A Potter's Dipping Machine with the Accessory Apparatus belonging thereto.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Potter's Dipping Machine with the Accessory Apparatus belonging
thereto.
We, WILLIAM BURTON, of Clifton Junction, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Earthenware Manufacturer, and JOSEPH BURTON, of Clifton Junction,
aforesaid, Potter's Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be follows:-
-
In the ordinary course of manufacturing earthenware tiles and other articles
of pottery it has been the usual practice after such articles have reached the
biscuit state to dip each article separately by hand into a solution or mixture
of glaze and water commonly known as slop glaze" and if in such dipping any
surplus slop glaze adhered to the article it was shaken off by the dipper imme-
diately after it was dipped in order to avoid any
"welts" of glaze from appearing
"
in the finished articles after the glaze had been fused by firing the articles in
the glost oven or kiln.
33
Our invention consists of a dipping machine and the apparatus incident thereto
which is primarily intended for the dipping of earthenware tiles which are usually
glazed on one side only but by a slight variation the machine and apparatus
hereinafter more particularly described may be applied to the dipping of a number
of other articles of earthenware which are usually completely covered with glaze
such machine and apparatus being intended to take the place of the hand dip-
ping before referred to.
The machine consists of a wheel mounted on a horizontal axis which may be
revolved either by manual or machine power the rim of such wheel being adapted
to receive and hold by means of spring clips wedges loops of wire or other
similar contrivances the articles to be glazed in a suitable position for dipping
in glaze.
Provision may also be made whereby the springs clips wedges or other similar
contrivances for holding the articles in position on the wheel are released or
opened automatically after the articles have passed through the dipping pan
next hereinafter described as the wheel is being moved round and such articles
may then be made to slide off the wheel upon a sloping board or metal plate
suitably fitted to the rim of the wheel or they may be removed by hand. The
rate at which the wheel aforesaid revolves may be varied according to the thick-
ness of the coating of glaze required or the shape and size of the articles dipped.
And the mode of attaching such articles to the wheel may be modified accord-
ing to the shape and size of such articles, springs, clips, wedges or similar
contrivances being used in most cases but wire loops or cages attached to the
wheel in which the articles to be dipped may be held or suspended may be used
in cases where it is required to dip the articles on both sides or all over.
One part of the accessory apparatus consists of a small dipping pan or vessel
placed just beneath the wheel in such a manner that as the wheel revolves the

page_text: articles attached to the wheel shall some in contact with or pass through the
glaze in such a way as to give the articles the required coating or dip of glaze.
The glaze in such dipping pan may if required be kept as far as possible at a
constant level by being constantly fed from another containing vessel and the
rate at which such dipping pan is fed may be a little in excess of the rate at
which it is absorbed or taken up by the articles to be glazed and an overflow
may if required be fitted to the dipping pan at the required level.
Provision may also be made (either in connection with the axis of the dipping
wheel or otherwise) for keeping the glaze in the containing vessel from settling.
Other part of the accessory apparatus for the dipping of tiles slabs and similar
articles of pottery consists of a suitable brush or scraper attached to the dipping
pan for the removal of any superfluous or welt of glaze such brush or scraper
being arranged so as to just pass over the parts of the articles that have come
in contact with the glaze when leaving the dipping pan.
1 1
1011
1
1
1000
WILLIAM BURTON,
JOSEPH BURTON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Potter's Dipping Machine with the Accessory Apparatus belonging
thereto.
We, WILLIAM BURTON, of Clifton Junction, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Earthenware Manufacturer, and JOSEPII BURTON, of Clifton Junction,
aforesaid, Potter's Manager, 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:-
_
In the ordinary course of manufacturing earthenware tiles & other articles
of pottery it has been the usual practice after such articles have reached the
biscuit state to dip each article separately by hand into a solution or mixture
of glaze & water commonly known as "slop glaze" & if in such dipping any
surplus slop glaze adhered to the article it was shaken off by the dipper imme-
diately after it was dipped, in order to avoid any "welts" of glaze from appearing
on the finished articles after the glaze had been fused, by firing the articles in
the "glost oven or kiln.
""
This invention is designed to provide a machine capable of performing the
work that has hitherto been done by hand in respect to such articles as tiles
plaques plates saucers and other similar articles.
It consists essentially of a wheel or drum mounted to rotate upon a horizontal
axis the periphery being constructed or adapted to receive and hold the tiles or
other articles to be glazed by means of springs clips wedges loops of wire or
other appliance while they are passed through a receptacle containing the glaze.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which is illustrated a machine primarily intended for the dipping
of earthenware tiles which are usually glazed on one side only, but which with
slight modification may be applied to the dipping of other articles which require
to be completely covered with the glaze.
Fig. 1. Side elevation.
Fig. 2. Front elevation.
Fig. 3. Side elevation partly in section of part of the wheel or drum-enlarged.

