Improvements in Means for Ornamenting Wood.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Ornamenting Wood.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Edward Winslow Alleigh, of Minneapolis.
in the County of Hennepin, and State of Minnesota, one of the United States of
North America, Gentleman,) 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 the ornamentation of wood by embossing or imprinting the
same in imitation of carving, and it comprises certain novel means whereby an
extremely close imitation of carving in such material is secured with much greater
facility, certainty and uniform excellence than has been obtainable with the means
and apparatus heretofore in use for such purposes.
In the drawings, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive relate to mechanism embraced in my said
invention and designed for carrying and operating a suitable embossing or imprinting
die; Fig. 1 being a perspective view, Fig. 2 a partial sectional clevation, Fig. 3 a
vertical sectional elevation; and Fig. 4 a horizontal section, as seen from above, in
the line, z, of Fig. 3.
Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive relate to an embossing or imprinting die, which in connection
with certain devices is also embraced in my said invention, Fig. 5 being a face view,
and Fig. 6 a longitudinal sectional view of the said die before it is bent to fit its
supporting cylinder. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of said cylinder, and Fig. 8 is a
longitudinal central sectional view thereof in the line x, x, of Fig. 7.
Figs. 9 and 10 relate to novel mechanism also embraced in my said invention,
whereby a die of small diameter may be substituted on occasion for one of large
diameter, thereby extending the capacity of the invention for work of different kinds,
and enabling, in various cases, a comparatively inexpensive die to be used instead of a
costly die of large diameter. Fig. 9 is an elevation showing the arm C, of Fig. 1,
with the small die and its immediate adjuncts attached in place of a die of large
diameter. Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken in the line, x, x, of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a face view of a die constructed to carry into effect a further feature of
my said invention, and Fig. 12 is an end view of said die with a gas burner arranged
in position to effectuate said further feature of my said invention."

page_text: Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive:
A represents a strong cast iron bed portion to the machine, and B B represents
standards which are preferably cast solid to the bed, and also made rigid to a
projecting portion ✗ more clearly shown at Fig. 3, to serve as a support and
housing for the gearing b, c. The inner sides of the standards B, B, are provided
with groves in which ribs K, K, on the supporting portion Q of an arm C
have a vertical reciprocating movement; the means to obtain this movement con-
sist of a screw I on which is placed a gear wheel c with a screw thread formed
through it to engage the screw I, and further consist of a gear b, smaller than
gear c, and pivotted to the portion X so as to be turned by a forked lever F..
The opposite end of arm C from Qis provided with a depending portion D whereby
the shaft E, which supports the die Y has bearings in the portions Q, D,
and the die above has sufficient space to turn. The bed A is provided with
a table D', on which the material to be imprinted is placed and projecting a little
-above said table and lying in it is a feed roller G, Figs. 1 and 3, which carries the
material to turn the roller-die to make the imprint. Any suitable gearing may be
employed to drive roller "G, but because considerable power is required and accuracy
is necessary I employ as most suitable, a drive wheel V₁ which is on a shaft Z
extending through the bed A. On shaft Z is a gear V which meshes into a gear W
the laiter gear being affixed to the same shaft as the feed roller G, so that
when the wheel V is driven at the proper speed the material Q', to be imprinted
will be properly fed to the die Y which at Fig. 3, is partly shown in elevation
and partly in section and in position for use. A machine constructed as herein
shown and described has been in practical operation for some months and it is found
that the standards B, B. cast solid to the bed A and rigidly secured at the top
portions by the support X in connection with the arm C provided with the depending
guide portion and the depending portion D' provide a better support for the shaft E
and die Y than machines of any other construction; and that the support X and
gearing b, c, therein are very desirable means for regulating the height of the arm C
in its adjustment to bring the die Y properly to the wood Q
Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive:
G', H', represents one part of the two-part cylinder, and A¹ the other part; the
part H extends through the part A' as shown at Fig. 8, and through the part G' H¹,
is formed a round smooth hole whereby the cylinder is permitted to turn on a
shaft F, between the parts G₁, H', and A¹, and in the periphery of the two parts is
formed an annular grove E to engage a continuous or sectional rib", f, etc. on
the middle portion of the inside of the die B', to keep the die in line. The end of the
die is provided with holes through which a screw D1, Fig. 7, is put into each of the two
parts of the cylinder and with the screw a¹, Fig. 8 hold the die and cylinder together.
The die B is cast flat in brass with the desired figure thereon and is then bent to fit
the two-part cylinder, and when the die is to be replaced by another of a different
pattern, I remove the screws 11, a¹, and separate the part A of the cylinder from the
other part. From this it will be seen that the die is only fastened at one end and
..therefore it cannot buckle when brought with a suitable force in a heated state to
make a permanent impression; and that it is because the cylinder is in two parts.
that a die nearly covering its periphery can be used and removed.
Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10.
The main bed portion of the frame, and the strong standards and main portions of
the machine are the same as shown in Fig. 1. C, D, is the arm which supports one
end of the die shaft, the other end of said die shaft being supported in the carrying
portion of the arm.
This carrying portion has a vertical reciprocating movement
in the standard portions B, B, by means of a screw 1, that the die may be
adjusted to different thicknesses of material. At Fig 1, the larger die would have a
bearing on shaft E, provided it extended into the supporting portion Q, and the
material to be imprinted would be placed on a table D' and carried forward by a feed
roller G. In order to adapt this machine, to do all kinds of ordinary imprinting
I employ two standards" M and L, which are notched out their ends to engage

