Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 10th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 19th Oct.. 1888
We SAMUEL JONES of Glandinorwig Slate Works, near Carnarvon Writing Slate
Manufacturer, and ROBERT ROBERTS, of 6, Marcus Street Carnarvon, Engineer both
in the County of Carnarvon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention relates to machinery or apparatus for tenoning or mortising, and is
particularly designed for making teuons and mortises in the frames of writing or
school slates.
In carrying out the invention, we provide a table or carriage on which the bars of
the frame to be tenoned or mortised (previously cut to the required length) are placed.
This carriage slides on guides, one or both of which are adjustable so that their
distance may be varied, and a wider or narrower carriage may be used to suit the
different lengths of the frame bars. Any suitable number of frame-bars may be
placed thereon, according to the size of the machine, and their ends project from each
side of the carriage so as to be cut by the saws as hereafter described. The carriage
is caused to slide on the guides, preferably by a chain attached to its underside. One
end of the chain is attached to the periphery of a disc secured to a shaft preferably
adjustable horizontally, the other end is secured to another disc on the same shaft, or
to another portion of the periphery of the same disc, but in the opposite direction,
so that when the said shaft is rotated in one direction, the carriage will move
forward, but when turned the opposite way, it will move back. The chain is attached
This is
to one of the discs so that it can be tightened or slackened, as desired.
preferably accomplished by providing an arm loosely fitted to the said shaft, but
capable of being attached to the said disc by a set screw or its equivalent so as to
revolve with it. The end of the chain is passed through the periphery of the disc
and attached to the arm, so that by turning the arm on the shaft, the chain can be
loosened or tightened at pleasure. Or if preferred, the end of the chain may be
attached to an eye secured to the periphery of the disc but adjustable in a slot
thereon. The chain is carried on guide rollers so as to be clear of the framing or
working parts of the machine. The guide rollers are preferably adjustable.

page_text: The frame bars are held in position on the carriage by a weight or block suspended
by rollers or slides on one or more guides or rails above the carriage. The rail or
rails are pivoted or linked at each end to a lover, which is pivoted to a bracket or
support, so that by moving the lever on its pivot, the rail can be raised or lowered
and with it the before mentioned block. The lever is preferably provided with a
balance or counterweight, so that the block is held normally in its highest position,
and clear of the carriage. The block is provided with claws or clutching pins having
springs, which grip the ends of the frame bars when the said block is lowered, and
hold them fast in position on the carriage, even though the bars are of unequal
thickness. We can provide either spring claws attached to the underside of the block,
or pins having spike ends projecting at right angles from its under surface, and pro-
vided with springs pressing on their leads, so as to hold or claw the frame bars in
position on the carriage, and prevent them shifting when the block is lowered.
Springs may also be provided between the rail and block, so that the claws or pins
are pressed down with sufficient force to hold the frame bars, but not injure their
surface. The block is provided with pins or studs, which engage holes in the carriage,
and cause the block and carriage to travel together, but do not prevent the former
being raised clear of the latter.
The block can be locked in its lowest position by a locking device, and thus prevent
the frame bars being shifted until the lock is removed. The device may consist of a
lever pivoted at a convenient position in its length and provided with a tooth, which
engages a corresponding opening in one or hoth of the before mentioned rail levers.
The locking lever at the other end projects in the path of the travelling carriage so
that when the said carriage has nearly completed its travel, it will strike it and cause
the locking tooth to be removed, thus allowing the block to rise by the counterweight,
and free the frame bars. The locking lever is preferably provided with a counter-
weight, so that when the block is lowered, the locking tooth will automatically enter
the slot in the rail lever.
In one of our experimental machines, we have constructed a modification of this
locking apparatus. It consists essentially of a plate pivoted in any convenient manner,
and provided with two slots joining each other at or about right angles. One of these
slots forms an arc, having for its centre the pivot of the aforesaid plate. A pin,
attached to the rail on which the block is suspended, projects into the slots. When
the block is in its lowest position, the plate is turned on its pivot, by hand or by a
counter weight, so that the pin enters the slot forming a segment of a circle. The rail
is therefore locked in position. When the carriage has nearly completed its travel,
the block presses a projection or foot on the plate, causing it to turn on its pivot, so
that the pin enters the radial slot, and thus permits the rail, and with it the block, to be
raised by hand or by the action of a counterweight.
