Improvements in Apparatus used in the Manufacture of Tin and Terne Plates.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus used in the Manufacture of Tin and
Terne Plates.
I, JOHN HENRY ROGERS of Glyncoed, Llanelly, South Wales, Tin Plate
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
The object of my invention is to ensure uniformity in the coating of the plates
by ensuring that all plates shall be introduced at a uniform speed into the bath of
coating metal, that they shall all remain in the bath for a uniform length of time.
and shall all be withdrawn uniformly at the saine speed. Heretofore these objects
have been more or less attained by carrying the plates through the bath of coating
metal at a uniform speed by pairs of revolving rollers immersed in the bath-the
use however of rollers for carrying the plates into and out of the bath is attended
with many disadvantages.
According to my invention I construct apparatus in such manner that the plates
to be coated can first be placed singly into compartments of a rack which is within
the upper part of a flux pot above the surface of the metal in the pot containing
the coating metal-then taken automatically from this rack and lowered into the
compartments of a rack which is immersed in the coating metal then carried
endwise in this rack to one end of the bath of coating metal and finally lifted from
the bath and deposited into a receiving rack above this end of the bath from
which they can be taken one by one and deposited into a grease finishing pot.
To effect this I preferably form the rack into which the plates to be coated are
first placed of a number of parallel vertical divisions at a distance apart from one
another and with a ledge projecting to one side at the bottom of each division for
the plates to be coated to rest on. This ledge I make narrower than the space
between the divisions so that a gap is left between the ledge on one division and
the next division.
To take the plates from this rack I employ a horizontal table which is alternately
raised up from the metal bath and lowered into it the raising being effected rapidly
and the lowering comparatively slowly.
On the top of the table are a number of short projections which each taper
upwards to an edge. As many of these projections are used as there are spaces in
the rack. When the table is raised up out of the metal bath the projections upon
it rise up into the spaces between the divisions of the rack these divisions and the
ledge at the bottom being cut away to allow them to do so. The projections come
against the bottom of the plates which are within the rack and lift them off from
the ledges; the plates then slide down the inclined sides of the projections and
rest on the horizontal table. The horizontal table is then lowered and carries the
plates down with it into the compartments of a rack immersed in the coating metal
and the horizontal table descends below the bottom of this rack so that the plates
are left in the rack.
This rack into which the plates have now been placed is carried by a horizontal
bar which is above the bath of coating metal and parallel with one of its sides.
The bar is now moved end wise to carry the rack to one' end of the bath and at the
same time bring a second rack which the bar also carries into the position
previously occupied by the first rack.
The plates contained in the rack which has now been moved to one end of the bath
are now lifted in a similar manner to that in which they were previously lowered
and are brought into the compartments of a receiving rack which is above the
surface of the metal in the metal bath. The receiving rack is then caused to move
sidewise so that ledges at the bottom of its divisions come below the plates which

page_text: have been raised and support these plates when the horizontal lifting table which
previously raised them again descends.
Preferably I have two pairs of racks in the coating bath one pair carried by a
horizontal bar along one side of the top of the pot-the other pair by a bar along
the other side of the top of the pot. In this way there will always be two racks at
the centre of the coating bath ready to receive plates at the time when plates are
being lowered into the bath-and when the racks have received the plates one
rack may be moved to one end of the bath and the other to the opposite end.
When the plates have been lifted into receiving racks above the metal a boy at
each end of the bath may then take the plates one by one and deposit them into a
grease finishing pot-there being a separate grease finishing pot conveniently
placed close to each end of the coating pot.
Each finishing pot may conveniently have four sets of four rolls within it-and
four coated plates may be lifted at a time from each end of the coating pot. The
boy will then take the plates one by one and drop them into the finishing pot
through the spaces between the pairs of rolls and will then have time to cause the
plates to be lifted up one by one between the rolls and to pass them on to a wiping
or cleaning apparatus before another set of four plates is lifted from the bath for
him to treat in the same way.
