motion employed in the dressing machine first
herein-before described is equally applicable to this.
A machine for shaping slates to ornamental forms and for dressing very
sinal sizes of slate is represented in Sheet III. (Figure 4 an elevation and
Figure 5 a plan). The advantages, which this machine possesses over other
arrangements previously described consists in its great rapidity of operation
and power of cutting curved lines. The former is accomplished by cutting all
four sides of the slate at one time, and the curved lines by screwing on cutters
of forms adapted to produce such lines. I find it convenient to vary the
position of the cutter, slide of this machine according to the purpose for which
it is constructed. When I intend it for dressing all the sides of small straight-
sied slates, I place the slide at an angle of forty-five degrees with the base, as
exemplified in the Drawings; but when it is intended to cut the ends of
slates into ornamental forms, I then place the slide upright. The reason
for this is, that in the first case the workman cannot hold the slate when
the cutters are acting on it, and therefore it is important that when the
slate is cut it should immediately leave the machine by its own gravity
to make way for the repetition of the process. But in the second case,
when only one end of the slate has to be cut, the workman need not
let it go, and therefore can remove it with. the same facility that he
places it on the machine. a, b, c, d, is the base or foundation plate. c, f, g, h,
e upper framing, containing the slide, i, j, the crank and driving axle,
, 1, the rest or under cutters m, n, and the upper cutters o, 22, which are fixed
to the moving part of the slide. In the base of the machine there are two
rollers 9,, indicated by dotted lines, which drive an endless band, the centre
portion of which is supported by a plate cast in the base, and also shewn by
dotted lines in the Drawing. The office of this endless band is to carry away
the slates when they leave the under cutters, so that the workman employed
shall have nothing to attend to except the feeding the machine with a fresh
piece of slate at every stroke. s is the driving pulley, which may derive its
motion from any convenient first mover, but should perform from fifteen to
twenty strokes per minute, according to the dexterity of the workman
employed in feeding the machine. is the loose pulley for stopping the
machine. It is important that the forms of the cutters should be attended to,
and that the four centre points which first meet the slate should all be in the
same plane, otherwise that which first meets the slate will tend to tilt it on the
under cutters and produce fracture. It is also advisable that the portions of

page_text: the two cutting edges, forming a corner, should not be in the same plane, as
their being so made tends to break off small portions of the angle. Such
defects as those here alluded to are, however, materially obviated by the
pumping holder, shewn at w, v, which is an iron piston kept in advance of
the cutters by a spring in the body of the slide, which serves to hold the slate
down on the under cutters just before contact of the acting cutters, and after-
wards to push it out in the return stroke. Incidentally, too, the pumping
holder serves to prevent in some measure the tilting action arising from any
irregularity in the slate or from any want of attention to the form of cutters.
In using the machine it is only necessary to place a piece of slate over the
under cutters at every stroke, when the slates will be cut exactly to the size
the machine is made for, and will slide down the incline y, and be delivered by
the endless band, while the waste falling outside the cutters will drop perpen-
dicularly, and consequently be separated from the finished work.
A machine for planing slates is represented in Sheet IV. of the Drawings.
When made as represented in the Figures it is used for planing and reducing
to a uniform thickness small slabs of slate, such as those generally used for.
writing on, but it may be made of any required size, and is equally applicable
to slabs of larger dimensions. Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a
front elevation, Figure 3 a section, and Figure 4 a plan of the machine.
a, b, c, d, is a cast-iron basement, which contains in the hollow of the casting
two rollers, which drive an endless band, the top side of which passes over a
supporting slab, as shewn in Figure 3. c, f, g, h, is a vertical slide, the fixed
part of which is cast in one with the framing, by which it is secured to the
basement. i is an axle, also supported by the framing, to the inner end of
which is attached. the slotted arm j, k, and to the outer end the driving
pulleys 1, m. A connecting rod n, o, serves to communicate the required
length of stroke to the moving part of the vertical slide. p, q, r, s, is a hori
zontal slide, which serves to carry one of the planing cutters t, u, and is
adjustable by the screw v to determine the exact distance between its cutter.
and that which is fixed in the vertical bed at w, a. This adjustment 'deter-
mines the thickness of the slate when finished. The cutters t, it, and w, x, aro
fixed by screws to their respective seats, and they are also furnished with other
screws, the heads of which are brought in contact with their back edges, which.
other screws serve to ensure nice adjustment of the cutting edges, so that the
whole length of the two cutting lines' shall be in parallel planes. In setting
this machine to work, the rough slate is placed against the vertical bed; when
the slide is at the top of its stroke, the descending stroke brings down a hard.
steel pressing piece y, z, on to the top edge of the slate, and the continuance of..