The saws are placed on each side of the carriage so as to cut the tenons or the
mortises at each end of the bars at one operation. Those for cutting the bottom or
shoulder of the tenons are preferably placed at an angle. In our experimental
machine they are arranged so that the faces of each pair of saws revolve at an angle
of about 120 degrees, but of course they could be placed at a greater or less angle.
The saw spindles are carried in frames attached in any convenient manner to the
main framing of the machine, and are adjustable by set screws or their equivalent so
that they can be moved vertically and horizontally, and the space between their
peripheries varied to suit the different widths of frames, etcetera. Both saw frames are
preferably provided with a screw or rack and pinion for shifting them clear of the
carriage when not required for use. The saws could, if preferred, be placed with their
sides vertical, preferably in the same plane, so as to cut the shoulders square (that is
at right angles to the surface of the frame bar). By placing the saws in the same
straight line, the shoulders can be cut at each end of the frame bar simultaneously, but
if found more convenient, one pair of saws may be placed in advance of the other
pair, so as to cut the shoulders at one end first.
At a convenient distance from the aforesaid saws, and on each side of the carriage,
we provide saws for cutting or forming the tenons on the mortises. The spindles,

page_text: which are vertical, are carried in frames attached in any convenient manner to the
main framing. These frames are adjustable vertically, and horizontally in a similar
manner to the saws above described. One or both of them are provided with a screw
or a rack, and pinion for shifting the saws nearer or closer the carriage. When
forming tenons the saw spindles are preferably each provided with two saws so as to
cut a piece off on each side of the frame bars, and thus form a tenon in the centre of
each end of the said bars. When forming mortises the saw spindles are provided with
one saw of such a thickness as to cut a mortise of the required width.
The mode of action is as follows:-
-
The frame bars to be tenoned, previously cut to the required length, are placed
between guides on the table of the machine, and moved or fed on to the carriage. A
stop plate, adjustable horizontally by a screw or by pins or bolts, is provided on the
other side of the carriage so that the bars occupy the proper position on the carriage.
The block now is lowered, and clutches or claws the bars, the said block being held in
that position by the locking device. The carriage and block with the frame bars held
firmly between them is now moved on the guides and rails, until the ends of the said
bars come into contact with the saws which are provided for cutting the shoulders.
These saws, which have been previously adjusted to the required position, cut grooves
across the top and bottom sides of each end of the frame bars, so as to form the
bottom or shoulder of the tenons. The bars next come in contact with the horizontal
saws, which cut two grooves at each end of the bars in the direction of their length.
These grooves unite with the grooves already already formed in the sides of the bars,
and a piece is therefore removed from each side, and a tenon thus formed. When
the carriage has nearly completed its travel it comes in contact with the projection or
arm which releases the locking pin or tooth, and the block can be raised, or is auto-
matically raised by the counterweight, thus releasing the frame bars. Attached or
pivoted in any convenient manner to the machine, and on each side of the carriage, we
provide a claw which engages the bars in one direction only. These claws slide over the
surface of the bars when the carriage is moved forward. When, however, it has com-
pleted its forward travel, the claws drop and prevent the bars being moved back with
the carriage. The carriage is now moved back by moving the chain in the reverse
direction, and the operation can be repeated.
In our experimental machine the saws for cutting the shoulders of the frame bars
are driven by a belt from a countershaft, which is not parallel with the saw spindle.
As the saws of course always revolve in the same direction, this may be easily accom-
plished by arranging that the point at which the belt is delivered from each pulley
shall be in the plane of the other "pulley. When, however, the saw spindle frames
are adjusted in the manner heretofore described, the relative position of the pulleys
would no longer be the same, and the belt would run off. In order to obviate this,
we make the bearings, which support the countershafts, adjustable, and provide them
with pinions, which gear in fixed racks. By turning the pinions, the bearings, and
with them the countershafts, can be adjusted to enable the belts to run properly.
