IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR SPLITTING WOOD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
FREDERICK LACKERSTEEN, of Kensington Square, in the County of Middlesex,
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 Nineteenth
day of December, 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 James Frederick Lackersteen, my exors, adiñors,
and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said James Frederick Lackersteen, my exors, adûiors, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Frederick Lackersteen, 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, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Guernsey,
Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's
Colouies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR SPLITTING WOOD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BOXES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso,
that I, the said James Frederick Lackersteen, shall cause a particular descrip-
tion of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be

page_text: enrolled 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
James Frederick Lackersteen, do hereby declare that 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 following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say :-
My improvements consist,―
First, in the employment of chisels or cutters, each of which chisels or
cutters is formed in the shape of a double wedge attached to each other
vertically at a right angle, somewhat resembling an angle or V chisel, used by
wood carvers or engravers, differing only from it in having the two vertical
sides exactly at a right angle, whereas the sides of a V chisel are at an acute
angle. The chisels I use are about ten or twelve inches long. I do not
confine myself to any size. Their wedged portions need not extend more than
about two thirds from their cutting edges, and the inclined planes of the
wedges (I mean of each chisel) meet at a point, that is, where the wedged
portions terminate; and the remaining portion of the chisel may be either
square or oblong, according to the substance of the material required to be
used in the manufacture of the chisel,-that is, if the chisel is required to be
made of great strength, still having small cutting edges, it necessarily must
be oblong at the top, otherwise this portion of the chisel may correspond to
the rectangular figure represented by its cutting edges. It will be square if
the edges are equal. Either shape may be used according to the work to be
done, but in either case it must be rectangular, see Figure 1 in Drawing 4,
where three different views of the same chisel are shown of nearly full size,
having dovetailed heads, with sections at A and B.
In the second place, I arrange a series of these double-wedged right-angled
chisels vertically in contact with each other, their cutting edges pointing down-
wards in such a position so that when the two cutting edges of each chisel are
equal to each other, representing two adjacent sides of a square, and all the
chisels are alike in dimension and shape, then the diagonal lines formed by the
squares represented by their cutting edges will be in a line with each other; that
is, they will form one continuous diagonal line of a square, and the cutting edges
of the chisels will be in contact and at right angles to each other; that is, the
cutting edges of one chisel will be in contact and at right angles to the cutting

page_text: edge of a chisel on either side of it respectively, and so on, except the first
and the last of the series, each of which has only one of its cutting edges
in contact and at a right angle to the cutting edge of a chisel next to
it, see Figure 2 in Drawing 4. I also employ double-wedged right-angled
chisels, whose cutting edges (I mean of each chisel separately) are not equal
to each other, but unequal, representing two adjacent sides of an oblong,
but in every other respect similar to those mentioned above. And when
I arrange a series of these chisels (all alike in dimension and shape) similar
in position to those described before, then the diagonal lines of the oblongs
represented by the cutting edges of the chisels will also be in a line with
cach other and form a continuous diagonal line of an oblong, see Figure 3
in Drawing No. 4, where chisels of similar construction are shown in two
different positions. I also use chisels together whose cutting edges are of
different dimensions, such as a certain number whose cutting edges represent
two adjacent sides of a square, with a certain number whose cutting edges
represent two adjacent sides of an oblong. And sometimes it may be necessary
to employ chisels together of three or more different kinds, whose cutting
edges are of different dimensions to each other, representing adjacent sides of
oblongs of different dimensions, together with those whose cutting edges
represent two adjacent sides of a square. But in this case, where chisels
of two or more different kinds are employed together in the same series,
their diagonal lines will not be in a line with each other, nor form a con-
tinuous diagonal line, as will be seen in Figure 4, Drawing No. 4. And
it must be observed, that when more than one kind of the chisels I have
described are employed in the same series together the cutting edges of all
the chisels that are parellel to each other, as indicated by the direction of
the arrows in Figures 2, 3, and 4, Drawing No. 4, must be equal to
each other; that they must all have the same length, whereas their
other remaining cutting edges may be of different lengths. The arrows
also indicate the direction the substance to be cut is moved, so as to come
under the stroke of the chisel at regular intervals, the mode of doing which
is described hereafter. If the substance, be wood and it is required to cut it
into sticks for firewood, such as is now commonly used in London, it is
brought under the influence of the chisel with the grain upwards, so as to be
cut in the direction of its grain. By this arrangement it will be observed,
when right-angled chisels are used, the wood is cut into distinct separate
sticks, whose transverse section will represent rectangular figures-corresponding
to the cutting edges of the chisels.
Figure 5, in Drawing No. 4, represents right-angled chisels placed in a

