Improvements in Coating with Tin or other Coating Metal Sheets, Plates, or Pieces of Iron or other Metal.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1886
Complete Left, 26th Aug., 1887
Complete Accepted, 25th Nov.. 1887
Improvements in Coating with Tin or other Coating Metal Sheets,
Plates, or Pieces of Iron or other Metal.
1 EDMUND MOREWOOD of Llanelly in the County of Carmarthen Tin Plate
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
When plates or pieces of iron steel or other metal in process of being coated with
tin or other melted metal are passed against or between rollers or other instruments
in contact with or partly or wholly immersed in coating metal or in what is commonly
called finishing grease or flux for the purpose of improving reducing or finishing the
coating, such plates in process of coating are usually supplied or passed on from the
tinning or brushing by the washman or attendant to be further operated upon by
another attendant in charge of a pot containing grease or flux by passing the coated
plates or pieces by means of a cradle through or between a set or group of melted
metal coated rollers (commonly called the five or four roller set) being a set or group
from or between which the plates emerge and pass out through a single pair of what
are known as the finishing or last pair of rollers in contradistinction to emerging
first from one and then from the other of two pairs of last or finishing rollers alternately
working as described in my Patent No. 13942-21st October 1884.
The washman who has to feed or supply the cradle of a five or a four roller set or
group or a finishing pair can often supply the cradle with brushed or clean plates or
pieces by passing such plates into the finishing grease or flux faster than or before the
ordinary cradle is ready or unoccupied so as to receive them in consequence of the
previous plate not being out of the way.
Consequently there is often more or less delay waiting or hindrance to the washman
in passing plates on or from his department and consequently to the tinning brushing
and washing parts of the set or process of tinning.

page_text: In my before mentioned Specification 21st October 1884 No. 13942 I describe two
or more cradles operating alternately to supply two or more pairs of finishing rollers
by means of which the washman is no longer delayed by the want of an unoccupied
cradle and the attendant at the finishing pot has not to hurry his plates through that
department to avoid delay to the washman as when he operated with only one cradle
and one pair of finishing rollers.
Now according to my present invention I have two or more pairs of finishing
rollers or instruments more or less abreast and also two or more cradles or lifting
arrangements for raising or passing the plates into or between such rollers or instru-
ments which are in or in contact with coating metal or grease or other flux and such
cradles rollers or instruments are used or worked in connection with or to operate in
combination with what I call the washmans supply vessel or reserve arrangement or
receptacle to contain a plate or plates or pieces independent of those which are under
the care of the finishing grease or flux pot attendant.
Such washmans supply or reserve plates or pieces have had their coated surfaces
brushed or suitably cleaned or prepared.
And such washmans reserve or supply receptacle arrangement or vessel is so placed
fitted or furnished or arranged that the cradle or cradles lifting arrangement or
arrangements can be convéniently fed or supplied as may be found well or
desirable.
I find it desirable to have and to keep the washmans reserve or supply of plates or
pieces in the arrangement or receptacle aforesaid brushed or clean and at a suitable
temperature and so that they may be withdrawn or removed by the attendant as
wanted to feed the finishing cradle or cradles rollers or instruments in the finishing
grease or flux pot.
I also find it desirable to place such washmans reserve or supply vessel receptacle
or arrangement so that it is convenient or suitable for the washman or attendant who
has charge of it and who keeps it properly and sufficiently fed.
Thus the washman or brushing over attendant who heretofore has had to drop the
plate into the unoccupied rest or foot of a cradle and to observe or watch its position
or movements or those of the machinery connected with it and has the inconvenience
of feeding the more distant cradle or cradles, has now only to regard the state and
condition of the washman's reserve or supply arrangement vessel or receptacle and to
see that a suitable and sufficient supply is kept there for the wants of the attendant
who feeds the cradles rollers or instruments before mentioned.
And thus being relieved the washman can attend steadily to his work of brushing
over or dipping or cleaning and can pass the plates on as soon or as fast as they are
ready not having to watch or wait for an unoccupied rest or foot on the cradle
nor incur the inconvenience and delay of passing the plate into the more distant
cradle.
