Improved Method of and Means for Producing Plastic Ornaments and the like upon Moulded Bars, Columns, or Plates.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Means for Producing Plastic Ornaments and
the like upon Moulded Bars, Columns, or Plates.
We JEAN HECKHAUSEN and JEAN WEIES both Manufacturers of Cologne in the
Kingdom of Prussia and German Empire do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the saine is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object the production of various kinds of ornaments or
analogous devices by means of rollers upon the surface of bars rods columns or plates
of any material capable of being moulded by pressure or upon any outer covering of
objects or articles formed of other material but coated or covered by an impressionable
outer skin or surface.
Hitherto it has been difficult to accomplish this by rolling either by reason of the
depth of the moulding or by the ornaments or devices being undercut in parts or for
other reasons.
The method of carrying out our invention is as follows:
The design to be produced is first drawn in sectional elevation preferably on thin
or sheet metal for the purpose of determining how and at what angles the rollers are
to be arranged in the machine and it may be either round polygonal or other shape in
cross section. The design will also shew whether two three or more rollers are
necessary.
The moulding rollers suitable for such work are grouped and fixed in their proper
relative positions in the special manner which forms part of our present invention.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings
Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus shewing in section the article which is
being moulded.
Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of three rollers moulding a bar showing the
angles at which they should be adjusted relatively to one another.
Figure 3 is a cross section of a moulded bar or column and
Figure 4 is the same of a secondary guiding bar hereafter described.
It is obvious that the design or pattern shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 could not be
produced by one roller however large by reason of the undercut parts 32, 33,
and 5 6 9 etc. of Figure 3.
It has been found that where two rollers meet as at 21 and 22 Figure 3 a slight
"burr" always remains therefore in order to make the rounded portion 8x Figure 3
which is required to be made smooth a third roller 4 is necessary. The rollers 23
and 4 Fig. 3 must therefore be made to meet at the points 21 22 of the pattern 1
Figure where sharp corners occur. On such corners 21, 22 Figure 3 the
slight "burr" produced will hardly be perceptible and can easily be removed.
The angles at which the rollers must meet at the points 21 and 22 Figure 3
depends upon the angle at which the channels or grooves are required to enter
the design at points 5, 6, 9, 32 and 33 Figure 3 and the angles of these grooves and
ribs have to be carefully considered in relation to the axis of the roller, care
being taken to avoid cutting grooves in the rollers which will be "undercut."
It may be here pointed out that the rollers made even by experienced cutters
will be quite useless for the purpose of this invention unless the angles contained
by the sides of the grooves or channels with the axis of the rotation of the roller
be first of all considered.
If it had been desired or requisite to place roller 2 Fig. 3 differently (say by reason
of the gearing of the machine) for instance as indicated by lines 35 and 36 Figure 3
(which in itself would be quite admissible) then the angle at 25 Figure 3 would be
not 48º as with the present arrangement, but for example 55°. Whilst therefore in

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making figured rollers as hitherto used care had only to be taken that the roller as
made yielded good pressed work by itself, rollers to be used for producing such work
by our method must be made with full consideration of their position relatively to the
adjoining rollers placed at an angle thereto.
The design 1 Figure 3 having been drawn upon thin sheet metal, the angle at
which the rollers have to be placed can be ascertained.
One limb of the angle thus found is shewn on the section 1 Figure 3 by lines 27
and 28 or by lines 35, 36. Then one side of the pattern which is shewn in section is
cut out along the surface of the roller nearest to it. The piece of sheet metal in which
the pattern is cut forms the template for the operator making the roller. The outline
is correct when the limb of the angle drawn upon the sheet metal (such as 27, 28, 35
and 36 Fig. 3) is parallel to the axis of the roller to be produced and the template fits
the roller when in this position. Only after this has been ascertained can ornaments
or patterns be engraved or stamped upon the plastic material. When the details to be
considered have been ascertained by means of a design such as 1 Fig. 3 further care
must be taken that the diameters of the various parts of a roller do not differ too
much and that the diameters of the several at the points of contact with each other be
alike for all rollers. This renders three or four rollers necessary in cases where with
less exact work two or three might suffice. It follows that the position of the rollers 2
and 3 would be different if the angles of the channels in the design were different as
will appear from examination of the design 20 Fig. 2 and its various angles 1* 2*3*.