page_text: the downward stroke presses the slate between the planing cutters, and
reduces it to the thickness of the space between the cutters, all the waste
being delivered over the backs of the cutters, and thereby separated com-
pletely from the finished work. When the slate has been pressed between the
cutters to within a few inches of the top, and the slide returns and another
slate is placed against the vertical bed, with its lower edge in contact with the
top of that which is between the cutters, the next down stroke finishes tho
first slate and commences the second, and so on for every stroke of tho
machine. As soon as a slate leaves the cutters it drops on to the travelling]
band, and is carried out by it to the back of the machine, where the slates are
piled ready for removal. In cases where it is expedient to increase the power
of the machine for heavy work a secondary motion may be introduced between
the driving pulley and the connecting rod of the slide, the mode of doing which
is well known.
The Drawings on Sheet IV. represent a slate-parting machine, which is
used for dividing slabs of slate across the plane of lamination. Figure 1 is a
front view, Figure 2 a section, and Figure 3 a part plan of this machine.
a, b, c, d, is a large and strong slide, which, with its supports, forms the fixed-
framing of the machine. e, f, g, h, is the moveable portion which travels:
backwards and forwards on the body of the slide, and carries the cutting.tools.
The part e, f, g, h, also contains another slide, to which vertical motion can.
be given by the screw i, which is furnished with a cogged head for the purpose
of feeding the downward progress of the cutters at the termination of every.
stroke. j, k, l, is an arc pivoted to the moving part of the vertical slide at m,
which are contains the cutters at its lower edge. The are cutters of course
travel backwards and forwards on the long horizontal slide, and downwards by
the vertical slide to feed the cut, but it also has a rocking motion on the
pivot m. In the position represented in the Drawing it would be travelling in
the direction of the arrows, but when it has terminated the stroke in that
direction the tumbler weight n will be struck over the perpendicular by the
cam o, and will then fall into the position shewn by the dotted lines, on which
the excentric pin p causes the whole arc to take up a reverse position to that it
How occupies in respect to the centre line of the vertical slide. This throws the.
set of cutters now acting out of the groove they have made, and brings the
other set into a proper position for working by the return stroke. If, however,
this were the only change in the position of the cutters, they would merely
scrape over the bottom of the groove just made, but simultaneously with the
rocking action another change has been made by the lever on the top of the
screw coming in contact with the roller cam g, which has given the downward:

page_text: feed by giving a slight turn to the vertical screw. The return stroke is now made.
and the groove doubled in depth, and so on the process is continued until the
slate is completely severed. The railway and iron truck seen under the block of
slate is merely used as a ready means of bringing the work under the operation..
of the machine and of sustaining it in position while being cut.
The framing of school slates with wood is effected by means of four machines,.
which I shall next describe in the order in which they are used, and distinguished.
by the letters A, B, C, D; the first of these (A) is a parting, moulding, and groov
ing machine, the details of which are represented in Sheet V of the Drawings.
annexed. Figure 1 is a plan of the top of table; Figure 2, 'a front elevation;
Figure 3, a back elevation; and Figure 4, a sectional elevation. The top of
the table a, b, c, d, is a true plane of cast iron; e, f, a fence or parallel guide,.
which is adjustable by slots and bolts at h and i to any required distance from
the cutters; these slots are made strictly parallel to each other and at a
considerable angle with the front of the fence; and the studs of the locking.
bolts fit into them exactly, so that at whatever part of its range the fence is:
locked, it must always be parallel to the cutters; the weight and lever j, axle k,
and other pieces attached to it are used for holding down the plank while it is.
passing through the machine. Figures 5 and 6 are front and side elevations on:
an enlarged scale of the saw and grooving cutters. The last Figure also
illustrates the construction of the cutters between the saws, which perform the
operations of grooving the frame sides to receive the slate, and also moulding
the insides of them at the same time, as shewn by the section of the slate.
frame given in Figure 7. l, m, is the cutter axis; n, the driving pulley,"
which receives its motion from, overhead shafting; o, a divided head on the
screw p; is the detent which the screw is kept in position when the axis m
has been so adjusted that the cutters shall work the groove and mouldings to
the proper depth; r is a straining pulley for bringing the driving line or cord
to proper tension; and s, s, the saws for parting two strips of slate frame.
o sides from the edge of a plank, at the same time that they are grooved and
moulded by the other tools; t, v, is a plate forming part of the top of the
table, which can be removed for the purpose of changing the tools when'
required to be sharpened, &c. To work this machine it is only requisite to
give motion to the axis m, and then to press forward à plank, whose thickness
5 is equal to the required breadth of frame, against the cutters and in contact
with the fence; this operation being performed continuously, with the axis
making two thousand to three thousand revolutions per minute, sides. of
frames are produced at the rate of from fifteen to twenty-five feet per minute,
varying with the hardness of the material used. B is a mortising and tenoning

page_text: machine, of which Figure 1, Sheet VI., is a horizontal plan; Figure 2, a front
elevation, and Figure 3, a back elevation; Figure 4, a side elevation; Figure 5,
a plan; and Figure 6, an edge view on an enlarged scale of the tenoning.
cutters. a, b, is a cast-iron bed similar to that of a lathe; c, d, a slide
working on it, which is shewn open in all the Figures, and ready for receiving the
strips of frame sides as they come from the parting machine A. e, f, g, is a fence
or rest which may be clamped at any distance from the centre of the slide; it
serves to determine the length of the pieces to be cut off. h, i, is a long
horizontal slide, on which the cutters j, k, l, can be adjusted by the screws m
and at any required distance from the centre of the bed a, b, so as to work
the various lengths requisite for all the different sized frames. o and p are
divided heads on the screws m and n, which are furnished with detents to
prevent any movement of the screws after adjustment; q, r, s, the driving
pullies, besides which there are directing and straining pullies for conducting
and giving tension to the driving band which brings the power from overhead
shafting. The speed of the cutters should be about three thousand revolutions
per minute. If we suppose the machine to be in adjustment for any given
length of frame sides and the morticing tools to be ready for action at k and j,
then in order to work the machine it is requisite to throw the axles in gear
with the power, and to place in the clamping slide as many strips as it will.
hold, with their ends against the fence. Enlarged views of this clamping slide
are given, in Figure 7, a side elevation, and Figure 8, an end elevation; the
handle w of the clamp slide is then pushed forward by the workman, which
brings down the top piece of the clamp and securely fixes all the strips in
their places; the same action presses them up laterally by the spring piece, s
and causes the locking picce y to fall into its lowest position, as indicated by
the dotted lines, and thus secure the clamp from any shaking during the
operation of cutting. A further application of pressure to this handle puts
forward the slide clamp c, d, with the work, and first brings the projecting ends
of the strips in contact with the saw 7, which cuts them off to the required 3
length. The off pieces, if short, fall into an inclined tray underneath, or, if
long, are quickly removed by the attendant, while the pieces held in the clamp
go forward to be operated on by the tools k and j, which by their rapid action
form the mortices, and leave the whole of the pieces complete frame sides.
The operation of tenoning is performed in precisely the same way, with the 3
exception of fixing the tenoning tools represented in Figures 5 and 6 in the
position of the morticing tools j, k. An edge view of a slate side, with the
tenon formed on it, shewing the mode of under cutting the shoulders (thus
obviating the necessity for mitreing), is shewn separately in Figure 9. C is a

