Improvements in Machinery for Moulding, Pressing, and Delivering Tiles, Quarries, Bricks, Artificial Fuel, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1990
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 19th June, 1899
Date of Application, 20th Mar., Toyo
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 19th June, 1899
Improvements in Machinery for Moulding, Pressing, and Delivering
Tiles, Quarries, Bricks, Artificial Fuel, and the like.
I, REGINALD STANLEY, J.P., of Manor Court, Nuneaton, in the County of War-
wick, Engineer and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows -
This invention consists of improvements in machinery for moulding pressing
and delivering in an unburnt state tiles, quarries, bricks, artificial fuel, and other
articles made of clay, terra cotta, loam, saw-dust, fine coal or other material or
materials, whether in a dry, semi-dry, powdered, granulated, meist or plastic
condition.
As my invention is specially intended for the manufacture of good quality
bricks (both solid and perforated) from semi-dry clay dust, I will describe it chiefly
in this connection, the nature of the said improvements which constitute my
present invention being as follows.
The whole operation of moulding and pressing the article is performed from
one cam, exerting a pressure upon the top plunger, if the machine be, as I prefer
it should be, of a vertical type. (In this description, I will refer to a vertical
type, although, as will be readily understood, the leading features of the invention
could be applied with but slight modification to a horizontal form of machine.)
The lower plunger performs no actual pressing, but I produce an equivalent effect
by causing the die box, after the first pressing, to be forcibly lowered simultaneously
with the top plunger, the lower plunger resting meanwhile in its lowermost
position. Thus the same relative motion of die box and lower plunger is pro-
duced as if said plunger itself had been forced upward.
The same cam which performs these pressing operation or operations may be
utilized to deliver the completed brick by lifting up a frame temporarily con-
nected to the lower plunger, and also to return the die box to its normal position,
when the latter may be locked to the framing by automatic. spring catches, or
otherwise.
Another feature of my invention consists in producing a perforated brick or
article, the perforating process being carried out simultaneously with the pressing,
by having a number of upright fixed studs or pins extending through holes in
the lower die (or plunger), around which the clay dust or material is dropped and
compressed and up which the completed article slides on being delivered from
the die by the rising of the lower plunger.
The cam above referred to is mounted upon the main shaft, virtually the only
shaft, of the machine, and driven either through reducing gear or by direct
coupling from any suitable source of motive power. This shaft is situated between
two rollers arranged one above the other and adapted to receive an up or down
motion from the cam carried upon the shaft. The upper roller controls the lower
plunger and the lower the upper one. The upper roller is mounted upon a short
cross bar connected to four vertical rods forming a sort of frame which is carried

page_text: downwardly to some distance below the die box, the lower ends of the rods being
united by a plate, crosshead, or equivalent. This plate, which may be termed the
"raising plate," contains a hole through which the spindle of the lower plunger
may hang freely, excepting when it is desired to raise same, when, (the frame
having descended to its lowest position) a catch plate or bolt springs or is forced
across the hole, lifting up the spindle with the raising plate as soon as the frame is
raised, and thus delivering an article from the die box. The lower plunger is
supported normally upon a bridge picce carried rigidly upon the machine framing.
The lower roller acts in a more direct manner upon the upper plunger, the
latter being secured to a block resting upon brackets carried by the vertical side
rods before mentioned, or otherwise secured to said side rods. This block is
hollowed out in such a way as to provide a suitable bearing for the roller and
at the same time serve as an oil box.
The die box is supported by bolts which can be withdrawn so as to enable it
to move downwards sufficiently for compressing the lower face of the brick or other
article. I work these bolts automatically by a pair of internal cams mounted
upon the same cam shaft on each side of the pressing cam, and adapted to raise
and lower a pair of rods bevelled or inclined at their ends so as to withdraw, on
being lowered, the bolts which support the die box, and allow same to spring or
be forced into place again when raised. The said cams, which may be of the
simplest form, also regulate the motion of the feed box, and the latter during
its forward travel may, by means of a lever connection, be arranged to withdraw
or assist in withdrawing the catch plate or bolt, thus permitting the lower plunger
or die to fall down again in position within the die box.
The pressing cam is by preference external, and is specially shaped to perform
the necessary series of pressing operations in one revolution.“
Thus, at the commencement of an operation, a rise on the surface of the cam
acting on the lower roller will give a preliminary pressure to the material in the
mould box. Then, as the pressure becomes relaxed, a small ridge upon the cam's
surface lifts up momentarily the upper roller, and with it the rods supporting the
block which carries the upper plunger, thus giving the latter a sudden lift. By
this time a slightly higher rise upon the cam's surface commences to bear upon
the lower roller, which being continued not only causes the upper die to descend
lower than before but also forces certain *
pressure blocks," suitably attached to
the block above mentioned, to press down the die box, as already described.
In some cases one downward pressure only is necessary in which case the lifting
ridge on the cam is dispensed with, and the "pressure blocks" press down the die
box at the finish of the one pressure.
D
Improvements in Machinery for Moulding, Pressing, and Delivering
Tiles, Quarries, Bricks, Artificial Fuel, and the like.
I, REGINALD STANLEY, J.P., of Manor Court, Nuneaton, in the County of War-
wick, Engineer and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention consists of improvements in machinery for moulding, pressing,
and delivering, in an unburnt state, tiles, quarries, bricks, artificial fuel, and other
articles made of clay, terra-cotta, loam, sawdust, fine coal or other material or
materials, whether in a dry, semi-dry, powdered, granulated, moist, or plastic
condition.
As my invention is specially intended for the manufacture of good quality
bricks (both solid and perforated) from semi-dry clay dust, I will describe it chiefly
in this connection, the nature of the said improvements which constitute my
present invention being as follows.
The whole operation of moulding and pressing the article is performed from
one cam, exerting a pressure upon the top plunger, if the machine be, as I prefer
it should be, of a vertical type. (In this description I will refer to a vertical
type, although, as will be readily understood, the leading features of the invention
could be applied with but slight modification to a horizontal form of machine.)
The lower plunger performs no actual pressing, but I produce an equivalent effect
by causing the die box, after the first pressing, to be forcibly lowered simultaneously
with the top plunger, the lower plunger resting meanwhile in its lowermost
position. Thus the same relative motion of die box and lower plunger is pro-
duced as if said plunger itself had been forced upward.
The same cani which performs the pressing operation or operations may be
utilized to deliver the completed tile or the like by lifting up a frame temporarily
connected to the lower plunger, and also to return the die box to its normal position,
when the latter may be locked to the framing by automatic spring catches, or
otherwise.
Another feature of my invention consists in producing a perforated brick or
article, the perforating process being carried out simultaneously with the pressing,
by having a number of upright fixed studs or pins extending through holes in
the lower die (or plunger) around which the clay dust or material dropped from
above is compressed, and up said studs the completed article slides on being
delivered from the die by the rising of the lower plunger.
The cam above referred to is mounted upon the main shaft, virtually the only
shaft, of the machine, and driven either through reducing gear or by direct
coupling from any suitable source of motive power.
In order to enable my invention and manner of working same to be more clearly
understood, the accompanying drawings will hereinafter be referred to, the various
parts being indicated by letters of reference, the same letters in the several figures
referring to the same or similar parts of the apparatus.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a front elevation of a machine eonstructed according to
my present invention, the die box being shown in section.
Figure 2 (Sheet 2) is a sectional side elevation.
Figures 3 and 4 (Sheet 3) are sectional elevation and sectional plan respectively
of the die box, showing the arrangement for causing holes or perforations to
be made in the compressed material.
In Figures 1 and 2, a and a¹ are fast and loose pulleys for transmitting power
through the shaft b to the main shaft g by means of the gearing wheels c, d, e,
and f. The shaft may, however, be connected direct to the engine or motor
without the intervention of said pulleys a and ', a friction brake in this case
being introduced.
The shaft g is mounted upon two strong standards A A placed a short distance
apart, the cam B being situated between them. Above and below the cam (which
is of external type) are the two rollers C and C respectively, the upper roller C
controlling the lower plunger, and the lower roller C the upper plunger.
The upper roller C is mounted upon a strong cross bar connected to four vertical
rods D D D D₁, which are free to move in a vertical direction between suitable
guides, and which are carried downwardly to some distance below the die box E.

page_text: The lower ends of the rods D D D D are united by a plate, crosshead, or
equivalent F, which I may term the "raising plate," its function being to raise up
the lower plunger or spindle G and its plunger head or die block H, for the purpose
of delivering a moulded article from the die box. Said lower plunger G passes
through a hole in the raising plate F, and is automatically locked in engagement
therewith at the desired moment by a catch plate or bolt J, which springs (or is
forced) across the hole, entering into or underneath the spindle G, as hereinafter
described. When the bolt J is withdrawn, after the plunger head H has been
raised, the latter falls down again, coming to rest upon a bridge piece K, which is
securely and rigidly connected to the side frames or standards A A'.
The lower roller C is carried within a hollowed out block L, supported upon
lugs M (Figure 1) on the side rods D D D D¹, or otherwise attached to said rods,
and guided by suitable vertical guides in the framing or standards. The cavity
in the block L is conveniently shaped so as to form a bearing to receive the roller,
being made sufficiently deep to serve as an oil box. The upper plunger or die
block N is secured to the sliding block L, and may carry a removable die plate N¹,
and also pressure blocks" 0 0 for the purpose of pressing the die box down as
hereinafter described.
6
The die box E is normally supported by bolts P P¹ which can be withdrawn so
as to enable it to move downwards within a certain limit. Said bolts are worked
automatically by a pair of rods Q Q¹ (Figure 1), wedge shaped or inclined at their
ends, which bear against the bolts in such a way, that the latter are withdrawn
by the lowering of said rods Q Q', and spring back (or are forced) into place again
when the rods are raised. The requisite vertical motion is given to the rods Q Q¹
by a pair of internal cams R R', mounted upon the same cam shaft upon each
side of the pressing cam B, acting upon two small rollers S S¹, one upon each of
the rods Q Q¹.
The said cams R R¹, which may be of simple ovate form, also give motion to
the feed box T (Figure 2), by means of two similar rollers U U₁ carried upon the
forked extremities of a bell-crank lever O' pivotted to a bracket or other suitable
support at the other extremity being connected by a link V to the feed box T.
It may be sufficient in some cases to employ a single roller U, working in one of
the cams R or R'. The forward motion of the feed box (about to feed the die) is
also utilized for withdrawing the catch plate or bolt J before mentioned. This is
effected by means of lever W, linked at one end to the box T by a link V2, and
connected at the other end by a pin and slot or equivalent device with a rod J¹
acting upon the plate or bolt J.
In case from any cause, such as friction caused by particles of dust, the bottom
die block H should not fall on to the bridge piece K upon the release of the catch
plate or bolt J, I may provide means for ensuring this, consisting of a chain W
(Figure 2), actuated by the lever W and secured to a rod G¹ which is screwed into
the spindle G of the bottom die block H, whereby the latter is compelled to return
to its proper position.
The pressing cam B is preferably external in character, but may, as an alter-
native, be of the internal type, its shape being always such as to perform the
necessary series of pressing operations in one revolution.
The working of the machine is as follows, the relative positions of the various
parts being as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. The die
box E is filled with the material (to be compressed and moulded) by the feed box T
(which is assumed to be travelling back in the direction shown by the arrow,
Figure 2), and the main shaft g being rotated by the motive power through the
gear wheels c, d, e and f causes the cam B to revolve in the direction shown by
arrow. The cam B in rotating bears on the lower roller C, which depresses the
sliding block L, causing the die block N and die plate N¹ to enter the die box E.
The material thus becomes compressed for the first time, after which the sliding
block L and die block N are lifted slightly (by means of the projection A² on
cam B engaging roller C) and then descend lower than before, compressing the

page_text: material still more until the cam can press no further. While this second pressure
is going on, the upper roller C is descending on the opposite surface of the cam B,
thereby lowering the raising plate F, which eventually travels below the end of
the spindle or plunger of the bottom die block or plunger head H,
or sufficiently low to enable the catch plate J to pass across underneath
the spindle or to lock into the same. I may effect this either by springs, or (as
shown in Figure 1) by having a wedge shaped projection X on standard or frame A,
against which the plate J comes into contact.
During this period, the feed box T has travelled back and is being refilled in
the usual manner, the rod J' being in its forward position and the chain W slack.
At the same time that the die block N is lifted slightly, the wedge shaped ends
of bars Q, actuated by the two small rollers S S from the cams R R, withdraw the
bolts PP, thus leaving the die box E without support, which will, however,
remain temporarily in position by the friction of the material against the sides
of the die. The upper die block N again descends, when the pressure blocks O
bearing upon the die box E move it downwards during the remainder of the
stroke, thus producing the equivalent of an upward pressure of the bottom die
block H.
The rotation of the cam B then causes the upper roller C and also the die
block N to rise by means of the lugs or projections M on the side rods D. D
engaging on the underside of the sliding block L, and with it the raising plate F
which during its upward path causes the catch plate J to engage with the spindle &
and lift the die block H with it. It is thus that the brick or pressed article is
lifted from the die box E, whence it is removed by the operator. In travelling
upwards, other lugs or projections V on the rods D D' engage with the lower side
of die box E and thereby lift it into its original position where it is retained by
the spring bolts P' and P.
