Improvements in Machines for Moulding Plastic Material.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Moulding Plastic Material.
I, HALLACK ABBEY PENROSE of No. 23 Franklin Street, New London,
County of New London, State of Connecticut, United States of America,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention is adapted for the manufacture of sportsmen's flying targets, or of
other articles moulded from plastic material, and the invention consists in combining
with a series of rotary mould blocks, each bearing a series of dies, a rotary carriage
for carrying the blocks into successive positions, for supplying, compressing, cooling,
and ejecting the targets, and in suitable mechanism for rendering said arrangement
operative, as hereinafter claimed.
Referring to drawings:
Figure 1, is a front elevation of the machine, partly shown in section on the
line, Figure 2;
Figure 2, a side elevation partly shown in section on the line y-y, Figure 1;
Figure 3, an enlarged sectional view of one of the rams; and
Figure 4, a plan view of the machine partly shown in horizontal section on the
line 2, Figure 2;
Figure 5, is an enlarged detail view showing the saddle which supports the
rotary carriage, taken in section, on the line x²-², of Figure 6;
Figure 6, a plan view of the saddle;
Figure 7, a plan view of the rotary carriage frame;
Figure 8, a cross section of Figure 7, taken on the line y²-y²;
Figure 9, a detail view showing the locking segments and sectionally showing
the toothed segment, on the main shaft for actuating the carriage;
Figure 10, a cross section of Figure 9, taken at
-z³ ;
Figure 11, a cross section of Figure 9 taken at 3-³ showing also a part of the
locking flange of the rotary carriage;
Figure 12, an inverted plan view of the main toothed beveled gear and locking
flange of the carriage;
Figure 13, a sectional view of Figure 12, taken on the line y³-y³ ;
Figure 14, a plan view of the stationary ring bearing projections by which the
mould blocks are turned over ;
Figure 15, a cross section of Figure 14, taken at 23-3, showing one of the
turning wheels of the mould blocks;
Figure 16, a plan view of the stationary locking ring for securing the mould
blocks;
Figure 17..a cross section of Figure 16, taken at 2* -, showing one of the
locking disks of the said blocks ;
Figure 18, a further enlarged plan view of one of the mould blocks;
Figure 19, a sectional view of Figure 18, taken on the line a¹-x; and
Figure 20, a further enlarged sectional view of the dies of one of the moulds.
A series of mold blocks 14, preferably four, are mounted in a circle on the rotary
carriage 6, supported by its pintle 7, in the saddle 5, mounted in the framework 1,
2, 3, 4, of the machine.
Each block 14, is rotatively supported by its trunnions in bearings 11, 12, in the
rim 9, and hub 8, of the carriage.

page_text: Two rams 20, are mounted in a reciprocating cross-head 21, moved by
eccentries 25, on the driving shaft 23, journalled in bearings 33, in the framework.
This shaft 23, is driven by means of a countershaft 36 and gearing 35, 34, and
bears a beveled toothed segment pinion gear 51, which intermeshes at intervals in
the continuous rotation of the shaft 23, with the beveled toothed spur gear 50,
mounted on the carriage pintle 7.
The shaft 23, also bears two locking segments 60, which, during the inter-
mission of rotative movement imparted to the carriage by said gears 51, and 50,
enter a pair of the four recesses 61, in the locking flange 62, mounted on the
back of the spur gear 50, and hold the carriage temporarily in a fixed position.
The carriage 6, is revolved a quarter revolution at each revolution of the
shaft 23.
Guides 151 are provided under the saddle 5, (see Figure 5) for the locking
flange 62, and guides 150, for supporting the blocks 14, when under the rams.
Each mould block 14, has a turning wheel 70, secured to it, bearing teeth 71,
corresponding to the number of sides of the block, and each time the carriage is
moved a quarter revolution, two opposite blocks 14, (moving from a to b, and
from c to d, Figure 4), receive a quarter turn by the contact of said teeth 71, with
the projections 76, on the stationary ring 74, mounted on the saddle 5.
When a block has been thus turned it is temporarily locked against rotative
displacement by the contact of a flat surface 73, of its disk 72, with the ring 75,
also mounted on the saddle.
The mould blocks 14, have ejectors 81, operated by gravity to discharge the
targets from beneath the blocks when they arrive at positions b, and d, Figure 4,
and there is an endless conveying belt 40, driven by the shaft 23, through a
belt 45, and suitable pulleys 44, 43, and 41, for receiving the targets and cooling
them.
The mould blocks 14, and also the rams 20, are hollow and are kept cool by
water circulation, which in the carriage is effected by means of pipes 132, 133,
(Figure 1) rotary joints 138, 139, rotary trunnion connections in the blocks, and
return pipes 136 (Figure 4) and in each ram circulation is effected through
suitable flexible pipes 130, 131.
Partitions 200, Figures 18, and 19, divide the mould blocks centrally into an
inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, the cavities in the dies communicating
with each insuring the passage of the cold water into immediate contact with the
dies.
In Figure 3, the dies illustrated are adapted to mould the target convex side
down. In Figures 18, 19, 20, the dies are adapted to mould the target convex
side uppermost.
In the latter method, an advantage is obtained in securing a
better finish upon the convex side of the target. To this purpose the lower
die 201, is contoured above the surface of the block 14, Figure 20, which
surrounds it, and the upper die 202, in the ram, which is concave, is provided
with an annular valvular part 203, which owing to its advanced position caused
by springs 204, or otherwise, will close around the die 201, after the composition
has been fed but before it overflows, and confine the latter while the ram 20 follows
and compresses the material.
The hollow depression 205, and annular channel 206, serve to catch and retard
the overflow of the composition. The heads 207, limit the descent of the valvular
part 203, and the studs 208, raise it from the work after the ram has begun to
recede; the said part 203, serving also as a stripper through the action of the
springs 204.
The lower dies 201, are made separable in Figures 18, 19, 20; those 80, in the
preceding figures, being integral with the block.
The heated composition is fed at proper intervals from the tank 100, by means
of feed pumps, 90, located in vertical line with the moulds at positions b, d,
Figure 4.

