IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING CASKS OR BARRELS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Wright of N° 1 John Street, Egremont, in the
County of Chester for an Invention of. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR MAKING CASKS OR BARRELS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Wright at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1883.
SAMUEL WRIGHT of N° 1 John Street Egremont, in the County of Chester,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING CASKS OR BARRELS
"1
In the specification of a patent granted to me the 28th day of July, 1882, Nº 3589
is described machinery for forming barrels, wherein the staves are fed to a
collapsible core barrel drum or form by a rope or equivalent having a drawing or
pulling action. Now according to my present invention I employ an endless chain
for feeding the staves along the table or guides to the collapsible core barrel drum
or form, and this chain, instead of pressing against the outsides of the staves fed on
to the core barrel druin or form as in the former arrangement, is restrained from
coming in contact with them except for a short distance at the top, guide rollers or
pullies being employed for this purpose which are held in position by suitable bars
or fixings. A hauling pulley with teeth is used in lieu of the drum described in
the above named specification, and a central longitudinal guide or table is employed
which is fixed on the main frame for the staves to slide on. The hauling bar,
instead of being a long one as before is a short one arranged to press only against
the middle of the stave, and this bar is recessed so that the chain may take hold of
it-The arrangement is such that as soon as one set of staves has been fed, and
whilst another set is being placed on the table the hauling bar can be readily
disconnected and taken to the feeding end and placed in contact with the last stave
of the second set. The chain is then dropped into the recess in the bar ready for
forcing the second set of staves forward. By my present arrangement it is rendered
unnecessary to pull back the chain after a second set of staves has been fed on to
the core barrel drum or form.

page_text: Any suitable hauling apparatus may be employed in lieu of the above described
hauling pulley-The staves can be placed on the table and under the chain without
having to raise it by hand. In the arrangement above referred to guide pullies are
provided between the two encircling hoops, hut in a modification a suitably formed
central segmental circular guide hoop is employed which is so constructed that the
endless chain shall not come in contact with the staves on the barrel form but shall
slide on the outside of the hoop. When a measured length of staves has been placed
on the table the catch is pressed against the last stave and the chain dropped into a
recess therein wherein it remains until the endless chain has pulled the set of staves
onto the core barrel drum or form. The length of the top guide bar is such that
when all the staves have been fed the catch is released from the chain and 'top
guide bar and is ready for the next set of staves.
In some cases in machinery of the kind referred to I provide for cutting chamfering
and bevilling the staves whilst they are being fed on to the core barrel drum or
form. The circular cutters for operating on the end nearest the driving gear are
secured to a shaft which runs in fixed pedestals capable of adjustment to suit
different sizes of barrels. The cutters for operating on the other ends of the staves
are so pivotted to the machine that they may be readily and quickly moved out of
the way when the finished barrel rim is to be drawn off the core barrel drum or
form. By this arrangement in order to remove the barrel rim from the machine
only one set of the circular cutters has to be shifted. The cutters may be driven
by straps from a countershaft and may be arranged in a position under or nearly
under the main barrel shaft. The hauling shaft may be driven from the main gear
that rotates the barrel drum or form.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Wright in the Patent Office on the 26th January
1884.
SAMUEL WRIGHT, late of N° 1. John Street Egremont in the County of Chester,
now of 29 Shallot Street Toxteth Park Liverpool in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING CASKS OR BARRELS
"
In the specification of a patent granted to me the 28th day of July 1882 N° 3589.
is described machinery for forming barrels, wherein the staves are fed to a
collapsible core barrel drum or form by a rope or equivalent having a drawing or
pulling action.
Now according to my presont invention I employ an endless chain for feeding
the staves along the table or guides to the collapsible core barrel drum or forın, and
this chain instead of pressing against the outsides of the staves fed on to the core
barrel drum or form as in the former arrangement, is restrained from coming in
contact with them except for a short distance at the top, guide rollers or pulleys
being employed for this purpose which are held in position by suitable bars or
fixings.
A hauling pulley with tooth is used in lieu of the drum described in the above
named specification, and a central longitudinal guide or table is employed which is
fixed on the main frame for the staves to slide on.
The hauling bar instead of being a long one as before is a short ono arranged to
press only against the middle of the stave, and this bar is recessed so that the chain
may take hold of it.
The arrangement is such that as soon as one set of staves has been fed, and
whilst another set is being placed on the table the hauling bar can be readily
disconnected and taken to the feeding end and placed in contact with the last stave
of the second set, the chain is then dropped into the recess in the bar ready for
forcing the second set of staves forward.
By my present arrangement it is rendered unnecessary to pull back the chain after
a set of staves has been fed on to the core barrel drum or form.
Any suitable hauling apparatus may be employed in lieu of the above described
hauling pulley. The staves can be placed on the table and under the chain without
having to raise it by hand.