page_text: different way to those in Figures 2, 3, and 4, with regard to the direction in
which the substance to be cut is brought forward as indicated by the arrow,
and consequently they will not cut it into separate pieces, as by the arrange-
ments in Figures 2, 3, and 4, but into forms as represented in Figure 5.
Figures 6 and 7 are obtuse-angled chisels, and Figure 8 acute-angled
chisels, all in Drawing No. 4. To show the different forms into which the
substance is cut by them I fix a certain number of these right-angled chisels,
as represented in Figures 2, 3, and 4, in Drawing No. 4, in a frame, which I
call the chisel frame, as shewn in Figure 6, Drawing No. 3, made in two
parts, which when bolted together have openings between them corresponding
in shape to that portion of the chisels required to be held in the frame. The
upper part of these openings being countersunk for the heads of the chisels,
which are dovetailed to fit into them, I fix a certain number of these chisels
so held by the chisel frame to the cross head B of the side frames, see Figure 1
in Drawing No. 3, in a manner suspended vertically from it, with their cutting
edges pointing downwards.
. In order better to explain the mode adopted by me I will first describe the
Figures in Drawing No. 3. The same letters refer to all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a general side elevation of the machine. Figure 2 is a plan of
the machine, shewing the top of cross head, having a rib running across it in
the same direction as the chisels. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation through
middle of the machine. Figure 4 is an end elevation of the machine.
Figure 5 is a view of a chisel frame made in two parts, which when bolted
together have openings between them corresponding in shape to that portion
of the chisel required to be held by the frame, suitable for a machine with the
working frame made askew, represented by the outer or red lines, only
differing from a common deal frame in having its top and bottom in shape of
a rhombus or rhomboid instead of square or oblong.
Figure 6 is a plan of a chisel frame, the particulars of which have already
been described, adapted for the machine now about to be described in
Drawing No. 3.
Figure 7 is a wedge or chopper to facilitate the feeding of the wood on the
bed of the machine when the wood is of various thicknesses. It is worked by
hand or power.
Figure 8 is an instrument for cutting vegetable or other soft substance with
a transverse horizontal motion after the substance has been operated upon by
a vertical up and down motion, so as to cut it into cubical pieces. A, A, are
the side frames, the upper part being the guides for the cross head to work in.
B is the cross head. The construction of this is better shewn in Figures 2

page_text: and 3. E is the cross tail joined by the connecting rods C to the cross head,
and by the short rod F to the crank or shaft H, which shaft H carries the
fast and loose pulleys and the fly wheel. G is the plumber block for carrying
the crank shaft. I is the bed on which the wood is placed. K is the outer
and working ratchets; is the inner and fixed ratchets.
L is the framing
for carrying the bed and supporting ratchets by means of the brackets M, M,
which are constructed so that they serve as guides for the working ratchets to
slide in. O is the cross bar of cast iron for pushing the wood forward, having
a snug cast on each end for a bolt to pass through, on the outer ends
of which are two palls P, P, fitted to work, one on each of the outer and
working ratchets, also carrying two other palls fitted to work, one on each of
the inner fixed ratchets, so that on the working ratchets pushing the palls
P, P, the palls on the fixed ratchets may drop each into a fresh ratch and
hold the cross bar in its position during the back stroke of the working
ratchets. S are the chisels fitted to a frame (better shewn in Figure 6) that
is secured to the cross head. W is the wood in the bed to be cut.
a, a, is
a double lever placed so that the cross head may strike it at the top stroke,
thereby giving motion, by means of the rod 6, to lever d, which is made with
a slot in it so as to admit of the feed being regulated; on the same shaft as
the lever d, placed at right angles, is the lever e, to which is attached a flat
side rod f.f, for carrying the feed motion to the working ratchets K. From
this flat side rod a pin projects and is placed in the proper position for the
side or connecting rod C to give the back motion to the working ratchets.
h is the pressure plate for holding the wood as it comes to the chisels, better
shown in Figures 3 and 4. The pressure is given to it by means of the lever.
9, as shown in the Drawing. In Figure 2 the top of the cross head is shown
as having a rib running across it in the same direction as the chisels. D, D,
are the bearings for the connecting rods C. Q is the bolt passing through the
snugs and palls of the cross bar, as already. described.
In Figs. 3 and 4 are shewn how the chisel frame T is attached to the cross
head with bolts and screws, and with one of the chisels in section to show how
it is fixed in its place, and a fitting strip on under side of cross head bearing
on the top of chisels. On the chisel frame two snugs are cast on the opposite
corners, as shewn in Fig. 6, for the guide rods V, V, to be attached to for
working the guard bar N. This rises with the cross head and prevents the
wood from being forced beyond its proper feed. The lower part of these
guide rods work through openings in the cross stays R, R, which act as
guides. X is a bracket placed under the bed I to carry the pressure that
comes on the bed when the chisels enter the wood. Now it will be observed;