page_text: "
. I
boring machine, which is employed to bore the peg holes in the corners of the
frames after the slates are put in. Figure 1, Sheet VII., is a front view of this
machine; Figure 2, a plan; Figure 3, a back elevation; and Figure 4, an end
view. a, b, c, d, is an iron table; e, f, a T slotted bar, on which the mandri!
5 heads g, h, can be adjusted to any required distance according to the length of
the frame. This bar and parts attached to it have a vertical slide motion
guided by the bar i, which slides through a hole in the table and a hole in the
cross head of the framing above. The vertical bar is round, but the T slotted
bar is prevented from turning round with it as a pivot by the back at e and f
sliding against the upright part of the framing. The lower end of the bar i
is furnished with a small roller, which rests on one end of a lever, the other.
end of which is connected with a loaded treadle by the chain j; when the foot
is pressed on the treadle k the weight is lifted, the slide descends by its own
weight (which was previously balanced by the weight 1 and 2), and two holes
are bored in the frame. The arrangement of levers on the top of the table.
are so fixed as to press up the tenons into the mortices and to bring the
shoulders into close contact while being bored. M and N are guide and
straining pullies for the driving band, the power being derived from overhead
shafting; there are two small brass chucks fixed on the centres of these guide
pullies containing steel cutters for preparing the pegs. The picces for making
these pegs are brought to the machine in strips of about one quarter of an inch;
square and five or six inches long, and the operation of pegging is performed by
two boy's, one at each end of the boreing machine. These boys hold a peg-
ging strip in one hand and a hammer in the other, one pane of which is
shaped and sharpened into a chisel edge. The end of the pegging slip is
first put into the hole in the centre of the brass chuck, which is flying
round at a high speed, and is instantly shaped at the point into a peg of the
proper size; it is then driven into a hole in one corner of the frame, cut off.
with a slight chop of the chisel, then again pressed into the chuck and shaped.
and driven as before, and so on continuously. D represents the finishing.
machine. Figure 1 is a front view of the same; Figure 2, a plan; and
Figure 3, a back elevation of the same. a, b, c, d, is an iron table; c, f, a
fence against which one side of the slate frame is pressed; g and h are head-
stocks containing mandrils placed at right angles to each other, which carry
iron face plates furnished with cutters or plane irons, and which, by the rapid
revolution of the mandrils, plane the frames as they are passed along the table;
the cutters in the plate 7 planing the edges of the frame, and those in j and k
on the vertical mandril planing the two faces of one side of the frame at the
same time. Of course the operation is repeated with each side of the frame.

page_text: In contact with the fenco m and n are pullies for the driving band. There are
no sliding adjustments required for this machine, as the frames are always of
the same thickness, and in other respects the size of frame does not require
any variation in the machine. Figure 4 is a full-sized detached top view of
the cutters and k; Figure 5, a view of the under side; Figure 6, a section 5
on the line a, b, c, of Figure 4; and Figure 7, a side elevation. Figure 8 is
a back view; and Figure 9, a face or front view of the cutters 1. Figure 10
represents one of the plane irons detached.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is as 1
follows:-
First, I claim, in respect of the cutting and dressing machinery represented
in Sheets I. and I'. of the Drawings, and first herein-before described, the
peculiar aggregate combination of parts of which the same consists, that is to
say, in so far as regards the employment of cutting discs brought into rolling 15
contact with the slates in combination with the other parts, movements, con-
trivances, and appliances, all or any of them represented in the Drawings and
before described.
Second, I claim the cutting and shaping machine or machinery represented
in Sheet II., and before described, in respect of all those things which it
possesses in common with the dressing and cutting machine first herein-before
described and claimed, and in respect also of those other arrangements by
which the cutting discs are made to operate in both directions, or both forwards
and backwards.
Third, I claim the cutting and dressing machine represented in Figures 1, 2
2, and 3, Sheet III., and before described, in respect of all those things which
it possesses in common with the two other cutting and dressing machines before
described and claimed, or either of them, and in respect also of those other
arrangements, by which it is particularly adapted to constant employment in
cutting slates of one given size, and two sides of each slate at one and the s
same time.
Fourth, I claim the slate shaping machine represented in Figures 4 and 5,
Sheet III., and before described, in so far as respects those arrangements,
whereby two, three, or four sides of each slate are cut at one and the same
time, and by one movement of the machine.
Fifth, I claim the slate planing machine represented in Sheet IV., and
before described, in so far as respects the arrangements by which both sides of
the slabs are planed simultaneously, and the cutting action is performed verti-
cally or at such an angle of inclination as to allow the waste to pass away.
3

