IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING IRREGULAR FORMS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
CUTTING IRREGULAR FORMS."-A communication from Henry D. Stover and
James W. Bicknell, both of Boston, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 10th October 1856, and dated the 10th May 1856..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of. the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th May 1856.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA-
BATUS FOR CUTTING IRREGULAR FORMS," a communication from Henry D. Stover
and James W. Bicknell, both of Boston, in the United States of America, to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
mechanism for cutting spirals, or warped or other similar irregular surfaces, in
wood, or any other material capable of being cut by rotatory cutters. The
improved cutting apparatus consists of a fixed table supported at each end by
suitable brackets or standards. These standards are connected at their upper

page_text: ends immediately beneath the table by a fixed cross bar, having two longitu-
dinal openings made in it for the passage therethrough of two rotatory, cutter
spindles, which are each fitted with a small driving pulley, and driven by bands
or driving belts from any convenient prime mover. A circular or collar
bearing is fitted round each of the cutter spindles at the part where they pass
through the openings in the cross bar for them to revolve in, and these bear-
ings are pivotted on centre screws, so as to admit of the spindles being worked
at any desired vertical angle with the surface of the table. Round each of
these bearings is fitted a tubular guide, which is so combined with the spindle
and bearing as to rise or fall with them. This guide not being connected to
the spindle directly does not rotate with it but remains stationary, and conse-
quently will not wear the article to be cut when pressed against it. The
lower ends of the cutter spindles work in suitable bearings in moveable or
traversing sliding blocks or plates, which travel in curved slots made in a
second and lower cross bar connecting the two end standards. The curve of
these slots is struck from the pivots or centres of oscillation of the spindles.
On the upper edge of the lower bar are made a number of rack teeth, into
which teeth gear two spur pinions carried one in each of the traversing plates.
On the opposite end of each of the pinion shafts is fitted a worm wheel, which
receives motion from an endless screw on a short vertical shaft, also carried by
the traversing plate. This shaft carries a set of graduated or cone pullies,
which are driven by a. short belt from a corresponding set of pullies on a
second vertical shaft in the traversing plate, and this second set of pullies is
driven by a short belt direct from the cutter spindle. It will thus be obvious,
that whatever may be the position or angle of the cutter spindle, the relative
positions of the cone pullies, worm wheel, and endless screw will remain un-
altered, they being all carried on the same plate. By this arrangement, when
the cutter spindle is rotated, motion will be imparted to the spur pinion, and
the bearing plate will consequently be gradually traversed along its curved guide
slots, and thereby change the angle of the cutter. spindle during the opera-
tion of cutting, to enable it to cut spiral, warped, or other irregular surfaces.
The cutting knives are held firmly in their places by clamping plates, which are
laid over them, and which have their ends bevilled to correspond to bevilled
projections on the cutter head, and to a bevilled collar or plate which is
screwed down on to them, and thereby cause the clamping plates to press
against the knives when the collar is screwed down, by reason of the inclined
or bevilled ends on the plates sliding down the corresponding bevils or inclines
on the collar. and projections. A guard is placed on the upper end of the
cutter head over the knives, and is formed with a broad .flange, to protect the

page_text: hands of the workman from the cutters, and prevent the stuff from being
thrown up or drawn up from the table. This guard is screwed on to the
cutter head, so as to be capable of being adjusted in height according to
the thickness of the stuff to be worked.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and
of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING IRREGULAR FORMS," a communi-
cation from Henry D. Stover and James W. Bicknell, both of Boston, in the
United States of America," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
:
The said Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of

