US2207782A - Panel sniping machine - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1940. c. CARLSON PANEL ySNIPING MACHINE 5 shefs-sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1937 NSL Mm QN lm fab @QQ F@ NL & @m\ E d @n w L Nw mi Gm, Q@ M Il, o@ R CMM? E m E m July 16, 1940. c. CARLSON PANEL SNIPING MACHINE Filed April 1v, 195'/ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Charles Carlson o Gttorneg July 16, 1940. c. CARLSON PANEL SNIPING MACHINE Fil'ed April 17, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet C5 M Il M (IlI lll|

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. Suventor Charles Carlson 16, 1940. c. CARLSON 2,207,782

PANEL S'NIPING MACHINE l Filed April 17, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.

Snventor (Ittorneg July 16, A1940. c. CARLSON 2,207,782

PANEL SNIPING MACHINE Fi'led April 17, 1937 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT lori-Ica PANEL SNIPING MACHINE Charles Carlson, near Tacoma, Wash.

Application April 17, 1937, Serial No. 137,549

11 Claims. (Cl. 1MP-2) In the manufacture of doors a frame composed of rails and stiles, each rabbeted on its inner edge, is fitted about a plywood panel, the edges whereof enter the rabbets, and the whole is then clamped together and held until the glue has dried. 'I'he panels are of fairly large size, irequently of almost the full dimensions of the door, and are flexible and unwieldy. Since they must fit tightly in the rabbets, it is diicult to insert the edges of the panels Vinto the rabbets unless they are chamfered. This chamfering is called sniping.

Panel sniping as heretofore practiced has usually required the passage of panels, one edge at a time, past a cutter head disposed adjacent a xed guide. 'I'he operation is, therefore, a hand operation, and slow, although worth while because of the time saved in the assembling and clamping of the doors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a panel sniping machine in which the sniping can be done automatically and with a minimum of labor and time.

It is a further object to provide such an automatic panel sniping machine which can be adjusted conveniently to accommodate various widths and lengths of panels.

More specifically, it is an object to provide such a panel sniping machine in which the panels are fed first past a pair of cutter heads spaced apart to engage opposite edges, then at right angles past another pair of cutter heads which engage the other two edges, and to provide feed means so arranged that the long edges of the panelare rst sniped or chamfered, and then the shorter edges, to the end that the panel l may the better clear the path for a succeeding panel, and further, to provide timing means whereby the passage of a lpanel to and past a 40 given point in the machine controls the advance of a preceding and of a succeeding panel.

In panel sniping machines heretofore proposed reliance has been placed entirely (or almost entirely) upon positive means, continuously acting, to advance the panel in atleast one direction, past the cutter heads. This is objectionable, in that, if the panel jams, or fails to feed properly, damage occurs to this panel or to the machine,

and indeed damage may occur to the otherk panels as they are successively engaged, before the machine can be stopped, and because this piling up of damaged panels, or an attempt to force one or several panels positively through the machine may result in damage to the machine. It also makes dimcult adjustment of the machine to different sizes of panels. It has also been proposed to accomplish the advance of the panels, in at least one direction (for example, in the direction of the second advance), wholly by nonpositive or friction means. This, too, is objectionable, in that there is insufficient control of the panel, and there can be no accurate timing and spacing of successive panels. Precautions must be'taken that a given panel is clear and away before a following panel reaches the transfer point, yet if the first panel does not clear, complications immediately ensue.

It is -an object of my invention to provide feed means which embody the desirable features of the positive feed-for instance, certainty of separation of a single panel from beneath va stack, and accurate timing and spacing of the panels-With the desirable features of the nonpositive or frictional feed, such as unlikelihood that the machine will be damaged should a jam occur, and the ready ability to accommodate diierent sizes of panels. In addition it is an object, readily capable of accomplishment because of the combination of positive and nonpositive feeds, to control the advance of panels so that a following panel can never start through the machine-its positive advancing means will not become operative-unless and until a preceding panel clears its path; hence. by judicious selection and combination of a positive advancing means to initiate advance of the panels, a frictional means to continue and complete such advance, and timing means controlled by the panels themselves, to improve the machine and its operation generally.

It is a further object to simplify the machine in the respect of providing one cutter head, though usually with two sets of knives, which is common to the two pairs of cutters heads, so that the one cutter head operates upon two edges of the panel.

