In feeding two boards through the machine, one thicker than the other, that end of the roll that passes over the thick board can raise up without taking the pressure off the thin one at the other end of the roll. This raising mechanism is shown in [Fig. 3179]. The bevel gear c works over a ball joint q′. The shoulder b′ on the screw a′ works on the under side of the ball q′. The shaft a passes through the tubular shell b to the opposite end of the roll. The cross tie j is bolted to the roll box k′′.
c, [Fig. 3178], shows matcher hanger in position. It is gibbed to the bed plate z by the gib f, which is so constructed as to be free from dirt. The sliding gib f is adjustable for wear. One matcher hanger is moved by the screw e, the other by e′. The left hand matcher hanger is moved by the shaft l′ ([Fig. 3177]), which passes along the side of the machine until it reaches the shaft e, where its motion is imparted to the screw by means of a pair of spiral gears. An index at the rear of the machine enables the operator to set the matcher heads to any desired width. The right hand matcher hanger, together with the guide, can be moved across the machine by turning the screw e′ at the side of the machine ([Fig. 3176]).
The upright d which carries the pulley which drives the top cutter head, or cylinder as it is sometimes termed, is set at an angle so that the cylinder belt will always be of the same tension.
The top cylinder is raised by the shaft d ([Fig. 3176]) and screw b. It is held in place by the nut m ([Fig. 3177]). The bar i ties the cylinder boxes together. k is held down by the weight i, and yields with the pressure bar l.
The spindle of the matcher c′ ([Fig. 3177]) is driven by a belt which comes from the pulley h and passes over the guide pulley k, and then to the pulley b′.
The lower end of the matcher is held in place by being gibbed to the cross tie p′, [Fig. 3177], which is adjusted and kept in position by the screw o′.
s′ sustains the matcher spindle by means of an adjustable step.
y′, [Fig. 3176], is the feed shaft which drives the gearing that operates the rolls. The pulley that drives the feed shaft is shown at l′ ([Fig. 3176]). The belt passes over this pulley and under and over the tightener pulleys w′, w′, then to the pulley u′ which is on the feed shaft y′.
The apron m′ in front of the under cutter s ([Fig. 3180]) is easily dropped to m′′ by loosening the nut r′ and releasing the bolt t′ so as to allow the apron m′ to drop.
This enables the operator to have free access to the under cutter for sharpening knives, etc. z′ is the bed plate over which the lumber passes before it reaches the under cutter.