page_text: A wheel or drum A is mounted upon a horizontal axis a journalled in suitable
bearings and rotated either by manual or machine power. The periphery of the
wheel or drum A is formed with a number of pockets or recesses B to receive
the tiles C (or other article) which are placed therein and carried round with
the wheel as it rotates. The tiles are held in position by the springs D which
bear against the sides of the tiles..
Instead of the springs 1) shown in the drawings any suitable form of clips
wedges loops of wire or other similar appliances may be fitted to the periphery
of the drum or wheel to hold the articles in position thereon as it rotates.
Each spring D is fitted with a rod or spindle d the end of which engages
with an inclined plane or cam surface to force back the spring and release the
tile (or other article) automatically when it has passed through the dipping pan
containing the glaze.
Behind the wheel A is placed a sloping board E onto which the tiles slide
off when released leaving the pockets or recesses empty to be refilled by the
attendant as they reach the top of the wheel.
The automatic arrangement is not essential as the tiles or articles may be
removed by hand.
The rate at which the wheel aforesaid revolves may be varied according to
the thickness of the coating of glaze required or the shape and size of the articles
dipped.
In the case of plates and other articles which require to be glazed on both
sides wire loops or cages are fitted to the periphery of the wheel A to hold or
carry the articles to permit of them being immersed in the liquid glaze.
Below the wheel A is placed a dipping pan or vessel F in such a position
that as the wheel rotates the articles carried thereby shall come into contact
with or pass through the glaze to give them the required coating or
glaze.
dip" of
The glaze in the dipping pan or vessel F may be kept at a constant level by
being continually fed from a containing vessel or reservoir placed in any con-
venient position. The rate at which the dipping pan is supplied with the
glaze may be a little in excess of the rate at which it is absorbed or taken up
by the articles being glazed an overflow f being fitted to the dipping pan to main-
tain the glaze at the required level.
Provision may also be made (either in connection with the axis of the dip-
ping wheel or otherwise) for agitating the glaze in the containing vessel and
keeping it from settling:
If desired or found necessary a brush or scraper G may be fitted to the dip-
ping pan to remove any superfluous or "welt" of glaze. The brush is held up to
the tile C by a spring or otherwise and provided with an army which traverses
a cam H on the side of the wheel A to cause it to bear with even pressure over
the surface of the articles, that have come in contact with the glaze, when
leaving the dipping pan.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A macliine for dipping articles of pottery or earthenware comprising a
rotating wheel or drum to carry the articles on its periphery and a dipping
vessel placed beneath to contain the glaze substantially as described.
2. In a machine for dipping tiles and other articles of pottery or earthenware
a rotating wheel or drum provided with recesses or pockets on its periphery to
receive the articles, springs or other device to hold the articles in position during
the operation of dipping, an incline or cam surface to engage the spring or
gripping device to release the article when the dipping has been effected and a
dipping pan placed beneath to contain the glaze substantially as shown and
described.

page_text: 3. A machine for dipping tiles or other similar articles of pottery or earthen-
ware having the several parts constructed and arranged in combination sub-
stantially as described and shown.
Dated this 11th day of August 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, l'atent Agents.