page_text: the underside of the supporting arm C, and the arm L is rigidly secured to the
depending portion D, as shown at Fig. 10, by means of a strong bolt J, and nut W;
said bolt either being cast solid to the arm L or made rigid to it. A screw bolt N,
is also made practically rigid to standard L, and it is long enough to pass through the
parallel standard M leaving sufficient space between the standards to accomodate the
longest die to be employed, and the screw is formed far enough in on the bolt to.
permit a jamb nut T to be turned so far toward the standard L as will bring the two
standards to the ends of the shortest die employed. A shaft O is practically unade
rigid to the standard L, and is made long enough to support the longest die employed
and pass through and have a support in the arm M. A long die R is represented on
shaft and the dotted lines U represent the jamb nut T turned in for the use of a
die so long as the distance of the dotted line V is from standard L when the jamb
nut T is properly adjusted on the rod N and the die is on shaft O the nut S. is to he
turned closely against the standard M and the dio It will be held in position to imprint
a piece of wood shown at Q'; when the larger class of dies are to be employed
with the machine I remove the standard L, M, by disengaging the bolt J from
the arm C, D.
.
Referring now to Fig. 11. In said Figure the die is represented as having its
ornamental or embossing design r, r, etc. formed in intaglio upon its circumferential
surface in order that the ornamentation produced upon the wood, by the pressure of the
roller, that is to say the die, as herein before explained, may be produced in relief upon
said wood. The raised portions of the surface of the die surrounding the intaglio
portions, r, r, etc. are roughened in such manner that when pressed into the wood
they will produce a correspondingly roughened surface thereon, which said roughened
surface of the wood may resemble the marks left by the carving tool in hand carving.
These roughened raised surfaces of the die or roller may however, be of any suitable
kind or character. Referring now to Figure 12. This same roller, which as afore-
said, is represented in Fig. 11, is provided with any suitable means by which it may
be heated. In Fig. 12 a gas jet or burner is shown which may be so pivotted (as for
instance, at m,) or arranged as to be readily brought to, or away from, the roller
or die as occasion may require.
Preparatory to the operation of ornamenting the wood the roller is heated to any
required temperature, care being taken that it shall not be sufficient to scorch the
wood in the operation of embossing or ornamenting the same. Any other suitable
means for heating the die may be employed in place of the gas burner.
By roughening the raised surface of the die it is caused to act more effectually
upon the wood and the ornamentation is caused to more closely resemble hand carving,
and by heating the die so that said roughened surface may act in a hot condition
upon the fibres of the wood, the fracture of the wood fibres from the many and
and minute and to some extent acute bendings of said fibres under the action of
the roughened surfaces is prevented; and greatly improved results are obtained by
the crushing in of the wood around the raised or embossed figures by the action
of the heated and roughened raised portions of the die or roller.
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 :-
First. In machines for ornamenting wood, the arm C provided with the depending
guide carrying the ribs K, K, and the depending portion D and each depending
portion provided with a bearing for the shaft E, and the die Y thereon, in combination
with bed A and standards B, B, at the sides of the guide portion Q, with grooves
therein to engage the ribs K, the table D' and roller G projecting through it, the
screw I, gears b, c, and lever F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. In mechanism for ornamenting wood a two-part cylinder consisting of the
part G provided with the hub H' and the part A' placed on the said hub; and
the part G with its hub H' provided with a continuous bearing for a supporting
shaft, and the periphery of the cylinder provided with an annular groove between

page_text: said parts in combination with a segment die B¹ provided with a rib engaging
said groove and fastened at one end to the two-part cylinder, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Third. In a machine for ornamenting wood the standards L and M notched out
at their top portions in combination with the arm C, D, which they engage and
the arm L, carrying the fixed screw rod N, the fixed bolt J, and fixed shaft O
and the arm M provided with bearings to receive the screw rod N and shaft O
and the screw rod carrying the jamb nut T and a clamping nut S with
the die R and table D' and feed roller G of the machine, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Fourth. The hereindescribed method of producing an imitation of wood carving
which consists in crushing in, without removal of any portion, the parts around the
raised figures by the conjoint action of heat and of the roughened raised surfaces of
a rotatory roller or die, substantially as described.