When the machine is used for mortising, the saws for cutting the shoulders of the
tenons, are shifted clear of the carriage. The vertical saw spindles are provided with
a saw of the same or nearly the same width as the mortise it is desired to cut. They
can be adjusted so as to cut a mortise of the required depth by means of the screws
already described. A carriage of suitable width is provided, the guides being, if
necessary shifted a greater or less distance apart so as to suit it.
The discs to which
the ends of the chain are attached can also be shifted horizontally, if desired. The
chain itself may be lengthened or shortened by means of the device, heretofore
described. The guide rollers, over which the said chain passes, may also be adjusted
to the required position. The mode of action is substantially the same as before
described.
The following are some of the advantages of the invention,-
The shoulders and bottoms of the tenons and mortises respectively are cut straight,
that is to say, they are cut straight across the frame bar without a curve as in the old
method. Consequently, a very neat joint is obtained, and the faces of the bars

page_text: can be fitted close, no space or opening being left as was generally heretofore the
case.
These saws can be used for cutting the tenons, the power required being thus less
than in the machines heretofore used, in which thick saws were essential.
The foregoing being a description of our experimental apparatus, it must be under-
stood that we do not limit ourselves to the exact details herein set forth, as our
invention is applicable for cutting mortises and tenons in frames, other than the frames
of writing or school slates. If a machine is constructed for mortising only, or for
tenoning only, it will be understood that the construction of some of the parts may be
modified without altering the nature of the invention.
Dated this 8th day of December 1887.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tenoning or Mortising Machines.
We, SAMUEL JONES, of Glandinorwig Slate Works, near Carnarvon, Writing
Slate Manufacturer, and ROBERT ROBERTS of 6 Marcus Street, Carnarvon, Engineer,
both in the County of Carnarvon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention relates to machinery or apparatus for tenoning or mortising, and
is particularly designed for making tenons and mortises in the frames of writing or
school slates.
The invention may be described by reference to the accompanying drawings which
set forth a machine, designed for cutting either tenons or mortises as required.
Figure 1 is a plan of the machine with parts broken away or removed.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on line x, x, Figure 1, looking towards the right.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on line y, y, Figure 1, looking towards the left.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the machine in a plane at right angles to Figures 2
and 3, the saws etcetera being removed, and parts of the framing being broken away
to show the mechanism for operating the carriage B.
Figure 5 is a detail view of the wheel D' of said mechanism, being an elevation of
the inner or left hand side thereof.
Figure is a sectional elevation of the locking mechanism for holding the frame
bars firmly in position on the said carriage while being sawn.
Figure 7 is a plan view showing a modified arrangement of locking mechanism.
Figure 8 is a detail of same.
Figure 9 is a general plan of the gearing for driving the various saws.
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2 illustrating the method of
forming the tenons at the ends of the frame bars.
A is the outer framework of the machine, A' the upper plate or table thereof,
and A2, A3, A', are the cross frames or girders. B is a table or carriage on which
are placed the bars C of the frame to be tenoned or mortised (previously cut to the
required length). This carriage slides on guides B¹, B³, one or both of which
(preferably the guide B2 only) are adjustable as shown, so that their distance apart
may be varied, and a wider or narrower carriage may be used to suit the different
lengths of the frame bars C. Any suitable number of frame-bars may be placed on
the carriage according to the size of the machine, and their ends project beyond each
side of the carriage as shown in Figure 2, so as to be cut by the saws as hereafter
described. The carriage is caused to slide on the guides preferably by a chain D,
Figures 1 and 4, attached to its underside and actuated as hereinafter set forth.
E, E, Figure 1, are guides on the table of the machine between which the frame
bars Care placed as shown, so as to be readily moved or fed on to the carriage B.

page_text: The surface of the table between the guides is on a level with, or slightly above, the
surface of the carriage, and the guide E, (or both of the guides) is preferably made
adjustable as shown. On the side of the carriage remote from the guides E, E¹, there
is a stop plate or fence E2 having its face parallel to the axis of the carriage, and
serving as a stop to bring the ends of the frame bars in line when fed on to the
carriage. The fence is adjustable to and from the carriage, as shown, to accommodate
various lengths of bars.
The frame bars are held in position on the carriage by a weight or block F,
Figures 2 and 4, suspended by rollers F¹, (or by slides) on one or more guides or
rails F2 above the carriage. The rail (or rails) is pivoted or linked at each end to a
bell-crank lever F³, which is fixed to a pivot F mounted on a bracket or support F5.