It is a further object to simplify the construction and arrangement of the machine generally, to build such a machine which is rugged and reliable, and which is well adapted to the conditions under which it must Work.

My invention comprises the novel panel sniping machine, and the novel parts and combination thereof, all as shown in the accompanying drawings, described in this specification, and as will be more particularly dei-ined by the claims which terminate the same.

l In the accompanying drawings my invention has been shown in a form which is at present preferred by me, it beingvunderstood that various changes may be made in the form, in the character, and in the arrangement of the several parts, in accordance with the desire of the designer.

Figure 1 is a general plan view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a general section, substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic View, in perspective, illustratingthe operation of the machine on two successive panels.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the panel hopper, showing the discharge table in elevation, taken on the line 6 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the drive for certain feed or presser rolls, taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section longitudinally of the second part of the machine, taken substantially on the line 6 6 cf Figure 1.

Figure 'l is a section taken longitudinally of the initial part of the machine, taken substantially on the line 'l-l' of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on the line 8--3 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detail of the initial feed arrangement.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the timing and initial advancing mechanism for each half of the machine.

Generally speaking, in my machine panels are stacked in a hopper, disposed over a suitable feed table, from which they are fed one by one from the bottom of the stack by a dog or like member which positively engages the lowermost panel and advances it edgewise to a point (but not beyond) where the panel is engaged with continuously operated friction feed means, such as presser rolls, which latter complete its removal from the hopper and continue its feed in the original direction to and past a pair of cutter heads disposed to engage opposite edges of the panel. After passing this pair of cutter heads the panel is delivered to a support, whereupon it is received and positioned, preferably slightly below the level of the original feed table, and is advanced from this support by a member which positively engages it along an edge, and advances it edgewise in a direction at right angles to its direction of first advance, into engagement with a second set of presser rolls, which (the positive means ceasing to advance the panel) then take up the second advance of the panel to carry it to and past a second pair of cutter heads which chamfer the originally leading and trailing edges of the panels, and which second set of presser rolls then deliver the panel to a suitable discharge table or point.

Both sets of presser rolls or friction feed means are preferably continuously operative, but the dog which initiates the first advance and the member which initiates the second advance of the panel (in other words, the two positive feeding means) are intermittently operable, and preferably are reciprocable in timed relation, the timing being under the control of a member or members which is orare disposed in the path of advance of a panel from the hopper, and which operates suitable mechanism to initiate its own positive second advance as it clears the first pair of cutter heads, thus to clear the path for advance of a succeeding panel. The same or similar control mechanism can operate a second control device as the one panel clears the rst pair of cutter heads, to initiate the positive first advance of a succeeding panel, and thus the operation continues automatically and in timed relationship, the timing automatically compensating for any delays arising from the frictional or nonpositive part of each feed means.

Preferably the support whereon the panel is received after passage between the first pair of cutter heads is on a level slightly below the feed table for the reason that this will enable a single cutter head to carry two sets of knives disposed in superposed relationship, the upper set operating during the initial advance of the panel, and the lower set operating on the second advance. This cuts down on the number of cutter heads and associated parts, and enables the machine toA be made more compactly, thereby saving on oor space. It also simplifies the adjustment of the machine, since each of the cutter heads, in different pairs, and disposed opposite this double cutter head, may be adjusted towards and from it, in conjunction 'with suitable panel guides, in order to adapt the machine tothe sniping of panels of different dimensions. Furthermore, it permits the entrance into the transfer area of the leading edge of a succeeding panel, prior to the complete clearance of a preceding panel, thereby speeding up the entire operation.

Panel hopper rThe feed table is represented at 8. Here the panels P are stacked, being held in alignment and in proper position by suitable means including the upright angle bars 80 or similar elements constituting a panel hopper. That flange of these angles B0 which is transverse to the direction of first advance of the panels is cut away to permit one panel to pass beneath it, but no more, and these hopper elements may be adjustable vertically with relation to the supporting framework, to accommodate different thicknesses of panels. The side of the feed table distant from the feeding station F, and the associated hopper elements. are adjustable transversely to accommodate dierent widths of panel, by means such as the crank 8l operating through screws 82 connected by a shaft 83 and appropriate gearing, and operating in nuts 8H.

