IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY FOR GIVING SHAPE AND CONFIGURATION TO PLASTIC SUBSTANCES
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES.
HANCOCK, of Brompton, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of
July, One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Ier heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Hancock, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Charles Hancock, my
exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Hancock, my
exors, aditiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within. England;
Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her said Majesty's Colonies
ánd Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND
MACHINERY FOR GIVING SHAPE AND CONFIGURATION TO PLASTIC SUBSTANCES;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Charles
Hancock, should cause a particular description of the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court

page_text: of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will be more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Hancock, hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Firstly, my Invention consists of an apparatus for moulding hollow wares,
represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, whereby one shape or configuration may be
substituted for another with great facility, and the moulded articles, whether
of one shape or configuration, or of various shapes and configurations, may
be produced with much greater rapidity and less labour than usual. A,
Figure 1, is a frame or bed on which a lathe head B, B, is fixed; C is a.
mandril; D, a square base chuck, which has dovetails cut lengthwise in its
four faces, for the reception of four mould pieces, 1, 2, 3, 4, having dovetail
fillets to correspond. A cross section of the chuck, with a set of these mould
pieces slid upon it, is given separately in Figure 2. On their exterior surfaces
these mould pieces may be made of any curvilineal or other form desired, so
that by making the mould of each pattern or design in four pieces, flat on
their inner faces, and provided with fillets to slide into the dovetailed grooves
of the chuck D, all that is necessary when a change of pattern or design is
desired, is to withdraw one set of moulds and substitute another. K is a
grooved pulley by means of which, and a band connected to a treadle or other
motive agent, rotation is given to the mandril and chuck in the usual way.
As the chuck, with the moulding pattern attached to it in the manner just
described, revolves, the workman applies the plastic material by hand, laying
it on of one uniform thickness, (or as nearly so as may be,) or varying it in
thickness, according as may be suitable for different parts of the figure, and
using any convenient tool to assist him in giving smoothness and finish to the
exterior. In Figure 3 I have shown by way of exemplification vessels of two
different forms in the course of being moulded, in the manner which has been
just described. The moulding being finished, the plastic substance is allowed
to set and cool to a degree sufficient to bear shifting, when the mould, with
the vessel upon it, is lifted off the base chuck, and the parts of the mould
withdrawn, which leaves the vessel clear.
Secondly, my Invention consists of an apparatus for moulding hollow wares,
which is more particularly applicable to such plastic substances as have shape
and configuration more readily given to them when they are kept hot or warm

page_text: during the operation, or are brought in the course of setting into contact with
cold.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of this apparatus. A mandril II and grooved
pulley K are mounted, as before, in a frame A; but in this case the mandril
is made hollow. On the top of the mandril there is mounted a vessel C of a
three-quarter circular form; into this vessel a hollow mould M is dropped,
which may be of any desired form, provided only it is of greater diameter at
top than the diameter of the mouth of the vessel C, and two or three inches
less in depth, so that it may rest (as it were) suspended within C, but with a
space (B) left between them all round, except where the top edges of the two
vessels come in contact. O is a three-way cock, which commands the passage
up through the hollow mandril into the space B, and by which either hot water
or cold water or steam may be supplied from convenient sources as may be
required, and afterwards discharged. H is the inlet port; and L, the outlet ;
N is a male mould, which corresponds exactly with the hollow mould M, and
is screwed or keyed on to the under end of a plunger rod G, which is attached
at top by a shackle F to a cross beam E, and works up and down through
guides D, D. The cross beam is weighted at the end of its longer arm, and
raised and lowered by a chain N' attached to the same end and carried over a
pulley p. The mode of working the apparatus is as follows:-A quantity of
the plastic substance, rather more than sufficient to form the vessel desired to
be produced, is thrown into the mould M, and the male mould N let down
upon it by casing the chain N. The cock O is then turned so as to let hot
water or steam into the space B beneath the mould.
up
A rotary motion is next imparted to the mould M through the medium of
the mandril H and pulley K. The joint effect of the pressure of the male
mould N, and the rotation of the female mould M is to force the plastic
material the sides of the former, and finally into the shape required, any
excess which there may be in the quantity of material supplied working itself
out over the edges of the mould M. The cock O is then turned to allow of
the escape of hot water or steam from beneath the mould M, and should the
setting of the article be likely to be improved by bringing it into contact with
cold, a supply of cold water is introduced into the space B previously occupied
by the hot water or steam.
One set of male and female moulds may be readily substituted for another,
and this without waiting for the complete setting of the moulded article or
separating the one mould from the other.
A modification of the preceding apparatus is shewn in Figures 4 and 4b, in
which the male mould is that which is made to rotate, and the female mould

