IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PLANING WOOD AND FOR PERFORMING A VARIETY OF. OTHER WORK ON WOOD
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lionel Varicas, of 24, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR PLANING WOOD AND FOR PERFORMING A VARIETY OF. OTHER
WORK ON WOOD." A communication from abroad by William Howard
Doane, of Cincinnati, in the County of Hamilton, and State of Ohio, one of the
United States of America.
Sealed the 7th March 1879, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 7th August 1878.
}
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Lionel Varicas at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 7th August 1878.
;
LIONEL VARICAS; of 24, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent: "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PLANING WOOD AND FOR PERFORMING
A VARIETY OF OTHER WORK ON WOOD." A communication from abroad by
William Howard Doane, of Cincinnati, in the County of Hamilton, and State of
Ohio; one of the United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of wood-working machines in which cutter
heads of varying sizes are used at different times to perform a variety of work; and
it is especially designed for hand-planing machines (so termed although they are
also capable of grooving and gaining), in which the cutter head operates between
separate tables, adjustable both vertically and horizontally independently of each
other so that they may be arranged either in the same plane or in different planes,
according as the nature of the wood to be done may require, while they may also
be separated to a greater or less extent to adapt the gap between them to cutter
heads of various diameters..
The improvement consists,―
First. In supporting the spindle of the cutter head in two bearings, and mounting
the cutter head thereon between said bearings, one of which is made so that the
height of the bearing from the centre to the base will allow the largest cutter head

page_text: ever to be used on the machine to be inserted, and is detachably supported on the
frame or stand in such a manner that it may be removed bodily by slipping it
axially off the spindle. This detachability of this bearing permits the ready sub-
stitution of one cutter head for another without requiring a displacement of the
spindle or any other part of the machine, the frame or stand of which will of course
also be suitably constructed so as not to interfere with the axial removal or
replacement of the cutter heads. The easy and convenient removal and application
of cutter heads is naturally quite important, and has been heretofore provided for
by mounting them on an overhung end of the spindle. Such an arrangement has
the disadvantage that unless a spindle of unusual strength is employed the cutter
head is subject to tremblings and vibrations when put to any severe task, and does
imperfect work in consequence, and the spindle also becomes easily sprung, all of
which is overcome by my Invention.
Secondly. In providing one of the two tables with a slide, to be used in gaining
or grooving, for bridging the gap between the tables at one end of the cutter head
so that the stick or timber may have a support at this end of the cutter head as
well as at the other end, where it is held in the gainer frame. Heretofore a third
table has always been provided for this purpose in this class of machines, which not
only makes them cumbersome but also requires additional mechanism for affording
the means of adjusting this third table. All this is avoided by the use of this
simple slide.
Thirdly. In novel means for supporting and rendering adjustable the tables,
which will be clearly explained in the ensuing description.
In the annexed Drawings,-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved machine; Figure 2 is a transverse
section thereof; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 4 is a bottom view of one of the tables, together with its supporting
bracket and the guides for the latter.
Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating more particularly the fence and the
manner of connecting it to the front table.
The same letters of reference are used in all the Figures in the designation of
identical parts.
A refers to the column or stand of the machine, on the upper end of which
suitable webs are formed to afford means for supporting the tables and cutter spindle
in a position properly elevated above the central column. The spindle B arranged
horizontally across the machine is at one end supported in a bearing C fixed to or
cast on the top of web A', and at the other end in a removable bearing block D,
the base of which is about on a line with the top of column A has a couple of longi-
tudinally disposed ribs d fitting corresponding grooves in the bracket A² cast upon
or secured to the column A. This bearing block is secured to the bracket by a
clamping screw E, which passes through a slot e in the outer edge of the bracket
into a tap in the base of the bearing block, so that to remove the latter requires
only a few turns of the screw to loosen its hold on the brackets, when the block can
be slid endwise and detached. The seat of the bearing block D is parallel to the
axis of the cutter spindle, so that it may be readily removed from and again slipped
on the outer end of such spindle when it becomes necessary to substitute one cutter
bead for another. The height of this bearing block from the base to the centre will
vary on different machines, it being always somewhat greater than the radius of the
largest cutter head to be used on the machine.
The cutter head F is arranged between the adjustable tables G and H upon the
spindle B, which is driven by a pulley I to impart the required rotary motion to
the cutter head, which is so secured on the spindle that it may readily be slipped
off the same.
Each table is supported upon a bracket K, which is arranged in guides k on the
transverse web As of the stand or column A. The horizontal leaf of the brackets K
fits a recess in the under side of the table it carries, and they are secured together
by a set screw K', which passes through a longitudinal slot k³ in the bracket into a

page_text: nut or tap in the table. The tables may thus be adjusted horizontally to and from
the cutter head so that their inner ends can always be arranged close to the path of
the cutters. The brackets K are maintained at any required elevation in their
guides by screws K2, which are supported in lugs on the webs A³, and work in
nuts 2 fixed on the brackets. Of course each table may be adjusted independently
of the other.
In planing stuff the surface of the rear table H will be arranged in the same
plane in which the highest point that the bits reach is located, and the front table G
will be adjusted such a distance below this plane that the cutters will remove the
desired thickness of shaving from the stuff, which is thus firmly supported both in
front and rear of the cutters upon the two tables being pushed from the lower on to
the higher one as the planing proceeds.
In grooving and gaining the tables will be disposed in the same horizontal plane,
and the slide of the gainer frame will traverse back and forth on the ways L pro-
vided as usual in the tables past the outer end of the cutter head.
To afford a continuous surface at the other end of the cutter head, as is required
in grooving and gaining, table H is provided with a slide L' flush with the surface
thereof, which at such times is to be slid into the recess L³ in table G, thus
bridging the gap between the tables, and doing away with the necessity of a third
table. The fence or guide M is connected to the front table G, having a slotted
laterally projecting arın g, which affords the means for securing it to the table by
means of a bolt or screw g'. It reaches beyond the gap, and overhangs the rear
table, its lower edge being cut away, as at g2, so that the rear table can be properly
elevated above the front table without interfering with the guide or fence attached
thereto.
The fence can be readily adjusted, and may be easily removed when the machine
is to be used for gaining stuff.
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of the both vertically and horizontally adjustable inde-
pendent tables H and G, cutter head F, spindle B, fixed bearing C, and axially
removable bearing block D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination of table H, slide L¹ fitted in a longitudinal groove
therein, and table G, having a recess L² in the end adjacent to table H, substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination of table G or H, slotted bracket K, k¹, guides h, k,
screw K¹, nut k², and screw K2, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lionel Varicas, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
LIONEL VARICAS. (L.S.)