page_text: that by the mode adopted in the arrangement of the chisels (already described)
in the chisel frame, the extended continuous diagonal line of the chisels in the
frame will form, with the longitudinal sides of the bed on which the wood is
brought to the chisels indicated by the direction of its feed, an exterior and an
interior angle of forty-five degrees, see Fig. 5, in conjunction with Fig. 2. They
will form these angles when the continuous diagonal line of the chisels used will
form the diagonal of a square, as in Fig. 2, Drawing No. 4. But when the
continuous diagonal line of the chisels in the chisel frame is not the diagonal
of a square, as in Fig. 3 and 4, Drawing No. 4, the exterior and interior
angles before mentioned will not be angles of 45 degrees, and these angles will
vary according to the kind of chisels used. It will be readily understood how
the operation is performed with this machine, of cutting the wood into distinct
separate pieces, as is usually cut for firewood in London, and commonly sold
in bundles. The wood on the bed of the machine is brought at regular
intervals under the stroke of the chisels. This is done by the two outside
working ratchets and the cross bar, which are acted upon by the double
lever a, a, at the top of cross head, which strikes the lever when the chisels
have cleared the wood; and the wood is prevented from being pushed beyond
its proper feed at every stroke, and kept in a steady and upright position by
the pressure plate h and guard bar N, which rises with the cross head and
chisel frame by means of the two rods V, V. And at the down stroke of the
cross head the outside ratchets are made to slide backwards by the connecting
rod C striking a pin on the flat rod f.f, and the cross bar is kept in its position
during this downward stroke of the cross head by its two palls, which drop on
the inner fixed ratchets. By this contrivance the cross bar is made to move
only forwards, and only at the upstroke of the cross head and at regular inter-
vals, and consequently the wood is brought forward only at regular intervals, by
which means it is also prevented from being pushed forward while the chisels
are operating. The horizontal backwards and forward motion of the working
ratchets must be regulated according to the kind of chisels used; for instance,
if the cutting edges of the chisels used represent two adjacent sides of a square
of half an inch, then the working ratchets must have a motion half an inch
forward and half an inch backward, and so on with regard to chisels of other
dimensions. I also adopt a contrivance to facilitate the filling of the bed
with fresh pieces of wood, for which I make use of a wedged chopper, with
suitable levers, as represented at Figure 7, Drawing No. 3. It may be
worked either by hand or power. This chopper is placed on the edge of the
bed towards the end of it. It is straight on the side facing the bed and
wedged on the opposite side, so that when the blocks of wood are of various

