NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO OR SMOKING PIPES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Rankin, of the City of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of
"NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO OR
SMOKING PIPES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Rankin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 13th March 1875.
I, ROBERT RANKIN, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO
OR SMOKING PIPES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to new or improved constructions and
arrangements of the parts generally of machines or machinery for auto-
matically compressing and shaping tobacco or smoking pipes from the
clay into the various shapes and sizes required, all sequentially in a more
simple, direct, and efficient manner than beretofore. And the nature..
:

page_text: and novelty of this said Invention or mechanism consist as follows:-
According to one modification or construction and arrangement of the
parts a small ordinary clay pug mill is erected some little distance above
the top surface of an intermittent, revolving, round, or annular mould-
carrying table carriage turning on an annular V groove (or it might be
on rollers or wheels in or on such a groove or rim) in a strong supporting
sole or bed plate having brackets for carrying the pug mill and other
parts. The pug shaft of the mill is preferably driven from a vertical
shaft carried near it on a foot step bearing with the upper journals of
both shafts working in bush bearings in a bracket secured to the top of
the pug mill, and by equal sized spur wheels keyed on both shafts above
the said bracket, and so as to revolve at the same speed as this first
motive shaft of the machine which is driven at any desired speed by
bevil gearing from any adjacent prime moving horizontal shaft above.
fitted with ordinary engaging and disengaging belt pulleys or couplings.
This first or main vertical shaft driving the pug mill also gives motion
by mitre or other equal sized wheels to all the other shafting of the
machine at the same speed, so that each shaft performs its functions (or
reciprocates the parts it has to move) during a portion of its revolution
sequentially in proper time in relation to that of the others, and of each
intermittent motion or pause and action of the revolving mould table.
The pug cylinder is formed with a lateral shallow recess (parallel or
approximate to the shape of a pipe) leading out laterally near the
bottom towards or in the direction in which the table below it is
turning, having a box or bolted-on mouth-piece to suit various sizes of
pipes close at the outer end, with a parallel vertical recess through the
upper and lower sides approximately to the shape and size of the pipe,
having a punch or plunger at the lower end of a connecting rod recipro-
cated in it by an eye on the upper end of the rod working on the crank
or eccentric pin of a small disc shaft mounted in a bearing bracket close
over the outside of the pug mill, and driven by a mitre wheel on it and
the pug mill shaft below its upper bearings, all so that every time a
narrow eccentric wheel on the lower end of this shaft below the pugging
or mixing blades presses a sufficient supply of clay to make a pipe into
the said lateral recess opposite it (and as soon as the table has been
shifted and brought to rest with a mould box on it below the said
punch, as will be hereafter more fully explained), the punch descends
and forces down a rough shaped block of the clay into the mould below,

page_text: or it might be a stream or tongue of the clay which may be cut off by a
revolving cutter on the lower end of the pug mill shaft left outside for
that purpose or other equivalent cutting mechanism which would sever
the block of clay and allow it to rest or drop into the mould ready for
being compressed or shaped and finished therein.
The eccentric wheel is secured to the lower square end of the shaft of
the pug mill by a long sliding eye and a screw passing through the
shaft and secured in collar bearings in the eye of the eccentric and
turned by a box key inserted through a hole in the side of the pugging
barrel, all so as to give the eccentric more or less throw or eccentricity
to regulate the amount of clay forced into the lateral outlet duct
opposite it every revolution of the shaft 3, and is set so as to effect this
just before the punch or plunger before named comes down.
The pipe moulds are arranged in a set (as say from eight to twenty)
each formed in two halves much as usual, and secured to the face of two
plates hinged at their ends to a portable frame with a central rib which
is secured radially in recesses on the turning table and equally divided
round it with a short transverse spindle oscillating in each frame with
two short wipers on it with or without antifriction rollers on them just
clear of and below the two folding or hinged plates. When these and
the two halves of the mould are lying flat open, but so that when this
spindle is turned, these short wipers will raise the hinged plates, and by
curved wedge surfaces on their back close them and the mould boxes
with great power, and compress and shape the blank form or block of
clay previously placed into it, as before stated, into a properly shaped
pipe with the mouth upward below a "stapper" reciprocated, as will be
explained, after the table is brought to rest by a long pendent arm
working down through a slot in the table, with an antifriction roller on
its lower end rolling over a fixed curved cam surface below as the table
is turned from one standing position to another.
On some part of the outer periphery of the mounted turntable a
shallow annular rim is formed having as many screw or angled recesses
or notches cut in it as there are mould boxes fixed on its upper surface,
and a corresponding number of square or holding notches corresponding
In position to these with the latter cut in the middle between the angled
hotches, all so that while the table is at rest and the mould boxes arc
espectively standing with one in its first open position getting filled