page_text: The feed pumps have plungers 102, connected by a frame 103, actuated by a
rock arm 104 vibrated by connection with the cross-head 21. The rock arm is
slotted at its upper end to move over the pin 107 of the link 108, during a part of
its stroke, and while the plungers 102, remain idle, valves 109, oscillate, owing to
connection of their rods 110, also with the arm 104, and effect the necessary
communication of the plungers with the tank, and with the outlets 120, alternately,
whence the composition is automatically gravitated to the moulds at each stoppage
of the carriage 6.
In operation, the composition is automatically supplied to the upper side of two
blocks at b, and d, the finished targets ejected from the under side thereof, and the
composition compressed in two other blocks at a, and c, simultaneously; the toothed
segment 51, being out of gear with the spur wheel 50 and the locking segments 60
engaged with diametrically opposite recesses 61.
When the shaft 23, has rotated a half revolution, the rams 20, will have been
partly raised, the feed discontinued, and the carriage is revolved a quarter revolution
by reason of the disengagement of the locking segments 60 with the flange 62, and
engagement of the toothed segment 51 with the gear wheel 50. Simultaneously
two of the blocks, riz.; those which have last received compression, are rotated a
quarter turn so as to present new and empty dies beneath the feeding devices, while
beneath said blocks the finished work is also ejected.
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. In a machine for moulding plastic material, the combination with a series of
rotary mould blocks, each containing a series of dies, of a rotary carriage for
carrying the blocks into successive positions for feeding, compressing, cooling, and
ejecting the material, substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to the
annexed drawings.
2. In a machine for moulding plastic material, the combination with means for
feeding and compressing the material, and a series of rotary mould blocks, each
containing a series of dies, of a rotary carriage for carrying the blocks, and means
for intermittently rotating said carriage and said blocks, substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore set forth with reference to the annexed drawings.
3. In a machine for moulding plastic material, the hereindescribed arrangement
of the rotary mould blocks in a circle upon a rotary carriage, and in combination
therewith two diametrically opposite compressing rams above one portion of the
carriage, and two diametrically opposite feeding devices for the composition above
another portion of the carriage, and means for actuating said rams, and feeding
devices, and said carriage alternately, substantially as hereinbefore set forth with
reference to the annexed drawings.
4. In a mould for shaping plastic material, the combination of a lower die
contoured above the surface which surrounds it, an upper die, and a valvular part
surrounding the upper die, movable with reference thereto, adapted to close in
advance of the upper die, and to prevent the overflow of the plastic material after
it has been fed upon the lower die, and before it is compressed, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth with reference to Figure 20, of the annexed drawings.
5. The rotary carriage, and hollow-mould-blocks revolubly mounted thereon,
provided with means for water circulation irrespective of the positions of said
carriage and said blocks.
6. The combination with a suitable hollow support, such as, a block 14, of
dies 201, separable therefrom, arranged substantially as herein shown in Figures 18,
19, 20, of the annexed drawings.
7. In a machine for moulding plastic material, a suitable hollow support, such as
a block 14, for a hollow die, provided with a transverse partition 200, extending
from the central part of the die into the interior of the hollow support, and an

page_text: inlet and an outlet for a cooling medium on opposite sides of said partition,
substantially as hereinafter set forth with reference to Figures 18, 19, of the
annexed drawings.
Dated this 11th day of Anril 1902
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.