page_text: machinery or mechanism. for cutting spirals, and warped or twisted or other.
similar irregular forms, in wood, or any other material capable of being cut by
rotatory knives or cutters.
The improved cutting mechanism is carried on a fixed table, which table is
supported at each end by suitable brackets or standards. These standards are
connected at their upper ends immediately beneath the table by a fixed cross
bar, having two longitudinal openings made in it for the passage through them
of two rotatory cutter spindles, which are each fitted with a small driving
pulley, and driven by bands or driving belts from any convenient prime mover.
A circular or collar bearing is fitted round each of the cutter spindles at that
part where they pass through the openings in the cross bar for them to revolve
in, and these bearings are pivotted on centre screws, so as to admit of the
spindles being worked at any desired vertical angle with reference to the sur-
face of the table. Round each of these bearings is fitted a tubular guide,
which is so combined with the spindle and bearing as to rise or fall with them.
This guide not being connected to the spindle directly does not rotate with it,
but remains stationary, and consequently will not wear the article to be cut
when pressed against it. The lower ends of the cutter spindles work in.
suitable bearings in moveable or traversing sliding block or plates, which
travel in curved slots made in a second and lower longitudinal cross bar
The curve of these slots
connecting the two end standards of the table.
is struck from the pivots or centres of oscillation of the spindles. On the
upper edge of the lower bar are a number of rack teeth, into which teeth
gear two spur pinions carried one in each of the traversing blocks or plates.
On the opposite end of each of the pinion shafts is fitted a worm wheel,
which receives motion from an endless screw on a short vertical shaft, also
carried by the traversing block or plate. This shaft carries a set of graduated
or cone pullies, which are driven by a short belt from a corresponding set of
pullies on a second vertical shaft carried by the traversing block or plate, and
this second set of pullies is driven by a short belt direct from the cutter
spindle. It will thus be obvious, that whatever may be the position or angle
of the cutter spindle, the relative positions of the cone pullies, worm wheel, and
endless screw will remain unaltered, since they are all carried on the same
block or plate. By this arrangement, when the cutter spindle is rotated,
motion will be imparted to the spur pinion, and the bearing block or plate
will consequently be gradually traversed along its curved guide slots, and
thereby gradually change the angle of. the cutter spindle during the operation
of cutting, to enable it to cut spiral, warped, twisted, or other similar irregular
+1

page_text: curved surfaces. The cutting tools consist of knives, which are held firmly in
their places by clamping plates, which are laid over them, and which have
their ends bevilled to correspond to similar bevilled projections on the cutter
head, and to a bevilled collar or plate which is screwed down on to them, and
thereby causes the clamping plates to press against the knives when the collar"
is screwed down, by reason of the inclined or bevilled ends on the plates"
sliding down the corresponding bevils or inclines on the collar and projections.
A guard is placed on the upper end of the cutter head over the knives, and is
formed with a broad flange, to protect the hands of the workman from the
cutters, and to prevent the material from being thrown or drawn up from the
table. This guard is screwed on to the cutter head, so as to be capable of
being adjusted in height according to the thickness of the material to be
worked.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, represents a complete side elevation
of the apparatus for cutting irregular curved surfaces; Figure 2, on Sheet 2,
is an end elevation of the same; Figure 3, on Sheet 1, is a plan of the
supporting table with the cutter spindles protruding through it; Figure 4, on
the same Sheet, is a detail of the upper longitudinal cross bar; Figure 5, on
Sheet 2, is an enlarged detail longitudinal vertical section of the upper part of
one of the cutter spindles detached; Figure 6, on the same Sheet, is a
transverse section of the cutter head, taken along the line a', a', (Figure 5);
Figure 7 is a similar section, taken along the line b', '; (Figure 5); and
Figure 8. is a perspective view of the entire apparatus complete, with a
specimen of spiral or twisted work laid upon the cutter table; and Figures 9
and 10 represent detached details of the spindle & actuating gear, which will
be herein-after more fully referred to.
a, a, are the end supporting standards of the table b; c, c, are two cutter
spindles, on the upper part of each of which is screwed the cutter head or stem
d (Figure 5). Two sides of this stem are flattened, as shewn in Figure 6, and
upon or against these sides are laid the cutting knives or tools C, D. Fand G
are two clamping plates, which are placed over the knives, and are held firmly
in contact with them, so as to hold them perfectly secure, by the action of the
bevilled or inclined projections on the cutter head or stem d and the inclined
collar A, these inclined surfaces corresponding to the bevilled or inclined

