Abstract: A highly productive completely automatic tracing shaper machine tool performs sequential operations without manual attention permitting a single operator to simultaneously run several machines without being exposed to the shaper heads of the machine. The tracing shaper machine tool has a track mounted vacuum feed table or chuck clamping thereon a template or pattern and the wood workpiece to be shaped. The table is manually positioned on the track to accommodate a wide range of workpiece sizes and this initially positioned table or chuck with the stacked template and workpiece vacuum clamped thereon is automatically biased toward a selectable speed driven upright shaper tool carrying spindle with a rotatable follower bearing surrounding the spindle receiving the periphery of the template thereagainst at a constant pressure. The feed table or chuck is rotated to provide a desired feed rate of the workpiece to the shaper tool, and this rotation continues somewhat beyond a 360.degree.

Abstract: Cutterheads operating in the gap between in-feed and out-feed tables of planers, jointers and the like wood cutting apparatus are provided with a body of increased diameter and a gib having a chipbreaker pocket shape that will expose only a minimum projection of the knife before the chip must curl into the pocket thereby reducing the potential bite of a kick back such as might occur by a tipping of the wood workpiece or by a pull out of the wood grain during the feeding of the workpiece to the cutting knives. The knives of the cutterhead protrude only as much above the cutterhead body as is required not to interfere with the advance of the workpiece per revolution of each knife, the gib is positioned with its chipbreaker pocket down from the tip of the knife no further than is necessary for chip thickness, and the chipbreaker pocket has a radius just sufficient to accommodate the curled chip at the maximum depth of the cut.

Abstract: An attachment for cutting machine tools, such as band saws, spindle-shapers, sanders and the like, controlling the feed path of the workpiece to the cutting tool to form desired workpiece contours, such as circles, arcs and the like, has a grooved track bar easily locked on and removed from the machine bed or table carrying a slide in the groove which has a workpiece centering pivot pin projecting therefrom. A workpiece is either directly pivoted on the pin or secured to a templet pivoted on the pin and is rotated about its pivot support against the cutting tool. The slide may be locked in the groove at a selected distance from the tool, may be pushed against a stop at a selected position in the groove or may be shifted by a cam to control the feed path of the workpiece for forming desired contours. Circles of selected diameters, elipses of selected minor and major radii, heart shapes, four leaf clover shapes and the like are easily developed.

Abstract: A closed hydraulic system for band saws transmits manually actuated control of the saw blade tension, provides for easy and remote reading of blade tension, instantly stops rotation of the upper saw blade wheel in case of blade breakage, shuts off the motor drive when blade breakage occurs, and prevents restarting of the motor until a new blade is installed and tension is applied thereto. The upper idler blade band wheel is equipped with a spring loaded brake held in a non-braking position by hydraulic fluid which is pressurized from a manually actuated crank which shifts the upper wheel to apply tension to the saw blade band and when the band breaks to release the tension, the fluid pressure drops sufficiently to allow the springs to actuate the brake for stopping the wheel. At the same time, a fluid pressure actuated switch in the electric circuit for the driving motor is opened to prevent restarting of the motor until tension is once again applied to a new saw band.

Abstract: A noise reducing cutterhead for planers which includes a cylindrical cutterhead member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial grooves therein receiving cutter blades, the blades having an axial length less than the length of the cutter head, the blades being spaced from one another in each groove and the blades in successive grooves being staggered in axially offset relationship, the blades being held in place in the cutterhead by a wedge lock member and being adjustably received in the grooves.