page_text: with a blank of clay to be subsequently compressed in the mould, and
one.in the advanced position closed below and getting the bowl formed
in it by the "stapper," as will be herein-after described, and the ono in
advance of that standing in a line with the drilling wire getting the hole.
formed in the stem of the pipe, and the one in front of that again folded
or laid open with the pipe finished in it ready for being removed by the
attendant, and the mould ready for being and oiled when that is
required, all as will be herein-after described; then a screw turning and
holding barrel cam works in these notches, all as follows, and driven by
mitre wheels, one on the first motion shaft and the other on the near
from
end of the spindle revolving in bush bearing brackets projecting up
the sole plate, and with its axis in the horizontal plane of the said ring
of notclies and in a line through the first motion vertical shaft just
behind the pug mill, and with a true annular or segmental square
feather about half round the centre of the barrel cam working into tho
holding square central notches close up to the mould table so as to hold
it steady while the barrel cam is making half of each revolution; but
having completed this the front end of a screw or cam curved, angled
thread carried spirally round the other half of the cam barrel enters the
angled notch behind the central square one and turns the turntable during
the other half revolution of the barrel cam so as to bring round another
angled notch to the position of the former one, and a new central square,
notch opposite the plain holding segmental feather for it to enter and
hold the table just before the angled feather left its notch in the advanced
position to which it had carried it, all ready for the several moulds to
have the respective operations performed in them, as stated. It will
also be understood that strong pins might be inserted in the periphery
of the mould table, these taking into segmental and screw or curved
grooves cut round the opposite halves of the barrel cam; or other
equivalent cam mechanism might be employed for moving and holding
the mould table, as stated.
"
The mechanism for working the stapper is carried by a bow bracket
stretching nearly radially over the mould table, and secured by flanges
to brackets projecting out from the inside and outside of the annular
sole plate, and carrying a vertical slide bracket close at the side of and
with the “stapper" fixed to and reciprocating with a slide block in the

page_text: rod connected to the former above and to the latter below, while the
free end of this rocking lever is attached to the top end of its actuating
connecting rod, having its lower end jointed to the crank or eccentric
pin of a disc on the overhung end of a short shaft carried in bush
bearings preferably below the floor and sole plate, and actuated by equal
sized angled wheels gearing it to an angled shaft in the same horizontal
plane in line with the lower end of the first motion shaft, which drives
it by mitre wheels, all so as to cause the "stapper" to form the bowl of
the pipe during the lower part of its downward and upward motion,
while the crank is turning the lower centre, and while the mould and
table are standing, and so that both are passing through the upper part
of their motion while the table is moving and changing, or bringing a
fresh mould and pipe to be operated upon.
The "stapper" may either be made to press away all superfluous
clay and form the smooth lip to the bowl, or a knife may be used
actuated by a curved or angled slide slotted plate, and the upward
motion of the "stapper" slide or other equivalent, or it might be by the
motion of the table and mould in passing a stationery spring bladed
knife. Each movement of the table brings the moulds in successión,
cach with a pipe so far formed ready for the hole being formed in its
stem with the small hole of the mould (formed half in the end of each
stem part of the mould) radially opposite a long small drill fixed in the
spindle of a small deep grooved pulley carried in a small slide block
fitted to reciprocate in a slotted guide secured to a bracket on the sole
plate in the middle of the turntable. The spindle and drill aro
constantly driven (in the same cutting direction while entering or being
withdrawn from the mould and stem) by an india-rubber or other
equivalent band passed over its groove pulley below, and a larger one
on the overhead horizontal shaft, which gives motion to the first motion
or main shaft of the machine. The slide block is reciprocated to and
fro to cause the drill to enter and form the hole and recede clear of the
mould while the mould is standing opposite it by a duplex long and
short armed vertical lever fulcrumed below and connected by a pin tó
the upper free end of the long arm with a pin in its lower short arni
working in a straight, angled, or curved slot or groove in a cam plate
reciprocated in slides or guides by a connecting rod attached to it, and to
a crank or eccentric pin in a disc on the overhanging end of a long light
shaft working in bearing blocks below the bed plate, and driven by bevil..
i

page_text: wheels from the long lower shaft, which actuates the driving lever of
the "stapper" mechanism.
The pin or stud roller of the lower lever, which reciprocates the drill
block, works in the upper angled or curved part of the cam slot while
doing so, and the crank pin is passing through the lower half of its
revolution, and through the lower straight part of the slot, while the
crank pin is passing through the upper part of its revolution during the
time the table is moving to carry each finished pipe forward to the next
stopping position, and while doing so the roller on the long lever pendent
from the spindle below the two hinged plates carrying the halves of the
mould comes in contact with a fixed curved plate or cam surface, which
reverses it and causes the two upper short arms or wipers on the spindlo
to pull down the plates and lay the two halves of the mould quite flat
and open with the finished pipes ready for being removed, and the mould
for being cleaned and oiled when required. Thus a pipe is finished
every revolution of the shaft, and each shift and stoppage of the mould
table (after the first pipe is finished), and although each pipe takes four
of the said motions and operations to complete it as stated, these four
operations are effected at the same time during each stoppage of the
table and each revolution of the several shafts which effect these
operations.
When the mould table is made large with a sufficient number of
moulds on it (as with eleven or more) a pug mill could be erected at
the opposite side of it to that first described, and be actuated in the
same manner, and have a "stapper" and boring drill mechanism, all
arranged and actuated in relation to that pug mill, as the others were,
either from a second main sbaft geared to its pug mill, driven from and
at the same speed as the first, or by shafts driven from the first motion
shaft only; all so as to produce two finished pipes every stoppage of the
mould table, with two attendants instead of one as first described.
Although a horizontal mould turning table has been described, it will
be evident that a broad vertical annular drum might be used instead,
and revolving on a horizontal axis and fixed central frame, and having
its periphery turning close to the lateral mouth-piece at the lower part
of the pug mill, where the blank block of clay would be cut off and
placed into each successive mould as it comes round, and all the other
arrangements of mechanism for the several operations would be sub-

