IMPROVEMENTS IN AND COMBINED MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TIN OR TERNE PLATES OR OTHER METAL-COATED SHEETS OR PLATES OF METAL
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rees Taylor, of Llantrissant, Glamorganshire, South Wales,
Tin Plate Proprietor, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND COMBINED
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TIN OR TERNE PLATES OR OTHER
METAL-COATED SHEETS OR PLATES OF METAL."
Sealed the 24th May 1878, and dated the 27th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rees Taylor at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1877.
REES TAYLOR, of Llantrissant, Glamorganshire, South Wales, Tin Plate Proprietor.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND COMBINED MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TIN
OR TERNE PLATES OR OTHER METAL-COATED SHEETS OR PLATES OF METAL."
This Invention relates to improvements in and combined machinery or apparatus
for removing grease from or otherwise cleaning tin or terne plates or other metal-
coated sheets or plates of metal.
.
According to my Invention I employ two slabs or plates of wood or iron or other
suitable material resting one on the other in a horizontal position, and I impart to
one, or both, an intermittent or continuous reciprocatory motion so as to create a
rubbing action between their contiguous and inner surfaces. This motion I impart
by crank, eccentric, or other suitable mechanical arrangement or appliance. The
friction or pressure between the slabs or plates I also regulate as required by the
weight of the upper one or by counterweight spring or other suitable means.
also line the contiguous and inner surfaces of the elabs or plates with sheepskin,
india-rubber, or other suitable material. The said slabs or plates are of any
convenient size and shape, and flat or curved on face
I
The plates to be cleaned are introduced between the said slabs or plates, and are
thereby subjected to the rubbing action of their inner surfaces, by which means the
plates are cleaned. They are introduced either by hand or through between rollers;
and to enable them to be more readily inserted I cause the said slabs or plates to
open or separate at the proper moment, and then close upon the plates. This motion
Dries 671

page_text: I effect by treadle or other suitable means at the moment of the said slabs or plates
opening or separating; I cause one of them to strike against an arranged part of a
receptacle with a perforated bottom or side containing bran, sharps, pollard, or other
cleaning material at present in use, by which means, or other suitable means, a
required quantity of the said cleaning material is sprinkled on the inner surface of
the lower of the said slabs ori, plates, and on the upper surface of the plate or plates
being introduced to be cleaned. This causes the cleaning to be certain and effective.
Besides the cleaning materials at present in uso I sometimes employ sawdust, ground
or unground, with a slight mixture of powdered lime or chalk.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Rees Taylor, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th May
1878.
REES TAYLOR, of Llantrissant, Glamorganshire, South Wales, Tin Plate Proprietor.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND COMBINED MACHINERY OR APPARÁTUS FOR CLEANING TIN
OR TERNE PLATES OR OTHER METAL-COATED SHEETS OR PLATES OF METAL."
This Invention relates to improvements in and combined machinery or apparatus
for removing grease from and otherwise cleaning tin or terne plates or other inetal-
coated sheets or plates of metals or blades of metal, and includes materials used in
such cleaning process.
According to my Invention I employ two slabs or plates of wood, inetal, or other
suitable material, resting one on the other (or nearly so) in a horizontal position to
one or both, of which I impart an intermittent or continuous reciprocatory motion
so as to create a rubbing action by their contiguous or inner surfaces on the plate to
be cleaned when introduced between them. This motion I impart by crank,
eccentric, or other suitable mechanical arrangement, appliance, or combination. The
friction or pressure to be exerted by the said slabs or plates (herein-after termed
cleaners) on the plate between them during the rubbing or cleaning process I
regulate as required by the weight of the upper cleaner or by additional or counter
weight, or by spring, or other suitable means. The space or distance between the
cleaners I regulate when required by adjusting screws or other suitable means.
also line their contiguous or inner surfaces with sheepskin, leather; india-rubber, or
other suitable material. They are of any convenient size or form, and flat or
curved on face, but I prefer them quite flat.
I
The plates to be cleaned by the rubbing action above described are introduced
⚫between the said cleaners either by hand or by means of feed rollers; and to enable
this to be done with greater ease and certainty I cause the cleaners to open or
separate at the proper moment, and then to close on the plate wlien introduced.
This action I effect by treadle or other suitable means, or I accomplish the same
object by bevelling the front edge of one or each of the cleaners. I also cause a
sufficient quantity of bran, sharps, pollard, or otlier cleaning material to be sprinkled
on the inner surface of the lower cleaner, and on the upper surface of the plate to
be cleaned: This may be done either before or during the. cleaning process. The