To give the sideway movement to the receiving racks at the proper time I
preferably carry them by the lower arm, of vertical levers the upper arm of each
of which is by a link coupled to the lower arm of a second lever the upper arm of
which carries a weight which if the arm is moved in either direction past a vertical
position throws the arm quickly over into an inclined position. To throw it over
at the proper times projections on the rod which carries the horizontal lifting plate
are made to strike against the upper or under sides of a third arm on the rocking
lever.
The lifting plates at the two ends and the lowering plate at the centre of the
coating bath may all be secured to one frame so as all to rise and descend at the
same time.
The raising and lowering of the plates and shifting of the racks all at the required
times may be effected in the following manner.
The horizontal lifting and lowering plates may as above stated all be fixed to
one frame. This frame at its ends may be connected by links to the ends of
horizontal levers acted on by cams on a cam shaft.
The shifting sidewise of the racks in the bath may also be effected by coupling
the horizontal bars which carry them to other levers acted on by cams on the saine
cam shaft.
In place of the plates being taken by a boy froin the receiving racks and dropped
into the finishing pot they might be taken from the receiving rack by a holder and
carried in this holder over the finishing pot and dropped one by one from the
holder as the holder comes in succession over the spaces between the sets
of rolls.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1901
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus used in the Manufacture of Tin and
Terne Plates.
I, JOHN HENRY ROGERS of Glyncoed, Llanelly, South Wales, Tin Plate
Manufacturer, 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 :-
The object of my invention is mainly to ensure uniformity in the coating of the

page_text: plates by ensuring that all plates shall be introduced at a uniform speed into the
bath of coating metal, that they shall all remain in the bath for a uniform length
of time and shall all be withdrawn uniformly at the same speed.
Heretofore these objects have been more or less attained by carrying the plates
through the bath of coating metal at a uniform speed by pairs of revolving rollers
immersed in the bath-the use however of rollers for carrying the plates into and
out of the bath is attended with many disadvantages.
According to my invention I construct apparatus in such manner that the plates
to be coated are first placed into compartments of a rack which is above the pot
containing the coating metal and are by mechanism actuated by a continuously
revolving shaft taken automatically from this rack and lowered through a flux pot
into the compartments of a rack which is immersed in the coating metal then
carried by this rack in a horizontal direction through the metal and finally
lifted from the pot and deposited into a receiving rack from which they can be
taken one by one and deposited into a grease finishing pot.
The drawings annexed shew an apparatus constructed in the manner I prefer
for carrying out my invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section.
Figure 2 is a plan shewing the mechanism for moving the racks which receive
the plates as they are raised from the pot and for bringing the plates over
finishing pots.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross section through the line A. B Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through the line C D.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of mechanism for pressing plates down into the
coating metal.
Figure 6 is a plan of part of the same.
A is the pot of coating metal kept heated in any desired manner. B a flux box
above it. C is a rack above the flux box it is divided into 8 or it might be other
number of compartments each for receiving a separate plate. The rack is carried
by an arm C₁ which extends from a rock shaft C. When the rack is to be
filled with plates it is turned upwards into an inclined position and when the
plates are to be taken from it it is lowered into a vertical position as shewn in
Figure 3.
The partitions of the rack are as shewn formed with ledges C at the bottom on
which the bottom of the plates rest.
DD are two pairs of racks immersed in the coating metal in the pot A one
pair carried by a bar D' which extends along one side of the pot and can be
moved endwise to and fro through suitable bearings and the other pair carried by
a similar bar D which is on the opposite side of the pot.
When one bar D' is moved in one direction the other bar is moved in the
opposite direction and at the end of each movement one of the two racks which
cach bar carries is always brought to the centre of the pot and into a position to
have plates lowered into it from the rack C.
Each rack D is formed with four compartments if the rack C is formed with
eight compartments so that when these racks are at rest there are in the two racks
which are then at the centre of the bath 8 compartiments ready to receive 8 plates
from the 8 compartments of the rack C.
To take the plates from the rack C and lower them into the racks D lifting
tables E are used. The racks are in vertical sections or divisions and the lifting
tables E can be raised or lowered through the spaces between these divisions.