page_text: thicknesses, and pieces are not readily found to pack the bed, a piece can
be cut off to its proper size, by the chopper, to fit into the space required
to be filled up. The operation of supplying the bed can go on at the same
time that the cross bar is carrying the wood forward towards the chisels,
and as the successive blocks are being fitted between the sides of the bed
they can be pushed forwards to follow the cross bar by hand or any suitable
contrivance; and this can be continued till the cross bar arrives at that part
of the bed next to the working frame, where the palls are not acted upon by
the working ratchets, the ratches on the ratch bars K, K, ending at this
point to prevent any accident by the cross bar being carried beyond its proper
limit. The cross bar is now shifted from its resting position and placed at
the end of the bed to push up the wood already arranged, and so the operation
is continued. I likewise adopt the whole or part of the above arrangements,
but particularly that portion which has reference to the peculiar construction
and disposition of the chisels or cutters for cutting vegetable or other soft
substances, for which purpose the whole machine might be made of a much
lighter construction, and it is also not necessary to employ chisels or cutters
of such strength or weight as are required for cutting wood. They may be
made of thin plate steel or iron tipped and faced with steel of suitable strength,
bent at right angles resembling angle iron, and sharpened at their cutting
edges, and slightly wedged in the inner side inclosing the angles, similar in
extent to the wedged portion of a common carpenter's chisel, and these sub-
stances will be cut similar in shape to the sticks of wood already described;
and when it is desired to cut these vegetable substances again transversely
into cubical pieces like dice I make use of a second frame in conjunction with
this, of a peculiar construction, as shewn in Figure 8, and also by the red lines
in Figure 6, both in Drawing No. 3. This frame, which I call a transverse
frame, has thin knives or wires tightly. stretched across it parallel to each
other, as represented in blue lines in Figure 8, their distances from each other
It is
regulated according to the dimensions of the cubes required to be cut.
so fixed in front of the vertical frame carrying the perpendicular cutters that
the knives of the transverse frame are at right angles to the lines indicated by
the direction of the cutters of the vertical frame. This frame derives its
motion by any suitable contrivance either from the vertical frame or crank
shaft. It has a compound horizontal motion, which motion I call a resultant
motion, that is, the motion described by the opening and shutting of a parallel
ruler when placed flat on a table, and it makes one horizontal stroke for every
vertical stroke of the upright chisels or cutters. This transverse frame is
made to move forward towards and penetrates the substance to be cut with its

page_text: thin knives, at the same time the substance is brought forward as in the
manner for the wood already described, thereby making transverse incisions
in the substance, and the frame is made to retreat while the vertical chisels
or cutters are penetrating into the substance, and so on the operation is
repeated.
My improvements also consist for cutting wood by circular saws when one
or more saws are used on the same spindle together. The improvement prin-
cipally consists in the construction of the lever or drag attached to the chain
which brings the wood on the saw bench forward towards the saws. This
lever or drag I call the catch.
Figure 9, Drawing No. 4, represents a side view of a circular saw bench,
having three saws A, A, A, better shewn in Figure 10, which is a plan of the
saws fixed on one spindle. The same letters refer to both Figures. B, B, are
two pitch wheels placed at each end of the bench, so that the pitch chain C
shall travel between the two inside saws at a proper speed over the two pitch
wheels a, a, to the line of the bed on which the wood is placed. D is a
catch projecting from one of the links of the chain, and attached to the chain
by the same bolt which connects two of its links, and so constructed that when
it comes to the fixed projecting pin G, placed underneath the chain C, nearest
the pitch wheel next to the saws, that part of the catch which projects below
the chain coming in contact with the pin G causes it to fall in between the
links so as to sink below the level of the bed, and it is kept in that position
until the chain has travelled round to the feeding end of the bench, when, as
soon as it is clear of the pitch wheel, it is raised up by means of a small rod
F placed underneath the line of the bed over the claim catching against the
knee part of the catch at E. This knee part also prevents the catch from
falling back as it pushes the wood forward. The small rod F, which is better
seen in Figure 10, is made so that it puts back of itself by any suitable con-
trivance by springs or balance weight beyond the reach of the knee part E
each time after it is pushed forward to raise the catch. Two or more catches
may be attached to certain links of the chain at proper distances. The small
rod F is made to put back to prevent the catch from rising while the bed is
being supplied with wood, beginning from the feed end progressively towards
the saws, and when the bed is sufficiently full the catch is made to rise by
giving motion to the rod F, and so on the operation is continued. A catch on
a larger scale in two different positions is shewn separately over Figure 9
in Drawing No. 4. The dotted line a, a, represents the line of the feed
bench. To prevent the catches from getting out of their inactive position
(caused by the fixed pin G), when, during the progress of the chain, they