page_text: stantially the same, only placed radial and parallel to the mould boxes
on the periphery of the drum table instead of to the horizontal upper
face or edge of the turntable, as in the modification and arrangement
fully described.
The great novelty and improvement of this Invention is the use of a
turning table with a number of moulds on it stopped and moved on
intermittently, so that all the operations required to finish a pipe can be
done in sequence and simultaneously within the moulds during each
stoppage, at each of which a pipe is completely finished.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Rankin in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th September 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
RANKIN, of the City of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Hɔr
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Robert Rankin, Her special licence that
I, the said Robert Rankin, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Robert Rankin, my executors, admini-
strators, 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 "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO OR SMOKING PIPES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Robert Rankin, 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

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Rankin, do hereby declaro
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 in writing, reference being had to the several
figures, letters, and numerals on the accompanying two Sheets of
Drawings, that is to say :-
.
My said Invention has reference to new or improved constructions
and arrangements of the parts generally of machines or machinery for
automatically compressing and shaping pipe clay into tobacco or
smoking pipes of the various shapes and sizes required, all sequentially
in a more simple, direct, and efficient manner than heretofore. And:
the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my said Invention or mode
of constructing and using the said new or improved mechanism consist
all as follows:-First, as stated generally in the construction and
arrangement of mechanism for mixing the clay and shaping and cutting
it into the rough blocks, from or out of which the pipes are afterwards
compressed and shaped in the pipe making mechanism or machine
proper, and the construction and arrangement of said pipe making
machine proper forms the second part of my said Invention...
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing mỹ
said Invcution may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to
describe the several Figures on the two Sheets of Drawings, which I
have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing the best modes I am
at present aware of for constructing and using the said improved
machine or mechanism, the same reference letters and numerals
indicating the same or like parts in all the Figures where shown.
On Sheet 1 of the Drawings Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a
sectional elevation and plan of the lower part of an ordinary form of
clay preparing pug mill, and pressing or expressing mechanism or
machine combined (parts of which only are new or improved) for auto-
matically shaping, and intermittently cutting and delivering the cut
blocks of clay, all ready for being dropped or laid into the moulds of
the compressing and shaping machine proper; and Figure 3 shows.a
'sectional elevation of a slightly different modification or arrangement of
the clay preparing and compressing and cutting mechanism, for
-
•

page_text: delivering the said rough blocks automatically in a constant stream, and
not intermittently, as in Figures 1 and 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a sectional elevation and a plan, the
former taken on the line 1---1' in the latter of a horizontal modi-
fication of the new or improved automatic revolving pipe compressing
and shaping machine proper, all constructed in accordance with and
illustrative of the second or essential part of my said Invention, and
Figures 6, 7, and 8, are sectional elevations of parts of that machino
detached to show the details of construction and action more clearly.
--
D
On Sheet 2 Figures 9 and 10 show an end view and side elevation
both partly in section on the lines 1 1 and 2 2 in the opposite
Figures respectively, all of a vertical modification or arrangement of my
said new or improved revolving pipe compressing and shaping machine.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1 and to the construction and
arrangement of the mechanism for the first preparing of the clay, and
the shaping and cutting of the rough blocks intermittently, A is the
pug mill of an ordinary construction with mixing and screw blades fixed
on its central shaft A', for compressing the clay in a dense state to the
bottom of the mill. This pug mill when used in combination with tho
pipe compressing and shaping machine proper, shown in Figures 4
and 5, is erected and firmly secured to a suitable part of the framing or
bed plate 4' sone little distance above the turning table 4, and moulds
a, a, as indicated in red lines in these Figures, and has its central shaft
A¹ preferably driven by equal sized spur wheels A" to revolve at the
same speed as and from the vertical first motion shaft 1 of the pipe
making or moulding machine, Figures 4 and 5, and which is carried near
it in a footstep bearing at 1', while the upper journals of both shafts A'
and 1 might work in bush bearings in the bracket A¹¹ secured to the top
of the pug mill A, while the first motion shaft 1 may be driven at any
desired speed by bevel gearing, from any adjacent prime moving
horizontal shaft above, fitted with ordinary engaging and disengaging
belt pulleys or couplings all in a usual manner.
The pug cylinder A has a horizontal lateral shallow recess A² (parallel
or approximate to the shape of the largest pipe required), leading out
laterally near the bottom towards or in the direction in which the table
below it is turning, and has a shaping mouth-piece B bolted close in
front of this recess with a vertical parallel recess B' through the upper

page_text: ≈
and lower sides (made approximately to the shape and size of the
particular pipes desired), having a punch or plunger B" reciprocated in
it at the lower end of a connecting rod B", by an eye on the upper end
of the rod working on the crank or eccentric pin B¹ of a small disc
shaft B³, mounted in a bearing bracket B³ close over the outside of the
pug mill A, and driven by a mitre wheel B' on it and the pug mill
shaft A below, or it might be above its upper bearing bracket A"", all
so that every time the narrow eccentric wheel A³ on the lower end of this
shaft below the pugging or mixing blades, presses a sufficient supply of
clay to make a pipe into the said lateral recess A² opposite it, the punch
Bu descends and forces down a rough shaped block of the clay into a
mould box previously brought under it, or a stream or tongue of the clay
which may be cut off by an improved revolving cutter A" on the lower
end of the pug mill shaft A' (a reduced part of which is carried through
its footstep bearing for that purpose), or any ordinary cutting mechanism
may be used which would sever the block of the clay, and allow it to
rest or drop into the mould a, a, ready for being compressed or shaped
and finished therein. Or theso rough prepared blocks might be
dropped on to an endess band and carried away for being dried in the
usual drying houses and shelves, or be carried through a stove and then
brought to the pipe compressing and shaping machine proper, either on
the same carrying band or a special band for the purpose, so that they
might be lifted and placed in the moulds by hand to be compressed and
shaped.
The eccentric wheel A³ is secured to the lower square end of tho
shaft A of the pug mill A by a long sliding eye, and a screw A* passing
through the shaft and secured in collar bearings in the eye of the
eccentric, and turned by a box key inserted through a hole in the side of
the pugging barrel, all so as to give the eccentric A³ more or less throw
or eccentricity to regulate the amount of clay forced into the lateral
outlet duct A opposite it every revolution of the shaft A', and is set so
as to effect this just before the punch or plunger B" comes down.
The only new parts and features of this preparing mechanism,
Figures 1 and 2, are the construction and arrangement of a shifting
eccentric A³, A', having more or less throw or eccentricity as required
for expressing the clay, each revolution of the pug mill shaft A', and the
new mode of actuating the plunger B" direct by the short crank
shaft B, B, actuated by mitre wheels B' from the pug mill shaft

page_text: overhead and the cutting knife A', also actuated direct by the pug mu
shaft.
t
Referring to Figure 3, this modification of preparing mechanism may
be placed in any convenient position near the pipe compressing and
shaping machine, Figures 4 and 5, so that its pug mill shaft A' may be
driven from the first motion shaft 1 by the horizontal shaft and bevcl
wheels at A", above the bracket A at a regulated speed proportionato
to that of the said first motion shaft 1 and pipe making machine, so as
to deliver the pressed or rolled and cut rough shaped blocks on to the
travelling band O in a continuous stream to supply the pipe compressing
and shaping machino direct or when preferred to convey them to the
drying chambers first. The small pug mill in this case is preferred to
be made in the form of a hollow inverted cone A open at the bottom A³
with the lower end of the pug mill shaft A' working in a footstep
bearing in the centre of the cross arms near the open mouth A,.all
carried and secured by four diagonal foot brackets A* over the corner
uprights of two side frames D which carry two small grooved rollers E
(for pressing and shaping the rougl blocks), as they revolve in their
bush bearings E' fitted in suitable recesses in the sides of the frames D,
and pressed together by the side screws D' with the centre rolling and
shaping grooved surfaces of these rollers immediately below the lower
open end A of the mill A. Two sides of this open end of the pug mill
work close up to the ends of the rollers E, while two angled hinged side
parts A work close down to the circumference of these rollers which
have one or more sets of circular grooves formed half in each of them
opposite each other in the circumference of the rollers, corresponding to
the shape of four of the said rough blocks with their heads and stems
together, all so that the clay Z as it is pressed down by the screw.
blades is forced and drawn into the said grooves of the rollers by their
revolving towards each other, as indicated by the arrows; cach revolution
forming four rough blocks in each set of grooves which are delivered
in a straight stream down to a second set of rollers or drums F, with
four radial cutting knives F in the circumference, which cut them in
the centre of the heads and stems and deliver them on to the endless
travelling band or chain of thin iron plates C, actuated in any usual
manner over two or more rollers or pulleys C', so as to
rough blocks to the drying houses or to the pipe making machine
direct
.
carry the

page_text: The shafts of the barrels or discs F to which the cutting knives F' are
secured, are carried in bush bearings in the sides of a second frame D"
secured to and below the first frame D, the opposite sides or ends of
these frames D, D", being both rigidly secured together by the cross
stays D, as a foundation frame for supporting the whole preparing
machine. Two light angled spring blades E" are made to work into the
lower side of the shaping grooves of the rollers E to insure the vertical
delivery of the stream of rough blocks from the rollers E to the
cutting knives F', which as they revolve towards each other meet and
cut the blocks, all otherwise as will be understood from the Drawings.
•
One of the rollers E may be driven by a chain or belt w from a
pulley 10¹ on the shaft A" passed round a pulley w" on the roller spindle
or by other equivalent means; while this roller É drives the other
through the spur wheels. E keyed on their spindles and gearing into
each other; and these through the intermediato spur wheel E³ give
motion to corresponding wheels F keyed on the spindles of the
revolving knives F¹, and gearing into each other, all as indicated by the
arrows and shown in red lines in Figure 3.
"
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, and to the construction and arrangement
of the parts of this modification of my new or improved pipe com-
pressing and shaping machine or mechanism proper, the said first motion
shaft 1. gives motion by the two pairs of mitre wheels 21, 2, and 31, 3,
to the two second motion shafts 2 and 3 at the same speed, so that each of
these shafts, which actuate all the moving parts of the machine, recipro-
cate the parts it has to move in proper sequential periods or order in
_ relation to that of the other during each revolution and part thereof, as
will herein-after be more fully explained; and also during each inter-
mittent motion. or pause and action of the round or hollow annular
mould carrying table or carriage 4 revolving by its lower edges, truly
turned or fitted in V shaped grooves in the upper edges of a corresponding
strong hollow bed plate 41 firmly screwed to the top of the four sup-
porting columns 4", and which by side brackets, snugs, or other
equivalent could support the pug mill shown in Figures 1 and 2, or
other parts when it is not used in connexion with this machine.
The pipe moulds a, a, are substantially of the ordinary construction
used for making pipes by hand, and made in two halves with pins and
pin holes for keeping these in truc position with cach other. Theso

