Multiple purpose woodworking apparatus

In a universal shaper of the type having a base supporting a horizontal shaper table and a vertically oriented spindle journally supported by the base and extending upwardly beyond the horizontal top surface of the shaper table, and drive means carried by the base for rotating the spindle about a vertical axis, the improvement comprising:

• a table adapter assembly comprising:
• a table base having a horizontal bottom surface engageable with the top surface of the shaper table;
• a workpiece supporting table having a horizontal top surface and positioned above said table base;
• and
• means for interconnecting said table base and said workpiece supporting table;
• a power input shaft vertically journaled on said table base;
• a power output shaft horizontally journaled on said table adapter assembly;
• means for drivingly interconnecting said power input shaft and the spindle of the shaper;
• means drivingly interconnecting said power input shaft and said power output shaft for transmitting vertical rotation imparted to said power input shaft by the shaper spindle to said power output shaft for horizontal rotation thereof;
• and
• means on said power output shaft for drivingly engaging a cutter for horizontal rotation therewith.

A horizontal cutter adapter attachment for use with a universal shaper having a horizontal shaper table with a vertically journaled spindle positioned adjacent the horizontal top surface of the shaper table and drive means carried by the shaper for vertically rotating the spindle, comprising:

• a table adapter assembly including:
• a table adapter base having a horizontal bottom surface supportable on the top surface of the shaper table;
• a workpiece supporting table having a horizontal top surface, said supporting table being positioned above said table base;
• and
• means for interconnecting said table base and said workpiece supporting table;
• a power input shaft vertically journaled on said table adapter assembly;
• a power output shaft horizontally journaled on said table adapter assembly;
• means for drivingly interconnecting said power input shaft and the spindle of the shaper;
• means carried by said table adapter assembly for drivingly interconnecting said power input shaft and said power output shaft to transmit rotational movement from one shaft to the other;
• and
• means on said power output shaft for drivingly engaging a cutter for horizontal rotation therewith.

A universal shaper adapted for rotating a cutter about a vertical axis and, alternately, about a horizontal axis, comprising in combination:

• a base;
• a horizontal shaper table supported by said base and having a horizontal top surface;
• a spindle vertically journaled on said base and positioned adjacent the plane of the horizontal top surface of said shaper table;
• drive means carried by said base for rotating said spindle about a vertical axis;
• means carried on said spindle for drivingly engaging a cutter for rotation of the cutter therewith;
• a table adapter assembly including:
• a table adapter base having a horizontal bottom surface supportable on the top surface of said shaper table;
• a workpiece supporting table having a horizontal top surface and positioned above said table adapter base;
• and
• means for interconnecting said table adapter base and said workpiece supporting table;
• a power input shaft vertically journaled on said table adapter assembly;
• a power output shaft horizontally journaled on said table adapter assembly;
• means for drivingly interconnecting said power input shaft and said spindle;
• means carried by said table adapter assembly for drivingly interconnecting said power input shaft and said power output shaft to transmit rotational movement between said shafts;
• and
• means operatively engageable with said power output shaft for securing a cutter thereto for rotation therewith.