A New or Improved Self-acting Machine for Sawing Timber and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Self-acting Machine for Sawing Timber and
the like.
I, ARTHUR GREG of the firm of James Chadwick and Brother of Eagley Mills
near Bolton in the County of Lancaster, Thread Manufacturers, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved self-acting machine for sawing timber
and the like into lengibs for the purpose of making bobbins and other articles. On
a suitable framework are mounted guides for feeding timber and the like intended
to be cut into lengths. At the end of the guides are provided suitable grips for
holding timber and the like whilst sawing is being performed. The grips are mounted
in a frame which is operated to lift them in a vertical or other position to allow the
timber and the like to drop by gravity or otherwise against a stop or gauge set
according to the length of the blocks to be sawn therefrom. This stop or gauge is
adjustable by means of screws or their equivalents in any convenient manner to
allow of the same being readily set and re-set at will, the same being tested or set to
a gauge mounted on the side of the frame before mentioned. The frame carrying
the grips is mounted in any convenient manner on the fixing carrying the feeding
guides, and is operated by levers and rods or their equivalents and a cam or its
equivalent from the driving shaft or other convenient part of the machine.
Immediately the grips are raised the pieces of timber and the like resting on the
guides drop or move forward until arrested by the stop or gauge, after which the
grips are lowered thereon to hold them firmly during the operation of sawing ;
the latter being performed by a circular saw mounted on an adjustable headstock on
a sliding frame. The latter is slid to and fro by a scroll or its equivalent from the
driving shaft or any other convenient part of the machine. The saw spindle is fitted
with a pulley for the purpose of driving the same by a belt or other means from any
convenient part. An adjustable device is supplied for holding the small pieces whilst
the last length of each piece is being sawn off. The machine can be made with any
desired number of feeding frames, circular saws, and other parts. The driving shaft
is fitted with a clutch for the purpose of stopping the machine without removing
the belt or stopping the driving medium. If desired the feed boxes can be made to
slide to and fro and the circular saw headstock stationary.
In another modification timber and the like intended to be cut into lengths is fed
into guides mounted on a horizontal revolving table; the said guides being adjustable
to suit various sizes of blocks, being operated by screws and levers or their equivalents
mounted on a centre spindle.. When the blocks are fed into the adjustable guides
they drop on to a fixed gauge under the revolving table on which they rest during
a main or other portion of a revolution of the revolving table. At a point before the
circular saw is reached the block intended to be sawn off drops from the fixed gauge
on to an adjustable gauge set to the length to be cut, after which the weighted end
of a lever attached to a grip is dropped by an indent in a rail carrying the outer
end of the same, by which the block intended to be sawn off is gripped before being
presented to the circular saw. The latter is mounted in any convenient manner on
the side of the machine in an adjustable headstock, and is driven in any convenient
manner. The grip levers are pivoted to arms secured to the revolving table. The
blocks intended to be cut into lengths can be fed either vertically or diagonally, the
grips and other parts being disposed to suit. The adjustable gauge can be regulated
at will by any suitable means. One or more grips and circular saws can be employed
according to the diameter of the revolving table. In this case the fixed guides and
the indents in the rail are arranged to suit.

page_text: In another modification I employ a revolving barrel with angle or other pieces
into which the blocks intended to be sawn are placed. The blocks are arrested by
oscillating grips operated by cams or projections on the shaft or centre carrying the
revolving barrel. The oscillating grips slide the blocks against suitable gauges prior
to presenting them to the saw or saws mounted and driven in any convenient manner
on the side or end of the revolving barrel; the whole being driven in any convenient
manner.
Dated the Lith Santambar 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Self-acting Machine for Sawing, Timber and
the like.
I, ARTHUR GREG of the firm of James Chadwick and Brother of Eagley Mills near
Bolton in the County of Lancaster, Thread Manufacturers, do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention 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 a new or improved self-acting machine for sawing
timber and the like into lengths for the purpose of making bobbins and other articles.
On a suitable framework are mounted guides for feeding timber and the like intended
to be cut into lengths. At the end of the guides are provided suitable grips for
holding timber and the like whilst sawing is being performed. The grips are
mounted in a frame which is operated to lift them in a vertical or other position to
allow the timber and the like to drop by gravity or otherwise against a stop or gauge
set according to the length of the blocks to be sawn therefrom. This stop or gauge
is adjustable by means of screws or their equivalents in any convenient manner to
allow of the same being readily set and re-set at will; the same being tested or set
to a gauge mounted on the side of the frame before mentioned. The frame carrying
the grips is mounted in any convenient manner on the fixing carrying the feeding
guides, and is operated by levers and rods or their equivalents and a cam or its
equivalent from the driving shaft or other convenient part of the machine.
Immediately the grips are raised the pieces of timber and the like resting on the
guides drop or move forward until arrested by the stop or gauge, after which the
grips are lowered thereon to hold them firmly during the operation of sawing;
the latter being performed by a circular saw mounted on an adjustable headstock on
a sliding frame. The latter is slid to and fro by a scroll or its equivalent from the
driving shaft or any other convenient part of the machine. The saw spindle is fitted
with a pulley for the purpose of driving the same by a belt or other means from
any convenient part. An adjustable device is supplied for holding the small pieces
whilst the last length of each piece is being sawn off. The machine can be made
with any desired number of feeding frames, circular saws and other parts. The
driving shaft is fitted with a clutch for the purpose of stopping the machine without
removing the belt or stopping the driving medium. Fig. 1, sheet 1, of the accom-
panying drawings is a front elevation of my new or improved self-acting machine
for sawing timber and the like by the underside of the circular saw or saws, that is,
the portion below the centre of the same- -Fig. 2, sheet 2, is a sectional side elevation
through line A¹ B¹ in Fig. 1-Fig. 3 is a part plan showing grip-frame and the
means for carrying and guiding the same, also the adjustable stops and gauge-
Fig. 4 is a part view of the underside of the bed-plate showing the method of
coupling and operating the arms carrying the adjustable stop-Fig. 5 is a part
sectional elevation showing the manner of coupling and the means for adjusting the
grip-plate-Fig. 6, sheet 3, is a sectional elevation of my new or improved self-acting
machine for sawing-timber and the like by the portion of the saw or saws above the
centre line of same-Fig. 7 is a section showing the form of grips and guides for

page_text: square timber and the like-Fig. 8 is a section of same for smooth round timber and
the like, and Fig. 9 is a section showing the form of grips and guides for round
rough timber or coppice wood and the like.
In all the figures the same letters and numerals are used to indicate corresponding
parts.
A is the framework of the machine; B the bed-plate carrying the guides C,
grips D, grip-frame E, and the lower end of the feeding guides F;
G the gantry
extending across the machine from side-frame to side-frame A to carry the sliding
frames HI the adjustable headstocks mounted on the sliding frames H; J circular
saws attached to the spindles K mounted in the bearings L of the adjustable
headstocks; M scrolls, mounted on the driving shaft N of the machine, for sliding
to and fro the sliding frames H with the adjustable headstocks I and circular saws J;
O the driving pulley fixed on the driving shaft N, and P is a loose pulley to receive
the driving strap from the pulley O when it is desired or necessary to stop the
machine.
The side-frames A are tied together by the bed-plate B, gantry G, bar R, and the
crosspieces S. On the bed-plate B are mounted the guides F for feeding timber
and the like intended to be cut into lengths. The guides F can be made with any
desired number of channels according to the number of blocks or pieces intended to
be sawn each forward stroke of the circular saw J. Immediately above the lower
ends of the guides F are mounted the grips D for holding timber and the like
whilst sawing is being performed. The grips D are attached to the spindles V
mounted in the frame E. On the upper end of each spindle V is disposed a weight 32
to ensure of the same dropping and more firmly securing timber and the like during
the operation of sawing. The spindles V are each provided with a slot W to receive
the end of the lifting lever X fixed on the shaft or centre Y in the bearings Z; the
latter being connected to the grip-frame E by the arms 2. The grips D are operated
by the levers X and 3, and the adjustable rod 4 from the double lever 5 attached to
the frame A by the pin 6. One end of the double lever 5 is provided with the
bowl 7 on the pin 8; the bowl 7 fits into the groove or slot 9 in the side of the
scroll M, and is operated by the cam shaped path 10 of the groove or slot 9.
The rod 4 is in two parts with screwed ends coupled by the right and left hand
threaded nut or coupling 11 and check nuts 12, and is adjustable for the purpose of
regulating the position of the grips D according to the various sizes of timber and
the like intended to be sawn. The grip-frame E is mounted loosely between the
fixings or guides C on the bed-plate B, and is held in position by the arms 14,
which extend through the bed-plate B to the crossbar 15. The boss of the crossbar 15
is threaded to receive the screw 16 attached to the crossbar 17 fixed on the underside
of the bed-plate B for the purpose of regulating the grip-frame E according to the
size of timber or other like article to be sawn. The arms 14 are held in position on
the fixings or guides C by the slide bars 18 secured thereto by the set-screws 19 as
shown in Fig. 3.
Each circular saw J is secured in the usual manner to the spindle K mounted in
the bearings L. of the adjustable headstock I. The spindle K is provided with the
pulley 20 and driven by the strap 21 from a pulley conveniently fixed and of such
a width to allow the strap 21 to travel to and fro with the sliding frames H.
The headstocks I rest on the angular pieces 22 on the sliding frames H, and are
secured thereto by bolts or their equivalents. The sliding frames H are mounted on
the gantry G, being held in position by the angle pieces 23 and 24, the latter being
loose and secured by bolts or set screws to facilitate the removal of the sliding
frames H from the gantry G. To the sliding frame H is attached the fixing 25
carrying the screw 26 and nut 27 to bear or support and adjust the saw spindle K
in case of wear in the bearings L. The underside of each sliding frame H is fitted
with the arm 28 to carry the bowl 29, both being secured thereto by the bolt 30.
The bowl 29 fits into the slot 31 in the scroll M, and by the rotative action of the
latter with the driving shaft N the sliding frames H and their appendages are slid to
and fro on the gantry G.

page_text: After the grips D have been raised the timber or other articles on the guides F
drop by gravity against the adjustable stop 33, mounted in the bearings 34 on the
end of the rods 35. The latter pass through the sides of the bed-plate B and are
attached to the crossbar 36 which can be operated in either direction by the screw 37
and handwheel 38. The centre hoss of the crossbar 36 is provided with a thread to
receive the screw 37. On one of the rods 35, in each part or section of the machine,
is mounted the adjustable arm 39 which forms the gauge in conjunction with the
screw 40 in the fixing 41 attached to the bed-plate B as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6
for the purpose of determining the length of the blocks to be cut. To ensure timber
and the like being held firmly in position during the operation of sawing the hinged
stop 42 is provided, being mounted in the bearings 43 attached to the arms 44 of
the adjustable stop 33. After a block has been sawn from the end of the timber
and the like on the guides F the hinged stop 42 is moved backwards clear of the end
of the block by the lever 45; the latter being operated by the projection or cam 4G
on the side of the scroll M. The object of releasing the hinged stop 42 from the
end of the saw block is to enable the latter to fall away down the shoot 47 to the
backside of the machine. The projection or cam 46 is of such a length as to hold or
press the hinged stop 42 against the blocks during the operation of sawing; after
sawing has been performed the blocks are liberated to allow them to fall away down
the shoot 47, and, during which, the circular saw J is slid back by the action of the
scroll M ready for the next operation. To ensure of the last block from each length
being sawn perfectly it is necessary the same he held. firmly to prevent canting.