The lifting tables are serrated on the top as shewn in Figure 3. When the lifting
tables are raised the inclines of the serrations come below the plates and lift them
at the same time that it moves them sidewise and takes them off from the ledges C³
so that the plates then rest on the lifting tables and when these tables are moved
downwards the plates go down with them clear of the ledges and are carried down
into the compartments of the racks D.
The lifting tables E are carried by a horizontal longitudinal bar F this at its

page_text: DITCSC Dais agam descenu TULO the Darn. As the receiving racks Ti
continue to be moved to one side they bring the plates over finishing grease
pots 1 and attendants take them from the rack one by one and drop them
into this pot in position for them to be raised by pairs of rolls I-one plate by
each pair.
K is a revolving shaft from which motion is transmitted to the various parts of
the apparatus.
A cain L upon it gives movement to a pair of lever arins F¹ which at their ends
carry a frame F to which the bar F is attached and give an up and down movement
to this bar.
The frame F has a vertical guide bar F rising up from it and extending through
a fixed guide F4.
Above the top of the guide bar F3 is suspended a weight M by a wire cord M'
which passes over guide pulleys and downwards to an arm C₁ fixed on the rock
shaft C which carries the rack C. When the frame and vertical guide bar F³
are raised the guide bar lifts the weight M and then the rack C is lowered into
position just above the flux box B and the rack remains down in this position so
long as the weight is upheld by the guide bar F³. When this bar has descended
far enough to allow the weight to hang upon the cord M' the rack C turns upwards
into an inclined position and when in this position plates can readily be placed into
it by an attendant.
The bars D' have movement given to them simultaneously in opposite directions
by their being connected by links D' one to a lever D³ the other to a lever D-
the lever D³ is continued beyond the axis on which it rocks and a pin D³ extending
from this continuation is moved first in one direction and then in the opposite
direction by arms N' N' on a rocking shaft N. Similar arms N2 N2 on this shaft
act on a pin D which extends from the lever D and during the time that one of
each pair of arms leaves the pin and the other one coming into contact with it the
levers and therefore the racks remain at rest. The shaft N has a rocking motion
given to it by an arm N³ which extends from it being coupled by a rod N' to a crank
pin which stands out from one side of the cam L.
This crank pin and another similar crank pin O' also serve to move the receiving
racks H to and fro.
The receiving rack H are carried by arms from two vertical axes H' one at one
'end of the bath of coating metal the other at the other end-arms on these axes
are coupled together by a connecting rod in such a way that when one rack is
brought into position above the metal bath the other is also brought above the
bath and that' when one is moved aside the other is moved aside also. On the axiś
at one end is a pulley P around which is led a wire rope Q. One end of the rope
is attached to a lever R and the other after being led over a guide pulley has a
weight S hung on to it.
A second arm R' of this lever is acted upon by the pins 0, 0¹ as they are brought
round against it by the revolving of the shaft K.
When the arm R is raised by one of the crank pins O, O' coming against it a
quarter turn is given to the pulley P and the receiving racks H thereby brought
over the racks D in the tinning pot.
When the crank pin has passed the end of the arm R' the weight S pulling
upon the rope gives a quarter turn to 'the pulley P in the opposite direction and
brings the receiving racks H over the grease pots.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-Ong boy fills 8 plates into the

page_text: rack C whenever it is raised into its inclined position. As the shaft H revolves
the filled rack is lowered into position over the grease pot. The lifting tables then
rise and take the plates from the rack and deliver them into two of the racks D
which are below it. These racks are then shifted one to one end of the metal bath
and the other to the opposite end.
The lifting tables are next caused to rise and raise the plates up from these
racks and deliver them into the receiving racks H-at the same time the tables
again take other fresh plates which are to be coated from the rack C which has
again been filled. Afterwards the receiving racks H carry the coated plates over
the finishing grease pots and other boys take the plates from them one by one and
drop them into the grease pot from which they are then raised by the pairs of
revolving rollers and as they come from the rollers are taken from them by the
same boys and passed on to be finished preferably by being passed through bràn or
other cleaning material and subsequent dusting.