page_text: moulds are arranged radially in a set of eleven in this case, as indicated
by the red lines 2-2, in Figure 5, although only three are there
shown in the Drawing, the one at the right hand side 1' being shown
closed, and the two on the left hand side 1 are shown open, and, all at
equal distances round the top of the turn table 4, corresponding to the
same number of equal sized vertical holding notches 5', very exactly
slotted or formed in a horizontal rim or projections near the upper outer
edge of the table 4, into which the truly turned semicircular feather 5 on
the centre of the new or improved screw or cam turning or holding
barrel 6 works for rather more than half of its revolution, while during
the other half of the revolution of its shaft 2 (driven by the mitre.
wheels 2", 2", as before stated, and revolving in pillow blocks set on the
top of the frame 2, secured to the top of a supporting standard and to
the edge of the bed plate 4 at 2) through the semicircular screw
or angular feather 5" turns the table 4 to the extent of one notch 5¹
and mould box a, a, each revolution of the cam holding and moving
barrel 6 keyed on the centre of the shaft 2, which is fitted with a
tightening screw pin 6' in a bracket at the back end 2*, in the same
manner as the driving spindles of turning lathes, to compensate for tho
wear of the bushes or working surfaces and prevent longitudinal
vibration.
This new or improved screw or cam barrel 6 for intermittently
holding and turning the mould table 4 is made hollow or convex on the
circumference or barrel part, so as to work close in to and with its axial
spindle 2 in the horizontal plane of the notched projections 5 on the
table 4, and for turning this during the half of the revolution of the
barrel, while the feather 5 is out of one holding notch 5', a semicircular,
helical, or cam feather 5" formed or "trained "round the half of the
barrel 6, opposite to and diagonally across the vertical feather 5, and
preferably extending past cach other at their ends in their horizontal
central crossing plane, comes round and takes over or on to an anti-
friction conical pulley 5", one of which is carried on a lateral stud some
little distance behind each notch 5¹, all so as to turn the table 4 to the
extent of one of its eleven divisions or notches 5¹, and leave or keep it
there until the advance end of the holding segment 5 enters the new
notch brought round opposite it, and brings another pulley 5" round to
the position left by the other for the advanced end of the feather 5' to
take on to it the next time it comes round.

page_text: and in a radial vertical plane with the line 1---1 in Figure 5, and have
the centre or axial line of the stem parts a¹ of the mould in a true line
with the boring wire i, Figures 4 and 5, the frames c and 6' being all as
near to the same height as possible, and the moulds all the same level,
there is only the trouble of setting each frame radially in a line with
the drilling wire by thir fixing screws c¹; and when tilted down, as
they are in passing the second fixed cam segment ", h¹, each plate b
and half a of the mould lies open and horizontal with the end of its
tilting arm g' as a stop resting on the side of the central web c of their
carrying frame, all as seen on the left-hand side of Figures 4 and 5,
where the finished pipes arc lifted out of the moulds and fresh rough
blocks inserted by hand, or it might be by the pug mill or rough block
shaping machine, Figures 1 and 2 (when this is used direct and in con-
junction with this pipe moulding machine proper, Figures 4 and 5), as
the moulds come round to the back of the machine, where the pug mill
is indicated in red lines. The plates b, with their halves of the mould
scrowed on them aro closed so as to compress the rough block of clay
previously placed therein while open on the left hand of the machine
by the long pendent lever d secured on one end of the transverse
oscillating spindlee working in a boss e¹ in the middle of the central wob c
below the fulcrum of the plates 6, with two short arms or wipers ƒ, ƒ,
one fast on each end of the spindle c, which are just clear of and below
the two folding or hinged plates b, when these and the two halves of the
mould arc lying flat open, as shown at the left hand side in Figure 1,
so that when this spindle e is turned these short wipers f, f, will raiso
the hinged plates by acting on the curved wedge or pressing and
tilting surfaces 7 on the back of the plates b, b, or halves of the
moulds a, a, so as to close them and the two halves a, a, of each mould
box with great power as it is brought round with the turning table 4
over the stationary cam / screwed within the bed plate 4' by the anti-
friction roller d (on the lower pendent end of the lever d working down
through a slot d" in the mould table 4) acting on the angled cam
surface of the fixed cam h, all so as to compress and shape the blank
form or block of clay previously placed into the mould, as bfore
stated, into a properly shaped pipe, with the bowl or mouth a" upwards,
below a 66
stapper” G (reciprocated to form the bowl, as will be hercin-
after described), all while the table is turned from one standing position
to another, and just before it is brought to rest under the stapper, as
shown in this closed vertical position of the mould on the right-hand