In the arrangement above referred to guide rollers are provided between the two
encircling hoops but in a modification a suitably formed central segmental circular
guide hoop is employed, which is so constructed that the endless chain shall not
come in contact with the staves on the barrel form but shall slido on the outside of
the hoop.
When a measured length of staves has been placed on the table the catch is
pressed against the last stave and the chain dropped into a recess therein, wherein
it remains until the endless chain has pulled the set of staves on to the core barrel
form or drum.
The length of the bottom guide bar is such that when all the staves have been
fed the catch is released from the chain and bottom guide bar and is ready for the
next set of staves.
Referring now to the accompanying two sheets of drawings Fig. 1. is a front
elevation of my improved machine with a set of staves placed on the barrel formu
or drum, and with the cutters in the working position. Fig. 2. is a plun in which
the main driving shaft is broken off short, so as to shew the circular cutters and
the bearings in which they are carried. Fig. 3. is an end elevation showing the

page_text: encircling hoops closed, and the circular cutters at the taking off end in working
position; the collapsible barrel form or drum is omitted for sake of clearness.
Fig. 4. is a similar end view with the front portion of the encircling hoops opened,
also the circular cutters at the taking off end swung back for the removal of the
barrel rim. Figs 5. &. 6. show one of the encircling hoops and trussing levers. In
Fig. 5. the hoop and lower guide bar are shewn, as they would appear whilst a set
of staves were being fed to the machine, but in Fig. 6. the back hoop is drawn up
ready for trussing the staves on the collapsible barrel; the trussing lever and chain
are also shewn. Figs. 7. 8. &. 9. represent the bauling bar or hook with a stave
and the central longitudinal guide bar in their relative positions.
A. Fig. 1. is a shaft which carries the collapsible barrel form or drum; it is
driven as are also the other parts of the machine except those I am about to describe
as shewn and described in my before mentioned specification. B. is an endless
hauling chain arranged to pass partially around a hauling pulley C. and back over
a pulley D. and thence over the guide pulleys E. E'. E³.
The bauling pulley C. is formed with teeth or recesses for the links of the chain
to drop into, and is driven by a worm F. and worm wheel F. from the main
gearing, as shewn in Figs 1 and 2. at a speed uniform with the circumferential
speed of the collapsible barrel drum or form.
The hauling hook or bar G Figs 7. 8 & 9. is of such a form at the back end
as to press against the last stave J; and also to slide on the central longitudinal
guide bar H. which is of such a length that as soon as the last stave has been
partially delivered on the barrel dium or form, the hauling hook C slips off the
end of the bar, the chain B still drawing the stave along into its proper place. At
the same time the first or leading stave forces the end of the hook off the last stave
so as to disconnect it.
By the time it has reached the barrel form or drum the hook G. is disconnected
from the chain and may be removed ready for the next set of staves. Sufficient
space is left between the end guide pulley E and the top flange of the central
guide bar H. for the hook to be slipped into place. The table or guide bars are of
sufficient length to admit of a full set of staves for one barrel rim, all laid flat with
their edges touching one another.
The lower longitudinal guides consist of end guides. K. K. and short guide bars
K. for carrying the back segments of the encircling hoops, also a central guide H;
the latter guide rises slightly as it approaches the collapsible barrel form or drum
so as to partially bend the staves.
The guides are secured to the main frame at one end, the other portions being
carried on suitable supports. L. L. The upper guide bars. M. M. are bolted to a
cross bar. M. which is secured to the machine frame by the supports N. the other
portion being bolted to the cross bars. M. M. these are held in position by adjusting
screws and hand wheels L'. screwed into the supports L. as shewn, thus the
upper guide bars may be regulated to suit the different thickness of staves. The
encircling hoops are formed, in two segments instead of in three, as described in the
before mentioned specification, and these are pivotted to a fixed stud. O. The
front portions of the encircling hoops P. P. are connected together by a cross bar
and stay, and are provided with latches P¹. to drop into a fixed angle iron bar Z.
bolted to the top guide bars. M. M. They open out as shown in Fig. 4. to allow
the barrel rim to be withdrawn. The latches P¹. P'. are fixed to the front portion
of the encircling hoops P. and are lifted simultaneously by means of two bell crank
levers pivotted to the catch bar Z. and attached by a rod, one end of the bell crank
lever is made with an extented end forming a handle Z¹ Figs 1 & 4.