page_text: extremities of the clamping plates F & G. It will thus be obvious, that by
lowering the collar A, by means of the nut H, on the upper screwed portion of
the cutter head or stem d, the two clamping plates will be caused to press
firmly against the knives, and may be kept in that position by means of the
jamb nut I.. A collar bearing e is placed round each of the spindles c; these
bearings are contained in the openings in the upper longitudinal bar q (Figure
4), and are held therein by the centre screws e¹, e¹, upon the points of which tho
bearings are free to oscillate in one direction. Inside these bearings are fitted
the brasses e, e, within which the spindles c, c, rotate freely. Round each
of these collar bearings, and embracing the collar head or stem d, is fitted a
tubular guide f, which is slotted at two opposite sides to admit of the passage
therethrough of the centre screws e¹, el. It will thus be obvious, that although
the guide is perfectly free to rise and fall with the spindle c without
receiving any rotatory motion therefrom; J is a guard, which is screwed on to
the top of the cutter head or stem d, and fixed at any desired elevation thercon
by the jamb nut L; the part at O is made square, or of any other suitable shape,
to enable it to be embraced by a key or spanner, and turned round, for the
purpose of raising or lowering the guard, according to the thickness of material
to be acted upon. A broad flange N is formed round the lower edge of the
guard J to protect the hands of the workman from the cutters, and prevent the
material from rising up from the table. when under the action of the cutters.
The cutter spindles c, c, are each fitted with a small. driving pulley o, o, and
work at their lower ends in bearings h, h, in the traversing blocks or plates
h, h. These spindles may be adjusted vertically by a set screw placed beneath
them, as shewn clearly in Figure 1. A suitable projection on the inner sides
or faces of these blocks or plates ¹ fits into and works freely along the curved
slots in the lower longitudinal bar g. The upper edge of this bar is made with
à double curve, and is formed with spur teeth upon it, the curves for the racks
and slots being struck from the centre of oscillation e', e', of the spindles. On
one end-of a short horizontal shaft, carried by cach of the blocks h', is fitted a
spur pinion (shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1), gearing into the teeth of the
curved racks; on the opposite end of these short shafts is fitted a worm wheel j,
which receives motion from the screw k on the short vertical shaft ¹, also
carried in bearings in the block h'. On the upper ends of these short shafts
k, k, are fitted a set of cone pullies m, which receive their motion by a belt
from a corresponding set of pullies on a second short vertical shaft m¹; also
carried by the blocks h. These latter shafts receive motion from the cutter
spindles c, c, by means of the short belt . It will thus be obvious, that when
the cutter spindles c are driven by their belts n and pullies o, they will also

page_text: impart motion to the pinions i through the short belts and cone pullies, herein-
before referred to, and thereby effect the traversing of the blocks halong their
curved slots. The traversing of the blocks h¹ will obviously incline more or
less the cutter heads d, which will thereby cut the material in a spiral or
twisted direction. In Figure 1 I have represented one of the cutter spindles
as being inclined at a considerable angle with the cutting table, whilst the other
is shewn in a perfectly vertical position, suitable for cutting ordinary or straight
work if required.
Figures 9 and 10 represent the arrangement I adopt for reversing or changing
the direction of the traverse of the blocks h', and for throwing the traversing
motion entirely out of gear when requisite. For this purpose I use two
pullies, , which turn loosely upon the shaft m¹ so long as the clutch box
is kept out of contact with both of them, or in a central position between the
two, as shewn in Figure 10. The straps or belts 1, 1, pass severally round
each of these loose pullies and round the cutter spindle c (see Figure 9), but
one of these straps or belts is crossed, so as to give a reverse motion when
necessary. It will thus be obvious, that by raising or lowering the clutch box
the traversing motion of the blocks h¹ will be reversed, and that by keeping the
clutch box entirely out of contact with either of the pullies the block h¹ will
remain stationary.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variatians may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of the said Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general construction and arrangement of machinery or apparatus
for cutting irregular forms of a spiral, warped, or twisted description, as herein-
before described.
Second, the system or mode of suspending the upper bearings of the cutter
spindles on pivots or centres, for the purpose herein-before described.
.
Third, the application and use of tubular guides fitted loosely on to the
cutter spindles, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourth, the fitting of the lower ends of the cutter spindles in bearings
carried by traversing blocks or plates, for the purpose herein-before described.
Fifth, the peculiar system or mode of imparting a traversing motion to the
traversing blocks or plates, as berein-before described.

page_text: 'Sixth, the peculiar construction and arrangement of clamping plates for
holding the knives or cutters firmly in the cutter head, as herein-before
described.
Seventh; the application and use of a flanged' guard, capable of adjustment
vertically. on the cutter head, as herein-before described.
"In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of November One thousand eight.
hundred and fifty-six.