Improvements in Apparatus for Moulding Tiles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Moulding Tiles.
I, MONTEZUMA SCOTT of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, United States of
America, Manufacturer, 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 accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of my improved tile machine;
Figures 2 and 3 are vertical cross-sectional views through the dies, showing the
same in different positions ;
Fig. 4, is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on the line IV-IV of
Figure 1;
Fig. 5, is an enlarged front elevation, the dies being shown in section ;
Fig. 6, is a perspective view of a modification; and
Fig. 7, is an elevation, partly in section, of the same.
The object of my invention, is to provide a machine for pressing tiles with
perforated backs, rapidly, without disfiguring or distorting the tiles. I do not
claim herein, tiles thus made, as articles of manufacture, because I have made that
the subject of a separate United States l'atent, No. 452,113, granted May 12, 1891.
The advantage of tiles made with perforations in the back, is that they are much
more easily baked, and because they allow the heat to have access uniformly to
different portions of the tile during the baking process. I have illustrated my
invention with reference to a machine of the usual class used in the manufacture
of tiles, and consisting of a matrix or female die of the same shape and pattern in
reverse as that of the tile to be produced, and a vertically moving male die or
plunger, which moves down into the female die and forms the tile therein.
Referring now to the drawings, 2 represents the female die, which has a movable
bottom 3, mounted at the upper end of a rod or plunger 4, and this plunger is
provided with a foot-lever 5, by means of which the bottom may be raised to eject
the tile when finished. The die 2 and the lever are suitably arranged on the
frame 6 of the machine, in a manner which is well understood by those skilled in
the art and needs no detailed description. 7 is the vertically moving plunger or
stock of the upper die, which is worked by means of a screw 8 and suitable power-
wheel 9. The face of this die consists of a plate 10, of suitable form, and above
the plate 10 is a second plate 11, having a number of downwardly projecting
spurs 12, which extend through holes made for the purpose in the plate 10. The
plate 11 is connected directly to the plunger 7, and the plate 10 is connected
with the plate 11 by upright side-pieces 13, which extend upwardly from the
plate 10 and pass through the cross-bar 18, as shown. These side-pieces are
provided with three vertical hinge or knuckle joints 14, and upon their outer side
are secured the flat springs 15, held by bands upon each side of the middle joint.
The pieces 13 are provided above and below the cross-bar with fastening nuts 16.
and between the face of the upper nut and the cross-bar, is located the coiled
spring 17. From the upper face of the plate 11, rise the two posts 19, provided
with friction-wheels 20, arranged to engage the inwardly projecting knuckle-
joint 14, and break the same open against the action of the spring 15.
As shown in Figure 4, the corners of the recess of the plate 10, in which recess
the plate 11 is seated, are covered with corner plates 21, and the corners of the
plate 11 are recessed downwardly for a considerable distance so that the plate 11
may rise for a certain time before engaging the plate 10. The spring 17,
takes up any undue downward movement of the plates, which would otherwise
strain the cross-bar.

page_text: The action is as follows: Supposing the die plates 10 and 11 to be raised as in
Figure 1, sufficient clay is put into the female die 2, and by means of the power-
wheel 9, the moving die is caused to descend. The descent of the plunger acting
on the upper plate, moves it downwardly, and disengaging the friction-wheels 20
from the knuckle joints, the springs push the joints straight as the plate 11 engages
the plate 10 and the two plates move down together, the lower plate pressing the
clay to the desired degree of compactness, and the spurs of the upper plate being
forced into the back of the clay tile to produce the desired perforations.
When the tile has been pressed and it is desired to remove it from the die, the
plunger is raised, and as the plate 11 moves with it, the friction-wheels 20, strike
the hinge-joints 14, and break the same open. The corners of the plate 11 then
engage the corner-plates 21, and pull this plate upward, bending the joints
outwardly, as shown in Figure 1, upon which the tile may be ejected by the
plunger 3. It is evident, that until the knuckle-joints of the pieces 13 are opened,
these pieces hold the plate 10 and the tile down firmly, so that the pins 12, which
are tapered for easy withdrawal, are partially drawn from the clay without any
distorting of the article before the plate 10 is lifted.
In the modification of Figures 6 and 7, the side-pieces are formed with two
projections 22, adapted to be engaged by the plate 11. 23 are short rods, which
are pivoted at 24 to the uprights 22, so that the bars may be moved on these pivots
from horizontal to vertical positions. These bars are provided with sleeves, 25,
which are internally screw-threaded and engage with corresponding male threads
on the bars 23, so that by turning these sleeves, the operative lengths of the bars
may be elongated or shortened. In this modification, the action is not automatic,
as in the former case, but after the plunger has moved down and the clay is pressed,
the rods are raised to a vertical position and elongated until they abut against the
cross-piece. Upon the upward movement of the plunger, the plate 11 rises until
it reaches the shoulders or projections 22, when the rods are loosened and then
turned into a horizontal position and the plates then rise together, as in the
former case.
It is obvious that my inventions may be modified in very many different ways,
not only as to the form of the parts to accommodate them to the different forms
and shapes of the tile manufactured, but also in the arrangement of the parts, the
only essential being that there shall le spurs, which form the perforations in
the tile, and a plate which bears upon the tile and holds it so as to permit the
withdrawal or loosening of the parts, without spoiling the tile.
The advantages of my invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
It makes the manufacture of perforated backed tiles simple and easily effected,
and has the result of saving considerable cost to the manufacturer and of
benefiting the user of the tiles, because of the greater shapliness and uniformity
of the tiles which are produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In apparatus for moulding tiles the combination of a matrix, a perforated
plate or die, having upwardly extending hinged arms, and a plate or die having
projecting spurs extending through the perforated die, whereby the perforated die
is retained in position during a portion of the backward stroke of the die having
spurs, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In tile moulding apparatus, the combination of a matrix, having a movable
bottom, a perforated plate or die having upwardly projecting hinged arms, a plate
or die having projecting spurs extending through the perforated die, and provided
with means for operating the hinged arms, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3. In tile moulding apparatus, the combination of a matrix, having a movable
bottom, a perforated plate or die having upwardly projecting jointed arms, a plate

page_text: or die provided with projecting spurs extending through the perforated die, and
having arms arranged to press against and unlock the jointed arms upon upward
movement of the plate, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 16th day of September 1892.
Witnesses:
A. T. ANDERSON.
MONTEZUMA SCOTT.
HARRY D. ANDERSON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.