Novel or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Decorating Tiles, Hollow Ware, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1898
P
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov, 1898--Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
Novel or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Decorating Tiles,
Hollow Ware, and the like.
I, WILLIAM MAGUIRE, 16, Richmond Street, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford-
shire, Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This my invention relates to a novel or improved method of and apparatus for use
in decorating tiles made of or from clay, earthenware or like material, which
apparatus can also be used for decorating the exterior surface or surfaces of hollow
pottery ware articles.
In carrying my invention into practice I make a square or rectangular box of wood
or metal of any suitable size in the ends of which box opposite each other I form a
circular or other hole of suitable size in which holes I fix a brass or other metallic
bush or bearing for supporting the ends of a horizontal metallic shaft or rod, upon
which shaft I fit or fix a cylindrical brush having hog hair or sable hair bristles,
cocoa nut fibre or the like.
I suitable metallic bearings on each side of such brush at a suitable distance
therefrom I mount or support the ends of suitable brass or other metallic rods having
a straight metallic arm or countershaft projecting a suitable distance therefrom and
in suitable bearings attached to the ends of such box and beneath such brush I mount
a brass or other metallic rod or shaft having a longitudinally fluted roller fitted or
fixed thereon. After placing a metallic or other stencil over a hole made in the top
side of such box and a tile or other earthenware article to be decorated on such
stencil, by means of a vertical metallic arm or lever projecting through the top of
such box at one of its sides I throw the projecting metallic arms of the countershafts
against the bristles or sides of the horizontal brush.
As the brush shaft is rotated by means of a handle at one of its ends outside the
box the bristles of such brush rub against the top portion of the periphery of the
fluted roller beneath same and cause such roller to rotate and feed liquid colour
or glaze from the lower portion of the said box to the bristles of the said brush,
the bristles of the said brush as it rotates striking against the projecting arms of the
countershafts at each side of the said brush and causing such bristles to fling or
throw colour or glaze upwards through the holes forming the pattern or part of a
pattern formed in the stencil on to the tile or other ware placed upon such stencil.
When the said projecting arms of the counter shafts are thrown out of gear or
away from the sides of the brush colour or glaze is not flung when the said brush is
rotated. Two or more of such boxes or compartments in one casing may be arranged
side by side having one shaft passing through same, a brush, a fluted roller and
countershafts with disengaging gear being fitted in or to each compartment, and
each compartment used for a separate or distinct colour according to the number of
colours or glazes required to decorate the tile or other article.

page_text: A detachable wood or metal container or box may be attached or hung on to the
back surface of each box or compartment and fitted with a cork or wood float and
slide for automatically supplying colour or glaze to such boxes or compartiments.
February 19th 1898.
Novel or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Decorating Tiles,
Hollow Ware, and the like.
I, WILLIAM MAGUIRE, 16, Richmond Street, Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire,
Tile 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 :-
This my invention has reference to a novel or improved method of and apparatus
for use in decorating plain or embossed tiles made of or from clay, earthenware or like
material, and the exterior plain or embossed surface or surfaces of hollow pottery-
ware.
In carrying my said invention into practice I make a square or rectangular box or
casing of wood or metal of suitable size having a removable cover or lid with a square
or rectangular hole of suitable size therein, in each end of such box I form a circular
or other hole of suitable shape and size in which holes I fit or fix a brass or like
suitable metallic bush or bearing for supporting the ends of a horizontal wrought-
iron or like suitable metallic shaft or rod having a cylindrical brush with hog-hair,
sable-hair or like similar suitable bristles mounted or fixed thereto.
At each side of such brush at a suitable distance therefrom in suitable bearings I
mount or support the ends of brass or other suitable metallic rods having projecting
parallel arms or countershafts, and in or on suitably shaped metallic bearings fixed or
attached to the inside surface of the ends of such box beneath the said cylindrical
brush and parallel thereto I mount the ends of a brass or other suitable metallic rod
or shaft of suitable size having a longitudinally fluted hard-wood roller fitted or fixed
thereon.
After placing a type-metal or other suitable metallic stencil over the hole in the
top side or lid of such box and an earthenware tile or a hollow earthenware article to
be decorated on such stencil by pulling up a vertical metallic lever projecting
through a slot in the lid of such box at one of its sides at a suitable distance from the
stencil and pivottally connected to metallic arms within such box I throw or put the
metallic side shafts against the bristles or sides of the horizontal cylindrical
brush.
When such brush shaft is rotated by means of a suitable handle fixed at one
of its ends outside such box the bristles of such brush will cause the longitudinally
ribbed or fluted wood roller beneath same to revolve in liquid colour or glaze contained
in a tin, zinc or other tray or vessel on the inside bottom surface of such box and
convey such colour or glaze to the bristles of such brush, and as such brush rotates
its bristles strike against the projecting shafts at its sides causing such bristles to
throw such colour or glaze upwards through the holes or cut away portions of the
stencil used so as to form the pattern, picture or design, or part of a pattern, picture
or design on the tile or other ware placed upon such stencil.