In
In some cases when coating with a metal which is of high specific gravity it is
necessary to apply means to depress the plates down into the coating metal.
such cases I complete the immersion of the plates in the metal by causing arms T
shewn in Figs. 5 and 6 to descend down on to them as they are being lowered into
the racks D. The arms are carried on a rock shaft U and arm moved at the
required time by a projection-on the guide rod then coming down on to one arm
of a lever V from the other arm of which a weighted rod V hangs down and a pin
on the rod enters a slot in a second arm on the rock shaft U.
When the guide rod again ascends the weighted rod lifts the arms T into their
normal position.
It is not essential that the apparatus should be constructed as above described in
such manner that the plates to be coated are lowered into the coating metal at the
centre of the bath and then some carried to one end of the bath and the others to
the opposite end of the bath but in most cases I prefer to do so. Other mechanical
arrangements than those above described may also be adopted for conveying the
plates into and out of the coating bath so long as all these movements are controlled
by the revolving of a uniformly revolving shaft and all plates thereby lowered at
one uniform speed into the bath and all remain in it for the same. length of time
and are all raised out from it at a uniform speed.
The advantages attained by coating plates by machinery constructed as above
described are-
1st. The iron or steel plates can be left as short a time in the coating metal as
is consistent with proper coating, and in this way a plate can be made of any
quality with a minimum of coating metal, as the longer a plate remains in the metal
the more soaks into the pores of the plate and disappears.
2nd. That the plate can be passed at a slow and uniform speed through the flux
into the metal so as to insure thorough and equal coating.
3rd. A larger amount of plates can be coated in a given time with a certain
quantity of coating metal laying idle.
4th. The amount of labour required to coat a given quantity of plates is much
reduced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus to be used in the manufacture of tin and terne plates constructed
in such a manner that plates placed into a rack above the pot of coating metal
are by a lifting appliance taken from this rack and then lowered at one uniform
speed and placed into another rack which is immersed in the metal, then carried in
this rack into another position in the pot and then raised at one uniform speed out
of the metal.
2. Apparatus to be used in the manufacture of tin and terne plates constructed
in such a manner that plates placed into a rack above the pot of coating metal are

page_text: by the working of the apparatus taken from this rack and lowered at one uniform
speed into the metal and placed into another rack which is immersed in the metal,
then carried in this rack into a position below a receiving rack which is above the
pot and then raised at one uniform speed and placed into this receiving rack.
3. Apparatus to be used in the manufacture of tin and terne plates constructed
in such a manner that by the revolution of a uniformly revolving shaft plates which
have been placed into a rack above the pot of coating metal are taken from this
rack and lowered into another rack immersed in the metal shifted edgewise in a
horizontal direction through the metal and finally lifted from the metal and
deposited into a receiving rack.
4. Apparatus to be used in the manufacture of tin and terne plates constructed
with a rack above the centre of a long pot or bath of coating metal for the plates
which are to be coated to be placed into two pairs of racks immersed in the metal
and capable of being moved end wise in opposite directions so that at one time two
racks one of each pair may be at the centre of the bath ready for plates to be
lowered into them and the other rack of each pair may be one at one end of the
pot and the other at the other end of the pot each below a receiving rack which is
above the end of the pot and a lifting table to take the plates from the supply
rack and lower them into the immersed racks which have been brought below it
and to lift the plates from the racks which are at the ends of the pot and deliver
them into receiving racks as herein described.
5. The construction of the supplying and receiving racks with ledges at the
bottom for the plates to rest on substantially as described.
6. The lifting tables for taking the plates out of the supplying racks, lowering
them into the metal and subsequently raising them out.
7. Giving to the receiving racks a sideway movement when plates have been
raised up into them by the lifting tables so that they take the plates and support
them when the tables again descend.
8. The construction of apparatus used in the manufacture of tin and terne plates
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 1st day of March 1892.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.