First positive feed bracket 81 which is adjustable lengthwise of thev shaft 85, for travel through different zones of equal movement, whereby the amount of advance of the dog for engagement with the edge of a panel is adjustable, both for any given panel, and as required for panels of different lengths. This shaft 85 is engageable by an arm 88, which by mechanism to be described hereafter is caused intermittently to move forward a fixed distance in a direction to advance the lowermost panel PI just sufciently to engage it with the friction feed means, by engagement of its rear edge by the dog 86, and the dog is then withdrawn by movement of the shaft 85 in the opposite direction under the influence of a spring 89. During reverse movement the dog is depressed by engagement with the panels above it. This mechanism can be duplicated upon the opposite side of the feed table, and is so illustrated, but it will usually be found that one such dog, along one edge of the feed table, is sumcient, and this avoids complications when it becomes necessary to vary the lus 2,207,782 width of the feed table. Two dogs, at opposite sides of the table, have only been found neces sary when the panels are nearly square, and may therefore tend to rotate and stick if engaged near one comer.

First friction feed The advance of the panel PI by the dog 86 is preferably only sufficient to engage this panel withk the friction feed means. The particular form of the friction feed means may vary considerably, and a convenient form is best sh'own in Figure 7,' as comprising a lower live roll 1 upon a shaft 16, spring pressed upper live rolls 1|, carried upon shafts 12,hung in frames 13 pivoted upon a transverse shaft or rod 14, for up and down movement, and a dead roll 16. Springs press these rolls 1| downward upon the panel as it advances beneath them. The roller 16 in effect is the last roller in the feed table 8. The shaft 10 is driven from a suitable drive motor M (see Figure In order that all the rolls 1 and 1| may act upon the panel to advance it, all are connected through drive mechanism illustrated in Figure 5. It will be understood that the rolls 1, 1| and 16 are duplicated at the two sides of the feed table.

It being remembered that the feed table is adjustable in width, it is also necessary to adjust the spacing of the feed rolls each on its shaft, but at one side of the table only, that distant from the feed station F. Adjustment .of the roll 16 is taken care of by the adjustment .of the feed table of which it is a part. The feed table also engages opposite sides of the roll 1, and accompishes the sliding of this roll along its shaft 10. The hubs of the rolls 1| are grooved, as indicated at 11, and an upward extension 18, carried by and movable with the adjustable part of the feed table, engages within these grooves 11 to accomplish sliding of the rolls 1| lengthwise of their shafts 12 as the feed table is adjusted, land thus the rolls 1, 1| and 16 are adjustable by and with the feed table.

Cutter heads Without at this point referring in detail to the arrangement of cutter heads relative to each other, it should be noted that there is a cutter head I0 carried upon the upwardly extending shaft of a motor mounted upon a plate |2 which depends fromthe end of the feed table, this cutter head being disposed between the two rolls 1| and between the rolls 1 and 16. It is provided with suitably shaped knives which engage the edge of a panel as it advances, drawn by the frictional grip of the rolls, to snipe or chamfer an edge of the panel. A similar cutter head I is fixed in position between the rolls 1| at the feed side of the machine and similarly snipes the opposite edge of the panel at the same time that the first edge is being sniped by the cutter head I0.

The cutter head I6, being in effect carried upon ,the adjustable part of the feed table, is adjustable therewith and consequently remains at all times in proper relationshipto the rolls 1, 1| and 16, and to the edge of the panel.

Panel supporting and positioning means discharge table 6, and its'opposite edge comes to rest upon a ledge 5. The latter is preferably provided with an upstanding flange 50. 'I'he in' itially leading edge of the panel PI, which tends to droop somewhat, engages an upwardly inclined ledge 60, but is prevented from rising above its general plane by a downwardly inclined cover 6| (see Figure 3), by which means or their equivalent its initially leading edge is properly aligned with the discharge table. Its initially trailing edge nally drops from the end of the feed table 8 toa level slightly below the level of the feed table, and defined by the ledge 5 and the discharge table 6.

The ledge 5 and its flange 50 may constitute a part of the second positive advancing means. They are'connected by arms 5| and brackets 52 to shafts or rods 53, similar to the reciprocatory shafts 85, which shafts 53 in turn may be reciprocated by swinging forwardly the arms 54, just as the shafts 85 are reciprocated by the arms 88. When this reciprocation occurs the upstanding flange, engaging behind the edge of the pane-l, advances` it at an angle to its first direction of advance,land into engagement with a second frictionall advancing means. The panels being almost always rectangular, the direction of the second advance is almost at right angles to the direction of the rst advance, although not necessarily so.