page_text: side of Figures 4 and 5, and in the detached end and side views,
Figures 6 and 7.
.
The mechanism for working the stapper G is carried by the segmental
bracket H screwed to the outside of the annular sole plate 4', with the
split griping cyc H' projecting radially out from it, which is tightened
by a screw at its outer end H", so as to carry the vertical swivelling
spindle of the standard 'I with a corresponding griping eye I' at top
carrying the horizontal spindle of another griper J, the eye J' of which
carries the slide or guide bracket K by a strong swivelling stud K'
formed or fixed on its back face, all so that this guide K, K', can be set to
nearly any angle and position to suit that of the bowl of the pipe to be
formed by the stapper G.
.
The stapper G is fixed in the lower end of the slide block L, recipro-
cating in the said guide bracket K, which also carries the fulcrum pin M
of the rocking lever N, which actuates the slide block and stapper L, G,
by a lateral pin and bush N¹ secured in the slide block L and working
in a slot N in the lever N, which is reciprocated by the connecting
rod O connected to its outer free end above at O¹, and to a crank pin
below at O" in the face of the crank disc Q keyed on the front end of
the shaft 3 carried in pillow block bearings 3" projecting some little
distance above the floor or sole plate, but it might be below the floor
when it is desired to keep the shaft 3 out of the way, and actuated, as
before described, from the first motion shaft 1 by the equal sized bevel
wheels 3, 3, all so as to cause the stapper G to form the bowl a¹¹ of
the pipe during the lower half of its revolution or downward and upward
motion, while the crank is turning the lower centre, and while the
table 4 with the mould is standing below it, so that both are passing
-through-the-upper_part_of_their motion while the table is moving and
changing, or bringing a fresh mould and compressing the clay in it to
be operated upon.
Although only one down and up motion of the stapper G for forming:
the bowl of the pipe is possible with the crank pin O", it is to be under-
stood that an arrangement of tappet cam might be used to give a doublo
reciprocatory motion to the stapper-by the use of an intermediate lever
jointed to the lower end of the connecting rod O, all as will be herein-
after more particularly shown and described in reference to the Figures:
on Sheet 2 of the Drawings.

page_text: Each time the table 4 with a new mould, and the clay compressed in
it, is brought round under the stapper the stem a¹ of each mould is
successively left exactly in the radial line of a long small reciprocating
and revolving drill i, so as to have the hole formed in the stem of the
pipe in this position. The back end of the drill i is fixed in the front
end of a hollow spindle j by a screw box or chuck and conical hole,
which compresses two or more small, split, or segmental conical gripers
fitting the hole in the chuck outside and the drill inside, so as to revolvo
truly with the spindle j, which revolves in a small headstock j¹ secured
to the slide block fitted to reciprocate in a slotted guide frame ¹
screwed at its end " to snugs projecting from and within the annular
fixed sole plate 4. The spindle j and drill & are constantly driven in
the same cutting direction while entering or being withdrawn from the
mould and compressed clay stem within it by an india-rubber or other
equivalent long band passed over its groove pulley j" fast on the centre
of the spindle below, and over a larger pulley on the overhead hori
zontal shaft (not shown in the Drawings), which gives motion to the
first motion or main shaft 1 of the machine, or other convenient shaft,
so that the drill i will revolve at a quick speed.
The front part of the drill is guided and lubricated (while boring and
forming the hole in the stems of the pipes) by the small screw stuffing
box in the light bracket secured to the front end of the guide
frame ¹ exactly opposite the small holo formed half in cach stem a¹¹, a",
of the mould box a, a. The slide block with its drilling head stock j, j,
is reciprocated to and fro to cause the drill to ender and form the holo
and recede clear of the mould while the mould is standing opposite to it
by the vertical lever / fulcrumed to a bracket at its lower end, and con-
nected at its upper free end by a pin and sliding bush or bushes /,
reciprocating in a vertical slotted guide in the middle of the slide k, and
by a pin fixed in a slot some distance from its lower end, having the
free end of the connecting rod m attached to it and the other open forked
cnd working over the neck of the shaft 3 as a guide, while an anti-
friction pulley m' on a lateral pin works into the cam m" keyed on the
cyc of the crank disc Q, all so as to reciprocate the connecting rod m,
lever, and head stock j, j, k, while the drill or wire is drilling or
forming the hole in the stem of the pipe, and which reaches the bowl
just as the stapper is rising after having formed the bowl, so that the
drill is forming the hole in the stem while the mould table 4 is standing
B