By means of a handle Fe and a link F, levers may be moved about the axes of the
pivots F and the rail can be raised or lowered, and with it the before mentioned
block. Or instead of suspending the rail from two bell crank levers as shown in
Figures 2 and 4, it may be supported upon the ends of two parallel levers 3 lying at
right angles to the rail, as in Figure 7. In either case, one or both of the levers is
preferably provided with a balance or counter-weight FS so that the block F when
free is held in its highest position, and clear of the carriage. In the arrangement
shown in Figures 2 and 4, the counterweights may be conveniently carried by arms
keyed to the pivots F. The block F is provided with spring claws or clutching
pins F, which rest upon the frame bars when the said block is lowered, and hold them
fast in position on the carriage even though the bars are of unequal thickness.
We
may provide either spring claws attached to the underside of the block as shown, or
pins having spike ends projecting at right angles from its under surface, and provided
with springs pressing on their heads, so as to hold the frame bars in position on the
carriage, and prevent them shifting when the block is lowered. Springs may also be
provided between the rail F2 and the block, so that the claws or pins may be pressed
down with additional force. The block is provided with one or more pins or studs F10,
which engage a hole or holes in the carriage and cause the block and carriage to travel
together without, however, preventing the former being raised clear of the latter
when required.
The block can be locked in its lowest position by a locking device, which prevents
the frame bars being shifted until the lock is removed, that is while the carriage is
traversed past the saws. A convenient form of locking mechanism is as follows:-
A plate G is pivoted in any convenient manner, at the rear of the machine,
preferably upon the pivot F4 so as to turn freely thereon. The plate is provided with
two slots G1, G2, joining each other at or about a right angle. The slot G¹ forms an
arc of a circle whose centre is the axis of the pivot and the slot G² is preferably
radial to said circle. Or the end of the slot G', remote from the slot G², may be
rather further from the centre of oscillation than the opposite end of the slot, so as to
produce a wedging action when the plate G is turned about its axis. A pin G³
attached to the rail F2 on which the block is suspended, projects into the slot G¹, G².
When the plate G is placed on the outside of the cover For bracket F³, a suitable
slot G is provided in the cover or bracket, which permits the rail F2 when released,
to rise freely in its supporting brackets. When the block is in its lowest position,
the plate is turned on its pivot by a suitable handle, or by a counterweight, so that
the pin enters the swivel slot, and the rail is thereby locked in position. Instead of
working the plate G from the rear of the machine by a handle attached to the plate,
it may be actuated by a lever handle G at the front of the machine which is
connected to a projecting arm G on the plate by a link G. When the carriage has
nearly completed its travel, the block F presses a projection or heel G³ on the plate,
causing it to turn on its pivot, so that the pin G enters the radial slot G2, and thus
permits the rail, and with it the block, to be raised either by hand or by the action of
the counterweights F³.
The brackets F carrying the rail F, and the mechanism for actuating and locking
it, are both adjustable to and from the axis of the carriage, in order to accommodate
various widths of carriages and blocks. In order that the brackets. may be adjusted

page_text: simultaneously, and the rail be kept parallel with the axis of the carriage, it is con-
venient to move them by a common shaft H, which is provided with a hand wheel H¹
at one or both ends, and carries two pinions H2, each gearing into a rack H³ attached
to the base of each bracket.
When the rail F² is supported on two counter-balanced levers as above
described, and as shown in Figure 7, a modified form of locking mechanism may be
used, as follows: A locking lever g is pivoted at a convenient position in its length
as at g², and one of its arms is provided with a locking tooth or pin g³ which engages
a corresponding opening in one of the levers f³. Or if desired, both of the rail
levers may be provided with locking mechanism. The other arm of the locking lever
is preferably provided with a friction wheel 98 and projects in the path of the travelling
carriage, so that when the said carriage, or the block F carried thereby, has nearly
completed its travel, it will strike the wheel, and by turning the lever, cause the
locking tooth to be removed, and allow the block to rise by the counterweight or
counterweights of levers f, so as to free the frame bars. The locking lever may be
worked from the front of the machine by a link g' connected with a pivoted lever
handle 9, which is preferably provided with a counterweight go so that when the
block is lowered the locking tooth will automatically enter the slot in the rail lever.
