Patent GB-190724475-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Presses for Moulding Vegetable Substances and the like.
Inventor: MATTENCLOIT RICHARD FREIHERR V
Filed: 1907-11-05
Granted: 1908-05-14
Abstract: 24,475. Mattencloit, Richard, Freiherr von, and W³rl, E. Nov. 5. Moulding vegetable substances &c.-A press for moulding cakes, briquettes, &c. of grain or fibrous materials, especially fodder plants, wheat, tubers, bulbs, vegetables, slices of beet-root, leaves, turf, &c., comprises a preliminary compression chamber in which a charge of material is pressed downwards by a mould plate, the pressed charge and mould plate passing thence to a rotary carrier consisting of an annular casing divided into a series of vertical compartments, each adapted to receive a pile of mould plates. This carrier is mounted between two fixed concentric cylinders provided with helical guides along which the mould plates travel, the first few threads of the helical guides being made steeper than the rest so that the mould plates are forced closer together and further compress the material ; this pressure is maintained for a sufficient interval by making the guides sufficiently long. The preliminary pressure chamber is formed of fixed walls 1, Fig. 3, and hinged side walls 2, which are moved outwards and inwards respectively during the descent and ascent of pressing-dies 19, by means of two series of stops 20 arranged at the upper and lower ends of connecting- rods 18 engaging respectively with pins 13 or 15 mounted at opposite ends of links 14 ; the links 14 are pivoted to levers 12 fixed to shafts 11 carrying arms 8, which are provided with rollers 9 engaging with slots 10 on the sides 2. A cross-head 26, Figs. 1 and 3, carrying the dies 19, is mounted upon connecting-rods 18 carried by cross-heads 25 operated by pistons 23, which are actuated by pressure fluid admitted through pipes 31, 32 from a supply pipe 30 by means of a rotary valve 29 operated by hand or automatically. The rods 18 astuate links attached to plates 5, 6, Figs. 3 and 7, and move the plates towards each other to close the bottom of the chamber 1 as the dies 18 move upwards. Material is fed into the chamber 1 as the dies 19 rise, and is treated with steam admitted through a pipe 49 to the hollow plate 5 and passing through valves 43 opened by pivoted levers 45 deflected by stops 48. As the dies 19 ascend, the sides 2 are moved inwards, and a mould plate placed upon ledges 21 is forced off and is held by electro-magnets 28 attached to the dies 19, until, during the descent of the dies, it comes on to the material in the chamber 1. The material is compressed by the mould plate until the downward movement of the rods 18 opens the slides 5, 6, when the material and mould plate fall into a compartment A of an intermittently rotated carrier 53. This carrier comprises two rings 54, 55, Fig. 1, connected by partitions 53 and mounted in ball bearings 59 between concentric cylinders 57, 58, which are provided with helical ribs 63, 64 adapted to engage with the edges 70, Fig. 12, of the mould plates 65. After the passage of the material from the chamber 1 to the compartment A, Fig. 3, the mould plate 65<a> is held down until the carrier 53 commences to rotate, when it passes on to the guides 64. The carrier 53 is driven by worm gearing and is operated intermittently by means of a clutch consisting of a loose wheel 81, Fig. 21, gearing with a driving-wheel 82 and carrying a tooth 84 adapted to engage with a lever 88 mounted in a disk 85 secured to the secondary driving-shaft 80. The lever 88 is pressed outwards by a spring 90, and is deflected after one revolution by means of a trigger 87 engaging with a stop 91 carried by the driving-wheel 82. As the carrier rotates, the mould plates 65 travel along the guides 63, 64, the upper portions of which are made steeper than the rest, so that the plates are gradually brought closer together further to compress the material, this pressure being maintained until the mould plates arrive at the discharge opening 71, Fig. 1, where they are expelled. The guide 64 terminates just above the opening 71 in a portion 73 hinged at 74 to the casing 58 and carrying a lever 75 engaging with a cam-groove formed in the flange 72 of the lower ring 55 of the carrier 53 so that, as the carrier rotates to bring a mould compartment over the discharge opening 71, the lever 75 is moved outwards, turning down the guide 73 and causing the lowest mould plate to be ejected together with a moulded cake. The mould plates 65, Fig. 12, are each formed of two similar plates riveted together, and these are perforated so that steam &c. may be admitted between the plates. Hot or cold air may be passed through the material during its passage through the press by forming holes K2, Fig. 1, in the guides 63, 64, or air may be withdrawn from the material through these holes by providing a casing 93 fitted with a suction pipe 94. In a modified construction of the press casing, the guides for the mould plates are formed of channelled iron bars, secured together by vertical bars. Fig. 18 shows a further modification in which bars 101 are bent into helical coils, and the plates 65 are guided by means of spring-pressed bolts 103 riding in the spaces 102 between the coils.