page_text: from the machine by its own gravity, and wholly separated from the finished
slates.
Sixth, I claim the slate parting machine represented in Sheet IV., and before
described, in so far as respects the rocking action given to the arc of cutters,
and the arrangements by which each cutter or tooth is made to penetrate
deeper into the slate than the cutter or tooth immediately preceding it.
Seventh, I claim the four machines for framing school and other like slates,
distinguished by the letters A, B, C, D, and respectively before described, that
is to say, each in so far as respects the peculiar combination of parts partly
new and partly old of which it consists, and the whole in the order and sequence
of their operations, whereby such slates are framed with greater dispatch, in; a
much better manner, and at much less cost than is now practicable by manual
labour.
i
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Brown Jordan, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BROWN JORDAN, of Belvedere Road, in the County of Surrey, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
5 Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of
August, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in the fifteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Brown Jordan, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, 'Her especial.
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas
Brown Jordan, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as. I, the said.
Thomas Brown Jordan, my exors, adors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
5 vend, within England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in tho
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad; my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING, DRESSING, PLANING, AND OTHERWISE WORKING
SLATE, AND ALSO FOR FRAMING AND SETTING THE SAME;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Thomas Brown Jordan, shall:
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed. by an instrument in writing under my
SUST

page_text: hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her 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 5
Thomas Brown Jordan, hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being had to
the illustrative Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of a series of machines, or system of machinery,
whereby a number of operations belonging to the manufacture of slate
into articles of use, such as roofing slates, school slates, counting-house
slates, &c., &c., &c., hitherto imperfectly accomplished, and at a heavy
expense, by hand, are performed by the said machines or machinery in a
much better manner, at much less cost, and with greater dispatch than is
practicable by manual labor, of which machines or machinery some portions
are new and some old (separately considered), but the whole of each machine
as here combined, adapted, and applied is new in the aggregate.
:
The first of this series of machines is a cutting and dressing machine (more
particularly applicable to roofing slates), the constructive details of which are
represented in Sheets I. and I'. of the Drawings annexed. Figure 1 is a longi-
tudinal elevation of the machine; Figure 2, a cross section; and Figure 3,
Sheet I', is a plan of the machine. A, B, are two end standards, to which
the bed C, D, is bolted, and E, F, two wrought-iron turned bars which are
let into these standards at top, all these parts taken together forming a fixed
framing for the cutting part of the machine. The sides of the bed C, D,
support under cutters u, u, and the round bars E, F, form a horizontal
slide on which a cutter carriage a, b, c, d, travels from end to end of the
machine. e and fare upper disc cutters, which do not receive any independent
rotary motion from the power applied, but are fixed on an axis g, which is free
to revolve in the cutter carriage, which carriage, with its axis and cutters, is
made to reciprocate on its slide (by steam or water, other power). The
motion of the cutter carriage may be made either continuous or intermittent,
as may be found most advisable for the description of work which the machine
is intended to produce. When it is desired to drive the machine from a
revolving power shaft, I employ the following peculiar mode of converting the
rotary into a continuous reciprocating, motion:h, i, is a main shaft, which
derives its motion from overhead shafting. j, k, l, are fast-and-loose pullies for
stopping or starting two pullies or drums m, m², of equal size, one of which (m)

page_text: is mounted on sliding bearings, and may be drawn off by the screw n for the
purpose of straining the band o, p, q, 7, which must be kept rather tight.
This band is employed to give the reciprocating motion to the cutters. It
moves in the direction indicated by the arrows, and both its upper and lower
5 portions pass through the clamping box of the cutter carriage, as shewn in
section at Figure 4. In the position in which it is represented it would, if
moving, be going in the direction of the upper portion of the band. The
dotted lines in Figure 4 indicate the situation of inclined planes on each side
of the travelling band, by means of which the loose portion of the clamping
box s, t, u, v, when pushed into the position represented, is brought down with
sonic force on the upper portion of the band, so that, as the motion of the
band tends to pull the box in the direction it is going, its hold on it is
tightened, and it carries it along with it until it reaches the buffer w, when
the loose box s, t, u, v, is struck back, and rises on its inclined planes, so as to
clamp the lower portion of the band, which still tends to bring the inclines into
their seats. The carriage consequently travels with the lower part of the band'
back to the buffer a, which again reverses the direction, and so the operation
goes on producing a continuous reciprocating action from the constant rotation
of the axle h, i, and this without reference to the number of revolutions. It
is sometimes advisable to continue this band through several machines, and
one of the advantages of this arrangement is, that cach machine, although
driven by the same band may be making its working stroke at a different
time and of a different length.
I do not confine myself to the construction of the clamping box in the
particular manner just described, because it may be desirable to construct
it in a variety of ways, according to the purpose for which it is intended.
For instance, I should consider it sometimes better to make the outside the
fixed piece and the inside the shifting or clamping piece. What I regard as
especially novel in this part of my Invention is, the application of the going
and returning portions of an endless band to the conversion of a rotary into a
reciprocating, or conversely of a reciprocating into a rotary motion.
The cross portion X, X, of the framing of this cutting and dressing machine
is used for determining the size and ensuring the perfect squareness o
of the slates..
When a rough slate is to be cut, the workman places one sido of it against
either of the stops 2, 2, and lays the portions he intends to cut off over the edge..
of the under knife, when the next stroke of the disc cutter removes all the
overhanging portion and leaves a perfectly straight edge. The slate is instantly:
turned round a quarter, and the newly-cut slide placed in contact with the fence..
Another side is then cut, which will be exactly square with the first, because

