IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAWING OR CUTTING WOOD OR OTHER SUITABLE MATERIAL TO WHICH THE APPARATUS IS APPLI- CABLE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Jeffery, of Dorking, in the County of Surrey, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAWING OR CUTTING
WOOD OR OTHER SUITABLE MATERIAL TO WHICH THE APPARATUS IS APPLI-
CABLE."
Sealed the 7th May 1878, and dated the 8th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Jeffery, at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1877.
"
THOMAS JEFFERY, of Dorking, in the County of Surrey. IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SAWING OR CUTTING WOOD OR OTHER SUITABLE MATERIAL TO
WHICH THE APPARATUS IS APPLICABLE."
My Invention relates to the process or operation of, and the apparatus for, what
is technically known as "cross-cutting" wood and other substances; that is to say,
for cutting the same into lengths, pieces, or blocks, across the direction of the grain
or fibre.
This I accomplish in the following novel and improved manner :-I arrange upon
a spindle or shaft mounted between suitable standards or framing, a series of circular
saws, at such distances apart from each other on the said spindle or shaft as to be
equal to the lengths into which the wood or other substance is to be cut.
;
Within the same framing parallel with the first-named axle or spindle, and at a
suitable angle relatively thereto, I mount another axle or spindle, having arranged
thereon a series of "feeders," each consisting of a boss or central portion, having
arms radiating therefrom, the outer ends of the said arms being formed each with a
recess to serve as receptacles or holders for the wood or other substance to be cut
up; and for keeping the same in position whilst being sawn or cut, and to allow of
the release of the detached blocks or pieces, I adapt to and arrange between the
central boss of each of the "feeders" and the receptacle or holder at the outer end
of each of the radiating arms, a gripping and releasing attachment consisting by

page_text: preference of weights and levers which are brought into action on the apparatus
being worked, as afterwards described.
On motion being given to the spindle or shaft carrying the saws, the " feed"
apparatus is caused to rotate towards. the saws (through the intervention by pre-
ference of a worm and worm wheel gearing, or suitable equivalents therefor, between
the saw spindle or shaft and that of the "feeders "), and the several lengths of wood
or other material contained in each of the before-mentioned holders or receptacles
are successively brought in contact with the saws in motion, and are cut or sawn
into blocks or pieces which fall on to a travelling endless web or apron (actuated
from the "feeder" shaft or spindle, through the intervention, by preference, of
pulleys and belting, or suitable equivalents therefor) and are carried away from the
machine.
By means of the continuous rotary feeding arrangement, according to my In-
vention, planks or lengths of wood, as also other materials may be cut up or
"converted" into blocks or pieces for various uses with much greater rapidity than
heretofore, and with a corresponding saving in the labour involved; my apparatus
being self-feeding, the only hand labour necessary being that of placing in the
recesses or holders before described the lengths of material to be sawn or cut up.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Jeffery in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th May
1878.
THOMAS JEFFERY, of Dorking, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SAWING OR CUTTING WOOD OR OTHER SUITABLE MATERIAL OF
WHICH THE APPARATUS IS APPLICABLE."
«
My Invention relates to the process or operation of and the apparatus for what is
technically known as cross-cutting" wood and other substances; that is to say, for
cutting the same into lengths, pieces; or blocks across the direction of the grain or
fibre.
"
This I accomplish in the following novel and improved manner :-I arrange upon
a spindle or shaft fitted between suitable standards or framing, a series of circular
saws at such distances apart from each other on the spindle or shaft as to be equal
to the length into which the wood or other substance is to be cut. I fit upon the
same framing below the first-named shaft or spindle another axle or spindle having
arranged thereon a series of "feeders" for receiving and supplying or feeding"
to the saws the wood or other substance to be cut or sawn. The said feeders
consist each of a central or "boss" portion having arms radiating therefrom (in the
Drawing each feeder is shewn as having three of such arms), the outer ends of
the said arms being formed each with a recess to receive or contain the wood or
other substance to be cut up.

page_text: "
For the purpose of keeping the wood or other substance in position whilst being
cut, and afterwards to allow of the release of the detached blocks or pieces, I
adapt to and arrange between the central boss of the "feeders
and the recep-
tacle or holder at the outer end of each of the radiating arms thereof a gripping
and releasing attachment, consisting by preference of weights and levers which are
brought into action on the apparatus being worked as herein-after described.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrative of my said Invention,
the same letters of reference are employed to denote similar parts in the four
views, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevational view of the machine according to my
said Invention; and Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof on the line Y, Z,
Figure 1.
The saw spindle or shaft A has fitted upon it at the driving end of the machine,
the fast and loose pullies B, B¹; and has mounted upon it between the A framing
in which it is carried the series of circular saws a before referred to; the other end
of the shaft A carries the worm C, taking into the worm wheel D, carried on the
spindle E, mounted between the hanging carriages or bearings F; the said spindle E
has upon the one end thereof the bevil pinion G, taking into the wheel H, keyed
upon the feeder shaft or spindle I, carrying the series of feeders K before
described, each consisting of three arms or members as shewn, having each at the
outer end a receptacle or holder k for the wood or other material to be cut up.
On motion being given to the saw spindle A, and the saws caused to rotate, the
series of "feeders" K are at the same time, through the intervention of the gearing
just described, caused to rotate towards the saws, and the several lengths or planks
of wood or other material contained in each of the before-mentioned holders or
receptacles are successively brought in contact with the saws in motion, and are cut
or sawn into blocks or pieces which fall on to and are carried away by a travelling
endless web or apron L, carried round the roller M on the spindle M¹, carried in
bearings on the A framing or standards of the machine, and having keyed on the
driving end the pulley N, actuated by a driving band from the pulley O on the cor-
responding end of the "feeder" shaft I.
By means of the continuous rotary feeding arrangement, according to my present
Invention, planks or lengths of wood (as also other materials) may be cut up or
converted into blocks or pieces with much greater rapidity than heretofore, and with
a corresponding saving in the labour involved; the only hand labour necessary
being that of placing in the recesses or holders the lengths of material to be sawn
or cut up. The blocks or pieces of wood detached in the manner herein-before
described are adapted for a variety of purposes, including, amongst others, for use
as blocks for wood paving.
The machine, according to my present Invention, is also especially adapted to be
used in conjunction with the apparatus patented by me on the 24th day of October
1876, Number 4108, in rapidly preparing for the last-named machine blocks or
pieces of wood to be thereby cut and split up into fire-wood sticks or pieces.
The arrangement of apparatus for effecting the gripping or holding of the wood
whilst being cut, and for afterwards releasing the detached pieces when the feeders
have cleared the saws, is shewn in the detached views, Figs. 3 and 4.
In Figure 3 the arrangement shewn illustrates the combination of levers and
weights herein-before referred to.
And Figure 4 illustrates an equivalent and substituted arrangement therefor
consisting of a combination of levers and springs.
Having now described and illustrated my said Invention, as also the mode of
putting the same into practice, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the exact details and the configuration shewn and described, as various
modifications may be made therein within the limits of my Invention as herein
specified, but what I claim is the "cross cutting" of wood (or other suitable material
to which the machine is applicable) by means of the combination of the sawing and

page_text: feeding, and gripping and releasing arrangement of apparatus, substantially as herein
described and shewn in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Jeffery, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
1
Witness,
JAMES STEVENSON,
Patent Agent,
81, High Street,
Bromley-by-Bow,
E.
THO, JEFFERY. (L.S.)