Since it is necessary to adapt the machine to panels of varying widths and lengths, the position of the ledge 5 and its flange 50 must be va-riable, and this may be accomplished by adjusting the brackets 52 along their shafts 53. This adjustment is accomplished when the width of the feed table 8 is adjusted, so that the ledge 50 is always properly located to receive a panel from the first friction feed rolls 1| and 16. To accommodate differences inthe length of the panels the elements 60 and 6| form part of a frame 62, which in turn is part of the discharge table 6,

and this part is adjustable towards and from the opposite fixed element of the discharge table. Such adjustment is conveniently accomplished by rotation of the shaft 63 carrying pinions 64 engageable in fixed racks 65, the rotation of the shaft 63 being accomplished by a crank handle 66. A clamp 69 engages a frame member to hold parts in an adjusted position, to prevent displacement by repeated contacts of panels with the member 62.

, Second frictional feed As with the first frictional feed, the second may assume a variety of forms. 'Ihat shown comprises a chain 68 at each edge of the discharge table 6, with which cooperates presser rolls 61. The chain 68 may extend from one end to the yother of the discharge table 6, and the presser rolls 61, which may be mounted similarly to the presser rolls-1|, are disposed adjacentthe feed end of the table 6. One pair of these rolls 61 is carried upon the plate 62, whereby they are adjustable with the remainder of this side of the discharge table ,6. The rate of feed along the table 6 may be the same as that of the table 8, or different, as the designer may desire.

Second pair of cutter heads The second advance of the panel is initiated by the upstanding flange 50, as this moves forward, transversely to the direction of the pa-nels first advance, and sufficiently, but preferably not more than sufficiently, to engage the now leading edge ofthe panel, which has previously beenchamfered,

into engagement with the second frictional feed means. 'I'he feed is then taken up by the latter, and the panel is advanced between the second pair of cutter heads, one of which may be the cutter head I, previously referred to, and the other of which is a cutter head I3 disposed between the presser rolls 51 and in position to engage and chamfer the edge of the panel opposite that now being engaged by I. The cutter head I3 is conveniently driven a motor I4 carried upon the plate 62.

The panel, after thus having its edges sniped, rst by the cutter heads I and I0, and then by the cutter heads I and I3, passes along with the chain 58 to a convenient point of discharge.

Timing and control mechanism Since the friction feed means are preferably operating continuously, the timing and control mechanism concerns primarily the dog 86 and the ange 50, which, as has been explained, are controlled by the swinging of the respective arms 93 and 54.

Thus in Figure 6, for example (see also Figure 10), an arm 54 is shown as provided with a roller 55| disposed adjacent a rotary shaft 21 carrying a cam 20|. The arm 54 is fulcrumed upon a lower shaft 560. A similar roller 55 is carried by the arm 88 alt the left of Figure 4, but behind the cam 2, corresponding to the cam 20|. Formed as part of the cam 2 is a clutch element 2| with which is engageable a clutch element 22, and movement of the clutch element 22 is controlled by a yoke 23. The yoke 23 forms part of a lever arm, pivoted at 24, and actuated by a solenoid 25 or a similar device. The clutch element 22 is keyed to the shaft 20, and this shaft is continuously rotated by means of a pair of bevel gears 26, one of which is upon a shaft 21 driven by a chain 29 from the main drive motor M.

Whenever the solenoid 25 is energized it will act upon the yoke 23 to engage the clutch elements 22 and 2|, thereby effecting rotation of the cam 2, and swinging the arm in a direction to advance the dog 96 and the panel engaged by the latter. By means to be described the energization of the solenoid is momentary only, with the result that the cam. 2 completes only one rotation, the arm 88 being drawn back to its normal position by the spring 89. A brake or like means may be employed, if desired, to limit more precisely the rotation of the cam.

The ange 50 is similarly advanced. The cam 20| has a clutch element 2|0 formed on it, with which is engageable a clutch element 2|2. Engagement of these clutch elements is under control of a solenoid 25|. 'Ihe element 2I2 is keyed to the live shaft 21, and upon its engagement with the element 2|0 the arms 54 are swung forward, to advance the ledge 50, but if the solenoid 25| is immediately deenergized, the clutch elements are disengaged, and the arms 54 are swung back by a spring 59.