By pushing the said vertical lever and its arms downwards the said side shafts are
thrown away from the sides of the said horizontal brush so that colour or glaze
will not be flung upwards when such brush and fluted roller are rotated.

page_text: having one shaft passing longitudinally through same, a cylindrical brush with suit-
able bristles, a fluted roller beneath such brush on a rod parallel thereto, and a suitable
rod parallel to each side of such brush with disengaging gear fitted within or to each
compartment may be used instead of a single box or compartment, and each compart-
ment used for the same or a distinct colour or glaze to decorate the tile or other
article placed on a stencil on the lid or top end of each of such compartments.
A detachable wood, tin or other suitable glaze or colour container or box may be
attached or hung on to the back surface of each box or compartment, and fitted with
a metallic slide having a cork, wood or other suitable float attached or connected to
its lower end for automatically supplying colour or glaze to the metallic or other
colour dish or tray on the inside bottom surface of each box or compartment.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and explained in
detail I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings shewing four compartments
arranged side by side in one box or casing, on which drawings letters of reference are
marked.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively represent a front elevation of such casing or
apparatus, a back elevation of same shewing color boxes or containers hooked on or
attached to such casing, and color trays with floats fitted thereto, a plan view of
same, and an end view of such casing looking in the direction indicated by
arrow A.
Figure 5 represents a transverse sectional elevation of a removable metallic liner
for the upper interior portion of each of the compartments of such casing or
apparatus, and a removable inetallic tray or colour holder for same shewing a bearing
attached to one end of such tray.
Figure 6 represents in elevation a bearing for the opposite end of such trays for
supporting the ends of the roller shaft.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the metallic liner shewn in section at Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a plan view of the metallic tray or colour holder shewn in section at
Figure 5.
Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the metallic liner shewn at Figure 5,
shewing the shape and position of the bearings for the shaft or "splasher" at each
side of the bristle-brush in each compartment of such apparatus.
Figure 10 is a similar section to that shewn at Figure 9, shewing the vertical
metallic lever with its inclined metallic arms pulled up so as to put or place the hori-
zontal metallic "splasher" shafts or rods against the sides of the brush.
.f
Figure 11 is a similar section to that shewn at Figure 10 shewing the vertical
lever and its inclined arms pushed downwards and the horizontal splasher" rods
thrown away from the sides of the said cylindrical brush.
Figures 12 and 13 are plan views respectively of Figures 10 and 11.
Figures 14 and 15 are longitudinal sectional elevations of Figures 10 and 11
respectively taken on the lines C-D and E-F looking in the direction indicated
by arrow B.
Figure 16 is an enlarged end elevation of the detachable colour boxes shewing the
colour outlet, and the guide at each side of same between which the upper end of
the float stems slide or work, and
Figure 17 is an enlarged end view of the longitudinally ribbed or grooved wood
rollers used.
On reference to the drawings a represents a deal or other suitable wood casing
divided into four compartments b, c, d, e in each of which from their back side I
insert a tin or similar suitable tray f having bearings g, h fixed to its ends for
supporting a removable metallic rod i having a hard wood or similar suitable
longitudinally ribbed cylindrical roller; fixed thereon, I then insert a tin, a zinc or
other suitable metallic liner & from the top end of such compartments so that their
surrounding flange rests on corner pieces m sɔ as to support such liners within such

page_text: compartments, I then mount a cylindrical bristle brush n within each compartiment
above the fluted rollers upon a metallic shaft o passing through such brushes so that
the ends of such shaft fit in suitable metallic bearings p, q attached or fixed to or in
the ends of such casing or apparatus and secure same therein by a metallic pin and
washer at one end of such shaft, to the other end of such shaft o I fit or fix a
suitable handler, I then place the ends of the metallic rods or "splasher" shafts 8, t
in or upon their bearings u, vattached to the ends of the liners k so that the vertical
levers may pass up through the guides attached or fixed to the end of such
liners, I then place a removable wood lid or cover a³ having a square aperture a¹
formed in same on or over the top of each compartment so that the upper end of the
levers will easily fit or pass up through a slot a forined in such covers.
After placing a suitable stencil made preferably from type-metal in the recess a
of the covers of such apparatus, a cork or wood float f³ in the well f² of the trays f
and fitting their upper metallic end or stem f* between the guides attached to the
sides of the colour boxes a² I pour the required liquid glaze or colour into such
boxes a² from which such colour or glaze flows into the wells f2 of the trays f until
the floats f3 and their stems frise and shut off or stop the supply to such wells.
Such colour boxes a² and the floats f³ and their stems f¹ may be dispensed with and
the required glaze or colour poured into the trays f direct.
After placing a tile or other article requiring to be decorated upon the stencils in
the recess of the several lids or covers I pull up the levers k² and arms pivotally
connected thereto and the "splasher" rods s, t so as to throw such rods s, t
against the sides of the brushes n in which position they are maintained by the
counter-shafts s², 2, by rotating the shaft o by means of the handle r, the brushes n
as they rotate will cause the fluted rollers to revolve and pick up glaze or color
contained in the trays f and transmit such color or glaze to the bristles of such
brushes, and as the bristles of such brushes strike against the rods s, tin passing
same such colour or glaze will be thrown upwards through the apertures, holes
or incisions of the stencils used against the tiles or other ware being decorated. I
would have it understood that any suitably shaped aperture may be formed in the
covers or lids of the compartments of such appliances and any suitable number of
type-metal or other suitable stencils used successively or in sequence to form a
pattern, picture or design upon tiles or other ceramic-ware.
One or more metallic or wood angle or corner-pieces may be fitted or attached to
the top surface of the lids of such apparatus or appliances as a gauge to ensure
placing tiles in exact or proper position for receiving their decoration in sequence,
such ware after being decorated in the manner described is afterwards fired and
finished in the usual way.
The stencils used for decorating ware having a curved exterior or outer surface
would have one curved surface for enabling such ware to be placed thereon for
receiving their decoration.
By pushing the levers ² downwards the "splasher" rods s and t will be thrown
or moved away from the sides of the brushes n and retained in such position by the
counter-shafts s², t2 thus rendering such brushes inoperative.
Suitable paper of proper size placed on the stencils of such apparatus and held or
pressed thereon by a suitable weight may be decorated in a similar manner by using
a sequence of such stencils to form a pattern, picture or design thereon and after-
wards used as transfers for decorating tiles or other ware.
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. The construction of apparatus for use in decorating tiles, slabs and other
ceramic-ware articles consisting of a square or rectangular wood casing or box of
suitable size provided with a hinged or detachable or removable wood or metallic
cover or lid in which a square, a rectangular, a circular, an oval or other suitably
shaped hole or aperture is formed having a peripheral recess or ledge around same

page_text: for receiving a type-metal or other suitable stencil or a series of stencils in sequence,
a metallic shaft passing through such box supported by suitable bearings in the
ends of such casing and fitted at one of its ends outside such casing with a suitable
handle, on which shaft within such casing a cylindrical bristle brush is fitted or
fixed and parallel with such shaft beneath such brush a suitable metallic shaft or
spindle supported in suitable bearings having a longitudinally fluted or grooved
hard-wood roller fitted or fixed on same so that such roller may be in contact with
the bristles of such brush, a suitably shaped shaft or "splasher "-rod supported in
suitable bearings at each side of and parallel to such bristle-brush, suitable metallic
arms and a vertical lever at one end of such box and connected to such brush-shaft
for throwing such "splasher" rods into and out of contact with such bristle-brush,
a removable colour-dish or tray at the bottom of such box, a detachable colour box
or container at one side of such box fitted with a cork or wood float and metallic
stem or shutter for supplying liquid colour or glaze automatically to such dish or
tray, and a removable metallic-liner, and worked or operated in the manner as herein
substantially described and set forth.
2. The construction of apparatus for use in decorating tiles, slabs and other ceramic-
ware articles consisting of a wood casing divided into two, three, four or more square
or rectangular compartments provided with separate hinged or removable wood or
metallic covers or lids, having a square, a rectangular, a circular, an oval or other
suitably shaped hole or aperture therein with a peripheral recess or ledge around
same for receiving a type-metal or other suitable stencil or a series of stencils in
sequence, a metallic shaft passing longitudinally through such casing supported in
suitable bearings and fitted at one of its ends with a suitable handle outside such
casing, within each compartment fitted or fixed on such shaft a cylindrical bristle
brush, parallel to such shaft and beneath each brush a metallic shaft supported in
suitable bearings having a longitudinally fluted or grooved hardwood roller fitted or
fixed thereon so that the peripheries of such rollers are in contact with the bristles of
such brushes, a suitable shaft or "splasher "rod supported in suitable bearings at
each side of and parallel to the sides of such brushes, suitable metallic arms and
a vertical metallic lever jointed thereto at one end of each of such compartments for
use in throwing such "splasher" rods into and out of contact with such bristle
brusbes, a removable colour dish or tray at the bottom of each compartment, a
detachable colour box or container at one side of each compartment fitted with a cork
or other suitable float having a metallic stem or shutter for automatically supplying
liquid colour or glaze to the said dishes or trays, and a removable metallic liner in each
compartment arranged as illustrated on the drawings hereto annexed, and worked or
operated as herein substantially described and set forth.
3. The construction of apparatus for use in decorating tiles, slabs and other
ceramic articles having a cylindrical bristle brush, a longitudinally fluted or grooved
roller, "splasher" rods with arms or levers suitably connected thereto for use in
throwing such "splasher" rods into and out of contact with the sides of such
brushes, a colour tray or dish, and a suitable removable liner in each of its compart-
ments arranged in the manner as illustrated on the drawings hereto annexed and
operated or worked as herein substantially described and set forth.
Dated this 18th day of November 1808
WILLIAM MAGUIRE,
Applicant.