Attached or pivoted in any convenient manner to the machine, and on each side of
the carriage, we provide a claw J as in Figures 1 and 4, which engages the frame hars
in one direction only. These claws are of such a form and are supported in such a
position, as to slide over the surface of the projecting ends of the bars when the
carriage is moved forward. When, however, the latter has completed its forward
travel, the claws drop over the edge of the outermost bar, and prevent the bars
being moved back with the carriage. One or both of the claws J may be adjustable to
or from the axis of the carriage.
One end of the chain D for traversing the carriage is attached as at d, Figure 4, to
the periphery of a disc or wheel D₁ secured to a shaft D2 preferably adjustable
horizontally upon the frames A, A², and the other end of the chain is secured to
another disc or wheel on the same shaft, or to another portion as d', Figure 1, of the
periphery of the wheel D', the two portions of the chain passing off the wheel in
opposite directions, so that when the said wheel is rotated in one direction, the
carriage will move forward, but when turned the opposite way, it will move back. The
chain is carried on guide rollers D³, Figures 1 and 4, so as to be clear of the framing
or working parts of the machine, and during the forward movement of the carriage,
the wheel D and the chain move as shown by the arrows in these figures. Any or
all of the guide rollers D³ may be adjustable. The carriage is preferably actuated by
hand, by means of a cross handle attached to the shaft D2. The chain is attached to
the wheel D in such a manner that it can be tightened or slackened as desired. This
is preferably accomplished by an arrangement such as shown in Figure 5. d² is an
arin looosely fitted to the shaft D2, but capable of being secured in various positions
to the said wheel, so as to revolve with it by means of a bolt d³ or its equivalent,
working in a curved slot d. The end of the chain is passed through the periphery
of the wheel at d¹, and is attached to the arm, so that by turning the arm on the shaft,
the chain can be loosened or tightened at pleasure. Or if preferred, the end of
the chain may be attached to an eye, secured to the periphery of the wheel, but
adjustable in a slot thereon.
The saws are placed on each side of the carriage, so that the tenons or mortises at
each end of the frame bars may be cut at one operation of the carriage. When
cutting tenons, the bars are operated upon by eight saws, four for each end of the
bars. The two pairs of saws K, L, first cut vertical or oblique nicks (that is nicks
perpendicular to or at an angle with the sides), both on the upper and under sides of
the bars, the said nicks forming the shoulders of the tenons. The two pairs of
saws M, N, afterwards cut horizontal nicks (that is, nicks parallel with the sides of
the bars), meeting the vertical or oblique nicks previously formed. (See Figure 10.)
Or the saws M, N, may be placed before the saws K, L.
The saws K, L, Figures 1 and 3, for forming the shoulders of the tenons could be

page_text: placed vertically, though preferably each pair is placed obliquely (as shown) so as to
enclose an angle of, say, about 120 degrees, (the precise inclination being a matter of
taste or convenience) the object being to obtain an undercut shoulder instead of a
square one.
The two pairs of saws K, L, might be placed opposite each other, but it
is more convenient to place them one in advance of the other as shown. Each of the
oblique saw spindles is supported in suitable bearings upon an adjustable slide K¹ or L'
carried by one of the cross frames A2. The slides L carrying the pair of saws L
nearest the adjustable carriage guide B2 are each adjustable horizontally to a con-
siderable extent upon the frame A in order to accommodate frame bars of various
widths, and in order that the saws may be removed clear of the carriage B when not
in use. The adjustment may be made by means of screwed spindles 1, each provided
with a hand wheel as shown in Figure 3, or by racks and pinions, or other suitable
means. The slides carrying the other pair of saws K, are adjustable to only a slight
extent upon the frame A2, by means of set screws or their equivalent. Each of the
saws K, and L, is also adjustable to a slight extent both horizontally and vertically
upon the slides K, and L', by means of secondary slides K, L, and K³, L³, and by
pinch screws such as 2, or their equivalent. The saws K and Lare driven respectively
by cross belts K and L' from pulleys K' and L'.