The means for controlling energization of the solenoid is shown diagrammatically in Figure 10. To control energization of the solenoid 25, which actuates the dog 86, I.provide a member 3 upstanding in the path of an oncoming panel, which is located preferably adjacent the rolls 1 and 1I, and which is spring held by a spring 30 in the path of such an oncoming panel. Assuming that the solenoid 25 is energized by the closing of a switch 3|, the cam 2 has started to rotate, advancing the dog 86 and the panel engaged the cutter headV thereby until this panel engages and depresses the member 3. By suitable mechanical connections, the member 3 being depressed breaks the switch 3| and deenergizes the solenoid, and, the high spot of the cam 2- having passed the roller 55 on the arm 88, the spring 89 returns the arm and dog to their normal retracted positions. However, the presser rolls 1 and 1I have by now taken up the advance of the panel, and the panel continues between these presser rolls and between the rolls 1I and 16, being acted upon in passage by the cutter heads I and I0.

As the trailing edge of the panel clears the mem- I ber 3, that member returns to its position in the path oi an oncoming paneLand in so doing again closes the switch 3|', initiating the advance of a second panel. Regardless of the length of a panel. the leading edge of a second panel follows the trailing edge of a first panel by an interval determined by the inertia time delay of the solenoid 25 and associated parts, and by the spacing of the hopper from the rolls 1 and 1I. The same member 3 might be connected to operate or in part control the advance of the member 50, but preferably a second element is provided for this purpose.

In the meantime the panel has engaged the second member 4 which is disposed between the rolls 1| and 16, and whichis normally spring held in the path of the panel by a spring 40. The action of depressing the member 4 has operated through suitable linkage to draw backward a pawl 4| acting upon a ratchet wheel 42, preparatory to advancing the ratchet wheel. Rotatable with the ratchet wheel 42 is a drum 43 carrying live contacts 44 and insulating gaps 45.' A spring pawl 46, engageable in notches carried by or rotatable with the ratchet wheel 42, serves to position these accurately with relation to spaced terminals of a circuit 29 which includes the solenoid 25| which initiates the movement of the flange 50. When the spaced terminals 29 are brought into contact with a live element 44 this bridges the gap between the twov contacts and energizes the solenoid 25|. When the terminals 29 are in contact with an insulating gap 45, the solenoid is deenergized, and a spring 59 draws back the arm 54 and ange 50.

As noted above, the rst action of an oncoming panel PI is mechanically to draw back the pawl 4I, without effecting any movement of the contact drum 43. This condition prevails so long as the panel depresses the member 4. As soon as the panel clears the member 4, and the rolls 1I and 16, the spring 40 advances the pawl 4| and the ratchet wheel 42 and contact drum 43, and brings a live contact 44 into contact with the terminals 29.

The result, as before, is movement of the cam 20| and the arm 54, and advance ofthe flange 50. As the high spot of the cam passes the roller 55| the arm 54 swings backward under the iniluence of a spring 59, and the end of the shaft 53 depresses a contact member 41 which, by suitable connections, operates a pawl 48 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 42, again advancing the ratchet wheel and the contact drum 43 to bring a dead spot 45 opposite the spaced terminals 29, and to break the circuit through the solenoid.

It will be seen that disengagement of an oncoming panel from the contact member ,3 initiates movement of a succeeding panel, and its engagement and disengagement from the member 4 effects its own second advance into engagement g5 with the second friction feedA means 81 and 66. 'I'hus each oncoming panel automatically effects -its own advance out of the path of the panel which follows it. While the preceding panel PI may not precisely clear the succeeding panel P2, it does not matter that they overlap somewhat, in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. and in fact they do overlap in most cases, b ut because they arev at slightly different levels, no interference results. 'Ihe overlapping is in reality an advantage in that that edge of the panel P2 which is opposite the ledge 5 has a certain amount of support from the preceding panel PI, until the latter has moved out from beneath the panel P2, by which time the panel P2 is approaching the inclined member 60, and has cleared frame members (not shown) which thereafter. support 1t from beneath.

As will be understood, the relation of the member I and the contact drum 43 might readily be so arranged that depression of the member 4 by'an oncoming panel would advance the contact drum to a position wherein the solenoid is energized, and the advancing flange 50,. behind a preceding panel, would initiate the second advance of such preceding panel. This would be an obvious equivalent of the arrangement described. It would afford more time for the preceding panel to settle at the transfer point, but the last panel of a stack would stop at the'transfer point, until a following panel, from a new stack, energized the solenoid, or until the solenoid circuit was manually closed. The arrangement previously described ispreferred.

