IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPER- TAINING TO MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND COMPRESSING, STAMPING OR SHAPING, AND DRYING WASHING BLUE AND OTHER CAKING PULVERULENT MATERIALS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Ripley, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
Blue Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPER-
TAINING TO MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND COMPRESSING,
STAMPING OR SHAPING, AND DRYING WASHING BLUE AND OTHER CAKING
PULVERULENT MATERIALS."
Sealed the 29th July 1879, and dated the 5th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Ripley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1879.
RICHARD RIPLEY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Blue Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING ΤΟ MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING AND COMPRESSING, STAMPING OR SHAPING, AND DRYING WASHING
BLUE AND OTHER CAKING PULVERULENT MATERIALS."
In the manufacture of blue the labor of women and girls is largely used; very
simple machines are therefore best suited for the work of measuring out quantity
and stamping the material.
My Invention is of this character, and while designed chiefly to measure and
press blue, is applicable for other materials of a pulverulent caking character.
It consists,-
1st. Of surrounding the chamber or die hole with a large tray or box on a level
with the top of the die hole.
The
This contains material for making the blue blocks. The die hole in which
the blocks are formed is open below, but can be closed with a slide.
lower die works in this die hole, and is raised and lowered by a lever with
outside fulcrum or equivalent mechanism. It is preferably arranged that die
and lever fall with their own weight till the die rests on the slide, and the position
of the slide is so arranged that when the die rests upon it the chamber above is
capable of containing exactly an ounce or its required multiple or aliquot part of
the material piled loosely. Suspended over the die hole sliding in guides or their
equivalent is the upper die. This is worked up and down by suitable mechanism
so as to stop at exactly the point desired to make a block of required hardness and
consistency. As this point differs with every variety of material it can only be
found by experiment.
2nd. The apparatus I use for effecting this motion consists of an annular cam
working between rollers attached to the sliding die. One of these rollers is preferably

page_text: capable of self adjusting its distance from the other so as to accomodate the cam's
varying angularity, or the cam could be proportioned so that at every part of its
stroke.except.at each end of its course it presents an even thickness in the centre
line of the rollers, but a perfectly cylindrical cam, except at the ends of the course
(hereafter described) is best.
The cam.I use is annular for a very large part of its circumference, and opposite
the centre of the annular part, but eccentrical with said part is the axis of the cam,
consisting of a spindle working in bearings. Between this and the nearest part of
the-circumference the cam is solid, and the annular part next adjoining it on each
side has a shallow groove or slot on its interior surface for the upper roller to fall
into in the manner hereafter described under the head working. Two handles, one
at each end of the solid part of the cam near its circumference, and the necessary
framework, complete the apparatus.
To work it, fill the tray with material, let the lower die fall, the upper die being
raised as high as possible, shovel material into the hole till full, then shave off the
surface level. It will contain the exact quantity required. Now pull round the
cam till the upper roller falls into the other notch.
The upper die has in this operation descended to its lowest point, squeezing the
material to the exact required amount, and has again ascended to the highest point,
where it is loosely but sufficiently held by the roller falling into the notch. Now
depress the lever, which works in a slot in or against pins projecting from the lower
die, and the latter rises and throws up the formed block to the surface of the tray,
when it is removed by the operator. The lever and lower block is released and the
same process re-enacted. Arrangements could be made when desirable for auto-
matically feeding and for working the two motions by cams on a treadle shaft below,
but in such case the connections for the upper die require to be in the rear, so as to
leave a clear field for filling the hole. These additions are however not generally
required, and I prefer the machine without them.
For the purpose of drying the blue when compressed into the required shapes I
use an open frame or tray divided into spaces corresponding to the sizes of blue or
similar material to be dried. The spaces are preferably made by bars, wires, or like
partitions extending longitudinally or transversely across the tray. I place another
wire or bar below each open space so as to form a rest for the piece of material to
be dried.
In using it the blocks of blue are placed on edge between the wires or bars,
resting on the wire or bar placed below. The trays are placed in the usual drying
chamber or stove, and the heat freely circulates among the material. The wires or
bars may be fixed or made moveable at pleasure.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Ripley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st August
1879.
RICHARD RIPLEY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Blue Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING AND COMPRESSING, STAMPING OR SHAPING, AND DRYING WASHING
BLUE AND OTHER CAKING PULVERULENT MATERIALS."
This Invention is best described by aid of the accompanying Drawings, taken
from the actual machinery at work in my works.
In these Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation as seen from the side; Fig. 2, front
vertical elevation with cam wheel in section; Figs. 3 and 4, sectional views of wire
drying frame.
In the manufacture of blue the labor of women and girls is largely used; very
simple machines are best suited for the work of measuring out quantity and
stamping the material.
