IMPROVEMENTS IN UNIVERSAL WOOD WORKING MACHINERY
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS-PATENT to Martin Benson, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN UNIVERSAL WOOD WORKING
MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by William Howard Doane,
of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of North America.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Martin Benson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th December 1878.
MARTIN BENSON, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UNIVERSAL WOOD WORKING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad' by
William Howard Doane, of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of North America.
This Invention relates to that class of wood working machines termed
universal wood workers, by reason of the fact that a great diversity of work
can be done with such a machine. Though its range of work equals the combined
capacities of numerous ordinary wood working machines each adapted to do a
certain kind of work only, still my universal wood worker actually combines
only two machines in its construction. For the sake of clearness I will call one
member of the combined machines the "hand wood worker," and the other
member the "moulding machine." The various features of novelty are set forth
specifically in the claims at the close of this Specification, and will be clearly
understood by the following description of the construction and operation of the
same.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a perspective view of my
universal wood worker as it appears from the moulding machine side.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my universal wood worker as it appears from the
hand wood worker side.
Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a plan view of my universal wood worker.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof showing more particularly the moulding
machine side.
Fig. 5. Sheet 3, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the moulding machine.
Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are detail views of parts of the moulding machine.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing more particularly the hand wood worker side.
Fig. 10, Sheet 4, is a vertical longitudinal section of the hand wood worker.
Fig. 11 and 12 are detail views of parts of the hand wood worker.
Fig. 13 is a sectional plan view of my universal wood worker showing also in
outlines the countershaft and its pulleys, together with the belts and the machine
pulleys driven thereby.
Fig. 14, Sheet 5, is an end view of the frame of my universal wood worker, and
Fig. 15 is a vertical axial section of the counter shaft with its pulleys and other
appendages.
Similar letters and figures of reference are used in all the Drawings in the
designation and description of identical parts.
The mechanism of the moulding machine is generally designated by the letter A,
and the mechanism of the hand wood worker by the letter B. These mechanisms
are mounted upon the main frame C which is a single piece of casting composed of
the stands S, S¹, and the connecting base S2. The mechanism of the hand wood
worker is arranged upon stand S¹, and the principle part of the mechanism of the
moulding machine on stand S of the main frame. The lumber is fed through the
moulding machine by power, while on the hand wood worker it is fed and
manipulated by hand."
The different cutter heads and feed rolls of the combined machine are derived by
pulleys on a single counter shaft D arranged across one end of the machine, and
preferably supported upon a separate stand E. In order that this may be done
without interfering with the free movements of the operators in working the two
members of the combined machines, and that the pulleys to be driven may be in
the most advantageous position to provide for the desired compactness, the hand
wood worker is arranged with it rear end to the counter shaft, while the moulding
machine is disposed with its front end to the counter shaft; this arrangement
always brings the two members of the machine back to back, affording ready access
along their outer sides to all the principle working parts, and places the operators
in position facing each other, so that they can pass lumber to each other across the
machine with ease and facility. The arbor F of the cutter head F of the hand wood
worker and the arbor G of the main upper cutter head G¹ of the moulding
machine are separate arbors, preferably arranged in the same axial line across the
machine. Their adjacient ends nearly meet over the gap between the stands
S and S¹ of the main frame, and are respectively provided with pulleys F* and G*
driven by separate belts F2 and G2 from the pulleys H and I on the counter shaft.
Cutter head of the hand wood worker operates on the bottom side of the lumber
through a gap from underneath the tables F3 and F* over which the lumber is fed
by hand, while cutter head G¹ of the moulding machine operates on the top surface
of the lumber fed by power over the table G³ under said cutter head. A wide
space is left between the table G³ and other appendages of the moulding machine
and the tables F and F of the hand wood worker. so that the pulleys F* and G*
can be conveniently operated by straight belts from the counter shaft through this
space. The pulleys H and I on the counter shaft can be made to rotate separately
or together as will be presently explained in detail, so that the cutterhead F' and
G' may be started and stopped independently of each other, which is a great
disideratum in this kind of machines, as it gives each operator full control of his
own member of the machine.
