IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK-MAKING MACHINERY
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Scholefield, of Leeds, in the County of
York, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICK-MAKING
MACHINERY."
Sealed the 23rd February 1869, and dated the 25th August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Scholefield at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th August 1868.
I, RICHARD SCHOLEFIELD, of Leeds, in the County of York, Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BRICK-MAKING MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to machinery for forming or moulding clay
or plastic material into suitable shapes or forms for bricks, and the
improvements consist,―
Firstly. Of a circular disc, in which are a series of moulds or recesses
of suitable form for the clay or plastic material to be moulded in.
This disc is mounted horizontally upon a series of friction rollers, and
is capable of rotating on or around a central pillar fixed upon a
suitable bed plate. To the outer edge of the disc on the top side is

page_text: fixed a rim or flange projecting upward, which (with the disc) forms
a hopper to receive the supply of clay, and to the under side or to
the edge of said disc is formed or attached a cog or toothed wheel, in
which a pinion gears for giving motion thereto. One or more rollers
are mounted on arms affixed to the pillar above the disc, to which
rollers by preference I give an intermittent rotary motion by star wheel
or other suitable means, or continuous rotary motion may be given to
them so as to roll upon and press the clay into the moulds as the disc
rotates under them. I also apply other rollers which are supported on
the pillar, and adjustable for regulating the quantity or depth of clay in
the hopper as may be required. A rim or flange is also fixed to the
pillar fitting to the dise forming the inner side to the hopper, and a knife
or knives are attached to this flange fitting the disc, so as to cut the
superfluous clay off the brick forms when in the moulds, and scrapers
are also applied for cleaning the said knives and rollers. Each mould or
recess is provided with a plunger, the stem of which carries a friction
roller, which takes into a suitably formed cam or cam groove fixed on
the pillar, whereby as the disc rotates the plungers are caused to slide
to and fro in the moulds or recesses to press the clay into forms, and
also to push the said forms out of the moulds. The outer side of each
mould is moveable by the action of another cam, which at suitable times
places it into and out of position for pressing the form, and to allow the
said form to be pushed out of the mould by the action of the plunger.
By this Invention clay or other plastic material is pressed by rollers
into the moulds as the said moulds pass in succession under them; then
by the action of the cam upon the plungers the clay is pressed to the
proper form in the moulds, and as the disc passes under the knives they
cut off the superfluous quantity of clay; the outer sides of the moulds
are then removed out of place by the action of the other cam provided
for that purpose, and the plungers push the brick forms out from the
moulds upon a creeper or travelling endless apron.
Secondly. The improvements consist of a drum or cylinder with the
brick moulds formed in the periphery or circular surface at suitable
distances apart. This drum is mounted upon a horizontal shaft sup-
ported upon suitable framework and capable of rotating thereon, by
preference, intermittently. Upon the framework, by preference on one
side of the drum, is erected a hopper to receive and supply the clay
which is pushed therefrom into the moulds by a reciprocatory perforated

page_text: rammer or plunger acting at proper times when the moulds are placed
in position for the purpose, and a knife is fixed to the frame to cut off
the superfluous clay from the surface of the moulds as the drum moves
forward. Also above the drum is provided and arranged a rammer or
presser for pressing the clay in the moulds to the proper form in
succession as they are brought into position, and knives are provided for
cleaning the said rammer. Also within the moulds are plungers for
pushing the pressed forms out therefrom upon a creeper or other
receptacle, which are operated by cam groove in a similar manner to
those described in the first part of this Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Scholefield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
SCHOLEFIELD, of Leeds, in the County of York, Mechanic, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Richard Scholefield, Her special licence that
I, the said Richard Scholefield, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Scholefield, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BRICK-MAKING MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Richard Scholefield, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Scholefield, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Sheets of Drawings (that
by the following statement and accompanying Sheets of Drawings (that
is to say):
This Invention relates to machinery for forming or moulding clay
or plastic material into suitable shapes or forms for bricks, and the
improvements consist,-
Firstly. Of a circular disc in which are a series of moulds or recesses
of suitable form for the clay or plastic material. to be moulded in; this
disc is mounted horizontally upon a series of friction rollers, and is
capable of rotating on or around a central pillar fixed upon a suitable
bed plate. To the outer edge of the disc on the top side is fixed a rim
or flange projecting upward, which (with the disc) forms a hopper to
receive the supply of clay, and to the under side or to the edge of said
disc is formed or attached a cog or toothed wheel, in which a pinion
gears for giving motion thereto. One or more rollers are mounted on
arms affixed to the pillar above the disc, to which rollers, by preference,
I give an intermittent rotary motion by star wheel or other suitable
means (or continuous rotary motion may be given to them so as to roll
upon and press the clay into the moulds as the disc rotates under them.
I also apply other rollers which are supported on the pillar and
adjustable for regulating the quantity or depth of clay in the hopper
as may be required. A rim or flange is also fixed to the pillar fitting to
the disc forming the inner side to the hopper, and a knife or knives are
attached to this flange, fitting the disc so as to cut the superfluous
clay off the brick forms when in the moulds; and scrapers are also
applied for cleaning the said knives and rollers. Each mould or recess
is provided with a plunger, the stem of which carries a friction roller,
which takes into a suitably formed cam or cam groove fixed on the
pillar, whereby as the disc rotates the plungers are caused to slide
to and fro in the moulds or recesses to press the clay into forms, and
also to push the said forms out of the moulds. The outer side of each
mould is moveable by the action of another cam, which at suitable
times places it into and out of position for pressing the form and to
allow the said form to be pushed out of the mould by the action of the
plunger.

page_text: By this Invention clay or other plastic material is pressed by rollers
into the moulds as the said moulds pass in succession under them; then
by the action of the cam upon the plungers the clay is pressed to the
proper form in the moulds, and as the disc passes the knives they cut off
the superfluous quantity of clay; the outer sides of the moulds are then
removed out of place by the action of the other cam provided for that
purpose, and the plungers push the brick forms out from the moulds
upon a creeper or travelling endless apron.
Secondly. The improvements consist of a drum or cylinder with the
brick moulds formed in the periphery or circular surface at suitable
distances apart. This drum is mounted upon a horizontal shaft sup-
ported upon suitable framework, and capable of rotating thereon, by
preference, intermittently. Upon the framework, by preference on one
side of the drum, is erected a hopper to receive and supply the clay,
which is pushed therefrom into the moulds by a reciprocatory perforated
rammer or plunger acting at proper times, when the moulds are placed
in position for the purpose. Also above the drum is provided and
arranged a rammer or presser for pressing the clay in the moulds to the
proper form in succession as they are brought into position. Also
within the moulds are plungers for pushing the pressed forms out there-
from upon a creeper or other receptacle, which are operated by cam
groove in a similar manner to those described in the first part of this
Invention
Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) is a plan, Fig. 2 is an elevation, and Fig. 3 is a
vertical section of a machine according to the first part of my said
Invention.
A is the disc, in which are a series of ten moulds B; this disc is
mounted on and capable of rotating around the pillar C, which is fixed
in a bed plate D. On the upper edge of the disc is a rim or flange E
forming a hopper thereto, and under it is formed or fixed a spur cog
wheel G, into which may be geared either a spur pinion or a worm as
most convenient for driving it. H are two rollers. mounted on a cross

page_text: arm fitting on the pillar so as to move up or down but not to rotate. To
each roller is attached a star wheel I, which are operated by pins J, fixed
to and projecting out from the edge of the disc carrying friction rollers J¹
so as to produce intermittent motion of the said rollers H to press the
clay into the moulds as the disc rotates. K is a plate with rim or
flange fixed to the pillar forming the inner side to the hopper, and L are
projections forming knives for cutting off the superfluous clay from the
forms when in the moulds as the disc rotates; M are the plungers fitting
the moulds, so as to be capable of sliding therein, each having a stem
with friction roller N entering a cam groove formed in the bed plate,
which as the disc rotates gives motion to the plungers, firstly, to press
the clay into proper forms, then to push them out of the moulds, either
upon a creeper or other suitable receptacle, the outer side P of the said
moulds being capable of moving out of the way to allow the forms to
pass out, then replaced by the action of another cam groove Q formed in
the outer edge of the bed plate.
Figs. 4 and 5 are two views of the plunger M and its stem N with
friction roller, and Figs. 6 and 7 are two views of the moveable outside
of the moulds with friction roller to enter and be operated by the
groove Q of the bed plate.
The second part of my Invention is shewn on Sheet 2 of the Drawings,
where Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevations, Fig. 3 an end elevation, and
Fig. 4 is a plan of the same.
A is the drum or cylinder with moulds B formed in the periphery or
circular surface; this drum is mounted loosely upon a horizontal shaft C
supported in the framework, so as to be capable of rotating thereon
intermittently. D is the hopper to receive and supply the clay or other
plastic materials, and E is the perforated rammer or plunger operated by
rods F connected to cranks G fixed on each end of the shaft for pushing
the clay into the moulds as and when the moulds are placed in suitable
position for the purpose; H is another perforated rammer or presser
operated by rods I attached on each side carrying friction rollers J,
entering cam grooves K in the spur wheels Y for pressing the clay in
the moulds. Each mould is provided with a plunger L having a stem
carrying a friction roller L', which rollers enter into and are operated by
a cam M for pushing the brick forms out of the moulds at the proper
time upon a shelf or table N or upon a creeper. P are a series of
recesses formed in the drum corresponding to the number of moulds into

page_text: which a guide stop piece Q attached to the presser enters to hold the
drum in proper position for the presser to enter the moulds. The drum
is turned intermittently by means of a rod R connected to the plunger E,
and to a lever S hinged on the shaft C, which catches on projections T
fixed to the side of the drum in proper order or arrangement, so that the
moulds will be placed in suitable position to recieve the clay at the
proper time to be pressed in by the rammer E, also to recieve the
rammer H for pressing the forms in the mould at the proper time..
Figs. 5 and 6 shew two views of the mould before being fixed in the
drum; Figs. 7 and 8 are two views of the perforated rammer; Figs. 9
and 10 are two views of the guide frame for the rammer E or bottom of
the hopper, and Figs. 11 and 12 are two views of the plungers L. It
will be observed that motion is given to this machine by means of the
driving pullies U and train of spur gear V, W, X, Y.
.
Sheet 3 are Drawings of a machine, being a modification of the second
part of my Invention. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is an end
elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.
A is the drum with its moulds B mounted on a horizontal shaft C
supported upon suitable framing, as in the former case, with a hopper D
and a feeding rammer or plunger E, worked by connecting rods F and G
from the shaft C. In this case however the intermittent motion of the
drum is produced by means of a double tappet lever H, which revolves
with a shaft I in the direction of the arrow, and acts upon stud pins J
projecting from the side of the drum having friction rollers thereon.
Each end of this lever is formed of two steps or of different radi from the
shaft I, so arranged that the first part or longer end acts upon one of
the studs M to drive the drum forward in the direction of the arrow,
as marked on the said drum, until the next stud N arrives at the position
shewn, when the drum will cease to revolve and be held securely in that
position for clay to be pressed into the mould opposite the rammer E,
while the tappet continues to rotate until the other end thereof comes
round to act upon the stud N, and thereby in like manner as before
explained moves the drum forward another distance, bringing the next
mould into position to be fed by the rammer E. The pressing rammer P
is mounted upon the shaft I not to rotate therewith, but capable of
sliding thereon, and more clearly shewn in the details at Figs. 5 and 6
in two views.

page_text: Figs. 7 and 8 are two views of a cam or tappet Q, which is fixed on
the said shaft I to give the slide motion to the rammer P as the shaft
rotates; Figs. 9 and 10 are two views of a plunger for pushing out
the brick forms from the moulds, and is shewn in its position in Fig. 1,
where it will be seen that it passes through the drum spanning the
shaft C, and as one end of this rammer comes under the cam or
tappet R the moulded brick form is forced out on the other side of the
drum upon a creeper or other receptacle provided for the purpose at S.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Scholefield, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
RP. SCHOLEFIELD. (L.S.)