The
The horizontal saws MN Figures 1 and 2 are placed opposite each other on each
side of the carriage and at a convenient distance in advance of the oblique saws.
spindles of these saws are carried in suitable bearings m and n which are supported
respectively upon slides M¹ and N¹ on the cross frames A2 A3. The slides M¹ and N¹
are adjustable in a horizontal direction to a greater or less extent in the same manner
and for the same purpose as the slides K and I aforesaid, the adjustment being
preferably made by means of a screwed spindle n¹ and hand wheel n², and by a stud m
and nuts m² respectively. Each pair of horizontal saws may also be adjusted
vertically upon its slide M' or N¹ by a spindle m³ or n³, and hand wheel m' or n which
actuate a supplementary slide M² or N2 carrying the bearings m or n. The
saws M and N forming each pair of horizontal saws are kept a certain distance apart
by a suitable washer M³ or N³. Figure 10, inserted between them on their spindle,
the thickness of said washer determining the thickness of the tenon to be cut. When
mortises are to be cut the pairs of saws M and N are replaced by single saws baving)
preferably a thickness equal to the width of the mortise.
The horizontal saws M and N are driven respectively by belts M4 and N Figure 9,
which pass round the spindle pulleys M5 and No and round pulleys M° No mounted
upon a frame As placed at a suitable distance from the machine, the shaft of the latter
pulleys being provided with a driving pulley P. The same frame A³ also carries the
outer ends of the shafts K L for driving the oblique saws (the inner ends of the
shafts being supported upon the cross frame A') and each of the said shafts having a
driving pulley K'L'. The shaft L driving the adjustable oblique saws L, is adjustable
in a direction at right angles to its axis in order that the belts I may always lead
properly on to the spindle pulleys L³ of the saws. The adjustment is preferably made
by means of pinions 3, which gear with racks attached to the shaft pedestals, the said
pinions being connected by a shaft having a crank bandle 1º, so that the movement
of the pedestals may be equal.
The mode of action is as follows:
A carriage, suitable for the length of bars to be operated upon, having been selected,
it is placed upon the guides B' B2 one or both of which are adjusted thereto. The
rail is now adjusted by one of the hand wheels H¹, so that its axis lies in the
same vertical plane as the axis of the carriage. The guide E¹ and fence E2 are
now adjusted according to the number of bars to be operated upon at a time, and the
position they are to occupy upon the carriage. The saws K L M N are adjusted to a
greater or less extent as regards their horizontal distance from the axis of the carriage
(that is from the ends of the frame bars) as regards their vertical position above the
carriage and as regards their vertical distance apart. The shaft Le, the chain D, and the
guide wheels thereof having been adjusted, the machine is ready for operation. A number
of bars previously cut to the required length are now fed on to the carriage, the block F

page_text: lowered upon them, the rail F2 locked, and the carriage and block with the frame bars
held firmly between them traversed forward by the handles 14. The ends of the bars
are successively operated upon by the saws K and I, which cut the oblique nicks
forming the shoulders of the tenons. The bars next come in contact with the horizontal
saws MN which cut two nicks at each end of the bars in the direction of their length,
see Figure 10. These grooves unite with the oblique grooves already formed in the
sides of the bars, and a piece being thus removed from each side, a tenon is formed.
When the carriage has nearly completed its travel it comes in contact with the
heel G of the locking plate or with the wheel g of the locking lever and causes the
rail F to be unlocked as before described, so that the block can be raised by the lever
handle F or f, or by the counterweights For 8, the frame bars being left lying
upon the carriage. By this time the claws J have dropped over the edge of the
outermost bar, and when the carriage is withdrawn by reversing the movement of the
handles D the bars are held back and drop upon the guides B1 B2, whence they may
be removed by an attendant, or they may be pushed off the guides at the next forward
movement of the carriage.
y
When the machine is used for mortising, some or all of the oblique saws for cutting
the shoulders of the tenons, are shifted clear of the carriage. The vertical saw spindles
are provided with a saw of the same or nearly the same width of the mortise it is
desired to cut. They can be adjusted as already described so as to cut a mortise of the
required depth and in the required position.
The mode of action is in other respects substantially the same as for cutting
tenons.