page_text: and the crank pin O" is passing through the lower half of its revolution,
and remains stationary in the position indicated in Figures 4 and 5,
while the table 4 is turning and the crank pin O" is passing through the
upper half of its revolution. The surplus clay forced out of the bowl
part of the pipe mould is in this case cut away to form the smooth lip of
the pipe bowl after the stapper G and wire i have been withdrawn there-
from by the turning of the mould frame 4, and a stationary angled
knife or spring blade P attached to a screw stem and bracket P¹ screwed
to the back end of the strong stud of the guide bracket K. so that it can
be set to work within the ordinary lateral slot formed for it in the top of
the pipe moulds a, a, all so that as the mould comes round to the point P"
of the knife, shown in red lines in Figure 5, the point P¹ of the knife
assisted by a lip on its back edge cuts off and removes the superfluous
clay out of the slot in the mould, which, as the mould passes the knife,
is thrown off by the vibration of the latter into a receptacle placed for it
below the edge of the turning table.
---
The continued or next succeeding motion of the table brings the
mould over the opening cam 4" so that the antifriction roller d' on the
pendent lever d comes in contact with the bevelled cam surface / on
the opposite side of the cam ¹ to that of the closing cam h, so as to
reverse the lever d and its oscillating spindle e and turn down the arms f
which come in contact with the projecting pins g¹ on the griping and
tilting segments g so as to tilt and bring down the two plates and halves
of the mould b and a, as shown on the left-hand side of Figures 4 and 5,
while the mould is travelling to the position 2 - 2* over the opening
and tilting cam " all ready for the removal of the finished pipe left in
one of the halves of the open mould, and for the cleaning and oiling of
the mould and the insertion of a fresh rough block of clay in any of the
open standing positions round the left-hand side of the tablo 4 in
readiness for being brought round, and compressed, and shaped, all as
herein-before described. Thus a pipe is finished every revolution of the
shafts 2 and 3, and each shift and stoppage of the mould table 4 (after
the first pipo is finished), and although each pipe takes four of the sad
revolutions or motions and pauses of the table to complete it, as stated,
those four operations are effected with four separate moulds simul-
taneously or at the same time during each stoppage of the table and
each revolution of the two shafts, the arrows on the several parts
indicating the direction of their revolving or reciprocating motion, as the
case may be.

page_text: Refering to Figures 9 and 10, on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings, which show a modification of my improved pipe moulding or
pressing and shaping machine, with vertical revolving mould carrying
table, that is, revolving on a horizontal axis instead of on a vertical axis,
as shown and described in reference to Figures 4 to 8 on Sheet 1; but
as most of the parts and motions of this machine, Figures 9 and 10, are
substantially the same as those shown and described in reference to
these Figures 4 to 8, it is only necessary here to refer to the dis-
tingushing differences. The letters of reference on the other parts and
arrows indicating the direction of motion will otherwise sufficiently
explain the construction and action in this modification and arrange-
ment, Figures 9 and 10. In this case the table 4 is made in the form
of a hollow drum in two halves, bolted together through the centre at
the flanges 4*, so as to revolve vertically on the horizontal axis 4¹ fixed
or keyed in stationary blocks 4* on the top of two open side frames 4",
and with the stationary broad rimmed circular frame 4 cast or formed
on the shaft within it, leaving some considerable distance between
the periphery 4 of the latter and that 41 of the revolving drum
or mould table 4, for the bolting on of the fixed cams and
to the former for closing and opening the mould boxes, and their
plates a, b, before they reach the vertical upper and lower positions
respectively; in this arrangement in which it will be seen there aro
only six mould frames b, c, with moulds a, a, screwed longitudinally. at
equal distances round the circumference of the table or drum 4, with
a corresponding number of notches and snugs 5¹ and pulleys 5¹¹¹ carried
on the side of the drum or table for holding and moving it by the
barrel 6 on the shaft 2, through its mitre wheels 21 and 2, from the
first motion shaft 1, which is in this case carried horizontally in pillow
blocks 1' some little distance above the floor or foundation (and actuated
by a belt passed over the fast and loose pulley 1" on it) in a hori
zontal plane with the shaft 2 carried in pillow blocks 21 in the
frame 4 at the one side of the drum or table 4, and with the shaft 3
carried in pillow blocks 3 similarly to shaft 1 on the other side of the
table, and actuated by the mitre wheels 3¹, 3", from the first motion
shaft, all at the same speed, so as to actuate the stapper gearing carried
above the top closed mould box, all substantially as described in
reference to and shown in Figures 4 and 5 on Sheet 1; except that the
lower end of the connecting rod O is connected to the long arm o of
the bell-crank or compound lever o, o¹ carried on a strong fulcrum pin p

page_text: in the bracket p¹, bolted to the upper part of one of the frames 1", all so
that the lowest point of an angled projection o" on the lower side of the
long arm o of the lever rests over two narrow antifriction pulleys of
and o³, and a segmental projection of, so as to raise that lever to the
three positions, shown in dotted red and full black lines all respec-
tively in Figure 10; while the pendent arm o² rests over the two broad
antifriction pulleys p² and p³, so as to press down the lever to its two
lowest positions when they come round to act on the lower curved
points of the arm o' just after the projection o" has passed the rear
end of the holding-up segment o*, all as an antifriction pulley
or tappet cam, instead of the crank pin O" and disc Q used for
actuating the stapper mechanism in Figures 4 and 5. In this lowest
position the lever o rests on the regulating screw pin p*, so as to prevent
the stapper G from descending too far into the bowl of the pipe, the
studs of the rollers o², o, p, p, being fixed laterally by preference to
the back face or disc of the cam m", which reciprocates the drilling
head stock j³, so as to reciprocate the lever o, o¹, as stated within rather
less than the same half of the revolution cam m¹ which oscillates
the drilling slide and head stock k, j, while the mould table is at
rest or held by the feather 5 of the cam barrel 6; all so that as
the first pulley p₁ comes round it presses the stapper G to the full
depth of the bowl required; the first pulley o² then comes round and
partially raises the stapper G by the projection o¹¹ on the arm o of the
lever o, o', when the pulley p³ comes round and again presses down the
stapper to its full depth so as to give a second pressure to the bowl
in the same manner as is at present done by hand when the last
pulley o³ comes round, and by the projection o" raises the lever o and
stapper G to the position shown in Figures 9 and 10, where it is
maintained by the projection o" resting on the segment 0%, while the
moulding table is being turned in the direction of the arrow in Figure 9,
so as to cut away the superfluous clay and finish the top edges or lip of
the bowl by the stationary knife P, P¹, P", and bring another mould up
from the left-hand side S where the rough blocks are inserted, and close
and compress the clay within it by the cam just before being brought
to rest with the bowl under the stapper, and with the stem opposite the
drilling wire and spindle i, j, which are driven by the pulley " and
reciprocated by the lever and rod m, all so far substantially as in the
former modification Figures 4 and 5, except that this rod m passes
through the centre of the fixed spindle 4 carrying the mould table 1, so