page_text: is kept stationary, and there are three sets of moulds worked at the same
time.
A third modification is shewn in Figures 5 and 5b; here the arrangements
for heating and cooling are entirely dispensed with. The female mould is
placed on a sliding plate A, dovetailed into the moulding table T, and the
male mould is lowered and raised by means of an endless screw S, worm
wheel W, and rack and pinion R, as shewn. Instead of the moulds being
placed as in the three preceding arrangements the male moulds may be placed
undermost, and a mass of the plastic substance laid on the top of the male
moulds, and the shape and configuration be given by bringing the female
mould down upon the other. Again, the moulds may be worked horizontally,
instead of vertically, as shewn in Figure 6, which exhibits a fourth modification
exceedingly well adapted for the moulding of small articles..
Thirdly, my Invention 'consists of an improved apparatus for preparing
plastic substances to have form and configuration given to them. A side
elevation of the principal parts of this apparatus is given in Figure 7. T is a
frame furnished with a series of rollers e, e, the axes of which have their
bearings in the sides of the frame. G, G, is a rectangular, hollow table, which
is moved to and fro atop of the rollers e, e, by hand or by means of a rack and
pinion, and kept filled with hot water or steam. C is a heavy vertical presser,
which is alternately raised and lowered by means of a piston and steam
cylinder, or by any other suitable means, and which may be also made hollow,
so as to be kept filled with hot water or steam where heat is required. Onc
end of the reciprocating steam table G is brought immediately under the
vertical presser C, and a-mass of tlie plastic substance laid-upon it. The
vertical presser is then brought down upon it, after which the steam table is
moved forward (by hand or by means of a rack and pinion, as before mentioned)
which carries along with it a sheet or layer of the plastic substance of more or
less thickness. As this slicet or layer arrives at the left-hand side of the appa-
ratus it is gathered up into a roll, as shewn in the Figure, and then returned
under the vertical presser, to undergo a repetition of the preceding process in
the opposite direction. The same alternating process of pressing and kneeding
is continued until the substance acquires the degree of plasticity required.
Fourthly, my Invention consists of an apparatus for moulding plastic
substances into continuous lengths of any required shape or configuration.
Figure 8ista side elevation of this apparatus. A, A, is a cylinder, with two.
concentric hollow chambers C and C³, the former of which holds the plastic
substance to which shape and configuration is to be given; and the latter hot
water or steam to keep the substance at a suitable temperature. P is a piston,

page_text: shewn separately in Figure 9, which fits into the chamber C. D is a dic box,
which is fitted into the end of the cylinder opposite to the piston end, and
made fast by a collar d. An end view of the cylinder, with the die box and
collar fitted to it, is given in Figure 10. One, two, or three circular apertures
are made in this die box, through and through in a direction at right angles
with the line of action of the piston, as shewn in the transverse section,
Figure 11.
Supposing a continuous length of any plastic substance is required to be
produced, and which, after it is produced, can only be kept entire by means of
some internal core of another material not liable to fracture, as wire or cord,
I proceed as follows:-I wind upon a recl placed at one side of the apparatus.
a quantity of the wire or cord, and pass the free end through the holes in the
die box (it being supposed in this case that there is but one set of holes, that is,
one on each side of the die box), and attach it to the barrel of another reel
placed at the opposite side. I then fill the die box and chamber C¹ to about
the height of the dotted line a, with the plastic substance, insert the piston P.
in the chamber C', and cause it, by means of a screw or a descending weight
or other equivalent mechanical means, to keep continually pressing downwards.
or forwards. The cord or wire is now drawn through the die box by the.
winding of the right-hand reel, and as it emerges from the die box it carries
along with it a complete covering of the plastic substance in the box. This
drawing and receiving reel may be placed at any distance requisite to allow of
the plastic covering given to the wire or cord setting and cooling sufficiently
before it is wound upon the barrel, and the cord or wire may also, if necessary,
be supported at intervals on posts, or made to pass through cold water before
it is wound. If there be more than one set of holes in the die box, so that two,
three, or more continuous lengths may be produced at the same time, there.
must be an additional pair of reels, with their appurtenances, for each additional
set of holes.
Instead of the cord or wire being carried through apertures in the die box,
as before described, they may be passed through short cylinders inserted
transversely in the box, as represented in Figures 12 and 13, and supplied with
the plastic substance necessary to coat them through holes in the sides of these
short cylinders.
Again, instead of the continuous lengths having one core only, they may be
made with any number of cores parallel or nearly so to one another, by:
making use of a die box of the form shewn in Figuro 14. This die box is
made of a tapering form. The inner end is solid; but perforated with several
circles of holes at equal and regular distances; as shewn in the plan, Figuro 15,
:

page_text: and with more holes than there are cores intended to be used. Any given
number of lengths of cord or wire, say, six or twelve, are passed through a
corresponding number of the holes in the inner end of the die box, aud
carried up through the opposite end and fastened to a rcel as before. The
piston being brought into action, forces the plastic substance through the
whole of the holes in the inner end of the die box, (both those which are
partly occupied by the cords or wires, and those which are left open,) and in
quantity sufficient to fill the box, and the pressure being kept up and assisted
by the tapering form of the die, the substance is protruded at the delivery
end in the shape of a solid cylinder enclosing the different lengths (say, six or
twelve) of cord or wire, as shewn in the cross section, Figure 16.
Fifthly, my Invention consists in a modification of the apparatus repre-
sented in Figure 8, whereby it is adapted to moulding of plastic substances
into shorter lengths of any desired form, such as Figure 17, and requiring
the support of an internal core of some substance not liable to fracture, or
which are at least greatly improved by having great support, such as mould-
ings, beadings, cornices, fillets, &c. The apertures in the die box are made
of the form of the moulding, beading, cornice, or other article; and a piece
of cord or wire or catgut, or strip of metal, whale-bone, wood, or other
tenacious substance, is passed through the centre of the apertures in the die
box, and tightly attached at the two ends to two upright posts fixed in a bed
which travels under the die box, and is worked to and fro by a rack and
pinion like the travelling box in Figure 7. One post, say, the right hand one,
being brought close up to the die box, the travelling bed is moved slowly
towards the right, when the cord, wire, or other material used for the core
emerges from the die with a plastic covering of the exact form given to the
holes in the die. When the bed has travelled outwards its entire length the
moulded article is removed, and by chipping off a part of the plastic matter
at each end, the ends of the interior core thus exposed to view form tie pieces,
which are of great convenience in afterwards fixing the beading or other
article in its place. The lengths thus produced are in the first instance
straight, but in consequence of the support afforded to them by the internal
cores, they will be found capable of having almost any required degree of
curvature given to them.
Lastly, my Invention consists of an apparatus for forming plastic substances
into round balls. Figure 18 is a side view of the apparatus; and Figure 19,
an end view. R, R, are a pair of rollers mounted in a suitable framework,
and made to rotate in close contact with one another. In the periphery of
each roller a number of semicircular hollows are cut out, corresponding with

page_text: a similar set of hollows in the periphery of the other roller, so that when two
such hollows are brought together face to face, they form an entire circle or
sphere. N is a feeding table from which the plastic substance is supplied to
the rollers. The balls on being discharged from the rollers are received in
a vessel of water, and afterwards placed in horse-hair shelves to set and
harden.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention in the several
parts thereof, and the manner in which the same is to he performed, I declare
that the improvements which I claim as constituting my said Invention are
as follows:-
First, I claim the apparatus for moulding hollow wares first herein-before
described, in so far as regards the base chuck D, and the shifting moulds or
pattern pieces connected therewith.
Second, I claim the apparatus for moulding hollow wares secondly herein-
before described, whether used with or without the parts thereof relating to
heating and cooling.
Third, I claim the apparatus for preparing plastic materials before described,
in so far as regards the combination therein of a vertical presser with a
horizontal bed filled with hot water or steam, whether such table is fixed or
moveable.
Fourth, I claim the apparatus for moulding plastic substances into con-
tinuous lengths with supporting cores of wire, cord, and other like tenacious
substances, and the several modifications thereof before described, in so far
as regards the combination of a die box and a cylinder with piston, each
working or operating in directions at right angles to or more or less tangential
to the other.
Fifth, I claim the modification of the apparatus which forms the subject of
the preceding claim, whereby it is adapted to the production of short lengths
of plastic materials of any required form with interior supporting cores, as
before described.
Sixth, I claim the improved apparatus for forming plastic substances into
balls before described, in so far as respects its application to other substances
than metals.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Hancock, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and forty-nine.
CHARLES
(L.S.) HANCOCK.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-ninth day of January,
in the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid Charles Hancock came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One