The back segments P of the hoops have at their upper extremities circular slots
drawn to a radius from the point. O. at which the hoops are pivotted together. A
fixed pin is placed in the lower guide bar K¹. which has a plate bolted to it on one
side, so as to form a substantial guide for the hoops P2. to slide in. When a full
set of staves has been fed on to the barrel form or drum, and has been cut to the
required length, chamfered, and croized by the circular cutters hereinafter more

page_text: fully described, the machine is then stopped and the two parts. P. Ps. of each of the
guide hoops are made to approach each other by means of the trussing lever Q.
attached by a short chain R¹, to the back hoop P2. shewn in Fig. 6. The nib at
the bent end of the lever is placed at the back of a fixed stud R. and the trussing
lever Q. is pulled over into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig 6. The
chain R¹. draws the segment P. up to the extent allowed by the slot hole, thus
pressing the ends of the staves more tightly together until a temporary hoop is
forced on at each end, when the levers are released. The barrel rim is now finished
and ready for drawing off the collapsible barrel form or drum, and the circular
cutters at the taking off end are let down out of the way as shown in Fig. 4. The
hoops PP are released simultaneously and opened as shewn, the barrel drum or
form is collapsed and the rim drawn off. To prevent narrow staves from springing
out of their places when passing the opening in the encircling hoops, I provide a
latch S. Figs 3. and 4 pivotted to the stud S. fixed in the front hoop P. When all
the staves have been fed to the barrel form or drum these latches drop, the handle
T. is then pushed back forcing a bolt or slide. T. forward for holding the latches
S. S. from being moved outwards thus a complete circle is formed.
In some cases in machinery of the kind referred to I provide for cutting,
chamfering, and beviling the staves whilst they are being fed on to the core barrel
drum or form. The circular cutters for operating on the end nearest the driving
gear, are secured to a shaft which runs in tixed pedestals capable of adjustment to
suit different sizes of barrels. The cutters for operating on the other ends of staves
are so pivotted to the machine that they may be readily and quickly moved out of
the way when the finished barrel rim is to be drawn off the core barrel form or
drum. By this arrangement in order to remove the barrel rim from the machine'
only one set of the circular cutters has to be shifted. The cutters may be driven by
straps from a countershaft and may be arranged in a position under or nearly under
the main barrel shaft.
The hauling shaft may be driven from the main gear that rotates the barrel
drum or form.
The circular cutters at the taking off end are carried by the main shaft
support V. Figs. 1. 2. 3 & 4 the pedestals in which the cutter shafts revolve are
capable of adjustment to suit slightly different sizes of casks to be made by the
machine. The support V. is suitably formed for carrying the pedestals and is
pivotted to the frame as shewn, and has also a pillar or prop W. jointed to it.
This is made of such a length that it may rest on a bracket or foot when the
circular cutters A'. are in working position, and when the support and cutters are
turned down the pillar or prop W. may rest on the floor or other convenient place.
The cutters A. at the other end are carried by a suitable bracket which is also
capable of adjustment to suit different sizes of casks; these cutters have not to bo
moved for the barrel rim to be withdrawn.
Both sets of cutters are driven by straps. X. X. from a counter shaft X'. In
some cases instead of the circular cutters coining in contact successively with the
staves as they are fed round the drum, I make the plate or fixing on to which the
cutter shaft pedestals are bolted to slide by means of a screw and hand wheel Y.
or other convenient means, so that the cutters may be readily raised or lowered.
When each set of cutters are arranged as above described, I feed a whole set of
staves on to the barrel drum or form and truss the rim by the lever Q. I then
placo a temporary hoop at or near each end of the staves and release the trussing
lover, and set the machine in motion, I then lower the revolving cutters by the
hand wheels. Y. Y. or other convenient means to the proper place, thus the staves
are tightly held together by the temporary hoops which relieves the greater
portion of the friction of the outside of the staves against the encircling hoops.
By this means there is less liability of the edges of the staves being broken off; as
they are held tightly against each other by the temporary hoops. Under that part
of stave with which the cutters come in contact I provide a small holding up or
steadying pulley (not shewn in the drawings) to prevent the stave operated on

page_text: n springing outwards. The said pulleys are capable of adjustment to suit
erent thicknesses of staves and different sizes of cutters; they are not fixed to
sliding frame but to the sliding frame seat. I also provide under the middle of
staves on the barrel rim two small pulleys not shewn, held against the outsides
he staves by weighted levers so as to press the middle of the staves against the
apsible barrel drum or form as I find that some staves bend and take the
aired bulgo better than others.
Iaving thus described the nature of the said invention and the manner in
ch it is to be performed I would have it understood that what I consider to be
el and original and therefore claim as secured to me by Letters Patent
einbefore first in part recited is, in a machine for making casks or barrels.;
The use in combination of an endless chain and a hauling bar or hook to feed
staves along a guide or table to a collapsible core barrel substantially as
described.
.
nd Arranging the cutters for bevelling and otherwise treating the ends of the
staves upon a jointed or pivotted support, so that they can be moved out of
the way when the casks or barrels are being removed from the machino
substantially as described.
The use of hoops acting both as encircling hoops about a collapsible core.
barrel to guide the staves into position and also as trussing hoops formed in
parts capable of being drawn together by a lever substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
In a machine for making casks and barrels the use in combination of an
endless chain for feeding the staves, hoops acting both as encircling hoops
and trussing hoops, and cutters capable of being raised and lowered and of
"being moved out of the way when the barrels are removed substantially as
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Wright have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty second day of January in the year of our Lord One
thousand Eight hundred and Eighty four.
GUTTOT
WDTATT