page_text: the under knife is square with the fence, and the disc cutter travels parallel to
it. The corner formed by these two newly-cut sides is now placed against
one of the stops; which is to determine the size of the slate. In one direction
it is kept in contact with the fence and the under knife. The cut is made as
before, the slate again turned, and the last made corner put into the proper
stop, when another cut completes it. Each machine, is made double, so that
two workmen may be operating at one time; and sometimes the cutting
slide, &c., &c. is also doubled, which brings the stops shewn on the opposite
side of the measuring tables into work, and then four men would be working
close together, and both the going and returning strokes of the machine would
be employed.in cutting. The distance of the disc cutters from the under
knives, the proper angle of cutters, and a variety of minor particulars, are
fully shewn in the Figures.
A modification of the disc dressing machine just described is represented in
Sheet II., Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, which is adapted to cutting slates, both in the
going and returning stroke of the cutters, so that the pair of cutters repre-
sented employ four men and dress from fourteen to fifteen thousand slates per
day. This machine is more particularly suitable for the largest and heaviest
descriptions of work; it is framed for great strength, and in every way
adapted for the use of large quarries where the dressing is carried on upon
the terraces. Any required number of such machines may be connected end
to end, and may then be conveniently worked. by a continuous rod passing
from one cutter axle to the other, and this rod may be continuation of the
piston rod of an engine having the required length of stroke. When the
situation admits of a supply of water from a considerable head, it is desirable
to make this. a water pressure engine, and it can then be very conveniently
framed in the centre of two or more machines, having its piston rod carried
through both ends of the cylinder, and each end fixed to one of the slides of a
cutter axle, which may be considered the cross head of the piston rod. In
this way the power would be conveyed directly to the work without the inter-
vention of any straps, pullies, or gearing of any kind, and I would thus omit
the parts most liable to derangement, avoid the expense of repair, and the
loss of power which they necessarily involve. It is not requisite to repeat a
minute description of the parts of the machine, because the construction of
every part is clearly shown in the Drawings, and the principal parts have the
same letters of reference as the corresponding parts of the "disc dressing"
machine first horein-before described.
Another modification of the before-described dressing machine adapted to
the case of one machine being constantly employed in the production of slates-

page_text: The
of one given size, is represented in Sheet 11I., Figures 1, 2, and 3. This
machine is so constructed that it may be used for different sizes at different
times by adjusting the disc cutters the required distances asunder, and at the
same time clamping the under knives or rests in appropriate adjustment with
them on the rolling table. However, whenever there is a sufficient demand for
slates of one size, I prefer making the machine with permanent adjustments
adapted to that size alono. Figure 1, Sheet III., is a plan; Figure 2, a front
elevation; Figure 3, a side clevation, of this modification. a, b, c, d, is the
bed plate or fixed railway on which the rolling table or frame c, f, g, h, travels
backwards and forwards. i, j, k, l, and m, n, o, p, are the under cutters,
securely bolted to the rolling frame and fixed parallel to the rails on which it
travels. Those marked i, j, k, l, are placed at a distance asunder nearly equal
to the length of the slate to be cut, and those' marked m, n, o, p, at a distance
from each other nearly equal to the width of the slate to be cut. q, r, is a
two-inch turned shaft of wrought iron supported in bearings and between
centres, the latter intended to prevent end play and to give nice adjustment.
To the shaft q, r, four disc cutters are fixed at the points. s, t, u, v.
pair s, t, have their cutting edges separated from each other by a space exactly
equal to the breadth of the slate, and the other pair have the distance between
them exactly equal to the length of the slate. w and x are two stops, which
are fixed on the rolling table and rise above the top of the under cutters, as
seen in the elevations, Figures 2 and 3. The stops w, a', are intended to
receive the first or rough edge of the slate and prevent it from being pushed
off the under cutters when brought in contact with the discs. y, z, is another
5 stop, which is intended to perform a like office when the slate is being cut
by the other pair of discs. The latter stop forms a continuous straight line
exactly at right angles with the under cutters, because there will always be a
straight line of slate to press against it. The operation of this machine is
simple and rapid. One workman stands at A and another at B. A places a
piece of rough slate on the under cutters, and in contact with the stops wand a.
The rolling table then makes the forward stroke, and all the portions of the
slate outside the under cutters are instantly removed, making two parallel
straight edges. The workman at B takes up the newly-cut slate and places
one of the straight edges against the stop y, z, when the back stroke is made
and the slate instantly reduced to its proper width by the other pair (s, t) of
disc cutters. A labourer at C removes the slate to a train wagon employed to
carry away the work, and the slates are turned out fast enough to keep him
constantly in action. I have not thought it requisite to shew any means of
applying the power to this machine, because that may be dono in any way