My Invention is of this character, and while designed chiefly to measure and
press blue, is applicable for other materials of a pulverulent caking character.
It consists, 1st. Of surrounding the chamber or die hole with a large tray or
box B on a level with the top of the die hole A. This contains material
for making the blue blocks. The die hole A. in which the blocks are formed
is open below, but can be closed with a slide. The lower die C works in
this die hole, and is raised and lowered by a lever D with outside fulcrum E
or equivalent mechanism. It is preferably arranged that die C and lever D fall
with their own weight till the die rests on the slide F, and the position of the
slide F is so arranged that when the die rests upon it the chamber above is capable
of containing exactly an ounce or its required multiple or aliquot part of the
material piled loosely. Suspended over the die hole, sliding in guides or their
equivalent, is the upper die G. This is worked up and down by suitable mechanism
so as to stop at exactly the point desired to make a block of required hardness and
consistency. As this point differs with every variety of material it can only be
found by experiment.
2nd. The apparatus I use for effecting this motion consists of an annular cam H,
preferably of brass, working between rollers I, J, attached to the sliding die G. One
of these rollers is preferably supported on spring bearings, or made otherwise capable
of self adjusting its distance from the other so as to accomodate the cam's varying
angularity, or the cam could be proportioned so that at every part of its stroke
except at each end of its course it presents an even thickness in the centre line of
the rollers, but a perfectly cylindrical cam except at the ends of the course (hereafter
described) is best. The cam I use is annular for a very large part of its circum-
ference, and opposite the centre of the annular part, but eccentrical with said part
is the axis K of the cam, consisting of a spindle working in bearings L, L. Between
this spindle and the nearest part of the circumference the cam H is solid or divided
off by bar P. The larger annular part next adjoining bar P on each side has a
shallow groove M, M, or slot on its interior surface for the upper roller I to fall into
in the manner hereafter described under the head-working. Handles at each side
and at each end of the solid part of the cam H near its circumference and the
necessary framework complete the apparatus.
To work it fill the tray B with material, let the lower die C fall; the upper die G
being raised as high as possible, shovel material into the hole A till full, then shave
off the surface level. It will contain the exact quantity required.
Now pull round the cam till the upper roller I falls into the other notch M. The
die G has in this operation descended to its lowest point, squeezing the material to the
exact required amount, and has again ascended to the highest point, where it is
loosely but sufficiently held by the roller I falling into the other notch M. Now

page_text: depress the lever D, which works in a slot in or against pins N, N, projecting from
the lower die, and the latter rises and throws up the formed block to the surface of
the tray, when it is removed by the operator. The lever and lower block are
released and the same process re-enacted. Arrangements could be made when
desirable for automatically feeding and for working the two motions by cams on a
treadle shaft below, but in such case the connections for the upper die require to be
in the rear, so as to leave a clear field for filling the hole. These additions are
however not generally required, and I prefer the machine without them. For the
purpose of drying the blue-when-compressed-into the required shapes I use an open
frame or tray, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, divided into spaces corresponding to the sizes
of blue or similar material to be dried.
The spaces are preferably made by bars, wires, or like partitions, extending longi-
tudinally or transversely across the tray. I place another wire or bar below each
open space so as to form a rest for the piece of material to be dried.
In using it the blocks of blue are placed on edge between the wires or bars
resting on the wire or bar placed below. The trays are placed in the usual drying
chamber or stove, and the heat freely circulates among the material.
The wires or
bars may be fixed or made movable at pleasure.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire
to claim under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,—
I. In the manufacture of blocks of blue and other substances from caking
material the employment of a cam or its mechanical equivalent arranged so as to
always bring the die gradually down to one special position, and (preferably by a
continuance of the same movement) raise it up again to its highest point, where it
is stopped and securely held from descending by a notch (M) or its mechanical
equivalent, substantially as herein shown.
II. For the manufacture of blocks of blue and other substances from caking
materials the combination of the lever (D), movable block (C), chamber (A),
tray (B), and upper block (G), pressed down by a cam (H) or its mechanical
equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes described.
III. The mode of and apparatus for regulating the exact height of block (C) by
means of slide (F) or its mechanical equivalent, so that the height at which the
block stands can be altered or adjusted by putting in a fresh slide, or if the slide bo
wedge shaped by pushing or screwing it in a regulated distance.
IV. The general arrangement of apparatus for measuring, compressing, or shaping
washing blue and other caking materials, substantially as described.
V. The arrangement of tray or frame for drying consolidated blocks of blue and
similar materials, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Ripley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
-eight hundred-and seventy nine.
Witness,
W. P. MENDHAM,
of the Office of
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
323, High Holborn
London, W.C.
RICHARD RIPLEY. (L.S.)