Improvements in Branding Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Branding Machines.
I GEORGE PRIME NIGHTINGALE of 2 Fowkes Buildings, Great Tower Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman 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:
This invention consists in improved machinery adapted for applying or marking
brands upon casks, cases, crates and the like after the same have been put together.
To this end I provide a suitable frame with a base plate or stand therein to receive
and support the cask, case or other object to be branded. The branding plates usually
iron or steel plates or cases having on their branding face, a groove or grooves
for receiving the iron or steel letters or designs etc. which are to be branded. These
branding platos are arranged in pairs one of each pair being a stationary plate (with
means of adjustment) and the other a movable plate provided with suitable means
for driving it against the object to be branded with pressure such as a hydraulic
ram, a screw spindle or be turned by hand or machinery or other means, so that the
cask etc. is pressed between the branding plates. Springs may be interposed for
adjusting the amount of pressure and for equalizing the pressure of all the surface
of the branding plate. The said branding plates are designed in shape to fit to the
surface of the object to be branded. They may be heated by gas flame directed on
them by air jets, the gas and air being led to the branding plates by separato flexible
pipes. Those branding plates which are designed to be stationary during the branding
are made so that they are adjustable in position so that the machine inay be used for
branding casks etc. of different sizes. These branding plates may also be backed with
springs so as to be resiliently fixed to their supports.
Each machine will comprise one or more pairs of branding plates with a suitable
frame for each pair and means for operating, and a bed plate or support for the
cask etc. to be branded. When the machine comprises more than one pair of
branding plates, branding on different sizes, from different directions the frame or part of
the frame carrying one or some of the branding plates is made movable on hinge joints
to allow of the insertion of and removal of the cask etc. Also to allow the cask while
under pressure of one pair of branding plates to move or be moved so as to properly
apply the pressure of another pair of branding plates the frame carrying the former
is movable for instance on hinge joints so that it may move with the plates and
cusk as one whole when the latter is being branded by the other pair of plates.
Counter-weights may be used to keep such movable frame in its normal position.
The accompanying drawings illustrates a machine for branding casks on the heads
and on the bulge, Fig. 1 being a vertical section in the direction of the hend
branding mechanism, Fig. 2 a cross section at right angles thereto in the direction
of the bulge branding mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine on a
reduced scale.
A is a frame or base plate having the two lugs B B thereon on which are hinged
by bolts or pins CC the lugs D D on the ends of the arched frame E. In each
upright side of the frame E is provided the stouter portion F in which is set the
female screw threaded socket, G for the respective screw threaded spindle Ḥ Ḥ¹
controlling the branding plates. The screw threaded spindles H H³ are respectively
provided with the band wheels II' for turning them and the cross heads J Ji on their
opposite ends K K' are the branding plates formed as cases having fixed to them
the rods L L extending through holes in the cross heads J J' and through guiding
boles in the parts F of the frame E. The spiral springs M M around the rods L L
tend to press the branding plates away from the cross heads and to hold the latter
back against the flanges L' on the rods L L. N is the gas pipe with suitablo gas

page_text: burners, is the air blast pipe with suitable jets to direct the gas flames on the
branding plates, P are the letters etc. let into grooves in the faces of the branding
plates. The screw spindle hand wheel and other parts connected with the branding
plate K¹ are made smaller or lighter than those connected with the branding plate K
the former being intended simply for the previous adjustment of the branding plate.
The latter for the operative movement necessary for the branding Q is a suitable
supporting frame for the cask. The frame E' is substantially similar to the frame E
excopt that that it is hinged to the upright part E and is movable in a horizontal
direction. The controlling mechanism for one branding plate for this frame will be
arranged on the fixed part E the other being arranged on the part E¹. The
branding plates and moving parts are exactly as above described with the exception
that the faces of the branding plates are curved to agree to the curvature of the
bulge of the cask. The mother of connecting the frame E allows it to be swung
aside for insertion and removal of the cask. The frame E is hinged so that when the
cask is held between the branding plates K K' mounted in said frame the frame and
parts thereon may move with the cask when the action of the movable bulge
branding plate presses the cask laterally against the stationary bulge branding plate.
The frame E is held upright and returned into that position after deflection by the
weight R on the lever R. Either of these frames may he used without the other at
any time or if the machine is to be made only with one frame the hinging of said
frame will not be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is.
1. A machine for branding casks, cases and the like comprising one or more pairs
of branding plates, one plate of each pair being capable of adjustinent and the other
movable for and during branding with a rest or support for the cask, case or the
like and spring cushions to the branding plates substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. The machine having two hinged frames substantially as illustrated and described
with pairs of branding plates and means for adjustment of one plate of each pair
and for movement of the other plate during branding for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 14th day of March 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.