In order to work the machine the pressure rollers 2 and 3 Fig. 1 are mounted on
rotating spindles 4 and 5 which in the drawing are shewn at right angles to one
another.
The rollers 2 and 3 are caused to turn in the same direction by toothed gearing 6
and 7 and thus they draw the work through between them.
When passing through the rollers the work rests upon a special carrying mechanism
which consists of a roller 8 turning on a spindle 9 which revolves in the frame 11.
Thus while the work is drawn between the rollers the moulding rollers 2, 3 are
enabled to firmly press the plastic material imprinting upon it the design with which
they are engraved.
The carrying roller 8 is capable of being adjusted to different angles to the work 1
by means of a horizontal axle 12 which supports the frame 11. This frame 11 and
axle 12 together with roller 8 and spindle 9 are carried on a block 18 which slides in
a groove in the framework 13 and can be raised and lowered by
screw 14. The
angle of inclination of the carrying roller 8 can be varied by turning the frame 11
on its horizontal axle 12 and may be fixed in the required position by set screws 15
and 16 the spindle 9 is made considerably longer than the roller 8 so as to enable the
latter to be moved laterally along the spindle upon loosening or removing a key 21
which keeps them normally rigidly fastened together.
Before passing the work 1 through the rollers it must be decided whether the
impressed design is to extend to the bottom of the piece or whether a portion of
it between the rollers and the work is to remain untouched.
In the latter case adjustable rings 10 may be provided on the roller 8 for the
purpose of guiding the work. If it is desired to extend the impressed pattern to
the lower edge of the work the latter may have a groove or recess along its under
surface which will engage with an adjustable ring 19 on roller 8 Fig. 1, in order
to guide the work. By lateral adjustment of the, rings 10 or 19 Figure 1 pressure
against the sides of the work may be regulated. When the surface of the work itself
is to be directly impressed the operation is analogous only the plastic covering is
omitted and heavier pressure applied.
When for particular designs the bottom roller 8 Fig. 1. has to assume a very oblique
position and the frame 11 can not be adjusted sufficiently to the required inclination
(for instance by reason of insufficient space) a secondary bar or column is laid between
the work 1 and roller 8 as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1, and separately illustrated
in Fig. 4. The length of this secondary bar must be adapted to the length of the
work its shape being such that it exactly fills the space between the roller 8 and the

page_text: work 1. This bar has on its lower surface a guide groove 2 Figure 4 to receive
the guide ring 19 Fig. 1 and on the top a rib 19× Fig. 4 perpendicular to its face
engaging with the corresponding groove in the work 1 in the place of ring 19 Fig. 1.
If the machine has more than two rollers say three their relative positions are
ascertained according to the method shewn in 2, 3 and 4 Fig. 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is:
First. A method of producing ornaments on prisms bars columns rods and plates
consisting in passing the work either in its natural condition or when covered with
plastic material, through rollers provided with raised and depressed portions which
rollers are placed at an angle to one another rotate all in the same direction and
enclose the piece to be operated upon, the rollers adjoining one another and always
meeting at the point of the angle formed by the same substantially as herein described
and illustrated.
Second. For carrying into practice the method indicated by the first claim, a
machine consisting substantially of several pressure rollers placed at suitable angles
to one another and a bottom roller capable of lateral adjustment on its spindle carried
in a frame capable of adjustment round a horizontal axlo raised and lowered by screws
substantially as described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Three. In a machine such as indicated in claim 2 a ring 19 (Fig. 1) laterally
adjustable on the bottom roller 8 (Fig. 1) engaging with a groove on the underside
of the work 1 (Fig. 1) as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Fourth. In the machine characterized by claim 2 the employment of a subsidiary
rod or bar 40 (Figs. 1 and 4) of such section that it exactly fills the space between
the bottom roller and the work 1 (Fig. 1) said subsidiary bar having at its underside
a vertical groove 2* (Fig. 4) and on the top a perpendicular rib 19* and being so
placed on the bottom roller 8 Fig. 1 that both the bar and work are together correctly
passed through the machine substantially as described and illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
Fifth. The method of and means for producing ornaments of various kinds upon
bars columns rods plates and the like substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 10th day of December 1800
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.