page_text: as to be actuated by the upper end of the vertical lever n oscillating on
a centre at its lower end n¹ at the opposite side of the machine, this
lever having a stud m¹ fixed some distance from its lower end, and
actuated by an antifriction pulley on it working in the groove of the
5 cam ", which thus reciprocates the head stock ¹ and drill i, so that the
latter may form the small hole in the stem reaching the bowl just as
the tappet pulley o° begins to raise the stapper G, and receding clear of
the mould, all while the mould is stationary opposite it, and ready for
being turned with the table by the scroll feather 5" on the barrel 6, with
the pipe finished on the right-hand side S¹, and with the mould still
closed during two such motions of the table until the pulley & on the
opening lever d comes round to the fixed cam h", h¹, where the two
halves of the mould are opened, and the finished pipe delivered on
to the travelling band q or other equivalent passed over and driven by
pulleys q¹ placed and actuated below the revolving mould table 4 for
conveying tho finished pipes away to the drying chambers or kilns;
the open moulds being cleaned, oiled, and supplied with fresh rough
blocks of clay, as they rise on the left-hand side S of the macnine, and
while they are in their different standing positions where these rough
blocks would be placed in the moulds by hand or cut off from the stream
of clay issuing from the lateral mouth-piece of the pug mill, and rough
block preparing mechanism, and delivered into the moulds in readiness
for repeating the successive operations of compressing and shaping the
pipes at the top of the table, as herein described.
When the mould table 4, Figures 4 and 5, Shect 1, is made large
with a sufficient number of mould frames and moulds c, a, a, on it, the
blank forms of clay might be laid into the mould at the two opposite
sides of the table, either by hand or by a block preparing pug mill, such
as shown in Figures 1 and 2, placed there for that purpose having a
duplicate stapper and drilling spindle and wire mechanism, all arranged
and actuated by a duplicate shaft 3 driven from the main first motion
shaft 1 (or by that of the pug mill when that was used), which would
also have duplicate mould closing and compressing and opening cams /
and secured below it, and when there was not room for the drilling
mechanism in the inside of the table 4, this could be put on the outside,
as shown in Figures 9 and 10, placing the stems of the pipe moulds
outwards instead of inwards, all so as to produce two finished pipes
instead of one every stoppage of the mould table, with double the

page_text: number of attendants cleaning and oiling the moulds, and inserting the
rough blocks of clay and removing the finished pipes, all otherwise as
before described.
Although in these pipe forming and moulding machines, Figures 4
and 5, and 9 and 10, eleven and six moulds a, a, and mould frames c, b,
have been shown in a set mounted on the turntables 4, it is to be under-
stood that any other convenient or desired number might be so arranged
at equal distances round the upper side or periphery of the tables 4
respectively, as say from 6 to 20 in the set, which latter would be amply
sufficient for producing a double set of pipes at each motion and stoppage
of the mould table.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed,
I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details or
proportions of the parts herein described and delineated, neither on the
other hand do I desire to claim all these parts except in combination with
or forming part, and for the purposes of my said Invention, as many
of them may have been used heretofore; but what I consider novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of
the parts of the mechanism or machinery for preparing the rough
blocks of clay for smoking pipes, and for the moulding or pressing and
forming of pipes, all substantially as herein described in reference to and
respectively distinguished by Figures 1 to 3, 4 and 5, and 9 and 10 of
the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The construction or arrangement and use of a horizontal or a
vertical revolving table or drum in smoking pipe moulding or pressing
and shaping machines for carrying a number of moulds, and moved and
stopped intermittently, so that all the different operations required to
complete a pipe can be done in sequence and simultaneously within the
moulds, thus automatically finishing and delivering a pipe at each
stoppage of the machine, substantially as hercin-before described, or any
mere modification thereof.
Third. The construction and use of a cam barrel with annular and
screw or curved segmental feathers for intermittently moving and
holding the mould tables of smoking pipe making machines, sub-

page_text: stantially as herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 4 and
5, and 9 and 10, of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The mode of closing, compressing, and opening the moulds a
by the spindle e, and its duplex levers f, f, acting powerfully on wedge
surfaces on the back of the hinged plates or moulds through the lever d
and stationary cam surfaces h', substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
Fifth. The construction arrangement and use of the shifting or
differential eccentric and the short crank shaft for working the plunger,
also the revolving knife respectively for compressing the clay in a stream
and cutting off the rough blocks therefrom, all driven direct from or by
the shaft of and in connection with the pug mill for preparing the rough
blocks of clay for making smoking pipes, substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Rankin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
ROBERT RANKIN. (L.S.)