Novel or Improved Apparatus for Use in Decorating Ceramic Ware.
Year: 1899

page_text: Novel or Improved Apparatus for Use in Decorating Ceramic Ware.
I, FREDERICK MOUNTFORD, 55, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Cabinet
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This my invention has reference to novel or improved apparatus for use in
decorating ceramic ware the object of my said invention being to ensure efficiency
in decorating such ware, and to save labour and time.
To carry this invention into practice I make a rectangular wood box of suit-
able size and thickness with a detachable wood lid or cover, the interior surface
of such box and the underside of such lid I preferably cover or line with tin,
zinc or like suitable material, the lid having a square, a rectangular or other
suitably shaped hole or orifice cut or formed therethrough.
Within such box I loosely fit a slidable metallic or wood slab or framing of
suitable thickness having four or more vertical conical or square tapering bristle
brushes of suitable size detachably fixed at a suitable distance apart to the upper
surface of such slab or framing, a suitably shaped metallic lever being fixed to
two of the sides of such brush-framing opposite to each other so as to project
at their upper ends through slots of suitable length in the upper end of two
opposite sides of such box with or without a wood or other suitable handle
attached thereto, to the interior surface of two or four sides of such box at a
suitable height from its bottom surface I screw or otherwise suitably fix a wood
or metallic ledge of suitable length and size for supporting a wood or metallic
framing of suitable thickness having a square or other suitably shaped hole or
aperture formed in same secured in position by means of thumb screws or the
like passing through opposite sides of such box which framing has metallic
wires or bars extending from one side of such aperture to its opposite side with
circular or square rings of suitable size formed in same corresponding in shape
and number to the brushes used.
After placing a sufficient quantity of glaze or coloured slip into such boxes,
and a lid or cover on same I then place a suitable stencil on each of such boxes
and articles to be decorated on such stencils, by imparting an up and down
motion to the brush-frame of such boxes by hand the upper portion of such
brushes pass to and fro' through the said rings and cause the bristles of such
brushes to flip or throw colour or glaze upwards through the cut out portions of
the stencils used on to the articles placed on such stencils. Each box used hav-
ing a different pattern, picture or design, or a stencil having a portion of a
pattern, picture or design cut therein according to the colour or colours used.
Two frames having horizontal rows of metallic wires or rods with a similar
number of circular or square rings may be fixed one above the other in each
box at a suitable distance apart, the rings in the upper frame being smaller

page_text: than the rings in the lower frame, and the brush slab or framing may be worked
up and down by hand-power or by mechanical power.
If two or more of such boxes be placed end to end at a suitable distance
apart, the levers of such brush frames may be connected and worked up and
down by a lever between each two boxes connected at their upper or lower ends
to a continuous metallic or wood rod or bar above or below or at one side of
such boxes by hand or mechanical means so that two or more of such boxes may
be worked or used at the same time.
When steam power or other means are used to work such boxes, to prevent or
temporarily stop their working I push a metallic or other suitable shutter be-
neath the lids of such boxes so that the slip or glaze will be flipped up against
same while the articles are being removed from the stencils, or the stencils
changed.
Dated this 15th day of July 1899.
over of improved Apparatus for Use in Decorating Ceramic Ware.
FREDERICK MOUNTFORD, 55, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This my invention has reference to novel or improved apparatus for use in
decorating ceramic ware, the object of my said invention being to insure efficiency
in decorating such ware and to save labour and time.
To carry my invention into practice I make a wood box of a rectangular or
other shape and of suitable size and thickness with a detachable wood lid or
cover, the interior surface of such box and the underside of such lid I preferably
cover or line with tin, zinc or other like suitable material, the lid having a
square, rectangular, or other suitably shaped hole or orifice cut or formed there-
through, within such box I loosly fit a slidably metallic or wood frame of suit-
able thickness having four or more vertical, conical, or square, tapering bristle
brushes of suitable size detachably fixed a suitable distance apart to the upper
surface of such frame, a suitably shaped metallic lever being fixed to two of
the sides of such brush framing opposite to each other so as to project at their
upper ends through slots of suitable length in the upper ends of two opposite
sides of such box with or without wood or other suitable handle attached there-
to; to the interior surface of two or four sides of such box, at a suitable height
from its bottom surface, I screw or otherwise suitably fix a wood or metallic
ledge of suitable length and size for supporting a wood or metallic framing of
suitable thickness which holds the round or square metallic rings through which
the brushes pass through, corresponding in number and shape to the brushes
used.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood I have annexed a
sheet of drawings and will proceed to describe same having reference to the
letters and figures marked thereon; the same letters refer to the same parts in
each figure.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the box, rectangular in this case, showing the
stencil and article to be decorated in position. Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1 with

