Improvements in the Mode and Means Employed for the Manufacture of Flower or Plant Pots or other Articles from Clay or other Semi-plastic Material.
Year: 1889

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode and Means Employed for the Manufacture
of Flower or Plant Pots or other Articles from Clay or other
Semi-plastic Material.
I WILLIAM WEST of 18 Albion Street Leeds in the County of York Tailor and
Draper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention refers to the manufacture of flower or plant pots and other articles
(hereinafter for the sake of brevity referred to as pots); and comprises an improved
mode of manufacture, and means employed therefor.
Such pots are usually now inanufactured either by moulding on a potters wheel, or
the clay or other material (hereinafter for the sake of brevity referred to as clay), is
placed in a fixed or revolving mould and a revolving or fixed block or profile is
gradually forced into such mould. Such methods possess the disadvantage that it
is necessary that the clay should be in a very plastic and therefore moist condition,
requiring afterwards much time and expense in drying, and it is extremely difficult if
not impossible to remove the moulded article uninjured from the mould, or to handle it
without damage until it has been hardened by drying. In consequence of the very moist
condition of the clay the pot when moulded and during the process of drying shrinks
considerably, often leading to distortion of the pot. Besides, the mould which is
generally the most expensive part of the forming or shaping apparatus is readily broken
or damaged, being made of plaster, and requires much more frequent renewal than the
blocks or profiles, which are comparatively cheap. Now the object of my Invention
is to avoid or lessen the above disadvantages.
For this purpose I employ clay in a semi plastic and therefore comparatively dry
condition, and place or throw such clay on the block. The mould is then brought down
on to the clay forcing the latter into the space between the block and the mould, and
owing to the dryer and therefore stronger condition of the clay a greater pressure can
be used, leading to greater uniformity in the density of the moulded clay and
greater smoothness and accuracy in the surfaces of the same, besides expelling
greater proportion of the moisture, and leaving the pot very much less liable to
deformation by shrinkage.
al
My Improvements in the means employed refer to the construction of the moulding
or forming apparatus. Such apparatus, which I prefer to make of metal, consists of
four main parts, a block or blocks for shaping or forming the insides of the pots, a
mould for shaping the outside, a moveable piece for shaping the outside of the bottom
of the pot, and a loose rim or rims. The blocks where several are used, are arranged
on an endless band or revolving circular table or other support, which moves in such a
manner that the blocks are brought successively under the mould, which latter is
raised and lowered at suitable times on to each block as the same takes its place
beneath the mould. The moveable piece for shaping the bottom of the pot, is attached
to the mould so that its vertical motion is partly independant of that of the mould,
being controlled by a spring. This latter is arranged to act on the moveable piece so
as to retain it against the bottom of the pot, until the mould has been raised or drawn
well away out of contact with the pot, the further motion of the mould then carrying
the moveable piece along with it until both are raised clear from the pot or block. The
top edge of the pot rests upon the before mentioned loose rim, (the pot being moulded
upside down). After the pot has been moulded, the block is preferably traversed to
one side of the mould, bringing the next block under the mould, so that whilst the
next pot is being moulded, the first pot can by taking hold of the loose rim be raised
clear from its block, and carried away without necessity to touch or handle the pot
itself, thus obviating any risk of the pot being damaged by handling.
Dated this 15th day of October 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode and Means Employed for the Manufacture
of Flower or Plant Pots or other Articles from Clay or other
Semi-plastic Material.
I WILLIAM WEST of 18 Albion Street Leeds in the County of York Tailor and
Draper do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention refers to the manufacture of flower or plant pots and other articles
(hereinafter for the sake of brevity referred to as pots); and comprises an improved
mode of manufacture and means employed therefor. Such pots are usually now
manufactured either by moulding on a potters wheel, or the clay or other material
(hereinafter for the sake of brevity referred to as clay) is placed in a fixed or revolving
mould and a revolving or fixed block or profile is gradually forced into such mould.
Such methods possess the disadvantage that it is necessary that the clay should be in a
very plastic and therefore moist condition, requiring afterwards much time and expense
in drying and it is extremely difficult if not impossible to remove the moulded article
uninjured from the mould or to handle it without damage until it has been hardened
by drying. In consequence of the very moist condition of the clay the pot when
moulded and during the process of drying shrinks considerably often leading to
distortion of the pot. Besides the mould which is generally a most expensive part of
the forming or shaping apparatus is readily broken or damaged being made of plaster
and requires much more frequent renewal than the blocks or profiles which are com-
paratively cheap. Now the object of my Invention is to avoid or lessen the above
disadvantages. For this purpose I employ clay in a semi-plastic and therefore
comparatively dry condition and place or throw such clay on the block. The mould is
then brought down on to the clay forcing the latter into the space between the block
and the mould, and owing to the dryer and therefore stronger condition of the clay a
greater pressure can be used leading to greater uniformity in the density of the
moulded clay and greater smoothness and accuracy in the surfaces of the same, besides
expelling a greater proportion of the moisture and leaving the pot very much less liable
to deformation by shrinkage.
My improvements in the means employed refer to the construction of the moulding
or forming apparatus. Such apparatus, which I prefer to make of metal, consists of
four main parts, a block or blocks for shaping or forming the insides of the pots, a
mould for shaping the outside, a moveable piece for shaping the outside of the bottom
of the pot and a loose rim or rims. The blocks where several are used, are arranged
on an endless band or revolving circular table or other support whicn moves in such a
manner that the blocks are brought successively under the mould which latter is raised
and lowered at suitable times on to each block as the same takes its place beneath the
mould. The moveable piece for shaping the bottom of the pot is a tached to the mould
so that its vertical motion is partly independent of that of the mould, being controlled
by a spring. This latter is arranged to act on the moveable piece so as to retain it
against the bottom of the pot until the mould has been raised or drawn well away out
of contacts with the pot; the further motion of the mould then carrying the moveable
piece along with it until both are raised clear from the pot or block. The top edge of
the pot rests upon the before mentioned loose rim, (the pot being moulded upside
down). After the pot has been moulded, the block is preferably traversed to one side
of the mould, bringing the next block under the mould, so that whilst the next pot is
being moulded, the first pot can, by taking hold of the loose rim be raised clear from
its block, and carried away without any necessity to touch or handle the pot itself, thus
obviating any risk of the pot being damaged by handling.
It will be evident that when the pot or other article is moulded with the block or
cove piece under-most that a weight may be employed instead of a spring to retain
the moveable piece on the pot bottom whilst. the mould is being freed from the
moulded clay.