Pulley K on the countershaft is driven from the line shaft. It is keyed to a
sleeve K¹ which turns loosely on the countershaft, and carries a fixed double
friction clutch K2 adapted to drive either one or both of the pulleys H and I.
Pulley H is loose on the sleeve K' and can be slid thereon by a slipper H', operated

page_text: by a hand lever H2 through a connecting link to be engaged by or disengaged from
the clutch K to start or stop the hand wood worker.
Pulley I is connected by feathers and grooves to the countershaft, and can be
slid thereon by a slipper I operated by a hand lever I through a connecting link,
in order to be engaged by or disengaged from the clutch K³ to stop or start the
moulding machine. The pulleys L and L' for driving the side cutter heads of the
moulding machine, pulley M for driving the under cutter head thereof, and cone
pulley N for driving its feed mechanism are all keyed to the counter shaft, so that
they will all start and stop together with pulley I.
The pulleys for driving the cutter heads of the moulding machine occupy so
much of the limited space on that end of the countershaft, and the belt G2 runs
so close to the back of the moulding machine, that use is made of an inter-
mediate shaft O placed below the belts F2 and G2, and reaching across from stand
S to stand S¹ for transmitting motion to the feed rolls of the moulding machine,
through a train of gear wheels arranged outside the belt G². This intermediate
shaft is supported in brackets secured respectively to the stands S and S¹, and it
is driven from cone pulley N on the counter shaft by a belt N', running to cone
pulley O¹ on said intermediate shaft in rear of stand S¹ of the hand wood worker ;
thus the feed rolls are driven from the side of the machine appropriated to tho
hand wood worker by an arrangement of transmitters, which entirely clear the
belts F2 and G2, and do not interfere in any way with the manipulation of the
hand wood worker.
I have thus given a description of the general arrangement-of-the-universal-
wood worker together with a detailed description of the construction of the counter-
shaft with its pulleys and other appendages. I will now proceed to set forth in
detail, first, the construction of the moulding machine, then the construction of the
hand wood worker.
As above stated the stand S of the framework carries the principle parts of the
moulding machine. Upon the front side of this stand is formed a wide dovetailed
rail 1, to which the downwardly projecting rear side 2 of the table G³ of the
molding machine is fitted, and on which said table is adjusted vertically by means
of a heavy screw spindle 3, which turns in a screwthreaded eye on the side of the
table, and is suspended through the top of the stand S, so that it may be con-
veniently operated from top of said stand. For convenience of fitting and taking
up lost motion the rear side 2 of table G³ engages the dovetailed rail 1 directly on
one side only, the other side of the rail being engaged by a separable and adjustable
dovetailed bar to gib piece bolted to said side 2 of the table. The front side of
the stand S serves partly as an edge guide of the lumber fed to the machine, but
that portion of table G³ in advance of the stand S is constructed with a permanent
fence 4, arranged in exact allignment with the face of stand S. The lumber in its
movement forward is forcibly held against fence 4 and stand S by a series of strong
bar springs 5, adjustably secured in adjustable stocks along the outer edge of table
G³ as usual.
The cutting cylinder G' for operating on the top of the lumber is keyed to the
transverse horizontal arbor G, which turns in boxes 6 on the top of stand S, and is
also supported at one end in an outside bearing 7, adjustably and detachably
secured to the front edge of table G³ by means of a bolt and nut 8. The bolt
passes through a vertical slot 9 in the stem of said bearing 7, so that the bolt may
move up and down in said slot in adjusting the table. On removing the nut this
outside bearing can be slipped off arbor G, and thus make room for the endwise
removal of the cutting cylinder G¹. The boxes 6 of arbor G on top of stand S
are connected together by a plate 6x with dovetailed edges fitting under detachable
dovetailed bars or gib pieces bolted to the top of the stand. Plate 6* has a lug 6××
on the bottom, projecting through a slot in top of stand S. A screw threaded eye
in this lug is engaged by a screw spindle 10, seen best in dotted lines in Fig. 3,
which passes through and is held from moving endwise by the back plate of stand S.