page_text: convenient, and the power may be of any elemental kind. The rolling frame
should make about fifteen double strokes per minute, and the same means of
obtaining the reciprocating motion employed in the dressing machine first
herein-before described is equally applicable to this.
A machine for shaping slates to ornamental forms and for dressing very
small sizes of slate is represented in Sheet III. (Figure 4 an elevation and
Figure 5 a plan). The advantages, which this machine possesses over other
arrangements previously described consists in its great rapidity of operation
and power of cutting curved lines. The former is accomplished by cutting all
four sides of the slate at one time, and the curved-lines by screwing on cutters
of forms adapted to produce such lines. I find it convenient to vary the
position of the cutter slide of this machine according to the purpose for which
it is constructed. When I intend it for dressing all the sides of small straight-
siled slates, I place the slide at an angle of forty-five degrees with the base, as
exemplified in the Drawings; but when it is intended to cut the ends of
slates into ornamental forms, I then place the slide upright. The reason
for this is, that in the first case the workman cannot hold the slate when
the cutters are acting on it, and therefore it is important that when tho
slate is cut it should immediately leave the machine by its own gravity
to make way for the repetition of the process. But in the second case,
when only one end of the slate has to be cut, the workman need not
let it go, and therefore can remove it with the same facility that he
places it on the machine. a, b, c, d, is the base or foundation plate. e, f, g, h,
the upper framing, containing the slide, i, j, the crank and driving axle,
, 1, the rest or under cutters m, n, and the upper cutters o, p, which are fixed
to the moving part of the slide. In the base of the machine there are two
rollers q, r, indicated by dotted lines, which drive an endless band, the centre
portion of which is supported by a plate cast in the base, and also shewn by
dotted lines in the Drawing. The office of this endless band is to carry away
the slates when they leave the under cutters, so that the workman employed
shall have nothing to attend to except the feeding the machine with a fresh
piece of slate at every stroke. s is the driving pulley, which may derive its
motion from any convenient first mover, but should perform from fifteen to
twenty strokes per minute, according to the dexterity of the workman
employed in feeding the machine. t is the loose pulley for stopping the
machine. It is important that the forms of the cutters should be attended to,
and that the four centre points which first meet the slate should all be in the
same plane, otherwise that which first meets the slate will tend to tilt it on the
under cutters and produce fracture. It is also advisable that the portions of

page_text: the two cutting edges, forming a corner, should not be in the same plane, as
their being so made tends to break off small portions of the angle. Such
defects as those here alluded to are, however, materially obviated by the
pumping holder, shewn at w, v, which is an iron piston kept in advance of
the cutters by a spring in the body of the slide, which serves to hold the slate
down on the under cutters just before contact of the acting cutters, and after-
wards to push it out in the return stroke. Incidentally, too, the pumping
holder serves to prevent in some measure the tilting action arising from any
irregularity in the slate or from any want of attention to the form of cutters.
In using the machine it is only necessary to place a piece of slate over the
under cutters at every stroke, when the slates will be cut exactly to the size
the machine is made for, and will slide down the incline y, and be delivered by
the endless band, while the waste falling outside the cutters will drop perpen-
dicularly, and consequently be separated from the finished work.
A machine for planing slates is represented in Sheet IV. of the Drawings.
When made as represented in the Figures it is used for planing and reducing
to a uniformi thickness small slabs of slate, such as those generally used for
writing on, but it may be made of any required size, and is equally applicable
to slabs of larger dimensions. Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a
front elevation, Figure 3 a section, and Figure 4 a plan of the machine.
a, b, c, d, is a cast-iron basement, which contains in the hollow of the casting
two rollers, which drive an endless band, the top side of which passes over a
supporting slab, as shewn in Figure 3. e, f, g, h, is a vertical slide, the fixed
part of which is cast in one with the framing, by which it is secured to the
basement. i is an axle, also supported by the framing, to the inner end of
which is attached the slotted arm j, k, and to the outer end the driving
pulleys 1, m. A connecting rod n, o, serves to communicate the required
length of stroke to the moving part of the vertical slide. p, q, r, s, is a hori
zontal slide, which serves to carry one of the planing cutters t, u, and is
adjustable by the screw v to determine the exact distance between its cutter
and that which is fixed in the vertical bed at w, x. This adjustment deter-
mines the thickness of the slate when finished. The cutters t, it, and w, x, aro
fixed by screws to their respective seats, and they are also furnished with other
screws, the heads of which are brought in contact with their back edges, which
other screws serve to ensure nice adjustment of the cutting edges, so that the
whole length of the two cutting lines shall be in parallel planes. In setting.
his machine to work, the rough slate is placed against the vertical bed; when
the slide is at the top of its stroke, the descending stroke brings down a hard.
teel pressing piece y, z, on to the top edge of the slate, and the continuance of..

