MENTS IN FINISHING AND BOUNDING PILLS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John George Frederick Richardson, of Leicester, in the
County of Leicester, Manufacturing Chemist, for an Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN FINISHING AND BOUNDING PILLS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John George Frederick
Richardson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th March
1881.
JOHN GEORGE FREDERICK RICHARDSON, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester,
Manufacturing Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FINISHING AND ROUNDING PILLS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
This Invention relates to a peculiar mode or method of and apparatus for
finishing and rounding pills, whereby a superior finish is given to the pills, and a
considerable saving in labour is effected.
According to this Invention the finishing and rounding operation is accomplished
by the combined action of centrifugal force, and two revolving horizontal plates or
discs of polished metal or other suitable smooth and hard material with their acting
faces parallel to each other. These discs are caused to revolve in opposite
directions at equal or different velocities, and rotate round one common centre or.
round two different centres, so as to have in the latter case an eccentric motion in
reference to each other. Provision is made for adjusting these discs at the required
distance asunder, according to the size of the pills to be finished. The unfinished
pills are fed in between the discs at the centre from a hopper mounted on the head
of a tubular vertical spindle which carries the upper disc, the passage being so
curved or rounded at its lower part as to guide or direct the pills away from the
centre or centres of the discs. Round the peripheries of the two discs there is
provided a suitable stationary annular or other receptacle for receiving the finished
pills, and delivering the same at one or more parts in its circumference. The
rotary action of the discs combined with the centrifugal force generated thereby,
causes the pills to be rolled over and over in various directions whilst they are
approaching the circumference of the discs, whence the finished and rounded pills
are discharged by the centrifugal force into the before mentioned receptacle. It is
obvious that the discs may be driven either by hand or by power by any of the
well known arrangements for obtaining rotary motion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John George Frederick Richardson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th September 1881.
26
JOHN GEORGE FREDERICK RICHARDSON, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester,
Manufacturing Chemist. IMPROVEMENTS IN FINISHING AND ROUNDING PILLS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
.
My said Invention relates to a peculiar mode or method of and apparatus for
finishing and rounding pills, whereby a superior finish is given to the pills, and a
considerable saving in time and labour is effected.
According to my Invention the finishing and rounding operation is accomplished
by the combined action of centrifugal force, and two revolving horizontal plates or
discs of polished metal or other suitable smooth and hard material with their acting
faces parallel to each other. These discs are caused to revolve in opposite directions
at equal or different velocities. They may both rotate round one common centre
or round two different centres, so as to have in the latter case an eccentric motion
in reference to each other. Provision is made for adjusting either or both these
discs to the required distance asunder, according to the size of the pills to be
finished. The unfinished pills are fed in between the discs at the centre from a
hopper mounted on the head of a tubular vertical spindle which carries the upper
disc, the sides, of the passage being so curved or rounded outwards at its lower part
as to facilitate the passage of the pills away from the centre or centres of the discs.
Round the peripheries of the two discs there is provided a suitable stationary
annular or other receptacle or trough for receiving the finished pills, and delivering
the same through a discharge aperture in its circumference. The rotary action of
the discs combined with the centrifugal force generated thereby causes the pills to
be rolled over and over in various directions whilst they are approaching the
circumference of the discs, whence the finished and rounded pills are discharged by
the centrifugal force into the before mentioned receptacle. It is obvious that the
discs may be driven either by hand or by power by any of the well known
arrangements for obtaining rotary motion.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the accompanying Drawing, which represents a sectional elevation of my improved
apparatus for finishing and rounding pills, drawn to a scale of about one half the
full size.
A is a cast iron or other suitable standard or support which may be fixed to any
convenient base or table; B is the main driving or first motion shaft working in a
bearing in the arm or bracket C cast in one with or secured by bolts or otherwise
to the side of the main standard A. This shaft carries a fly wheel D provided
with a winch handle, if intended to be driven by hand, or if required to be driven
by power the well known fast and loose driving pulleys may be mounted on the
driving shaft B. A bevel wheel E fast on the driving shaft gears simultaneously
into the two bevel pinions F and G respectively mounted on the elongated bosses
of the grooved band pulleys H and I, both of which revolve freely but in opposite
directions round the stationary spindle K fitted into suitable holders or bearings
at L, L, in the driving end of the main standard A. Other bearings M, M, and M³,
are provided at the opposite end of the standard for the reception of the tubular
vertical spindle N and solid spindle O, each of which has, cast in one therewith or
secured thereto in any suitable manner at right angles thereto, a metal or other
disc P and Q respectively, the contiguous faces of which discs should be smooth
and hard. On the tubular spindle N of the upper disc P there is secured a cone or

page_text: other driving pulley R. driven direct by the band or gut S from the pulley H. On the
solid spindle O of the lower disc Q there is also fixed a grooved pulley T deriving its
motion direct from the pulley I by the band or gut U. The lower end of the spindle O
is, by preference, of slightly reduced diameter, so as to leave a shoulder at a which
rests upon the upper end of a vertically adjustable metal bush b, having a screw
thread formed upon its exterior surface and free to be moved up or down, but
without rotating inside the stationary bearing M¹ by means of the adjusting nut V
forming the boss of a hand wheel W. The lower portion of the spindle Ŏ turns
freely within the said bush as a bearing. The contiguous surfaces of the two
discs P and Q should be perfectly parallel throughout, with the exception of a small
portion near the periphery of the lower disc, which I prefer to bevel slightly, as
shown in my Drawing at c, in order to facilitate the free delivery of the rounded
and finished pills into the surrounding fixed annular trough or receptacle ✗ which
may be fixed to any convenient part of the standard A. The bottom of this
annular trough should incline downwards towards the front of the machine, as
shown in my Drawing, a delivery aperture Y being provided at the lowest part for
the finished pills to pass out. The unfinished pills to be operated upon are fed into
a hopper Z mounted upon or immediately above the upper end of the tubular
spindle N, down which they pass in regular succession to the space between the
surfaces of the two finishing discs, the sides of the lower end of the vertical passage
being rounded outwards or shaped like a trumpet mouth to facilitate the entrance
of the pills between the discs. By turning the hand wheel W the upper surface
of the lower disc can be caused to approach towards or recede from the under
surface of the upper disc so as to adapt the machine to the finishing and rounding
of pills of any desired size. In my Drawing I have shown the discs as revolving
round one axis common to the two, but if desired the axis of rotation of one disc
may be slightly eccentric to that of the other. The said discs may be driven either
at the same or different speeds.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The mode or method of finishing and rounding pills by subjecting them to
the combined action of centrifugal force and two revolving discs, substantially as
herein before described.
Secondly. The combination in a machine for rounding and finishing pills of
two revolving discs and a central feeding duct, in conjunction or not with a
feeding hopper, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by my
Drawing.
Thirdly. Making either or both the said discs adjustable towards or from the
other for the purpose specified.
Fourthly. The combination with the said discs of annular trough or receptacle,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John George Frederick Richardson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.