Operation It is believed that the operation of the machine will now be clear. Panels, stacked in the hopper,

are positively advanced by movement of the dog enables the second sniping operation to be upon the shorter side, and the panels more effectively clear the path of oncoming panels, and are more greatly spaced at the discharge end of the machine.

After passing the first pair of cutterl heads I and I the panel is then positively started from the transfer point and non-positively continued on its second advance, at right angles to the first, and it may be noted that a guard 9 is disposed at the corner in front of the cutter head I, to assist in guiding the panels in the change of direction.

The cutter head I is preferably double, carrying an upper set of cutters in line with the cutters of head I0 and a lower set of cutters in line with those of cutter head I3, but might be formed as two separate cutter heads coaxial one with another, or indeed, if preferred, they mightbe spaced lengthwise of the path of advance of the panels, one cooperating only with the cutter head I0 and the other cooperating only-with the cutter head I3, but the arrangement described makes a compact and convenient machine. The operation is entirely automatic, each panel, once started, continuing automatically through the machine, and controlling the initiation of the first advance of a following panel. The operator need only stack the panels in the hopper, start the machine, and receive the panels as they are completed. There is no necessity of the operator turning the panels by hand, as is necessary with methods heretofore in use.

While the advance of the panel in each direction is positive at -its initiation, this positive advance is only continued to the point where the leading edge of the panel is engaged adequately with the friction feed means, and it is advanced to and past the cutter head, in each instancethat is, in each direction only by the friction feed means. Should anyextraordinary resistance be encountered, the friction feed means will merely slip with relation to the panel, and no harm will result, whereas if the panels were positively fed past the cutter heads, damage would certainly ensue to the panel and perhaps to the machine in such an event.

I particularly desire to point out that this machine is substantially self-regulatory, insofar as concerns the spacing of panels of width or length different from those acted upon during some other run. The advance of a following panel P2 is initiated, not by any regularly advancing dog, but purely by the preceding panel PI clearing the control element 3. If the panels are short, the dog 86 will be frequently actuated. If the panels are long, the dog 86 will be less frequently actuated, but the spacing between the trailing edge vof the first and the leading edge of the second is automatically the same, regardless of their length, and without any compensating adjustment. True, the position of the dog 86 along its shaft 85 may have to be adjusted if the length of panels, in different runs, varies considerably, but this may be accomplished readily, and no other adjustment is required, so far as the first advance is concerned.

' Similarly the timing and spacing of panels on the second advance is automatically maintained constant in any given run, and the adjustment of the flange 50 is primarily to accommodate and position panels of different widths rather than to control their spacing. If the panels in a given run are wider than those of another'run, they may notv follow one another at the"same linear spacing, because each panel is started on its second advance only as it completes its first advance; panels which are long as compared to their width will follow each other on the second advance by a greater distance than panels which are more nearly square. However, the second advance begins with no delay after completion of the flrst advance, and a preceding panel will always sufficiently clear a following panel-if for no other reason, then because the long edges are first sniped, and take longer to run through the cutter heads I and I0 than for the shorter edges to clear the cutter heads I and I3. If two such panels, oblong inv shape, start at the same instant, one by action of the dog 88 and one by action of the pusher 50, the following panel will not clear the rst cutter heads I and I0 by the time the preceding panel clears the cutter heads I and I3. No piling up can occur at the transfer point, and no gauge means or other guards againstl piling up are necessary. y

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A panel sniping machine, comprising cutters for sniping panels moving along a sniping path, a hopper for containing stacked panels, means engageable with a panel in the hopper stack for advancing it therefrom along the sniping path toward said cutters, driving means for said paneladvancing means, control means for said ,panel advancing means including a member disposed in the sniping pathggto be actuated by an advancing panel, meanshereby said member again is actuated upon advance of the panel therebeyond, and means whereby the latter actuation of said member energizes said driving means for operating saidpanel-advancing means to initiate advance of another panel from the stack in said hopper along the sniping path toward said cutters.

