IM- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER PLASTIC SUBSTANCES.
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Sharrocks, of Lower Healey, near Rochdale;
in the County of Lancaster, Brick Maker, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING BRICKS, TILES, AND
OTHER PLASTIC SUBSTANCES..""
Sealed the 6th November; 1857; and dated the 14th May 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Sharrocks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on the
14th May 1857.
1
I, JAMES SHARROCKS, of Lower Healey, near Rochdale, in the County of
Lancaster, Brick Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING BRICKS, TILES,
AND OTHER PLASTIC SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
I make a surface plate to revolve on pullies or rollers, in which I fix 3 or
more moulds the size and shape of the brick or substance to be pressed over
the said surface plate; I have, another plate or cover. to resist or assist the
pressure. If the apparatus. be made for 3 moulds only, the process is as
follows:-
The operative places the clay or plastic material in the moulds; he then
turns, or causes to be turned the surface plate containing the moulds, charged
with the necessary material, and by turning or bringing. it to the proper posi-
tion he presses down a lever, which, acting upon a cam or tappet, forces one

page_text: brick or material out of one mould whilst it presses the other in the mould, so
that in the constant operation the operative fills one mould, then turns the
surface plate to the position for pressing and discharging; he then pulls down
the lever by which he will press one brick or material, and discharge the other
which has been previously pressed, and so continue the operation.
It is evident this apparatus may be worked by power, if found desirable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Sharrocks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th November 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SHARROCKS, of Lower Healey, near Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Brick Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Sharrocks, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her special
licence that I, the said James Sharrocks, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Sharrocks, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRESSING BRICKS,
TILES, AND OTHER PLASTIC SUBSTANCES;" upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Sharrocks, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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.
⚫ NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Sharrocks, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
.
I cause a surface plate to revolve upon pullies or rollers placed upon studs
attached to the main framing of the machine or apparatus. In the said sur-

page_text: face plate I fix three or more moulds the size and shape of the brick or sub-
stance to be pressed, the said moulds being either solid or lined with brass or
other suitable material. I place above the 'surface plate another plate or
cover, forming one of the sides of the material to be pressed, and also for the
purpose of resisting or assisting the pressure. Within each mould, and form-
ing the bottom is a presser plate, which, with the cover may have any device,
and be mounted with leather, gutta percha, or other suitable material. The
clay or plastic material is placed in the moulds, and the surface plate turned to
its proper position, and by acting on a lever or wheel, cams or tappets are put
in motion, which bring down the cover and raise the presser plate, thereby
pressing the material in the mould; at the same time another cam or tappet
forces the previously formed brick or material out of its mould, so that in the
constant operation, the operative fills one mould, then turns the surface plate
to the position for pressing and discharging, and afterwards with a forward
motion of the lever presses the brick or material, and also discharges the one
previously pressed. The machine is made portable by placing it on wheels.
The manner in which my said Invention is to be performed will be clearly
understood by referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, with the
figures and letters of reference thereon, the said letters referring to similar
parts in all the Figures.
.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machinery for pressing bricks,
tiles, or other plastic substances, and Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation.;
Fig. 3, a front external elevation; Fig. 4, a plan; Fig. 5, a plan of the
interior, and Fig. 6, a side sectional elevation of the same. a represents the
surface plate resting on the pullies or rollers b, turning on the studs c, fixed
to the framework d. In the surface plate are the three moulds e, e¹, and e², of
the size and shape of the material to be pressed, and 9 are the presser plates;
h is the cover or resisting plate fixed to the cross head i; upon which are the
connecting rods j, working in the guides k, and connected at their lower ends
to the shaft l...Under the surface plate and fixed to the framing is the-guide
m,, enclosing a sliding block n, which comes in contact with one of the presser
plates when the material is to be pressed, and at o is another. sliding block
employed for discharging the material after it has been pressed. Upon the
shaft I place a cam or eccentric p, employed for raising the block n; and
another cam q, for raising the block o, the cam acting on the friction pulley y,
connected to the frame z, which slides upon the rod a¹. Upon the shaft / I
rollers or pulleys 8,
also place two cams or eccentrics r, which press upon two
placed in brackets t, fixed to the framework d, so as to afford bearing and
resistance to the cams r, and enable the shaft l, connecting rods j, and

page_text: .cover or resisting plate h to rise; thereby allowing the surface plate to be
moved to another position, the. said cover coming in contact with a brush u,
or other suitable apparatus so that it may be cleaned and greased. Upon the
surface plate I place lugs or brackets b, corresponding in number with, the
moulds, each lug coming successively in contact with a spring catch w, so as
to hold the surface plate and moulds in their proper position. Motion is given
to the shaft with its cams. and ecentrics by the 'lever a, thereby obtaining
the necessary power for pressing and discharging..
The machine is worked as follows:The operative places the material
in the moulde, and the surface plate is partially turned until the
moulde arrives at the position e¹; the lever is then moved so as to
bring down the cover h, and raise the block n, thereby pressing the
material. The lever is now turned back, releasing the, cover h; the sur-
face plate is then moved to another division; the material e, in its pressed
state, has now arrived at the position e, and another supply at a¹ is to be
.pressed; the cover is brought down and the blocks n'and o are: again raised,
thereby pressing and discharging the material! by the stroke of the lever, and
at the return stroke the cover is released. Another mould is filled, a partial
turn given to the surface plate, and the lever put in; motion, the pressing and
discharging being repeated, and thus the operations continue. It is evident
that this improved machinery, or apparatus may be worked, by either hand or
power, and arranged for any suitable number of moulds, and also that the sur-
face plate may be turned by the movement, of the machine itself instead of: by
hand. The main framing is made of boiler plate, but any kind of frame may
be used. Although in the figures the main shaft is horizontal, and 'the action
of pressing and discharging vertical, both positions may be reversed, if desired,
that is, the shaft may be vertical, and the other movements sidewise. Instead
of causing the friction pulley, which operates on the discharging block; to be
guided by a slide or rod, I may attach it to an arm or lever, having its fulcrum
connected to the framework. In the machine described, the pressing and
discharging of the brick or material is, performed at, one stroke of the lever or
wheel, but by changing the positions of the cams, the pressing can be given at
one stroke, and the discharging at the return; and also instead of an eccentric
and cam for raising the blocks; I may employ toothed wheels or pinions on the
shaft, working in racks attached to the said blocks.
Having thus fully described, the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth, as
such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof;

page_text: but I claim as my Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge and
belief has not been hitherto used within the realm, the general arrangement
and construction of machinery or apparatus for pressing bricks, tiles, and
other plastic substances, with the brush for cleansing, oiling, or greasing the
same, and the mounting of the cover and presser plates with leather, gutta
percha, or other similar suitable material.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Sharrocks, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named James Sharrocks,
in the presence of
JAMES SHARROCKS. (L.S.)
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.