Patent GB-190412516-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in, and relating to, Apparatus for the Manufacture of Firelighters.
Filed: 1904-06-02
Granted: 1905-05-11
Abstract: 12,516. Werner, W. A. P., and Ashton Perfect Firelighter Co. June 2. Moulding fire - lighters. - The apparatus com - prises moulds, a press, and means for conveying the moulds through the press, for filling the moulds, for heating the moulds, and for removing the firelighters. Each mould g, Fig. 8, may consist of a rectangular frame 5, Fig. 12, with an openwork bottom 6, and divided by a partition. Cores 8 are fixed to the bottom, to perforate the firelighters, and a movable false-bottom 7 is also provided. The moulds are held in a series of supporting-frames 3 attached to a central intermittently-rotating circular table i, Fig. 8, driven from a shaft r, itself driven by worm gear u, s, or otherwise. This shaft may rotate a parallel lay-shaft x through gear-wheels, the layshaft actuating the mould-table through a starwheel v loosely mounted on the main shaft. The star-wheel may be mounted on the lay-shaft. Each mould is placed in turn on a fixed table 21 in the press, cam-driven pins 23 then being raised through holes in this table and lifting the falsebottom 7 of the mould. This compresses the material against a hollow box 26, Figs. 8 and 13, the bottom of which is detachable and has ridges to divide up the firelighters. This box is provided with counterweights 39 and is heated by gas burners 27, a mass of refractory material 29 being placed at the top. A groove-cam 40 on the main shaft acts through links and a toothed sector 42 to turn a shaft carrying eccentrically-pivoted segments 46 which work in a slotted extension 47 of the heated box and raise or lower it, locking it in either position. The first cam 35 is double faced, adapted to lift, lower, and again lift the falsebottom 7, and the second cam 40 raises the hollow box 26 before the second lift takes place. This allows a third cam 60 to slide a wiper-plate above the moulded material, this plate having ridges to engage the recesses between the firelighters. The wiper-plate carries pins which slide in double grooves 62, so that, when reciprocated, this plate withdraws the firelighters over a short table on to a conveyer 55. This conveyer may consist of parallel bands with spaces between, allowing the firelighters to cool. Compressed air may also be used. On leaving the press, the moulds are carried over a flue, preferably covered, to a feeding-device, whence, after being charged with wooddust and resin or like materials, they pass to the press again over another uncovered flue shorter than the first. The two flues have each a furnace, placed near the press, and a common chimney near the feeder. One flue only may be employed, chimney and furnace being near the press, and the flue passing well below the feeder. The flues may be fired by solid or liquid fuel or otherwise. The feeder comprises a mixer opening into a shoot or having an intervening trough containing a conveyer. The shoot is water-jacketed, and opens to the moulds, from which it may be separated by a spring-closed door opened and released by each mould through a trip device. Preferably, however, the spaces between the tops of the moulds are filled by plates 14, and the open end of the shoot has a sleeve pressed against these plates by springs. The Provisional Specification mentions the provision of devices for depressing the false bottoms in case of their sticking, and for raising the moulds if required. Several sets of apparatus may be combined, having a common feeding-trough leading to the individual shoots.