2. A panel sniping machine, comprising cutters for sniping panels moving along a sniping path, a hopper for containing stacked panels, means engageable with a panel in the hopper stackv for advancing it therefrom along the sniping path toward said cutters, driving means for said paneladvancing means, control means for said panel advancing means including an element normally projecting into the sniping path to be depressed out of such path by panels moving therealong, spring means for moving said element into projecting position upon release thereof by passage therebeyond of the trailing edge of a panel being discharged from said cutters, and means whereby movement of said element into projecting position actuates said control means to energize said driving means to operate said panel-advancing means for initiating advance of another panel from the stack in said hopper along the sniping path toward said cutters.

3. A panel sniping machine comprising cutting means for sniping opposite edges of panels during movement of the panels along a first path and cutting means for sniping the other opposite panel edges during movement of the panels along a second path disposed transversely of the first path, means for advancing a panel along the first path to the second path, a second means for advancing the panel along the second path, driving means for said first and second paneladvancing means, and control means for said second panel advancing means including a mem- ,ber disposed in the first path on the discharge side of said first cutting means to be actuated by an advancing panel, means whereby said member again is actuated upon advance of the panel therebeyond, and means whereby the latter actuation of said member energizes the driving means for said second panel-advancing means to move the panel from the rst path along the second path. v

4. A panel sniping machine comprising cutting means for sniping opposite edges of panels during movement of the panels along a first'path and cutting means for sniping the other opposite panel edges during movement of the panels along a second path disposed transversely of the first path, means for advancing panels along the first path to the second path, continuously driven feed rollers disposed on the intake side of said second cutting means and constituting the sole means for advancing panels along saidsecond path past said second cutting means, means for moving a panel from the first path along the second path into engagement with said feed rollers, driving means for said panel moving means, and means for controlling advance of panels along the second path including a member disposed in the first path on the discharge side of said first cutting means to be actuated by a panel' advancing along said first path, means whereby said member again is actuated upon advance of a panel therebeyond, and means whereby the latter actuation of said member energizes the driving means for the means to move a panel from the first path along, the second path into engagement with said feed rollers.

5. A panel sniping machine comprising a hopper for containing stacked panels, cutting means for sniping opposite edges of panels delivered from said hopper during movement of the panels along a first path, cutting means for sniping the other opposite panel edges during movement of the panels along a second path disposed transversely of the first path, means to feed successive panels from the hopper stack into the first path, means for transferring successive panels from the first path into the second path, driving mechanism for each of said panel feed and transfer means, panel feed control means including a member disposed in the first path to be actuated by a panel advancing along said first path, means whereby said member again is actuated upon advance of the panel therebeyond, means whereby the latter actuation of said member energizes the driving mechanism for said panel feed means to initiate advance of another panel from the hopper stack along the first path, and means for controlling transfer of panels from the first path to the second path, said transfer control means also including a member disposed in the first path to be actuated by a panel advancing along said first path, means whereby the latter member again is actuated upon advance therebeyond of a panel in the first path, and means whereby the latter actuation of said latter member energizes the driving mechanism for said panel transfer means to cause the latter means to move the panel from the first path along the second path.

6. A panel sniping machine comprising a hopper for containing stacked panels, cutting means for sniping opposite edges of panels delivered from said hopper during movement of the panels along a first path, cutting means for sniping the other opposite panel edges during movement of the panels along a second path disposed transversely of the first path, means including a member for positively feeding panels from the hopper stack into the first path, continuously operablev friction means engageable with panels advanced by said member and constituting the sole means for moving panels past said first cutting means, means including a member for positively transferring panels from the first path into the second path, continuously operable friction means en-l gageable with panels advanced by said transfer member and constituting the sole means for moving panels past said second cutting means, driving mechanism for said panel feed means and said panel transfer means, control means for said transfer means including a member disposed in the first path on the side of said first cutting means remote from the hopper to be actuated by a panel advancing along said first path, means whereby said member again is actuated upon advance of the panel therebeyond,A

means whereby the latter actuation of said member energizes the transfer means driving mechanism to cause the panel advancing member of said transfer means to move the panel from the first path into and along the second path, control means for said panel feed means including a second member disposed in the first path between said transfer control means member and said hopper to be actuated by advance of a panel along said first path', means whereby said second member again is actuated upon advance of a panel therebeyond, and means whereby the latter actuation of said second member energizes the for sniping opposite edges of panels delivered from said hopper during their -movement along a first path, cutting means for sniping the other opposite panel edges during movement of the panels along a second path disposed transversely of the first path, means operable to feed successive panels from the hopper stack into the first path, and means for transferring successive panels from the first path into the second path, said panel feeding and transfer means including means in the first path operable in response to movement of the panels along said path for controlling operation of said feeding means and of said transfer means.

