Improvements in or relating to Dies for Moulding Plastic Substances.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 3rd Oct.. 1889-Accepted. 9th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Dies for Moulding Plastic Substances.
I, JAMES HENRY MITCHELL, of 1431 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, county of
Philadelphia, state of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates especially to means and mechanism employed for molding
plastic material of any kind, and has for its object the provision of a cheap and simple
arrangement of die, or dies, whereby the material molded is kept from actual contact
with the face of the die, while closely conforming thereto, and wherein all delicate
clearing devices are done away with, and choking or clogging of the moving parts is
obviated.
To attain the desired end, my invention consists essentially in a diaphragm of thin
elastic material, located in front of the face of the die, between the die and the material
to be molded.
It will thus be seen that the cutter-head and dies may be greatly simplified in
construction, and therefore reduced in cost; the face of the die and the cutter-head
itself are protected from direct contact with the material molded, and choking of the
parts, or sticking of the material thereto obviated, while at the same time the molding
is fully and accurately accomplished.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Dies for Moulding Plastic Substances.
I, JAMES HENRY MITCHELL, of 1431 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, county of
Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for DIAPHRAGM DIES FOR PLASTIC
MOLDING, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates especially to means and mechanism employed for molding
plastic material of any kind, and has for its object the provision of a cheap and simple
arrangement of die or dies, whereby the material molded is kept from actual contact
with the face of the die, while closely conforming thereto, and wherein all delicate
clearing devices are done away with, and choking or clogging of the moving parts is
obviated.
To attain the desired end, my invention consists essentially in a diaphragm of thin
elastic material, located in front of the face of the die, between the die and the
material to be molded, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described, and then
pointed out in the claims..
I have shown my improvement as applied to the cutter-head of a cake machine for
baker's use, but it is obvious that the invention may be employed with any machine
used for molding plastic material other than dough.
In the drawing, figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a cutter-head wherewith my
device is employed. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the die before it is
depressed, and figure 3 is a like view with the die depressed. Figure 4 shows a
modified arrangement of diaphragm.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the main frame of the cutter-head. B are the dies secured thereto and
provided each with an air vent C. D is a roller secured to a shaft E, by means of a

page_text: set screw F, said shaft being journaled in the main frame A and made to draw there-
from and from roller D when the set screw is removed. G is a ratchet wheel, and H
a pawl mounted upon an operating arm I to which a pitman J is pivoted. K Kare
rollers mounted in the main frame A at each side of the dies. L is a hopper mounted
above roller D and arranged to contain flour. M is a diaphragm or belt of thin
elastic material passing around the rollers D and K over the face of the dies B.
N is a portion of the bed of a machine and P the belt which carries the dough R
to be formed into cakes.
The operation of my device is as follows :—
The machine being put in motion, the dough is carried beneath the cutter head in
the usual manner, and the cutter head descends thereon. As soon as the diaphragm
strikes the dough, it is forced up into the face of the die by the dough, strotching and
conforming to the configuration thereof, and the dough filling the die in precisely the
same manner as would be the case without the interposition of the diaphragm, and
the edges of the die separating the cake from the sheet of dough. As the die rises,
the diaphragm contracts, expelling the cake from the die and depositing it upon the
carrying belt. At each movement of the cutter head the roller D is turned a portion
of a revolution by means of the ratchet upon its shaft, coating the diaphragm belt
with the flour, and presenting a new surface beneath the die. It will thus be seen
that the cutter-head and dies may be greatly simplified in construction, and therefore
reduced in cost; the face of the die and the cutter-head itself are protected from
direct contact with the material molded, and choking of the parts, or sticking of the
material thereto obviated, while at the same time the molding is fully and accurately
accomplished.
There are many materials molded in such a state that the use of flour, or its
equivalent on the face of the diaphragm may be dispensed with, and in such cases a
stationary elastic diaphragm may be used, such as is illustrated in figure 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
1. The combination with a molding die, of an elastic diaphragm extending over the
'face thereof, substantially as shewn and described.
2. The combination with a reciprocating die, of an elastic diaphragm, located
between the face of the die and the material to be molded, substantially as shewn
and described.
3. The combination with a molding die, of a movably elastic diaphragm passing
over the face of the die, substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1889
JAMES HENRY MITCHELL.