By a collar in the arbor G on one side of the bearings 6 and pulley G* on the

page_text: other side thereof the arbor is prevented from moving endwise in said bearings, but
these bearings with the arbor and its cutting cylinder can be moved endwise by
the screw spindle 10 whenever it becomes necessary to so move the cutting cylinder
in using moulding tools. It will be seen that the screw spindle will hold the
bearings and connections in any desired position, and that the dovetailed gib pieces
holding the bearings down on the stand do away with the necessity of screwing
the bearings to the stand as heretofore practiced, which required an unlocking and
again tightening of such screw every time an adjustment of the bearing was made.
A gap is formed in the front side of the stand S so that the knives of cutting
cylinder G' may protrude beyond the inner edge of the lumber, and so be enabled
to sweep the whole width of it.
The serrated feed rolls 11 and 12 overhang the table G³, their shafts turn
respectively in sleeve bearings 13 and 14 hinged upon an intermediate shaft 15,
which is supported in fixed bearings upon the bracket frame 16, firmly secured to
side of stand S. The hinged sleeve bearings of the feed rolls are arrested in their
downward motion, and supported upon set screws 17 and 18. By sufficiently
lowering these set screws the lower surface of the feed rolls may be lowered below
the plane to which the knives of the cutting cylinder cut, and so enable the same
rolls to feed lumber a second time through the machine as is necessary oftentimes
in working mouldings. Heretofore these machines have been so constructed that
feed rolls of larger diameter had to be substituted in running lumber a second
time through the machine for the rolls used in running lumber through the first
time.
The simple provision just described does away with this, and saves much time,
trouble, and expense.
The feed roll shafts are provided with spur wheels 19 and 20 meshing into a
spur wheel 21 on the intermediate shaft 15, which is driven by the pinion 22 on a
short shaft carrying the large spur wheel 23. This train of wheels is arranged
within such limits that the belt G2 can run straight from the counter shaft pulley
to pulley G, on the cylinder arbor. The spur wheel 23 meshes into and is driven
by a pinion 24 on the feed roll driving shaft O. The feed rolls are held down to
their work with the proper degree of pressure by a weighted lever 25, which is
pivoted under the bracket frame 16, and linked to the centre of a bar 26, the
ends of which are in turn linked to the respective hinged bearings 11 and 12 of the
feed rolls, all as clearly shown in Fig. 5.
The bonnet 27 is provided with the usual weighted arm 28, and serves also the
purposes of a presser bar in front or in advance of the cutting cylinder G. The
bonnet is connected to a standard 29 on the plate 6* of arbor bearings 6 on stand S,
the standard being adapted to turn so as to swing the bonnet into position in front
of the cutting cylinder G' and out of position over the stand to afford free access to
the cutting cylinder. In order that the bonnet may be adjusted so as to always
have the presser bar 30 operate as close to the knives of cylinder G₁ as possible, its
pivoted point on standard 29 is made adjustable by providing said standard with a
slot 30x where the pivot pin passes through it. A suitable stop pin 31 limits the
descent of the bonnet. In swinging it out of position it is first turned up on its
supporting standard and then swing around together with said standard. As the
bonnet is carried on the base plate 6 of the bearings 6 it follows that any endwise
adjustment of these bearings and cutting cylinder G¹ equally effects the bonnet, so
that the relative positions of the cutting cylinder and the bonnet with its presser
bar will not be disturbed by such adjustments.
