Patent GB-296084-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in automatic means for turning and finishing ware in the manufacture of pottery
IPC: B28B1/02
Filed: 1928-08-09
Abstract: 296,084. Miner, W. J. Aug. 26, 1927, [Convention date]. Pottery, throwing and turning.-The shaped ware is automatically gripped by a chuck member mounted on a transfer apparatus, lifted from its mould or other positioning support, and brought within operative adjacency to turning and finishing tools, and means are provided for rotating the tools and/or the ware. The ware B is picked up by a transfer apparatus similar to that described in Specification 293,298, comprising a frame 44 movable vertically through lever 80 by cam 76 on shaft 75 and carrying a bar 47 horizontally movable through lever 49 by cam 77. The ware is held by a chuck 58 mounted on a vertical shaft 57 rotatable in a bracket 56 on the bar 47 by resiliently mounted friction gears 63, 70. The ware is shaped by tools 105, Fig. 4, mounted on rods 102, 103 carried by brackets 96, 97 pivoted on the vertical shaft 89 and adjustably drawn together by screws 100 against the action of springs. The tools 105 are traversed over the surface of the ware by the shaft 89 which is moved vertically by a cam-operated lever 92. The rods 102, 103 also carry guiding tools 112 which move over the surface of a pattern cam 114 adjustably mounted on the shaft 57 and adapted to be driven independently of that shaft, or at various speeds relatively to it by gears 117 - - 120. Each tool 105 may be rotated by a motor 106. The shaft 89 also carries a bottom burnisher 122. The shaft 57 may be angularly positioned by a notch 68a on a collar 68 on the shaft engaging a latch 68b pivoted to the bracket 56. The ware is picked up from a mould 8 at the right of the drier A, Fig. 1, and after turning &c. is returned to the mould, which has meanwhile been moved a step to left by mechanism similar to that described in Specification 293,023, the moulds 8 being supported on pallets 7 running on tracks 10 by rollers carried on projecting trunnions 9, and moved by an endless chain 11 which engages the trunnions and is advanced by a spring-pressed ratchet-like detent 35 engaging the trunnions and reciprocated by a lever 30 operated by a cam 31 on a shaft 17. The moulds are locked during shaping by a latch 37 pivoted on the rails 10 and oscillated with lost motion by a rod 39 also reciprocated by the lever 30. If desired, the moulds may be raised periodically by chucks 26 having hollow stems 24 splined on rotatable shafts 25 and adapted to be raised by forks 23 carried on rods 22 pivoted to levers 19 rocked by cams 18 on shafts 17. The chucks may be rotated from crossshafts 16 through friction gears 27, 28. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 the ware may be turned while rotating in one direction and burnished while rotating in the opposite direction. The tool 104a, which is slightly conical, is rotatable in either direction by a motor and is traversed over the surface of the ware by a roller 130, which is loose on the tool shaft, and which is rolled between the lever 89 and a pattern-member 114a. The wave is rotated first in one direction and then in the other by traversing the driving gear 70 across the disc 63 by a lever 126 operated by a drum-cam 129 on the shaft 75. Alternatively the friction gear 63 may be adapted to coact with two vertical gears. Fig. 5 shows apparatus for use in treating oval or eccentrically-shaped ware. The tool 104b is rotated first in one direction and then in the other by friction gears 63a, 70d and is compelled to follow the contour of the article by a roller 130 on its shaft 134 engaging a pattern disc 114b on the ware-carrying shaft. The bottom burnisher 122 is rotated from the shaft 134 by gears 136, 137 and is adapted to be raised into action by links operated by a cam on the shaft 75. A guard 151 with suction-hose 151a conveys away chips &c. In the modification shown in Fig. 8 a separate burnisher 153 is used. In a further modification (not shown) a frame-like tool surrounds the ware. Fig. 13 shows apparatus for finishing and swabbing the edges of saucers, these being moved first to contact with edge-tools 167 and then into contact with sponges 165, 166. If necessary the interior of the ware is treated while the ware is in the moulds, either before or after the exterior treatment, the ware being preferably supported on the moulds and chucks described in Specification 308,836 in which the ware is caused to adhere to the mould by suction applied through registering passages in the mould and chuck.