If preferred, the foregoing machine may be constructed to operate upon one end
of the bars at a time, the latter being then reversed and again put through the
machine.
The following are some of the advantages of the invention :-
The shoulders and bottoms of the tenons and mortises respectively are cut straight,
that is to say, they are cut straight across the frame bars without being curved as was
the case in the old method where the bars were fed endwise into one or more circular
Saws. Consequently, a very neat joint is obtained, and the faces of the bars can be
fitted close, no space or opening being left as was generally heretofore the case.
Thin saws being used for cutting the tenons, the power required is thus less than in
the machines heretofore used, in which thick saws were essential.
The foregoing being a description of our experimental apparatus, it must be
understood that we do not limit ourselves to the exact details herein set forth, as our
invention is applicable for cutting mortises and tenons in frames, other than the frames
of writing or school slates. If a machine is constructed for mortising only, or for
tenoning only, it will be understood that the construction of some of the parts may be
modified without altering the nature of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A tenoning or mortising machine in which the bars or pieces C to be tenoned
are secured in the position described upon a carriage B, which is traversed past one
or two pairs of saws K, L, lying perpendicular or obliquely to the sides of the bars C,
and past one or two pairs of saws M, N; lying parallel to said sides, the position of
the saws KL being such as to form transverse cuts of a given depth on one or both
ends of the bars at each side thereof, and at a given distance from the end or ends,
and the saws M, N, being so located as to form longitudinal cuts meeting the transverse
cuts on one or both ends of the bars, and at a given distance from each side thereof,
whereby with one operation of the machine a finished tenon is formed upon one or both
ends of a series of bars, substantially as described.
2. A tenoning or mortising machine, in which the bars or pieces (to be mortised,
are secured in the position described upon the carriage B, which is traversed past
or two saws M, N, lying parallel to said sides, and having the same or nearly
one
B

page_text: the same thickness as the width of the mortise to be cut, the said saw or saws
being so located as to form a longitudinal cut of a given depth at one or both
ends of the bars, and at a given distance from either side thereof, substantially as
described.
3. In a tenoning or mortising machine, a travelling carriage such as B upon which
a number of bars or pieces to be tenoned or mortised are placed transversely side by
side, in combination with a block such as F moving with the carriage and having
on its under surface a series of spring pins or claws F for retaining said bars in
position, and with a counterbalanced rail such as F2 for guiding and holding down
said block upon the carriage during its forward travel, and for raising the same from
the carriage when required to release the bars, substantially as set forth.
4. In a tenoning and mortising machine having a travelling block and a counter-
balanced rail such as F, F2, a pivoted locking plate G having a heel G³ projecting in
the path of the block, and two adjoining slots G1 G2 arranged as described, in
combination with a pin G³, carried by the rail 2 and engaging either of said slots,
and with a link G2 and a handle lever G or their equivalent, whereby the block and
rail may be locked in their lower position, and may be released either automatically
by the block Fat the end of its travel, or by the hand lever G³ as required,
substantially as described.
5. The modified arrangement of locking mechanism, consisting of the combination
of a rocking lever y, a locking pin or projection g³ carried by one arm of said lever
and engaging a slot in the counterbalanced rail-carrying lever, a wheel or other
striking point carried by the other arm of the said lever g, and projecting in the path
of the carriage and block, and a counterbalanced hand lever og connected with the
lever g, substantially as described and shown in Figures 7 and 8.
6. In a tenoning and mortising machine, the combination with a travelling carriage
such as B bearing a series of bars C, of a pair of claws such as J which ride over
said bars during the forward movement of the carriage and hold them back during the
return movement of the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a tenoning machine such as herein set forth, a series of pairs of circular saws
such as K, L, M, N, each pair being adjustable to a greater or less extent both vertically
and horizontally, and the members of each pair being adjustable in their distance apart,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. In a tenoning or mortising machine, the combination with a travelling carriage
and block B F of a carriage guide B32, block carrying supports F5, gearing for actuating
the carriage, circular saws L, N, on one side of the carriage, and gearing for driving
said saws, each of said parts being adjustable horizontally in a line at right angles to
the axis of the carriage, whereby the machine may be adapted to carriages of various
widths, and may operate upon bars of various lengths, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 7th day of September 1888.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicants