Improvements in Compressing Boxes for Making Brick Tea.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compressing Boxes for Making Brick Tea.
I, MITCHELL HARRIS, of 18 Kelly Street, Greenock, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of boxes to be
employed in the operation of compressing tea into bricks. In boxes of the kind to
which my invention relates the tea is compressed by the action of a ram or platen
which is actuated preferably by steam; and when compressed the tea has to be
retained in each box for some hours, and the brick formed has thereafter to be
ejected from the box.
In a box made according to my invention there is a bottom plate made of stee!
which has fixed on it an inner lining slab of wood. The sides and ends of the box
consist of inner lining slabs of wood their lower parts being fixed within an outer
casing of steel. The bottom slab of wood fits within the bottoms of the sides and
ends the latter resting upon the bottom plate which is recessed to receive the
bottom slab of wood; the bottom parts are however removable from the sides and
ends. A cover consisting of a slab of wood with a steel plate fixed to its upper
side is fitted to move up and down within the box; and after a charge of tea has
been filled into the box and the cover placed in position the box is placed in the
press and the cover is forced down by the ram or platen. In order to retain the
tea in a compressed state as long as may be necessary two wedge-shaped keys
are inserted above the cover through grooves or channels formed in the bottoin
of the ram or platen, these keys being entered through eyes in the upper ends of
bolts screwed into lugs formed on the bottom plate. When the keys have been
entered after compressing a brick of tea the compressing ram or platen can be
raised and the box can be removed to give place to another box.
When the tea has been retained in a compressed state for a sufficient time, the
keys are taken out, and the bottom is detached to allow of the brick of tea being
pushed out.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of March 1895.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Compressing Boxes for Making Brick Tea.
I, MITCHELL HARRIS, of 18 Kelly Street, Greenock, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of boxes to be
In boxes of the kind
employed in the operation of compressing tea into bricks.
to which my invention relates the tea is compressed by the action of a ram or
platen which is actuated preferably by steam; and when compressed the tea has to be
Paine 3

page_text: retained in each box for some hours, and the brick formed has thereafter to be
ejected from the box.
In a box made according to my invention there is a bottom plate made of steel
which has fixed on it an inner lining slab of wood. The sides and ends of the box
consist of inner lining slabs of wood their lower parts being fixed within an outer
casing of steel. The bottom parts are removable from the sides and ends. A cover
consisting of a slab of wood with a steel plate fixed to its upper side is fitted to
move up and down within the box for the purpose of compressing the ten.
order to retain the tea in a compressed state as long as may be necessary,
wedge-shaped keys are inserted above the cover.
In
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings, to
be hereinafter referred to, and showing a compressing box as made according to
my invention.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a plan, and Figures, 2, and 3, are vertical sections,
as at right angles to each other, of my improved compressing box.
In these
drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
In a box made according to my invention there is a botton plate, A, made of
steel which has fixed on it an inner lining slab, B, of wood. The sides and ends
of the box consist of inner lining slabs, C, of wood their lower parts being
fixed within an outer casing, D, of steel. The bottom slab, B, of wood fits within
the bottoms of the sides and ends, C, and these rest upon the bottom plate, A,
which is recessed to receive the bottom slab of wood; the bottom parts, A, and B,
are however removable from the sides and ends. A cover consisting of a slab of
wood, E, with a steel plate, G, fixed to its upper side is fitted to move up and
down within the box; and after a charge of tea has been filled into the box and
the cover, E, G, placed in position the box is placed in the press, and the cover is
forced down by the ram or platen. In order to retain the tea in a compressed
state as long as may be necessary two wedge-shaped keys, H, are inserted above
the cover, E, G, through openings, J, in the sides and through grooves or channels
formed in the bottom of the ram or platen, these keys being entered through
eyes, K, in the upper ends of bolts, L, screwed into lugs, M, formed on the bottom
plate, A. When the keys, H, have been entered after compressing a brick of
tea, the compressing ram or platen can be raised and the box can be removed to
give place to another box.
When the tea has been retained in a compressed state for a sufficient time, the
keys, H, are taken out and the bottom, A, B, is detached to allow of the brick of
tea being pushed out.
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:
The improved construction of compressing box for making brick tea sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eighteenth day of December 1895.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.