page_text: come under the pitch wheels H, H, in a hanging position, a casing of wood is
put round from K to K close to the chain. I use this arrangement of the
circular saw bench with the chain and catches principally for cross cutting
wood; and I must observe, I do not claim using more than one saw on the
same spindle, nor do I claim the pitch chain and catch; but what I do claim
is the particular contrivance in the catch already described, whereby it is made
to close of itself at certain points in its progress with the chain, and to
remain in its inactive position till it is required to raise it by the rod F and
put it in its active or operating position.
My improvements also consist in machinery for cutting wood for matches
and match boxes, as represented by Figures 11, 12, and 13, in Drawing No. 4.
Figure 11 is an end view, Figure 12 is a side view, and Figure 13 is a plan
of the machine. The letters of reference are the same in all the three
Figures. A is a wheel, having four arms, on each of which is bolted a knife
C, its straight side being next to the wood to be cut, the opposite being
wedged. B is another wheel, called a dividing wheel, on the circumference of
which are four projections, on each of which are fixed a set of dividers D;
the dividers on each set are placed at certain distances from each other,
regulated according to the thicknesses of the matches. H is a trough, in
which the wood to be cut is placed with the grain upwards, so as to be divided
and cut in the direction of its grain. I is the feeding bar, for pushing forward
the wood towards the dividers and cutting knives. R is the nut, fixed to the
end of the feed bar, and made so as readily to be taken off when required, and
when the bar has travelled the length of the screw the bar can then be drawn
back to its furthest extent and the nut dropped into its place at the end of the
feeding bar, which is easily done, as the nut has only threads at the. top, or,
in other words, it is only half a nut. S is the screw, working on two bearings.
It has a feed wheel P on its outside end to receive motion from a similar
wheel O on the driving shaft J; by these wheels the feed is given four times
to one revolution of the two wheels A and B. The amount of feed can be
regulated by means of the feed wheels O and P.
machine. E and F are a pair of mitre wheels of the same size on the ends
of the two shafts which carry the wheels A and B respectively, so that the
shafts are at right angles to each other. The wood being previously cut into
proper lengths on the circular saw bench is placed in the.trough with its grain
upwards, and the cutting wheel and dividing wheel are so arranged with
regard to each other, in relation to their dividers and cutting knives that after
one set of the dividers of the dividing wheel has made a number of incisions
in the front of the wood to the depth required, one of the cutting knives of
M is the framework of the

page_text: the cutting wheel follows immediately and cuts off the matches so divided in
the manner of a slice, and so on with the other sets of dividers and the
cutting knives in succession. And these dividers and cutting knives on their
respective wheels will maintain the same relative position with regard to each
other at every revolution of the two wheels. And by means of the two feed
wheels O and P, which give motion to the screw and feed bar, the wood in the
trough is brought to each set of dividers and cutters at regular intervals, that
is during each interval, when a cutting knife in its turn has just cleared the
depth of the wood after performing its operation, and just before the next
following set of dividers in its turn has approached the bed to make the
incisions. By this contrivance it will be seen that the wood is brought for-
ward by the feed bar four times at four regular intervals for every revolution
of the wheels, and the wood is at rest during the operation of the dividers and
cutting knives, and so on the operation is continued. I make use of the same
contrivance just described (for cutting matches) also for cutting wood into
thin slices for the making of match boxes, except in this case I dispense with
the dividing wheel. But the wood previous to being put into the trough is
previously shaped by any suitable means into the form somewhat resembling a
solid cross, a side and end view of which are shewn in Figure 14 in Drawing
No. 4. The wood already prepared in this shape, when cut into thin slices each
slice will represent the four sides in contact with the bottom of a match box laid
open flat.
In fact, when these four sides or projecting ends are turned up it will
form a box. In this case also the wood is brought forward four times at four
regular intervals, that is immediately after each cutting knife has just cut off
a slice, and the wood is at rest during the operation of the knives; and the
amount of feed is also regulated according to the thickness of the material
required to be cut by the adjustment of the two feed wheels O and P.
My improvements also consist in cutting flax, straw, and other fibrous
substances by circular cutters having a cutting action similar to the cutting
action of shears. All the Figures in Drawing No. 1 refer to this machine,
which will first explain. The same letters of reference apply to all the
Figures in this Drawing. Figure 1 is an end view of the flax cutting
machine, with two sets of circular cutters, better seen in Figure 2. Lis
the driving pulley. A, A, are two spur wheels for giving motion to the
lower set of cutters. B, B, cast-iron frame or cheeks bound together by
stays S, S.
Figure 2 is an elevation shewing the arrangement of the two sets of
cutters D, D.. C, C, cast-iron bosses interposed between the cutters for
keeping. them at regular distances. E, E, are also bosses, but of somewhat

