Machine for Making Dowel Pins.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
Machine for Making Dowel Pins.
I, CLARENCE FREDERICK STEWART, of the City of Norwalk, in the County of
Huron, in the State of Ohio, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer,
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:
My invention relates to Improvements in Machines for Making Dowel Pins ; and
it consists in certain features of construction, and in combination of parts herein-
after described and pointed out in the claims.
In the manufacture of dowel-pins, the wood is cut into blocks of suitable length,
and the blocks are split into "rives," of suitable thickness, and these latter are fed,
usually by hand, into a machine, where a reciprocating plunger forces the timber
against the splitting-knife, severing the blank that is forced through a finishing die.
Heretofore a gage adjusted in suitable position has usually been rigidly attached to
the bed, and the splitting-knife was arranged somewhat oblique to the line of the
gage to give sufficient clearance for the blank in case the wood should not split
straight, the wood being held down by a spring. With such construction, in case
the wood did split straight, by means of the aforesaid clearance the block was likely
to be turned to the one side and enter the finishing die obliquely, by reason of which
many blanks were spoiled. As an improvement I set the splitting-knife parallel with
the axial line of the finishing-die, and provide a yielding guide-block rabbeted along
the inner lower corner to engage the blank on the rear and top sides. Springs are
arranged to press the guide-block downward and forward, by means of which the
blank is always firmly held against the knife and against the bed, and made to enter
straight into the finishing-die."
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.
Fig. 2. is a top, plan, partly in section.
Fig. 3. is an elevation in section on the line of x, x Fig. 1.
Fig. 4. is an elevation in section on the line of y, y, Fig. 2.
Fig. 5. is a rear elevation of the guide-block.
Fig is an elevation in section showing a method of securing the die in place.

page_text: A, represents the bed-plate, the same having suitable ways, A', in which operates
a reciprocating plunger, B, a crank and pitinan (not shown) or other suitable
mechanism being had for operating the plunger. C, is the splitting-knife, the shank
of which fits in the recess, a, of the bed. The knife is secured by a bolt, c, that
passes through the bed and through an arm, D, securing the latter, the arm being
seated in a recess, a³, of the bed, as shown in Fig. 2.
E, is a guide-block, having an arm, E¹, pivoted at, a², to the bed-plate. The arm, E¹,
is made thin laterally, so as to be somewhat elastic. The block, E, is rabbeted along
the lower corner on the front side, at, e, so as to engage the blank on the top and
rear sides. Springs, e¹, preferably of rubber, are backed preferably by cap-shaped
washers, e, adjustably secured by screws, e³, that engage threaded holes in the arm, D.
One spring is made to press the block, E, downward toward the bed, and the other
spring is made to press the block forward toward the knife. The knife, C, stands at
right angles to the face of the bed, with the rear side of the knife set parallel with
the axial lines of the die, H. By reason of the guide-block, E, and springs afore-
said, the blank is hold firmly against the knife and against the bed, and is thus guided
straight into the die.
F, is a flange, projecting upwardly from the bed, and at right angles to the latter,
both laterally aud vertically.
The flange is more conveniently cast on to the bed-plate, but may be made
separately, if preferred, and bolted or otherwise secured to the bed. The flange has
an opening, f, for the passage of the dowel-pin, and vertical slots, f, through which
latter pass the securing-bolts for the plate, G. This plate has lateral slots, g, for the
passage of these bolts, and by means of the slots, f¹, and, g, the plate, G, may be
readily adjusted to bring the die, H, in line with the machine. The die, H, may be
screwed into a central screw-threaded opening in the plate, G, but it is preferably
secured therein as shown in Fig. 6, that is, by forming a slit, n, in the plate, G,
from the die socket to the edge, and by screwing a clamping screw, n', through the
one part, and into the other part across the slit, n, so that when wishing to change
the die, H, all that is necessary, is to loosen the clamping screw, n', when the die may
be instantly removed and a larger or smaller die inserted in its place, when by
tightening the clamping screw, n¹, again, the new die is rigidly and firmly held in
place; in the latter method of securing the die, the screw threads on the plate, G,
and die, H, are not required.
The cutting-edge, h, of the die should be placed as near the rear end of the
splitting-knife and block, E, as will admit of a free discharge of the chips. The die
internally and in cross section may be round, square or of any form in which it is
desired to make the dowel-pins, the round pins, however, being more commonly made.
The rives of wood are held by hand against a stationary gage, A2, and are forced by
the plunger against the knife, C, splitting off the blank. The next blank forces the
preceding blank through the die, from the rear of which latter, the finished dowel-
pins are discharged from the machine.
The device is simple and easily adjusted for different sized dowel-pins, different
dies of course being required for the different sized pins.
In place of making the arm, E, elastic, it might be pivoted loosely, and be made to
accomplish the same end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st. In a Machine for Making Dowel-Pins, the combination, with a finishing-die, a
splitting-knife set substantially parallel with the axial line of the die, a suitable bed,
and reciprocating plunger, of a guide-block, the same being notched to engage two
sides of the blank, and springs, respectively, for pressing the guide block, toward the
knife and toward the bed-plate, substantially as set forth.
2nd. In a machine for making dowel-pins, the combination, with a bed-plate, a
plunger mounted thereon, a splitting-knife, and notched guide-block yieldingly held in

page_text: position, of a supporting-plate, a finishing-die secured thereto, and the flange
integral with or rigidly secured to the bed-plate, the said plate and flange having
respectively elongated holes at right angles to each other for the passage of the
securing-bolts, substantially as set forth.
3rd. In a machine for making dowel-pins, the combination, with a bed-plate
having recesses, a, and, a¹, made on opposite sides of the plate, of a splitting-knife
and arm, D, secured in the respective recesses, said knife being set substantially
parallel with the axial line of the finishing-die, of a guide-block, notched to engage
the blank on two sides, said block being yieldingly held in position by springs, that
respectively press the guide-block downward and forward, the springs being adjustably
supported from the said arm, D, substantially as set forth.
4th. The combination with a bed-plate, a splitting-knife, a finishing-die, and a
reciprocating plunger, of the block, E, yieldingly secured to the bed-plate, and
springs for pressing the block downward and laterally.
5th. In a machine for making dowel-pins, the combination, with a finishing-die, a
splitting-knife, set substantially parallel with the axial line of the die, and a device
for guiding the blank, of springs arranged to press the guiding device, downward
and forward, substantially as set forth.
6th. In a machine for making dowel pins, the plate, G, formed with a slit, n, and
a clamping screw, n', in combination with a finishing die, splitting knife, set
substantially parallel with the axial line of the die, and a device for guiding the blank,
and springs, arranged to press the guiding device downward and forward, sub-
stantially as set forth.