By the time the compressed material has been lifted out of the die box E and
removed by the operator, the feed box T has begun to travel towards the die box E
and after travelling a short distance actuates the lever W, thereby causing the
bottom die block H to return to its position as before described.
The die box E is then ready to receive a new charge of material and the
process is repeated.
The bracket 1, screwed to the plate F, together with the hand wheel G and
screwed sleeve 12 provide means of adjusting the amount of material delivered
into the die box E. If the hand wheel G2 is screwed up, the bottom die block H
is prevented from falling to its full extent by reason of the spindle G coming in
contact with the top of the screwed sleeve F, thus limiting the space in the die.
box E, although as soon as the process of compression takes place the die block ti
comes to its proper position on the bridge K, owing to the descending of the plate
or crosshead F to which the bracket F¹ is fastened.
In Figures 3 and 4, the die block N and the die plate N¹_contain holes or.
recesses Z, as shown in drawing. Secured to the bridge piece K is a removable
block K, carrying the rods H' by means of which the holes or perforations are
made in the compressed material. The bottom die block H has corresponding
holes through which the said rods H project and in rising carries the perforated
article to the top which is then removed.
66
In some cases one downward pressure only of the upper die block is sufficient,
in which case the lifting ridge A on the cam B is dispensed with, and the
pressure blocks" 00 press down the die box E at the end of the one pressure.
It may be noted that the motion of the walls of the die against the edges of
the article while under its maximum compression results in a smooth and even
surface being given to the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
5tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:-
1. In machinery for moulding, pressing and delivering tiles, quarries. bricks.

page_text: artificial fuel or the like, a revoluble shaft on which is mounted a cam adapted
to afford singly the necessary degree or degrees of pressure within the die box at
the requisite intervals, and also after moulding and pressing to deliver each article
from the machine substantially in the manner hereinbefore specified.
2. In machinery for moulding, presssing and delivering tiles, quarries, bricks,
artificial fuel. or. the like, a cam combined with a single pressing plunger, a
delivering plunger; and a movable die box, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3. In machinery for moulding, pressing and delivering tiles, quarries, bricks,
artificial fuel or the like, the combination with a revoluble shaft of a cam, a pair
of rollers situated oppositely about the periphery of said cam, a pressing plunger
or block connected with one of said rollers, a delivery plunger or block in inter-
mittent working connection with the other of said rollers, a movable .die box, a
ridge or projection upon said eam for giving two distinct pressures in each
revolution, together with means for locking and unlocking the delivering plunger
into or out of engagement with-its cam actuated roller, also for releasing the die
box from engagement with the machine framing and for raising it again after it
has been lowered, also means for operating the feed box at desired intervals, sub-
stantially as described.
4. In machinery for moulding, pressing and delivering tiles, quarries, bricks,
artificial fuel or the like, the combination with a revoluble shaft of a pressing and
delivering cam, a pressing plunger or block acted upon directly by said cam,
sliding connecting rods united at their lower ends by a crosshead and also operated
directly by said cam, a movable die box, lugs upon said connecting rods for lifting
the die box into position, a delivering plunger passing through said crosshead,
together with a second cam or a pair of cams upon the said revoluble shaft, com-
bined with a lever for working the feed box, a bolt connected to said feed box for
locking the delivery plunger to the crosshead before mentioned, side rods having
lugs for supporting the pressing block, and wedges for withdrawing the bolts
supporting the die box, the whole operated in the manner substantially as described.
5. In machinery for moulding, pressing and delivering tiles, quarries, bricks,
artificial fuel or the like, a die box capable of a limited longitudinal movement
combined with two plungers, one of said plungers, namely that which delivers the
pressed article from the die box being perforated, and the opposite plunger being
correspondingly recessed or perforated, and a block carried upon a rigid crosspiece
and provided with a number of rods firmly fixed therein and projecting through
said perforated delivering plunger into the die box for the purpose and sub-
stantially in the manner specified, with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
6. The method of moulding, pressing and delivering tiles, quarries, bricks,
artificial fuel or the like by means of pressure within the die box in a single
direction, dispensing with any positive pressure in the opposite direction, sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. The method of making moulded and pressed perforated tiles, quarries, bricks,
or the like by the means described and illustrated with more especial reference to
Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.