page_text: larger diameter than C, C, for carrying the feeding bands, so that the flax may
be brought near the point of contact of the two sets of cutters. F, F, are
collars fixed on the shafts for the bosses to bear against when screwed up at
the opposite ends, by means of the nut G, to tighten the cutters, together with
their intermediate bosses on each shaft separately. M is a cross bar fixed to
one end of the frame B so as to bear on the outer end of the lower shaft for
the purpose of bringing up all the lower cutters collectively to bear against the
corresponding cutters of the upper shaft. This cross bar is better seen in
Figure 4.
Figure 3 is a cross section of the machine, shewing a full view of
cutters D, D, with a slot in each cutter, and a section through bosses C
and E. a, a, are keys or feathers running the whole length of each shaft O, O.
Figure 4 is a general plan of the machine. I is a wood roller for carrying
the feeding bands H, H; and K, K, are two frames for supporting feeding
rollers.
Figure 5 is an end view, showing the side frame, feeding bands, the
feeding roller, the side frame for supporting the feeding roller, and the feeding
table Z.
Figure 6 is a design for a side frame so as easily to admit either the upper
or lower set of cutters being taken out without disarranging the other.
Figure 7 is an end view of a machine with three rows or sets of cutters, the
lower one being for the purpose of keeping the two upper ones in their proper
position, having bosses between the cutters only on the middle shaft. But
these bosses are not necessary, if the cutters be made to fit the shafts
accurately, for keeping these cutters at regular distances, the cutters being
somewhat different to those already described, they being made in the shape
of wheels, the thicknesses of which are regulated by the lengths into which
the substance is required to be cut, and they may properly be called double
cutters, as will be seen in Fig. 8. But the bosses on the middle shaft may
serve for the purpose of carrying the feeding bands, for which they need not
be made so accurately.
Fig. 8 is an elevation, Fig. 9 is a plan, and Fig. 10 is a section of the same
machine, with letters corresponding to each view. It will be readily seen,
by the Figures in the Drawing, the manner in which the cutters overlap each
other. The cutters on each shaft are loose, but are compelled to revolve with
the shaft by a feather or key turning its whole length and taking into slots in
each cutter. The cutters on the top and bottom shaft (in reference to the
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4) are arranged at certain distances from each other by.
means of bosses of certain thickness, which will be regulated according to the