page_text: thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation and Figure 2 a plan corresponding thereto of a
moulding apparatus constructed in accordance with my said Invention. Figure 3 is
an enlarged sectional elevation of the block and mould part of my apparatus adapted
for moulding plant pots of the design or construction described in the Specification of
Letters Patent granted to me under date 13 May 1889 No. 2260. Figure 4 is a
section of the saine on line "AA" Figure 3. Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 3
shewing the block and mould adapted for moulding ordinary dishes or dish shaped
articles. These illustrations will suffice to shew particularly how my Invention
may be actually performed. Similar letters refer to the same or corresponding parts
in all the views.
**
a. a" is the pillar or upright of the machine carrying at the end of a branched
arm the tapped socket "6." in which fits the screwed spindle or rod "c.". A cross
arm "d" attached at the upper end of this spindle carries a pair of heavy
balls "ee" and one or two handles "f." This arrangement is practically what is
known as a "fly" press or stamp. To the lower end of the spindle "c" is attached
the mould " G" the attachment being such that whilst the spindle not only rises and
falls but also necessarily rotates, the rotary motion is not necessarily imparted to the
mould. In some cases, as for example in the moulding of pots by the use of the mould
shewn in Figures 3 and 4 a rotary motion of the mould would be fatal to the operation.
When this is the case the mould "g" is provided with a couple of lugs "h" between
which fits the vertical stop "i" bolted or cast on the table "j" carrying the blocks "k."
This arrangement of lugs "h" and stop "i" prevents any rotation of the mould "g"
when moulding or pressing the pot into shape.
m
The revolving table "j" is fitted on a turned bearing "a' a" forming part of, or
attached to the pillar or standard "a. a." A bevel wheel "/" attached to the underside
of the table gears with a second bevel wheel " " fixed or keyed on the
horizontal shaft "n." On this same shaft is keyed a trundle wheel consisting of the
two discs "o," having between them pins "p." The number of pins "p" is the same
as the number of moulding blocks "k." A hooked bar or paw! "q" attached at one
end to the lever engages with these pins and when moved from the position
shewn in Figure 6 to that shewn in Figure 1 the table "j" is moved round so as to
bring the next block under the mould. This motion is effected from the foot lever "s"
keyed on the same shaft "t" as the lever "r." A weighted lever "; น (or a spring)
brings the pawl "q" back into the position shewn in Figure 6.
6.
وو
"
"
"
The moulding apparatus proper consists of the block or blocks "k" for shaping or
forming the inside of the pots, the mould "g" for shaping the outside, the moveable
piece 0 for shaping the outside of the bottom of the pot and the loose rim or
rims w." The blocks "k" when several are used may be arranged on an endless
travelling band or on a revolvable table "j" as shewn. This by means of the bevel
wheels "" and "m" pawl "q" and levers " "" "and". 8 may as above described be
intermittently rotated in such a manner as that the blocks "k" are brought successively
under the mould "G" which latter is raised and lowered at suitable times (by means
of the above described fly press or stamp mechanism) on to each block as the same
takes its place beneath the mould. The moveable piece "v" for shaping the bottom
of the pot is attached to the mould "g so that its vertical motion is partly indepen-
dent of that of the mould "g" that is the moveable piece "" is capable of a slight
vertical movement with reference to the mould. This vertical movement in a down-
55
"
$ "
ward direction is produced either by means of a spring I as shewn in Figures 3
and 5 or by means of a weight "x" as shewn in Figure 1. The spring (or weight)
retains the moveable piece "against the bottom of the pot, whilst the mould "
is being raised from the moulded pot, so that the latter is not owing to suction or
9

page_text: "
adhesion raised with the mould "g" but remains on the block "k." By means of a
couple of pins "yy" attached on opposite sides of the moveable piece
"y" and
projecting through short vertical slits or slot holes in the side of the mould "
the continued upward motion of the mould a little later raises the moveable piece "v"
also with it.
I
The top edge of the pot rests upon the before mentioned loose rim "w" by means
of which the pot can be lifted off the block and carried away without any necessity for
touching or handling the pot itself thus obviating any risk of the pot being damaged
from this cause.
I wish it to be understood that I lay no claim to the arrangement of the revolving
table nor to the means for actuating this and for raising and lowering the mould as
above described and shewn nor do I intend to limit myself to the use of these, but have
merely described and illustrated them in order to shew how my Invention may be
carried into practice.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of the outer mould "g" and the blocks "k" with the moveable
piece""substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. The combination with the subject matters of claim 1 of a spring (or weight)
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
3. The method of moulding pots or other articles on blocks or coves, by covering
the blocks with clay or other plastic or semi-plastic material and then forcing the
mould over them.
4. In combination with the subject matter of claim 3 the use of moveable rims "
substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
W
"
5. The general arrangement and combination of the various parts forming my
Improved apparatus for moulding pots and other articles all substantially as herein set
forth and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 6.
Dated this 25th day of November 1889