Patent GB-190308980-A (GB)
Title: Machine for Manufacturing Pulp Articles such as Stoppers for Bottles.
Inventor: JUSTICE PHILIP MIDDLETON
Filed: 1903-04-21
Granted: 1903-07-16
Abstract: 8980. Justice, P. M., [United States Fibre Stopper Co.]. April 21. Moulding bottle, jar, and like stoppers. - Relates to a machine for making articles, such as stoppers for bottles and the like, from pulp. The mass of pulp Y, Fig. 4, for forming the stopper is withdrawn from the supply X in the main trough A by means of the rake B &c., which draws it into the transverse trough C, where the fibres take an approximately horizontal position. The pulp Y is then compressed to cylindrical form between the adjustable abutment D, Fig. 5, and the head of the reciprocating plunger E, which effects the compression, the fibres during this operation arranging themselves approximately parallel to the axis of the cylinder. The cylindrical plug is then forced by the lateral plunger F through the corresponding cylindrical portion 79 of the die H into the conical part 80 of the die, during which operation the sides and ends of the plug are compressed by the conical sides of the die, the plunger F and the ejector head G, so that the fibres are relatively displaced and matted or felted together. The sides of the plug are burnished or polished in its passage into the die 80, and the head of the plug is similarly burnished by imparting a rocking motion to the plunger F. The rake B is mounted on the shaft 23, and reciprocated through the connections 30, 27, 26, 28, Fig. 1, by the eccentric 29 on the main driving-shaft 2. The bowls 24 on the shaft 23 work in the lateral recesses 10, in which they are guided by the spring-controlled double switches 15, so that the rake is lifted clear of the pulp during its backward movement, and descends to take up the feed-charge during its forward movement. The plunger E is actuated through the connections 51, 50, 48, 49, 55, 53 from the cam 6, which engages the bowl 54 on the rocking arm 53, this arm being slotted to receive the connecting-block 56 of the pitman 55. When the plunger E is fully advanced, the crank arm 50 and connecting-rod 51 are on the dead centre, which position is ensured by the adjustable stop 61, so that the plunger E is locked against backward movement when the plunger F advances. The advanced position of the plunger E is determined by the adjustable stop 60, Fig. 5, which engages the stop-bar 57<a> carried by the guide-bars or extensions 47 on the plunger. The plunger F is reciprocated by the rocking lever 107 actuated by the cam 5, the rounded head of the lever 107 being engaged by adjustable screws 109 within the slot 108 of the plunger. The rocking motion is imparted to the plunger F by fixed studs 101, Figs. 1 and 7, engaging in curved slots 100 formed in the sleeve 98 fixed on the narrowed portion 97 of the plunger, the slot 108 being made sufficiently wide to permit this motion. The sleeve 98 is preferably made slightly narrower than the interior of the die H, and is provided at its end with a packing washer 104 fixed by the screw 102. The ejector G comprises a tube 68 screwed into a tube 69, Fig. 7, fitted with a winged core 70 and with an external sleeve 73. A piece of wire gauze &c. 75 is fixed over the end of the ejector by the screw 72 and the lip 74 on the sleeve 73, the liquid expressed from the pulp being forced through the gauze between the wings of the core 70, and through the tube 68 to a discharge tube or nipple 77. The tube 68 is mounted under control of a spring 67, which holds the ejector head tightly in the narrower end of the die H when the latter is advanced. The die H has a spring connection with the sliding bar 85, Fig. 1, through which it is reciprocated, and held in operative position, at the proper times, by a cam-groove in the face of the disc 4, this cam acting on the bar 85, through the rocking lever 92.