page_text: the tile or article to be decorated removed, showing the stencil, the dotted lines
representing the hole or orifice in the detachable lid. Fig. 3 is a vertical sec-
tion of Fig. 1 showing the arrangement of the bristle brushes with ring plate
and stencil and tile or other article to be decorated in position. Fig. 4 is a
plan of Fig. 1 with the detachable cover removed showing the plan of the
arrangement within the box. Fig. 5 is a separate plan of the metallic frame
which holds the rings in position and through which the bristle brushes recipro-
cate up and down. Fig. 6 is a separate plan of the bristle brushes and the the
frame to which they are detachably fixed.
In the above figures A is the rectangular wood box which may be fixed on a
work bench or in any convenient position. B is the metallic lining preferably
of tin or zinc, or other suitable material that would not be affected by the decor-
ative element, C is the detachable cover also lined with tin or zinc or other
suitable material on its underside. D is the aperture or orifice in said cover C,
in this particular case shown of a square shape, and a little smaller than the
stencil, E is the stencil shown in plan clearly in Fig. 2. F is the article to be
decorated, in this case a tile or small slab. G is the frame upon which the bristle
brushes H are fixed the number and shape of said brushes being varied accord-
ing to the tile or other article to be decorated and made preferably of a conical
shape, I is the metal frame made preferably of rings joined together through
which bristle brushes H reciprocate and strengthened by a strong frame O round
them, the holes or rings immediately above the brushes being a little smaller
than the external diameter of brushes H at their small ends, J are the ledges
fastened on opposite sides of the box to support ring frame I. K, K are the
levers which reciprocate the brushes, their fulcrums being on the links Q, Q,
bent links R, R, connecting said levers with bristle brush frame I, S is the
level of the colour or decorative element. P is the metallic shutter which may
be pushed in so as to cover the aperture or orifice D when desired.
The mode of operating my invention is as follows:-I place sufficient colour
element in the box so as to fill it to S below the level of frame I and then place
on the detachable cover C, I then place the desired stencil E over the aperture
or orifice D and then place on the ton of the stencil the article to be decorated,
in this case a tile or small slab. I then operate the levers K K which cause
the brushes H to reciprocate up and down, through the rings in frame I and
each time they pass upwards they throw or flip the decorative element against
the underside of the stencil by reason of the spring of the bristles in passing
through rings smaller than the section of the said bristle brushes, the colour
element being flipped or thrown on the tile or article being decorated only where
the stencil is cut out forming the pattern or design; thereby decorating the tile
or other article with the pattern of the stencil and of the colour contained in the
box A underneath it.
When decoration is desired in different colours I use as many different boxes
and stencils transferring the article being operated upon from one box to another.
As occasion requires I operate levers K K mechanically by connecting them to
a rod having reciprocating or vibrating arms worked by a suitable machine or
engine.
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 decorating tiles and similar articles of
ceramic ware by means of vertical reciprocating brushes passing through rings
which throw or flip the decorative element against the article to be decorated
through the cut out parts of stencils substantially as herein set forth and shown.
2. The use of reciprocating brushes of square, round, oval, conical or other
shape passing through correspondingly shaped rings substantially as and for
the purpose herein set forth.

page_text: 3. In apparatus for use as above the construction of square, round, oval or
other shaped rings for causing the brushes to throw or flip the decorative
element, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated thi. 15th dox of Vov 1900
FREDERICK MOUNTFORD,
Applicant.