IMPROVED APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN PLATES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Thomas, of Lydbrook, in the County of Gloucester,
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS USED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF TIN PLATES."
Sealed the 12th April 1878, and dated the 15th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Thomas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1878.
"
RICHARD THOMAS, of Lydbrook, in the County of Gloucester, Manufacturer.
IMPROVED APPARATUS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN PLATES."
This Invention relates to improved machinery, whereby metal plates, such, for
example, as those intended to be tinned, may be automatically submitted to the
action of, and removed from what is known as pickling liquor, both in the
black and white pickling process, and also may be swilled subsequent to these
processes.
The apparatus consists of two rotating drums, upon which a broad endless band
of india-rubber (or other similar and suitable material capable of resisting the action
of the pickling liquor) works.
At equal distances on the outside or inside of the band are securely attached by
suitable metallic pins or rivets or otherwise parallel strips of wood, or other material
capable of resisting the pickle. These strips may be of any convenient lengths and
size, and are affixed to the band parallel with the axis of the rotating drums, and
are long enough to project over each side of the band, and over two (or more)
troughs placed on each side and below the level of the band. These troughs are
also made of material capable of resisting the pickle, and are for the purpose of
containing the pickling liquor, and of a size, shape, and length suitable for the
purpose. Fixed in each of these strips, at convenient distances, and in convenient
positions, either at a right or any other angle, and of the same or suitable material
are two fingers on either side of the band of suitable lengths and sizes, and in each
of which is inserted at the opposite extremity to that by which they are attached
D •

page_text: to parallel strips, a sinall stud or bracket of metal, or suitable material capable of
resisting pickle. Along the bottom of each pickling trough are fixed two narrow
slides of copper or other suitable material parallel to each other, and in the direction
in which the endless band and parallel strips travel, and along which the metal
plates automatically supplied into the machine at one end, in such suitable position
as to come in contact with them are carried by the fingers projecting from the
parallel strips as they revolve round the rotating drum situate at that end of the
machine at which the plates are fed.
The action of the machine is as follows:-As the band with the parallel strips,
and fingers travels along the bottom of the trough, the plates are automatically
placed at one end of the machine in one constant position, so that the said fingers
as they revolve come in contact with the back end of each plate, and carry them
along the metal slides, the back end of each plate resting on the small studs or
bruckets in the ends of each finger, and thus being prevented from coming
in contact with the fore part of the plate following it, and which is resting on
the metal slide.
The fingers, after carrying the plates along the metal slides through the pickle,
pass them into a pair of rolls covered with suitable material, which squeezes back
the superfluous liquor adhering to them as they come out of the pickle, and from
which rolls they are delivered, either into a similar machine (in which water is
substituted), to be swilled or otherwise, inmediately into a trough or other
convenient receptacle placed against the rollers, previous to which suitable
jets of water are projected on the top and bottom of the plate as it comes from
the rollers.
The several parts of the machine are connected by suitable appliances, which is
driven by power or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th August
1878.
RICHARD THOMAS, of Lydbrook, in the County of Gloucester, Tin Plate
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PICKLING AND SWILLING
METAL PLATES, AND OTHERWISE PREPARING THEM FOR COATING WITH TIN OR
OTHER METALS."
This Invention relates to improved machinery, whereby metal plates, such, for
example, as those intended to be tinned, may be automatically submitted to the
action of, and removed from what is known as pickling liquor, both in the
black and white pickling process, and also may be swilled subsequent to these
processes.
And in order that my said Invention may be readily understood, I will proceed
to describe the same by the aid of the annexed Drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a
side elevation of my improved apparatus, Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof, and
Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.
The apparatus consists of two rotating drums a and a', working in a horizontal
plane and parallel to one another, upon which a broad endless band b of india-
rubber (or other suitable material capable of resisting the action of the pickling
liquor) works.
At equal distances on the outside or inside of the band are securely attached by
suitable metallic pins, or otherwise, parallel strips of wood c, or other material
capable of resisting the action of the pickle. These strips may be of any conve-
nient lengths and sizes, and are affixed to the band b, parallel with the axis of the
rotating drums a & a¹, and are long enough to project over each side of the band b,
and over two (or more) troughs & and d¹, placed on each side, and in a convenient
position below the level of the band. These. troughs d and d' are also made of
material capable of resisting the pickle, and are for the purpose of containing the
pickling liquor, being of a size, shape, and length suitable for the purpose. Fixed
in each of these strips at convenient distances, and in convenient positions, either
at right or any other angles to the plane in which the said strips travel, and made
of the same or other suitable material, are two fingers e, e, and e¹, e¹, on either side of
the band, of suitable lengths and sizes; in each of which is inserted, at the opposite
extremity to that by which they are attached to the parallel strips, a small stud or
bracket of metal f, f, and f', f₁, or other suitable material capable of resisting the
pickle. Along the bottom of each pickling trough are fixed two narrow slides g, g,
and g', g', of copper or other suitable material, parallel to each other, and in the
direction in which the endless band and parallel strips attached thereto travel,
along which the metal plates, automatically supplied into the machine at one end
in such suitable position as to come in contact with them, are carried by the
fingers e, e, and e¹, e', projecting from the parallel strips c, as they revolve round
the rotating drum a', and situate at that end of the machine at which the plates
are fed.
The action of the machine is as as follows:-As the band b, with the parallel
strips c and fingers e, e, and e¹, e¹, travels along and over the rotating drum, the plates
are automatically placed at one end of the machine in one constant and identical
position, so that the said fingers e, e, and e', e¹, as they revolve, come in contact with
the back end of each plate, and carry them along the metal slides g, g, and gl, g', tho
back end of each plate resting on the small studs or brackets f, f, and f', ƒ',
in the ends of each finger, and thus being prevented from coming in contact
with the fore part of the plate following it, and which is resting on the metal
slide.
The fingers c, e, and e', e', after carrying the plates along the metal slides g, g, and
g', g', through the pickle pass them into a pair of rolls h and h', covered with india-
rubber or suitable material which squeeze back the superfluous liquor, adhering to

page_text: them as they come out of the pickle, and from which rolls they are delivered, either
into a similar machine in which water is substituted, to be swilled, or otherwise
immediately into a trough or other convenient receptacle placed against the rollers,
previous to which suitable jets of water are projected on the top and bottom of the
plate as it comes from the rollers.
The several parts of the machine are connected by bands or other suitable
appliances, so that the various actions of the machine may take place coincidently
and simultaneously, and the whole may be driven by power or otherwise.
Having thus declared and described the nature of my said Invention, and having
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention
secured to me by the Letters Patent as aforesaid, the general arrangement, con-
struction, and combination of parts and mechanism herein, and for the purposes
herein-before described and set forth on the Drawings, whereby the metal plates
when automatically introduced are carried through the machine, and during
their passage are subjected to a pickling process, and afterwards to a washing
process.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Thomas, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed and sealed by the above-
named Richard Thomas, in
the presence of
RICH. HAINES,
Lydbrook,
JOHN GIMBLETT,
Lydbrook.
RICHARD THOMAS. (L.s.)