Improvements in Machines for Forming Lozenges, Pills, Tablets, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Forming Lozenges, Pills, Tablets,
and the like.
I, ABRAHAM ROWLAND MORRIS, a Citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 217, Race Street, in the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia,
and State of Pennsylvania, Mechanic, 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: —
My invention has relation to a tablet forming machine.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide in a tablet forming
machine, a cup adapted to feed material to a die, mechanism for reciprocating
the cup and means for instantly disconnecting the cup from the reciprocating
mechanism without stopping the machine; second, to provide in a machine of the
character described, a cup adapted to feed material to a die, a rocker-arm having
a forked end and adapted to reciprocate the cup, means for rocking the arm, and
means adapted to pass freely through the cup and to enter the forked end of
the rocker arm; and third, to provide in a machine of the character described, a
cup adapted to feed material to a die, a plunger with a punch, mechanism for
reciprocating the cup, means for instantly disconnecting the cup from the
reciprocating mechanism without stopping the machine and a safety device con-
nected with the said reciprocating mechanism for preventing the shifting of the
cup under the punch of said plunger after disconnection of the cup from said
reciprocating mechanism.
My invention stated in general terms, consists of a tablet forming machine
constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and
claimed.
The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings form-
ing part hereof, in which
Figure 1, is a rear sectional view of a tablet forming machine embodying main
features of my invention.
Fig. 2, is an end elevational view of the same, partly broken away and
sectioned.
Fig. 3, is a longitudinal sectional view enlarged of the feeding cup, the trough
and the table.
Fig. 4, is a top or plan view of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5, is an end elevational view enlarged of the cup and trough, the cup
being broken away and dotted to show the operating arm for the cup; and
Fig. 6, is a rear elevational view of Fig. 5, partly sectioned to show the pin for
connecting the arm to the cup.
Referring to the drawings a, represents the pedestal or base of the machine
supporting the main framework a¹, and curved standards a², supporting the main
shaft a³, and counter shaft of the machine. In machines of this character, there
are two reciprocating plungers d and e, adapted in conjunction with a stationary
die b, to form the tablet or lozenge. In a companion Application filed of even
7

page_text: date herewith and numbered 10808 of 1899 the plungers d and e, together with
their operating mechanism and adjustments -3
-are particularly described. In the
present application, the arrangement and construction of the die b, the trough f,
table t, and the feeding mechanism are designed to be covered in connection with
any reciprocating plungers provided with punches and operating mechanism as
are necessary for the formation of a tablet, and hence further detailed description
of the plungers with their punches and operating mechanism is not deemed herein
necessary.
The frame-work a¹, supports a stationary table t, upon which is located a
trough f, having a chute f, at its front end and a recess f*, of preferably circular
outline designed to receive and retain the correspondingly shaped die b. It is
to be understood, however, that the shape of the recess f+, may vary with the shape
of the die b, to be used. The trough is-transversely split as at f, and provided with
two spring extensions f, which are adapted to be clamped together by suitable
means, which may consist as illustrated in the drawings of bolts f8. The die b,
is first inserted in its proper position in the recess f, of the trough:f, and there-
after the bolts, are tightened to clamp the trough tightly upon the die. Upon
the upper surface of the trough f, are secured by pins or screws f", or any suitable
means, the two guide rails 2, adapted to receive and guide the flanges g', at the
base of the cup g. The cup g, has an inclined tubular channel or way ter-
minating at the base of the cup a slight distance from the forward end of said
cup, and to this channel or way g², the material in the form of powder is fed from
preferably a funnel-shaped hopper or receptacle g³, flexibly supported by a
bracket, from the frame-work a', and connected by a rubber or similar flexible
tube g³, with the top of the cup. The cup g, is caused to slide over the trough f,
to fill the die b, and to push a previously formed lozenge or tablet into the
chute 3, by means of the following preferred mechanism. Upon the main shaft a",
is secured a suitably formed cam h, having throw and dwell surfaces as well as
the irregular surface h¹, on one part of the dwell for a purpose to be hereinafter
described. On the surface of the cam h, rides a roller m, carried at one end of
a rocker-arm m³, the other end of which is secured to a rock-shaft m², oscillating
in suitable bearings m³, in the frame-work a'. To the rock-shaft m², is also secured
a second rocker-arm m', depending from the shaft and having a forked or slotted
free end m³, adjacent to the side of the cup g, and which arm has a projection m³,
engaging a projection g³, of the cup g, as fully illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, for the
purpose of serving as a safety lug for preventing the cup after the withdrawal of
the pin n, from being shifted or pushed under the punch, thus preventing
breakage of certain parts of the machine. In machines of this character, it
frequently happens that the feeding mechanism clogs up or feeds imperfectly,
and hitherto to repair or clean the feeding mechanism it was necessary to first
stop the machine before the mechanism could be removed. Before, however, the
machine stops a number of tablets would be formed which as they were imperfect
were thrown away and entailed considerable loss in the operation of the machine.
The present invention is designed especially to so connect the cup g, with the
operating mechanism, that the cup may be instantly disconnected from the said
mechanism, without stopping the machine, whereby the loss of material above
explained is avoided, and also rendering it absolutely impossible to push the cup
under the punch of the plunger after the pin is withdrawn from the cup. One
way of so connecting the cup to the rocker-arm m, is illustrated in the drawings,
and it consists of a pin n, inserted in a channel n¹, drilled through the cup at an
.angle of approximately 60° to the base of the cup or at such an angle of inclina-
tion as will permit the pin », to be readily dropped into the channel ¹, or to be
quickly removed therefrom. The lower end of the pin n, projects
beyond the cup. g, and is adapted to enter the forked end of the arm m³, as is
indicated in Fig. 6, when said arm registers with the channel n', of the cup
To disconnect the cup from its operating mechanism the pin », is lifted out of
the cup and the slotted end of the arm m', whereupon the cup will at once cease

page_text: to reciprocate although the arm m³, may continue to rock until the repairs to the
cup are completed. The irregular surface h¹, of the cam h, causes the roller m,
riding thereon to be slightly elevated and depressed a number of times, whereby
the rocker-arms and rock-shaft are slightly actuated or rocked and thereby
agitate the cup g, and assist the powder to flow more freely through the channel-
way 2, of the said cup.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is;-
1. In a machine of the character described, a cup adapted to feed material to
the die, mechanism for reciprocating said cup, and means for instantly disconnect-
ing said cup from said reciprocating mechanism without stopping the machine,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a machine of the character described, a cup adapted to feed the material
to the die, a rocker-arm having a lower forked end and adapted to reciprocate
the cup, means for rocking said arm, and a pin adapted to pass freely through
the cup and to enter the forked end of the rocker-arm, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
3. In a machine of the character described, a cup adapted to feed material to
the die, a plunger with a punch, mechanism for reciprocating said cup, means
for instantly disconnecting said cup from said reciprocating mechanism without
stopping the machine, and a safety device connected with said reciprocating
mechanism for preventing the shifting of said cup under the punch of said
plunger after disconnection of said cup from said reciprocating mechanism, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated at Philadelphia. Penn 1
011
..
ABRAHAM ROWLAND MORRIS,
Per J. G. Lorrain, M.I.Mech. E., M.I.E.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent.