Patent GB-251004-A (GB)
Title: Improved apparatus for compacting granular material
IPC: B27J5/00
Filed: 1925-01-20
Abstract: 251,004. Carpmael, W. P., (Crown Cork & Seal Co.). Jan. 20, 1925. Endless - chain machines; rotary-table machines; cooling and heating moulds; feeding; lubricating; strain, preventing; moulding cork. -In machines of the type in which a charge of material is compressed lengthwise to give it the desired section and then endways to give the desired length, the compressed charge is confined in a carrier mould and is preferably subjected to heating and ecoling treatment while so confined. The invention is particularly applied to the manufacture of compressed cork sticks. As shown, the material passes from a hopper 21 into mould compartments 36 in a rotary drum 35 which is rotated intermittingly by a ratchet 38 engaged by a pawl 39 operated from a main shaft 34 through a cam 50 lever 48 and a spring link 46; a locking-bolt 55 positions the mould drum and is released by a wiper 55<a> on the pawl lever 40. Each charge is compressed laterally within its compartment 36 by a plunger 62 operated through a piston 64 and an air cushion by a lever 67 rocked by a cam 70 on the shaft 34. A plunger 72, operated by compressed air transfers the compressed charge to a carrier mould 110 and compresses it axially therein. The plunger is attached to a cylinder 73 moving over a fixed position 74 bored axially at 75 for the admission and exhaust of fluid which is controlled by a rotary valve driven from the shaft 34. At the end of its stroke the plunger 72 is cushioned by a piston 105, Fig. 8, connected thereto by rods 103 and working in a slotted cylinder 106. The plunger is retracted by levers 97, Fig. 2, operated by a cam 102 engaging a roller 101 on a bracket 98. The moulds 110 comprise pairs of tubular elements 112, Fig. 16, mounted in side plates 111 and linked by eye bars 113 into an endless chain passing around sprockets 135, 136, Figs. 2 and 5, interconnected by gearing 138-143. The chain is moved intermittingly through a ratchet 144 engaged by a pawl 146 operated by a lever 149 and cam 152. The upper run of the chain is supported by horizontal guiders 117. Fig. 16, and each mould is equipped with inner and outer shutters 115 sliding in members 114. An aperture in each shutter is brought into alignment with the mould by cams 171, Fig. 5, as the moulds approach the filling position, and, prior to the operation of the piston 72. the outer shutter is depressed by a cam 118. Fig. 2, to close the outer end of the mould. Following the operation of the plunger, the inner shutter is depressed, to confine the charge, by a piston 121, Fig. 16, operated by compressed air and controlled by a valve 124 operated through a rod 128 by a lever 130, Fig. 5. rocked by a cam 132. In advance of the plunger 72 are an ejector 172, Fig. 2, and a lubricating-piston 184 engaging adjacent moulds and both operated by a yoke 174 connected through a breakable spring connection 185 to a lever 176 which is coupled to a frame carrying rollers 180, 181 embracing a cam 182. The material within the hopper is agitated by a hammer 22, Fig. 5. operated by a cam 25 and is delivered to the drum by a stirrer 28. To subject the confined charges to thermal treatment the mould chain is caused to traverse tanks 159. 165. 167, Fig. 17, through which water at different temperatures is circulated; for cork, the temperatures are respectively 200-210‹ F., 100‹ F. and 65‹ F. The portion of the mould chain traversing the tanks is preferably driven continuously and as shown, several sets of moulding apparatus may co-operate with one set of tanks.