Improvements in Machines for Grinding Glass Balls and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Grinding Glass Balls and the like.
I, RONALD HOPE BRIDIE, of 1, Montrose Villas, Putney, S.W., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for grinding glass balls
and the like and my invention is more especially designed for the purpose of
enabling the "snugs" of glass balls which have been cast-and which balls are
to be used for stoppering bottles-to be readily and properly ground off.
It has hitherto been the custom to press the "snug" by hand against an emery
wheel or other cutting or grinding wheel for the purpose of removing said "snug
but this method is very unsatisfactory inasmuch as when the snug is ground off
as described a more or less flat surface has been ground on the ball which flat
surface often allows a leakage to take place from the bottles stoppered therewith.
In carrying out my invention I employ a series of preferably vertically mounted
spindles the upper ends of which spindles are cupped and adapted to receive the
glass balls which are to be ground, each such cupped spindle receiving one ball.
The said spindles are circularly disposed and are capable of being revolved at
any desired requisite speed by a centrally arranged toothed wheel or any other
suitable means. At a suitable distance above said spindles I provide a horizon-
tally disposed and vertically adjustable disc, capable of being revolved at any
desired speed. Said disc is provided at its under-side with any suitable grinding
stone or other material such for example as emery, said grinding part having if
desired a groove to correspond with the curvature of the balls, the arrangement
being such that when the balis have been placed with the snugs uppermost into
their cupped spindles and said spindles and disc are revolved, the snugs will be
ground off without there being a flat surface ground on the balls.
I do not confine myself to any particular arrangement or shape of the various
parts of my improved machine and any suitable means for placing the glass balls
in position may be employed.
Improvements in Machines for Grinding Glass Balls and the like.
I, RONALD HOPE BRIDIE, of 1, Montrose Villas, Putney, S.W., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is in
Price 8d.]

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improvements in machines for grinding glass balls
and the like and my invention is more especially designed for the purpose of
enabling the " snugs of glass balls which have been cast and which balls are
to be used for stoppering bottles-to be readily and properly ground off.
"9
It has hitherto been the custom to press the " snug by hand against an emery
wheel or other cutting or grinding wheel for the purpose of removing or grinding
off said "snug" but this method is very unsatisfactory inasmuch as when the
snug" is ground off as described a more or less flat surface has been ground on
the ball which flat surface often allows leakage to take place from the bottles
stoppered therewith.
$6
In order that my invention may be readily understood, reference is made to
the accompanying drawing wherein like letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in both figures and in which
Fig. 1 is a plan view and Fig. 2 a side elevation partly in section of my
invention, the sectional part of Fig. 2, being that of the working parts and of
the base plate, the section being on the dotted line X Y, Fig. 1.
In carrying out my invention. I employ preferably four frames or equivalents A
which are joined together by arms a and the whole centrally supported on a
trunnion or the like 6 with which the bed plate B is provided, the arrangement
being such that the frames A may be rotated on the trunnion b.
Each of the frames A is provided with a series of circularly disposed vertical
spindles C the upper end of each of which spindles is adapted to receive and hold
a glass ball c. Each of said spindles is provided with a pinion d and I provide
each of the frames A with a central gear wheel D which gears with all the pinions d,
so that by revolving said gear wheel D all the spindles C and consequently the
glass balls are rotated.
For the purpose of grinding off the " snugs" I provide a disc E carried by a
spindle e which is adapted to be revolved, being for this purpose provided with a
pulley e. The underside of the disc E carries a ring or disc F of emery or other
suitable material for grinding off the "snugs," said ring or equivalent F being
preferably formed with a groove f which corresponds with the curvature of the
balls c.
The frames A are adapted to be swung so that each of said frames may in turn
be brought under the disc E a suitable stop being provided so that all the balls c
will be situated under the grinding disc or ring the arrangement being such
that if the disc E and also the balls c be revolved and the disc E
be fed or moved downward all the snugs on the balls c will
be ground off. The spindle e may be fed down in a similar manner in which the
spindle of drilling or like machines is fed down.
$6
The toothed wheel is revolved by means of a toothed wheel H provided with a
pulley J and which toothed wheel H gears with a pinion on the spindle h
carried by said toothed wheels D. As before mentioned there are four frames A
the object being that whilst one series of glass balls is being ground there are
other trames being filled with balls and got ready to be ground, and in order that
the spindles C on the frames being filled shall not be revolved the relative gear
wheels h drop down out of gear with the wheel H.
I find it advantageous that after the "snugs" have been ground off the balls
should be to some extent polished, so I provide a second disc E' which carries
a polishing disc-say of copper-said disc being similar in shape and action to
the disc F and need therefore not be further described the arrangement being such
that when one lot or series of balls are ground the frames are swung as described
so that the balls already ground are brought under the polishing disc and a fresh
series of balls are brought under the grinding disc F.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to any particular arrange-

page_text: ment or construction of the parts, and the drawings merely illustrate one method
of carrying my invention into effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
A machine for grinding off the "snugs" from glass balls in which a series of
balls are brought under a grinding disc or equivalent the balls and the grinding
disc being revolved all substantially as set forth.
Dated this day
RONALD HOPE BRIDIE.
By his Agents, Horn, Son & Co.,
Somerset Chambers, 151, Strand, London.