The side cutter head spindles 32 and 33 are supported in hangers 34 and 35 pro-
vided with adjustable steps at their lower ends, and with bearings at their upper
ends. The hangers are alike in construction and arrangement. Each are pivoted
at 36 on a slide 37, see Fig. 6, so that it may be turned to a limited extent to throw
the spindle either in a vertical or into a standing position. When properly
adjusted the hanger is secured into position by a clamping bolt 38, which passes
through a slot 39 in the hanger to slide 37. The slides 37 are interlocked with and

page_text: move on suitable horizontal guide rails 40 or wings or flanges upon the underside
of the table G³.
The position of each slide 37 is controlled by a screw spindle 41, which engages
the screw threaded eye in a lug on the back of the slides.
The spindles 32 and 33 are provided with suitable pulleys, as shown. The
pulley of the outside spindle 32 is driven from the pulley L on the general counter
shaft through a belt 42, which runs under table G³, while the pulley of the inside
spindle 33 is driven from the pulley L' on the general counter shaft through a
belt 43, which runs under table 16 of the feed roll shaft and bearings through
openings 44 formed in the side of stand S and around an idler 45.
A vertically adjustable presser foot 46 is suspended from a knee 47 on stand S so
as to operate in front of cutting cylinder G₁ and in close proximity to the side cutter
heads. Adjustable guides 48 and 49 are located upon table G³ beyond the slide
cutter heads to properly guide the lumber to the cutting cylinder 50, which dresses
the bottom side of the lumber. This lower cutting cylinder is located just in
advance of the end of table Gs, its arbor 51 turning in a bearing on bracket 52 fitted
to slide up and down on a dovetailed rail on a downwardly projecting wing or flange
of table G. The bracket is controlled by a screw spindle 53, which is swivelled to
the bracket and operates in a nut on the flange of table G³. This bracket 52 and
all the parts it carries are illustrated in detail by Figs. 7 and 8.
The arbor 51 projects through its inside bearing and carries pulley 54, which is
in line with the openings 44 in stand S, so that it can be driven by a straight
belt 55 from the pulley M on the general countershaft, the belt passing under the
bracket frame 16 of the feed roll shafts and through stand S by the side of belt 43.
In order that the lumber on passing beyond cutting cylinder 50 may be properly
supported, an auxiliary table 56 is provided; this table is mounted on a swing
frame 57, and can be adjusted horizontally on said frame, so that it may be arranged
closer up to the knives of cylinder 50. The frame 57 is hinged to bracket 52 by a
screw pintle 58, and can be swung back so as to afford free access to the cutting
cylinder 50. When in working position this frame 57 is secured by a bolt 59
swivelled to the bracket 52 and engaging a fork on frame 57. By means of screw
pintle 58 frame 57 may be vertically adjusted to a limited extent, so that the plane
of table 56 may be made to coincide with the plane of the cut of the knives of
cylinder 50 as is required. Table 56 carries the adjustable fence 60, an elongation
of which overhangs the gap between this table and table G³ in order to guide and
support the lumber at the point where cylinder 50 operates on it. A presser foot 61
presses upon the lumber directly over the cutting cylinder 50. This presser foot is
suspended on an arm 62, which is mounted on the top of stand S, and secured
thereto by a bolt 63 passing through a slot 64 in the boss on the extremity of the
arm into a tap in the stand. On unscrewing the bolt 63 a little the arm 62 may
be adjusted laterally to throw the presser foot 61 into proper position, or it may be
swung back so as to throw the presser foot 61 back out of position and out of
the way.