page_text: lengths into which the substance is required to be cut. The cutters and bosses
on both shafts are exactly of the same thickness, and they are tightened
against each other on each shaft separately, by means of the nuts G, G, against
the collars F, F, on the opposite ends in Figure 2, Drawing No. 1. Now it
will be observed, that the cutters and bosses on both shafts being exactly of
the same thickness, each cutter on the top shaft will be in actual contact with
a cutter on the bottom shaft respectively; but as the cutters wear a little
the cross bar which bears on the outer end of the bottom shaft is brought
forward, by means of its two nuts, to make all the upper and lower cutters
bear against each other. The substance to be cut is to be placed on feeding
bands transversely, to be cut into the lengths required.
It must be understood that I do not claim circular cutters as a part of my
Invention, being aware that they have been applied before for cutting card
boards, paper, and metal; but what I do claim is, the application of circular
cutters for cutting flax, straw, and other fibrous substances (excluding standing
crops), with the arrangements and the mode adopted by me for the same
already described.
Figures 1 to 6, in Drawing No. 2, is a design of a machine also for cutting
flax, straw, or other fibrous materials, but particularly adapted for straw. The
same letters of reference apply to all the Figures. Figure 1 is a side eleva-
tion of the machine, showing the gearing for driving the feeding bands. A, A,
is the cast-iron frame; B, a roller of cast iron; C, a wooden roller for
carrying the feeding bands; D is another wooden roller for delivering the sub-
stance after it is cut; E, one of the knives or cutters fixed under the roller B;
F, F, two adjusting screws for setting the knives in their proper position under
the roller B. The bearings of the roller C are fitted in a moveable bush, so
as to tighten the bands. Figure 2 is an end view of the machine. B, the cast-
iron roller, shewing the grooves cut in it at two inches apart, or any other
required distances, with the knives E, E, fitted in each groove. They are
adjusted and made to bear with the cutting edges to one side of the groove by
means of a set of screws similar to F, F, better seen in Figure 4. G, G, are
endless bands, passing over rollers C and D, and underneath the iron roller B,
for conveying the substance across the knives; H, the driving pulley; I and J,
the spur wheels for driving the two wood rollers. Figure 3 is a cross section
of the machine, shewing the position of knife under roller B, and the driving
bands G over the rollers C and D; the substance to be cut being carried
between the bands G and the roller B. K, K, is a bracket for holding the
frame in which the knives are fixed; it also acts as a stay between the two
side frames A, A. Figure 4 is a transverse section of the machine, shewing

page_text: the knives placed in their position, and the mode of fixing the knife frame
under the roller B. P, P, is a wrought-iron shaft or spindle for carrying the
roller B, the spur wheel I, and the driving pulley H. F, F, are set screws
for adjusting the knives. Figure 5 is a plan of the machine, and Figure 6 is
a section of a knife E, and part of the frame L, full size, showing the bolt
and nut M for securing the knife to the knife frame. The substance to be cut
by this machine is placed transversely on to the feeding bands G, over the
roller C, will be carried under the roller B, and delivered by the roller D cut
into pieces according to the number and distance of the knives apart in the
knife frame, as will be readily understood by the direction of the arrows in
Figure 3. If the substance to be cut, for instance straw, is required to be
cut into longer pieces, as for litter for cattle, a certain number of the knives
from the knife frame may be removed, and the same machine will accomplish
the purpose.
It is to be observed that in machines described in Figures from 1 to 6 in
Drawing No. 2, the cutters are fixed, and always kept in that fixed position.
Figures 7 to 10, in Drawing No. 2, show another design of a machine for
cutting flax, straw, and other similar substances, but better adapted for cutting
straw. The same letters refer to all the Figures.
A, A, in Figure 7 is the framework, consisting of two cast-iron cheeks
bound together by cross stays. B is the sheet-iron casing over the cutters;
k, a portion of the frame for holding the knives.
Figure 8 is a cross section of the machine, showing one of the wheels D
(fitted on a square shaft) for carrying the straw across the knives. Angular
pieces of wood E are placed by means of bolts and screws between the flanges
cast on the circumference of the wheel D for the purpose of carrying the
straw on to the knives, and also for the better discharge of the straw after it
has been cut by passing over the knives. It at the same time prevents too
much straw getting in each time and choking the machine. F is the knife
fixed in the frame. B¹ is the hopper for feeding the machine. G is a sheet-
iron casing, passing over the knife frame, it being a continuation of the hopper
B¹ with suitable openings left in it for the knives to project through. (This
is better shewn in Figure 9.) K is a bracket bolted between the two cheeks
A, A, for holding the knife frame C.
Figure 9 is a transverse view of a portion of the machine. A is a section
through the side cheek at a, a, in Figures 7 and 8, and the section of this
part of the machine extends to b, b, in Figure 9, showing the section of knife
frame, brackets, and knives. From 6 to c is shown knife frame with the back