page_text: cleaning material may be contained in a hopper above the said slabs or plates, tho
said hopper being perforated at the bottom, or otherwise as convenient, in which
case the cleaning material is caused to drop or run from it by any suibable means;
such as by a blow at the moment required, or by the vibration of the machine in
operation, or by a slide alternatively shutting and opening the said perforations.
The cleaning material falls on to the top cleaner and through perforations provided
therein on to the lower one and on to the plate being or to be cleaned; this causes
the cleaning to be certain and effective. The plate, after being cleaned is removed,
either by hand or by a pair of extracting rollers placed at the side of the cleanors,
opposite to that at which are the introducing rollers.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily, carried
into effect I will proceed to further describe it with the aid of the accompanying
Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon, and which
Drawings illustrate a machine constructed according to my Invention, Figure 1 being
a front elevational view of such machine; Figure 2, an end elevation; Figure 3, a
longitudinal sectional elevation taken at the line 1, 2, Figure 2; and Figure 4, a
transverse sectional elevation taken at the line 3, 4, Figure 1.
The same letter of reference indicates the same part in each of the several
Figures.
A, A, is the framework of the machine constructed of wood, as sliewn, though I
do not confine myself to that material; B is the upper cleaner; and B', the lower;
they (the cleaners) are lined on their inner surfaces with shoepskin, leather, india-
rubber, or other suitable cleaning material, but I prefer the sheepskin. To the
upper one are attached the arms b, b, resting on cross bars or supports b², b², which,
in their turn, are supported by screws C, C¹, and adjusting nuts, which latter, not
only serve to support said cleaner but also to adjust its distance from the lower
cleaner. The arms b, b, are of sufficient length to allow of the reciprocating motion
of the cleaner. By the use of an india-rubber washer b³, between the adjusting
nuts and the cross supports 62, the pressure of the upper cleaner upon the lower
may also be adjusted. Screws C are supported from below on a bracket, and
screws C¹ are supported from above in the frame of the machine, as shewn. The
lower cleaner is supported on suitable bearings in the framework of the machine,
and I prefer to have the rubbing surfaces lined with brass so as to reduce friction
as much as possible. The front edge of one or each of the cleaners is bevelled
inwards, and coated with metal; this facilitates the introduction of the plates,.and
preserves the edge of the cleaner; or the bevel may be added to the front of
one or each cleaner, and be partly covered with sheepskin (see Figure 4, at b¹).
The reciprocatory motion is imparted by eccentrics D, D, the shaft of which is
driven by hand or steam power. E is the hopper, in which the cleaning material is
placed; it is located above the cleaners, and is perforated at e, through which per-
foration the cleaning material falls or runs evenly (helped by the continuous slight
vibration of the machine in operation) on to the upper cleaner, and thence (by
reason of the reciprocatory motion of the latter) through the perforations b' therein
ou to the lower cleaner,. and on to the plate between them being or to be cleaned.
The waste or surplus cleaning material falls from the cleaners into a receptacle F
(at the lower part of the machine) formed with sloping sides, as shown, and also
with a bottom inclining to one end or corner. Into this lowest end or corner of
the receptacle F dips an elevator or endless band G, with buckets, the lower end
thereof being so placed that the buckets will take up the cleaning material in the
receptacle F and the upper end, so that the material raised will be discharged into
the hopper. This elevator may be actuated by any suitable gearing, and either
slowly and continuously, or by hand, and only when required; or the elevator
may be made to discharge the raised material directly on to the upper cleaner, thus
dispensing with the hopper, or the elevator may be dispensed with, and the surplus
cleaning material be returned to the hopper or the upper cleaner by hand. The
plates to be cleaned are introduced between the cleaners by the rollers H, H,
(omitted in Figs. 1 and 3), and in passing through between the cleaners are

page_text: "
subjected to the rubbing or cleaning action of their inner surfaces; they are then
taken hold of by the extracting rollers I, I, (also omitted in Figs. 1 and 3) and
passed out of the machine. Either or each of both the introducing and the
extracting rollers may, by any suitable means, be made adjustable in relation to
one another and to the space between the cleaners; or the said rollers may be
attached to the cleaners, and partake of their reciprocatory motion, or may have an
independent reciprocatory motion. The rollers may be constructed of wood or
other suitable material, and are covered with leather, india-rubber, or other
material applicable to the purpose. The plates to be cleaned are passed forward to
the intaking rollers H, H, over a table J, which I also cover with sheepskin or
other suitable material. When the plates to be cleaned are too narrow to be taken
up by the extracting rollers from the introducing rollers they are passed through
diagonally. Sometimes I dispense with the introducing or with the extracting
rollers, or both, and pass the plates through by hand. I cause the plates to be
finally cleaned by means of two dusters K, attached, one to the back edge of each
cleaner, the edges of the dusters being covered with woolly skin or other suitable
dusting material. The top cleaner is so arranged that it may readily be raised
whenever necessary to remove dirt or any accumulation that may occur detrimental
to the cleaning process.
I do not confine myself to a pair of cleaners in a machine; I may have more than
two cleaners superposed, all being perforated, but the bottom one to allow of the
cleaning material working through gradually to the bottom; or I may have several
pairs, either above one another or side by side, or have one pair sufficiently long to
admit of several plates in a line with one another being operated upon at the same
time.
In all cases proper inserting and extracting rollers and guides for the plates are
employed.
Instead of the ordinary cleaning materials at present in use, such as bran of any
kind, I prefer using sawdust, sieved or unsieved, with a slight admixture of lime,
chalk, or whitening, which may be ground or unground. This used in conjunction
with my apparatus effects a great saving in the cleaning operation.
I also use a mixture of sawdust and lime for dipping the plates into previous to
passing them through the cleaning apparatus. For this purpose I use a trough
with an upper and an under lid and hang it on centres. This enables me
sometimes to turn the trough upside down to ensure a thorough mixing of the
cleaning materials.
I claim as my Invention to be secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent,-
Firstly. The machine or apparatus for cleaning tin or terne plate or other metal-
coated sheets or plates of metal or blades of metal, substantially as set forth and
described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The cleaners (B, B¹), substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Thirdly. The improved cleaning mixture, substantially as described.
Fourthly. The trough with lid at each end, and hung on centres, substantially as
described, and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rees Taylor, havo hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.