page_text: the downward stroke presses the slate between the planing cutters, and
reduces it to the thickness of the space between the cutters, all the waste
being delivered over the backs of the cutters, and thereby separated com-
pletely from the finished work. When the slate has been pressed between the
cutters to within a few inches of the top, and the slide returns and another
slate is placed against the vertical bed, with its lower edge in contact with the
top of that which is between the cutters, the next down stroke finishes the
first, slate and commences the second, and so on for every stroke of the
machine. As soon as a slate leaves the cutters it drops on to the travelling
band, and is carried out by it to the back of the machine, where the slates are
piled ready for removal. In cases where it is expedient to increase the power.
of the machine for heavy work a secondary motion may be introduced between
the driving pulley and the connecting rod of the slide, the mode of doing which.
is well known.
The Drawings on Sheet IV. represent a slate-parting machine, which is
used for dividing slabs of slate across the plane of lamination. Figure 1 is a
front view, Figure 2 a section, and Figure 3 a part plan of this machine.
a, b, c, d, is a large and strong slide, which, with its supports, forms the fixed-
framing of the machine. e, f, g, h, is the moveable portion which travels
backwards and forwards on the body of the slide, and carries the cutting.tools.
The part e, f, g, h, also contains another slide, to which vertical motion can,
be given by the screw i, which is furnished with a cogged head for the purpose
of feeding the downward progress of the cutters at the termination of every.
stroke. j, k, l, is an arc pivoted to the moving part of the vertical slide at m,
which are contains the cutters at its lower edge. The arc cutters of course's
travel backwards and forwards on the long horizontal slide, and downwards by
the vertical slide to feed the cut, but it also has a rocking motion on the
pivot m. In the position represented in the Drawing it would be travelling in
the direction of the arrows, but when it has terminated the stroke in that
direction the tumbler weight n will be struck over the perpendicular by the
cam'o, and will then fall into the position shewn by the dotted lines, on which
the excentric pin p causes the whole are to take up a reverse position to that it
now occupies in respect to the centre line of the vertical slide. This throws the.
set of cutters now acting out of the groove they have made, and brings the
other set into a proper position for working by the return stroke. If, however,
this were the only change in the position of the cutters, they would merely
scrape over the bottom of the groove just made, but simultaneously with the
rocking action another change has been made by the lever on the top of the.
screw coming in contact with the roller cam 7, which has given the downward.

page_text: feed by giving a slight turn to the vertical screw. The return stroke is now mado
and the groove doubled in depth, and so on the process is continued until the
slate is completely severed. The railway and iron truck seen under the block of.
slate is merely used as a ready means of bringing the work under the operation..
of the machine and of sustaining it in position while being cut.
The framing of school slates with wood is effected by means of four machines,.
which I shall next describe in the order in which they are used, and distinguished
by the letters A, B, C, D; the first of these (A) is a parting, moulding, and groov-
ing machine, the details of which are represented in Sheet V of the Drawings:
annexed. Figure 1 is a plan of the top of table; Figure 2, a front clevation;
Figure 3, a back elevation; and Figure 4, a sectional elevation. The top of
the table a, b, c, d, is a true plane of cast iron; e, f, a fence or parallel guide,.
which is adjustable by slots and bolts at h and i to any required distance from:
the cutters; these slots are made strictly parallel to each other and at a
considerable angle with the front of the fence; and the studs of the locking.
bolts fit into them exactly, so that at whatever part of its range the fence is:
locked, it must always be parallel to the cutters; the weight and lever j, axle k,
and other pieces attached to it are used for holding down the plank while it is.
passing through the machine. Figures 5 and 6 are front and side elevations on:
an enlarged scale of the saw and grooving cutters. The last Figure also
illustrates the construction of the cutters between the saws, which perform the
operations of grooving the frame sides to receive the slate, and also moulding
the insides of them at the same time, as shewn by the section of the slate:
frame given in Figure 7. l, m, is the cutter axis; n, the driving pulley,
which receives its motion from, overhead shafting; o, a divided head on the
screw p; is the detent by which the screw is kept in position when the axis m:
has been so adjusted that the cutters shall work the groove and mouldings to
the proper depth; r is a straining pulley for bringing the driving line or cord
to proper tension; and s, s, the saws for parting two strips of slate frame.
sides from the edge of a plank, at the same time that they are grooved and
moulded by the other tools; t, u, is a plate forming part of the top of the
table, which can be removed for the purpose of changing the tools when'
required to be sharpened, &c. To work this machine it is only requisite to
give motion to the axis m, and then to press forward a plank, whose thickness
5 is equal to the required breadth of frame, against the cutters and in contact
with the fence; this operation being performed continuously, with the axis
making two thousand to three thousand revolutions per minute, sides of
frames are produced at the rate of from fifteen to twenty-five feet per minute,
varying with the hardness of the material used. B is a mortising and tenoning

page_text: machine; of which Figure 1, Sheet VI., is a horizontal plan; Figure 2, a front
elevation, and Figure 3, a back elevation; Figure 4, a side elevation; Figure 5,
a plan; and Figure 6, an edge view on an enlarged scale of the tenoning
cutters. a, b, is a cast-iron bed similar to that of a lathe; c, d, a slide
working on it, which is shewn open in all the Figures, and ready for receiving the
strips of frame sides as they come from the parting machine A. e, f, g, is a fence
or rest which may be clamped at any distance from the centre of the slide; it
serves to determine the length of the pieces to be cut off. h, i, is a long
horizontal slide, on which the cutters j, k, l, can be adjusted by the screws m
and at any required distance from the centre of the bed a, b, so as to work
the various lengths requisite for all the different sized frames. o and p are
divided heads on the screws m and n, which are furnished with detents to
prevent any movement of the screws after adjustment; q, r, s, the driving
pullies, besides which there are directing and straining pullies for conducting
and giving tension to the driving band which brings the power from overhead
shafting. The speed of the cutters should be about three thousand revolutions
per minute. If we suppose the machine to be in adjustment for any given
length of frame sides and the morticing tools to be ready for action at k and j,
then in order to work the machine it is requisite to throw the axles in gear
with the power, and to place in the clamping slide as many strips as it will
hold, with their ends against the fence. Enlarged views of this clamping slide
are given, in Figure 7, a side elevation, and Figure 8, an end elevation; the
handle w of the clamp slide is then pushed forward by the workman, which
brings down the top piece of the clamp and securely fixes all the strips in
their places; the same action presses them up laterally by the spring piece x,
and causes the locking piece y to fall into its lowest position, as indicated by
the dotted lines, and thus secure the clamp from any shaking during the
operation of cutting. A further application of pressure to this handle puts
forward the slide clamp c, d, with the work, and first brings the projecting ends
of the strips in contact with the saw l, which cuts them off to the required
length. The off pieces, if short, fall into an inclined tray underneath, or, if
long, are quickly removed by the attendant, while the pieces held in the clamp
go forward to be operated on by the tools and j, which by their rapid action
form the mortices, and leave the whole of the pieces complete frame sides.
The operation of tenoning is performed in precisely the same way, with the
exception of fixing the tenoning tools represented in Figures 5 and 6 in the
position of the morticing tools j, k. An edge view of a slate side, with the
tenon formed on it, shewing the mode of under cutting the shoulders (thus
obviating the necessity for mitreing), is shown separately in Figure 9. C is a