page_text: portion of the brackets K, K, taken away. K, K, is the back of the bracket,
which also answers the purpose of a stay between the two side cheeks, and is
bolted to them, as shown at d. G, G, is the sheet-iron casing alluded to in Figure 8,
passing over the knife frame, with suitable openings left for the knives F to
project and bear against the side of wheels D, as shown in Figures 8 and 10.
The casing G is continued past the knife frame to the outside of side cheeks
with the proper angle for discharging the straw after it is cut.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of machine. D, D, are the flanges cast on
the circumference of the wheel D. E, E, are the pieces of wood between the
flanges, as shown in Figure 8. H, H, are fast and loose pulleys, and I the
fly wheel. In this machine also, it will be seen, the cutting knives are fixed
and are kept in that fixed position during the working of the machine. The
substance to be cut is placed, transversely on the hopper, and it is carried
forward on to the knives by the angular pieces of wood E, E, fixed to the
flanges of the wheel D, as seen in Figure 8, and the substances, after being
cut, are discharged in the usual manner, assisted by the angular pieces of
wood fixed on the flanges of the wheels. And the substance will be cut into
lengths according to the number of knives used, and the distance they are
placed apart.
Figures 11, 12, and 18, in Drawing No. 2, represent three different views
of another design for cutting flax, straw, and other similar substances, with
knives of a peculiar shape, fixed on revolving wheels, to bear against fixed
knives also of a peculiar construction, having similar action to the action of
shears. The same letters of reference apply to the three Figures.
Figure 11 is a cross section of the machine. A, A, is the side frame;
B the knife frame for carrying the fixed knives, where one of the fixed knives
F is shown. C the casing over the machine; D, D, four knives fixed upon
the revolving wheel E. G, G, a sheet-iron casing passing over the knife
frame B, with openings in it for the knives to project through, which is also
seen in Figure 12.
Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view of Figure 11. A, A, are the side
cheeks. E, E, the wheels fitted on a square shaft. Only six wheels are shown,
the rest being left out for showing the position of knives and knife frame, also
to show the casing G, G. The wheels are all kept. together by means of
a cotter through the square shaft at H, a collar being welded on the other end
of the shaft at I. L is the fly wheel, and M, M; the fast and loose pulley.
Figure 13 is a view of one of the wheels for fixing the knives on. a, a, a, a,.
are four snugs cast on the outer circumference of the wheel, with a flange at.

page_text: the back the full width of the wheel, as may be seen in Figure 12, a
projection of half an inch being left in the inner circumference of the wheel,.
which must be faced up in a lathe, so that when all the wheels are similarly
faced, and fixed on the shaft, they may have a space of half an inch left
between them. The snugs a, a, must also be a quarter of an inch from the
face of the wheel, so that when the knives are bolted on its face the outside
edges of the knives may be flush with the face of the wheel at b, b. The
screw bolts for bolting the knives to the snugs are made for the heads to be
flush with the face, and the holes in the knives are countersunk for that
purpose. It will be seen that the action of the machine in this design is
different to the action of either of the machines of the two last designs, as
already described. This machine having two sets of knives, one fixed and the
other revolving, and the peculiar shape of the knives, and the manner in which
they are fixed in the machine, produce the action of shears. The substance in
this machine is also placed in the hopper transversely, and the particular angle
of the hopper brings them within the action of the cutting knives, and the
substance is cut into lengths according to the number of fixed knives with the
number of corresponding revolving wheels, with their cutters, and the substance
after being cut is discharged in the usual manner.
My improvements also consist in the construction and employment of a
particular kind of cutter applicable to a chaff-cutting machine for cutting
hay or straw, and which may also be applied for cutting flax and other
fibrous material. This cutter has a compound vertical and horizontal motion,
which is a resultant motion similar to that produced by the opening and
shutting of a parallel ruler, as shewn in Figure 15, Drawing No. 4.
E, E, are two working levers with slots in them for allowing a parallel
motion to rod R, by which the cutting knife B is worked in a vertical
and horizontal motion, through the rods C. C. D is a fixed plate on which
the rods C, C, work. The knife has two cutting edges A and A¹, and it
is represented in its upward stroke when cutting with the edge A' and a.
The Figure in red lines shows the downwards stroke when cutting with edge a,
and the space colored yellow represents the substance to be cut on feed bed,
and by suitable contrivance the substance to be cut is moved towards the
knife at proper intervals.
I do not claim the cutting both at the up and down stroke, but what I claim
is, cutting with a vertical and horizontal motion, similar to the motion of a
parallel rule.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of

page_text: performing the same, I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
shown and described, as the same may be varied provided the peculiar
character of any part of my improvements be retained.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Frederick Lackersteen, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, One 5
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.