8. A panel sniping machine comprising a pair of cutter heads spaced to engage opposite edges of a panel, friction means to engage and advance a panel to and past said cutter heads, a panel hopper, a member intermittently movable lengthwise of the panel hopper to positively engage a single panel therein and to move it edgewise into engagement with the friction means, means to support and position` a panel after it has passed said cutter heads, a second pair of cutter heads spaced to engage the previously leading and trailing edges of' the panel, a second friction means associated with -the second pair of cutter heads to engage and advance the panel past the latter, a second member intermittently movable to positively engage a panel upon the supporting means and to move such panel into engagement with the second friction means, means to drive each of said intermittent means, each such drive means including a normally disengaged clutch, a solenoid operable when energized to close said clutch, a switch controlling energization of the solenoid, and switch-operating means disposed in the' path of a panel advancing past the first pair of cutter heads, and the respective switchoperating means being operable, the one to energize the solenoid which closes the clutch of the second intermittent means as any panel clears the first pair of cutter heads, thereby to initiate the second advance of such panel, and the other to energize the solenoid which closesthe clutch of the first intermittent means as any panel clears the first pair of cutter heads, thereby to initiate the advance from thehopper of a fresh panel.

9. A panel sniping machine comprising a feed table, whereon panels may be stacked, and including spaced panel guides, a dog reciprocable lengthwise of the table to positively engage and 4advance the lowermost panel, means to restrain advance of all other panels, continuously operable presser rolls engageable by a panel thus advanced, to continue its advance, a pair of cutter heads spaced to engage opposite edges of a panel 'being advanced by the presser rolls, a support to receive and position al panel discharged from the presser rolls, including a member engaging behind one edge of the panel, means to reciprocate said member to positively advance :such

panel at right angles to its first advance, a second set oi presser rolls engageable by a panel thus advanced, and continuously operable to continue such second advance, a second pair of cutter heads disposed to engage the opposite edges of a panel thus advanced by the second set of presser rolls, and means automatically operable by a panel as it advances to time-the initiation of movement of said dog and said member, whereby the stacked vpanels are automatically advanced past both pairs of cutter heads.

10. A panel sniping machine. comprising a panel hopper, means to support and guide a panel for movement from said h opper in one direction, a pair of cutter heads disposed to engage opposite side edges of the panel, as it advances, means to initiate movement of the panel from the hopper towards the cutter heads, including a shaft reciprocable through a xed distance in the direction of advance of the panel,

- and a dog shiftable lengthwise of the shaft to accommodate and engage panels of different lengths, and to advance each panel towards but not to the cutter heads, frictional feed means disposed to engagethe panels, thus advanced, and to ladvance them to and past the cutter heads, panel supporting and positioning means to receive panels from the cutter heads, including a ledge extending along one edge of the panel', means to initiate movement of the panels from said supporting means at right angles to the direction of first advance, including aAshaft reciprocable through a fixed distance in the direction of second advance, along which said ledge is shiftable to accommodate and engage panels of different widths, and said ledge, when reciprocated, advancing each panel in the second direction, a second pair of cutter heads in the path of the'panel, thus advancing, and frictional feed means engaging the panel, thus advanced,

and advancing it, beyond the limit of movement of the ledge, to and past the second pair of cutter heads.

11. A panel sniping machine comprising means defining a first path along which panels vto be sniped are movable, means for sniping opposite edges of panels moved -along said path, means defining a second path extending laterally from said first path and along which the panels are movable, means for shifting panels laterally from said first path into said second path, and means for sniping the other opposite edges of the panels during their movement along said second path, said panel shifting means comprising a ledge element disposed in the first path in alinement with the second pathv and reciprocable transversely relative to the first path, said ledge element having a normal position at the outer side of said first path and being reciprocable vfrom said normal position at least partly across said first path and back to its normal position and including horizontal and upright portions, the former to receive and support the outer marginal portion of a panel and the` later to engage the outer edge of a panel, when said ledge element is in its normal position and the panel, by movement along said first path, becomes alined withv said second path, so that by movement of said ledge element from its normal position the said ledge element may be varied to adapt same for cooperation with panels of different widths.

- CHARLES CARLSON.

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