page_text: boring machine, which is employed to bore the peg holes in the corners of the
frames after the slates are put in. Figure 1, Sheet VII., is a front view of this
machine; Figure 2, a plan; Figure 3, a back elevation; and Figure 4, an end
view. a, b, c, d, is an iron table; e, f, a T slotted bar, on which the mandril
5 heads g, h, can be adjusted to any required distance according to the length of
the frame. This bar and parts attached to it have a vertical slide motion
guided by the bar i, which slides through a hole in the table and a hole in tho
cross head of the framing above. The vertical bar is round, but the T slotted
bar is prevented from turning round with it as a pivot by the back at e and f
sliding against the upright part of the framing. The lower end of the bar i
is furnished with a small roller, which rests on one end of a lever, the other
end of which is connected with a loaded treadle by the chain j; when the foot
is pressed on the treadle the weight is lifted, the slide descends by its own
weight (which was previously balanced by the weight 7 and z), and two holes
are bored in the frame. The arrangement of levers on the top of the table.
are so fixed as to press up the tenons into the mortices and to bring the
shoulders into close contact while being bored. M and N are guide and
straining pullies for the driving band, the power being derived from overhead.
shafting; there are two small brass chucks fixed on the centres of these guide
pullies containing steel cutters for preparing the pegs. The pieces for making:
these pegs are brought to the machine in strips of about one quarter of an inch:
square and five or six inches long, and the operation of pegging is performed by
two boys, one at each end of the boreing machine. These boys hold a peg-
ging strip in one hand and a hammer in the other, one pane of which is
shaped and sharpened into a chisel edge. The end of the pegging slip is
first put into the hole in the centre of the brass chuck, which is flying
round at a high speed, and is instantly shaped at the point into a peg of the
proper size; it is then driven into a hole in one corner of the frame, cut off.
with a slight chop of the chisel, then again pressed into the chuck and shaped.
and driven as before, and so on continuously. "D represents the finishing
machine. Figure 1 is a front view of the same; Figure 2, a plan; and.
Figure 3, a back elevation of the same. a, b, c, d, is an iron table; c, f, a
fence against which one side of the slate frame is pressed; g and h are head-
stocks containing mandrils placed at right angles to each other, which carry
iron face plates furnished with cutters or plane irons, and which, by the rapid
revolution of the mandrils, plane the frames as they are passed along the table;
the cutters in the plate 1 planing the edges of the frame, and those in j and k
on the vertical mandril planing the two faces of one side of the frame at the
same time. Of course the operation is repeated with cach side of the frame.

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In contact with the fence m and n are pullies for the driving band. There are
no sliding adjustments required for this machine, as the frames are always of
the same thickness, and in other respects the size of frame does not require
any variation in the machine. Figure 4 is a full-sized detached top view of
the cutters and k; Figure 5, a view of the under side; Figure 6, a section
on the line a, b, c, of Figure 4; and Figure 7, a side elevation. Figure 8 is
a back view; and Figure 9, a face or front view of the cutters 1. Figure 10
represents one of the plane irons detached.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is as
follows:-
First, I claim, in respect of the cutting and dressing machinery represented
in Sheets I. and I'. of the Drawings, and first herein-before described, the
peculiar aggregate combination of parts of which the same consists, that is to
say, in so far as regards the employment of cutting discs brought into rolling
contact with the slates in combination with the other parts, movements, con-
trivances, and appliances, all or any of them represented in the Drawings and
before described.
.
Second, I claim the cutting and shaping machine or machinery represented
in Sheet II., and before described, in respect of all those things which it
possesses in common with the dressing and cutting machine first herein-before
described and claimed, and in respect also of those other arrangements by
which the cutting discs are made to operate in both directions, or both forwards
and backwards.
Third, I claim the cutting and dressing machine represented in Figures 1,
2, and 3, Sheet III., and before described, in respect of all those things which
it possesses in common with the two other cutting and dressing machines before
described and claimed, or either of them, and in respect also of those other
arrangements, by which it is particularly adapted to constant employment in
cutting slates of one given size, and two sides of each slate at one and the
same time.
:
Fourth, I claim the slate shaping machine represented in Figures 4 and 5,
Sheet III., and before described, in so far as respects those arrangements,
whereby two, three, or four sides of cach slate are cut at one and the same
time, and by one movement of the machine.
Fifth, I claim the slate planing machine represented in Sheet IV., and
before described, in so far as respects the arrangements by which both sides of
the slabs are planed simultaneously, and the cutting action is performed verti-
cally or at such an.angle of inclination as to allow the waste to pass away