As regards the hand wood worker, its various parts are all mounted on stand
S¹ of the general framework C, as heretofore explained. The cutterhead F¹ thereof
operates between the two separate tables F3 and F, its spindle being supported in
a fixed bearing upon the inner plate of stand S¹ and in an endwise removable
bearing a seated upon a bracket on the outer plate of the stand. Table F³ is located
in advance of the cutter head, and in use is lowered below the plane of the cut or
upper stroke of the knives of the cutter head a distance equal to the thickness of
the shaving to be cut from the lumber. The table F* is located in rear of the cutter
head, and the plane which this table should occupy is determined by the kind
of work to be done. Both tables are mounted precisely alike, so that a description
of the mounting and of the means for operating one will answer for both. Table F3
is fitted to slide upon a bracket b, which is mounted between vertical guides on the
front plate of stand S'. A vertical screw spindle c, mounted in a fixed bearing d
on stand S', so that it can turn freely but not move axially, engages a screw threaded

page_text: eye in a lug e of bracket b. The screw spindle can be turned to raise or lower the
table supporting bracket by means of bevel gearing f operated through a shaft and
hand wheel from the outside of the machine. In order that the table when once
arranged with its edge close up to the stroke of the knives of the cutter head
may maintain this relative position notwithstanding any vertical adjustment by
screw spindle c the following mechanism is provided. The table is conducted to a
slide bar y arranged under the horizontal portion of bracket b. This slide bar is
in turn linked to stand S', in this instance to bearing d thereon. It will be observed
now that on raising the table the links in approaching nearer to a vertical draw
the slide bar and the table toward the cutter head and that in lowering the table
it and the connected slide bar are drawn away from the cutter bead. The arrange-
ment of the parts are such that the edge of the table adjacent to the cutter head
will, under the combined action of the screw spindle and the links on the table,
move in planes concentric with the cutter head. The table is so connected to the
slide bar that it can be moved independently thereof in order to be accomodated
to cutter heads of different diameters; but when the table has been once adjusted
to a cutter head, it is left to move with the slide bar only. To this end a lever k is
pivoted to a stud i projecting from the underside of the table through longitudinal
slots in the bracket and in the slide bar. The short arm of the lever is cam shaped
and made to press the slide bar up against the underside of the bracket b. The
long arm of the lever extends to near the outer end of the table so that it can be
reached conveniently and is borne down by a spring 7. On raising the long arm
of the lever the table is released from the slide bar and can be slid in and out
independently thereof, while in the normal condition of things the spring and lever
will clamp the table forcibly enough to the bracket to prevent it from moving
except as the slide bar is moved under the action of the screw spindle and links.
The fence m is mounted on the front table F3 and is extended to overhang the
rear table F a considerable distance; the fence proper is made separate from the
bar by which it is secured to table F³. This supporting bar marked n can be
laterally adjusted on the table. The fence is constructed with grooved ribs o, o,
upon the reverse side to engage with studs p, p, on ears q of bar n. The studs p
are cylindrical so that the fence can be moved up and down as well as turn on them
to assume oblique position. A central lug r on the fence is in close contact with a
lugs on the supporting bar n and can be clamped between said lugs 8 and a clamp
t by a bolt u in order to hold the fence rigidly in position when once adjusted.
The lower edge of the fence bar proper is bevelled upon the reverse side to a dull
knife edge so that the fence can at the front have close contact with the table or
tables when it be adjusted to a vertical or to a slanting position.
It is obvious that the slide bars g can be operated by single links instead of by
pairs of links.
Also that the connection between the tables and the slide bars may be changed
without affecting the principle of operation, also that the automatic endwise motion
of the table might be obtained by connecting the link or links directly to the table,
in which case the connection should be made adjustable so as to provide for the
independent endwise movement of the table.
The spindle of the cutter head projects through the inner bearing and carries a
pulley Fx, which is driven by the belt F2 from the general countershaft of the
machine, as heretofore explained.
What I claim as my Invention is as follows:-
1st. A universal wood worker on one side of which a horizontal cutter head
operates on lumber fed over it by hand, while on the other side a horizontal cutter
head operates on lumber fed under it by power; such a machine having the respec-
tive tables for said two cutter heads mounted side by side at a distance apart so as
to leave a free open space between where a belt or belts may run from a counter-
shaft to drive the said cutterheads.
2nd. In a universal wood worker on one side of which a horizontal cutter head
operates on lumber fed over it by hand, while on the other side a horizontal cutter

page_text: head operates on lumber fed under it by power; the combination substantially as
specified of the respective tables (for said two cutter heads) mounted side by side at
a distance apart, and the separate arbors (of said two cutter heads) which have
pulleys on their ends overhanging the space between the tables.