This is effected by the har 48 resting or almost resting thereon, the same being
coupled to the arms 49 secured to the fixings C by the set screw 50. The arms 49
are provided with the slot 51 to allow of the same being moved on the set screw 50
by means of the crossbar 51 and rod 52 coupled to the lever 53. The rod 52 is
held in position by the guide 54 secured to the grip-frame E. The lever 53 is of
the double kind mounted on the pin 55 in the fixing 56 on the grip-frame E. The
other end of the double lever 53 is fitted with the swivelling nut 57, through which
the screwed spindle 58 passes, and operated by the hand wheel 59. The screwed
spindle 58 and hand wheel 59 are supported in the cross bar 60 carried by the arms 61
from the arms 2.
In another arrangement I dispense with the bar 48, arm 49, and the means for
supporting and operating the same, and substitute therefor the bar 33 mounted in
the bosses 34 of the rods 35 as shown in Fig. 10, of which Fig. 11 is a front
elevation. To the bar is fixed the grips 48 by the bolts 50. The grips 48 are
lifted when required to feed the machine by the cam 53 on the scroll M operating on
the bowl 63 pivoted to the rod 64 fixed to the bar 33.
When my improved machine is required to saw or cut from the upper part, that.
is, above the centre line of the circular saw J, as shown in Fig. 6, sheet 3, the
shoot 47 is provided on its upper side with a channel or race 62 to allow the lower
part of the saw to travel therein, and protect the sawn blocks from contact therewith.
If the channel or race 62 was not provided the sawn blocks would in all probability
be caught by the lower portion of the revolving saw or saws, and be thrown with
considerable force in all directions, which would be dangerous to the attendant and
others in the vicinity of the machine as well as that of the machine itself.
In this
arrangement the guides F project to the front side of the circular saw or saws, with
a slot to allow of the traverse of the saw or saws as in Fig. 6. To more securely
hold timber and the like when sawing is being performed the outer end of each piece
is pressed upon by the bar or grips 48. The latter is operated to and fro by the
rod 52 coupled to one or more of the levers X by the arm 53. The rod 52 is held
in position by the pin 65 on the arm 66 attached to the rod 34. The rod 52 is
slotted at both is supports to allow of regulation, and at the same time not interfere
with the movement and regulation of the grips D.
Although I have shown only two circular saws in the drawings I would have it
understood that any number of saws can be employed by simply repeating the various
narts

page_text: This machine operates as follows:-When the gauge or stop 33 and the position of the
grips D have been adjusted or set to the size of blocks intended to be sawn, the machine
is set in motion and timber and the like is fed by the attendant on the guides F. When
the circular saw or saws J are at the end of their backward stroke the slots 31 in the
scrolls M aro so constructed as to cause a pause in their travel, during which the cam
shaped path 10 of the slot 9 operates the bowl 7 on the lever 5 and lifts the grips to
allow the timber or the like to slide down the slides F until arrested by the stop 33,
and as soon as the bowl 7 assumes its original position in the slot 9 the grips D
drop onto the upper side of the timber and the like, and holds them firm, after
which the sliding frame H advances with the revolving saw or saws J and cuts off
the blocks to the desired length. After the circular saw J has completed its travel
the grips D hold the unsawn timber and the like until the circular saw has completed
its backward stroke, when the operation is repeated.
If desired the circular saws. J
can be arranged so that when one is sawing the other is making its backward
stroke, and so on according to the number of saws employed.
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 :-
In a self acting machine for sawing blocks of timber and the like the use,
construction, and arrangement of apparatus consisting of a circular saw or saws and
the incans for driving the same, mounted on an adjustable headstock or headstocks
carried by a frame or frames slid to and fro on a gantry by a scroll or scrolls on a
driving shaft in combination with adjustable grips mounted in an adjustable frame
or fraines and operated in such a manner as to feed and hold timber and the like on
the slides employed for supporting and carrying the same to an adjustable stop or
stops, with the various means for adjustment, applied and operating substantially in
the manner described and shown.
Dated the 20th May 1889.
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.