3rd. In a universal wood worker on one side of which a horizontal cutter head
operates on lumber fed over it by hand, while on the other side a horizontal cutter
head operates on lumber fed under it by power, the combination substantially as
specified of the respective tables (for said two cutter heads) mounted side by side
at a distance apart, the separate arbors (of said two cutterheads) which have pullies
on their ends overhanging the space between the tables and independent driving
pulleys on a single countershaft adapted to drive the said cutter heads either separ-
ately or together.
4th. In a universal wood worker the combination substantially as specified of the
hand wood worker and the moulding machine arranged on a single frame and
pointing with their front ends in opposite directions, with a single counter shaft
arranged accross the end of the machine behind the hand wood worker.
5th. In a universal wood worker combining in its construction a moulding machine
and a hand wood worker the combination substantially as before set forth of the
counter shaft, the pulleys thereon for separately driving through belts, the two
axially arranged independent cutter heads, and the intermediate shaft below the
path of said belts for driving the feed gear of the moulding machine from the hand
wood worker side of the combined machine.
6th. In a universal-wood-worker-the-combination substantially-as-specified-of-
the counter shaft, the loose driving sleeve thereon, the duplex friction clutch, a loose
pulley on the driving sleeve adapted to be driven by one face of the friction clutch,
and a fast but shiftable pulley on the countershaft adapted to be driven by the
other face of the friction clutch.
7th. The main frame of a universal wood worker composed substantially as speci-
fied of a single casting formed with two stands, and a low connecting web to leave
a gap between the stands on cach of which a table or tables and cutter heads are
mounted for planing purposes.
8th. The combination and arrangement, substantially as specified, of the general
countershaft of the machine, the pulley on the arbor of the upper cutting cylinder,
the feed rolls, the feed roll driving shaft, and a train of wheels for transmitting
motion from said driving shaft to the feed rolls, said train of wheels being arranged
outside of the straight path of the belt which runs from the general countershaft to
the pulley of the upper cutting cylinder.
9th. The combination, substantially as specified, of the feed roll, the fixed shaft
15, the sleeve bearing of the feed roll shaft hinged to said shaft 15, the fixed
bracket under the feed roll, and the set screw in this bracket for limiting the descent
of the sleeve bearing.
10th. The vertical adjustable main table of the moulding machine provided with
permanent fence, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
11th. The combination, substantially as specified, of the presser foot over the
lower cutting cylinder, and the swing arm carrying said presser foot and adapted
to be swung laterally entirely clear of the cutting cylinder and its tables.
12th. The combination, substantially as specified, of the laterally adjustable pivoted
bonnet and the swivelled supporting standard thereof.
13th. The combination, substantially as specified, of the endwise adjustable
bearings of the upper cutting cylinder and the bonnet supported on such bearings.
14th. The combination, substantially as specified, of the tables, the slide bar con-
nected therewith, the link for automatically sliding said bar and table, and the screw
spindle for raising and lowering the table.
15th. The combination, substantially as specified, of the table, the slide bar and
the lever pivoted to the table and adapted to operate on the slide bar.
16th. The combination, substantially as specified, of the table, the slide bar con-
nected therewith, the lever adapted to operate on the slide bar, the link for auto-

page_text: matically moving the latter, and the screw spindle for raising and lowering the
tables.
17th. The fence and its supporting bar directly connected together by cylindrical
studs on one engaging elongated straight grooves in the other, which connection
provides for adjusting the fence circularly as well as up and down on its supporting
bar.
18th. The combination, substantially as specified, of the fence and its supporting.
bar directly connected together by cylindrical studs on one engaging elongated
straight grooves in the other and a clamping device for rigidly securing the fence to
its supporting bar after proper adjustment thereon.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
MARTIN BENSON. (L.S.)