The attendant at the finishing grease or flux pot who has had (before the publication
of my Specification No. 14242-20th November 1885) to use one of his hands in
causing the cradle or cradles to operate so as to raise the plates into the nip of a pair
of rollers through which they had to pass on their way out of the finishing grease or
flux is enabled by my invention of that date of an automatic cradle to have both his hands
at liberty so that he can withdraw a plate or plates piece or pieces from the washmans
supply or reserve and can also watch and feed any unoccupied rest or foot connected
with the cradle or cradles and also withdraw the plates or pieces as they rise up from
the finishing rollers.
By providing for a sufficient and continuous supply or reserve of plates I am enabled
to use two or more cradles or lifting appliances arranged to be fed simultaneously or
about the same time and also to rise at about the same time so that the plates are
presented to or travel through or between the two or more pairs of finishing rollers or
instruments at about the same time and are withdrawn from the finishing flux pot or
vessel at about the same time.
In working thus with a single attendant on the finishing grease or flux pot I find
the use of an automatic cradle or lifting arrangement very important.

page_text: I find also that an upper or outside rest or rests off or above the foot or platform of
the cradle or lifter on which the plate sits or rests and is lifted or raised into the rollers
or finishing instruments in the grease or flux is useful when such outer or upper rest
can by an automatic or partly automatic movement feed the unoccupied foot or
platform of a cradle or lifter. It is especially advantageous when two or more cradles
are fed simultaneously or nearly so or the plates or pieces therein supported are raised
or withdrawn at or about the same time.
When I present or supply two or more plates or pieces to two or more pairs of
rollers or finishing instruments by means of two or more cradles or lifters to be fed
and raised simultaneously or at about the same time I find it convenient to connect
the two or more cradles or lifting arrangements together so that one lever or raising
instrument or arrangement will act upon the two or more cradles at or about the same
time. If I have two or more finishing grease or flux pots to each set or series I still
arrange that the washman shall have his reserve or supply receptacle arrangement or
vessel so placed or fitted or managed that it shall be convenient to him or so as to
leave him free to give his more full and undivided attention to brushing or cleaning
the coating on the surfaces of the plates or pieces than when he has in addition
as at present to watch the movements of the machinery in the grease or flux
finishing pot.
Sometimes I arrange that the washman shall have more than one reserve or supply
arrangement vessel or receptacle and that it or they may be able to move or to travel
so as to convey the supply to a point more convenient for the finishing flux or grease
attendant than that at which the washman feeds it.
I also arrange the position of the pots cradles or finishing machinery so that they
shall be convenient to the attendant who has to feed it or them or to withdraw the
plates or pieces from them.
And I usually connect the cradles or lifters even though they may be in what may
be called two finishing flux or grease pots if they belong to one series or set so that
the lifting arrangement or arrangements may operate upon them simultaneously or at
about the same time so that they or it may work in unison or harmony or that the
motion given to the cradle or cradles or lifting arrangement in one pot may also be
communicated to the cradle or cradles or lifting arrangement in the other pot also.
Sometimes when 1 pass plates or pieces in process of coating in through or in
contact with melted coating inetal or flux 1 cause them to pass in such travel between
what I call in and out rollers so that they rub or touch against the rollers between
which they pass alternately.
These rollers are not in pairs but each roller is a little off or out of line with the
one to which it is nearest either preceding or following it and if there are more than
two following each other they are so arranged or placed that each alternate roller
projects more or less inwardly or outwardly as compared with the centre line along
which a plate or plates would travel if it or they were not deflected in its or their
course by coming in contact with or rubbing against the projecting parts of the
rollers.
These rollers are coated and kept well coated with melted coating metal.
I find it well to keep them well supplied with fresh coating metal by means
of troughs in which they revolve in contact with the fresh coating metal or flux.
I prefer to make the rollers to revolve in contact with fresh coating metal contained
in troughs or suitable vessels. But one or more of the rollers may be stationary.
Then I use guides to conduct the plates to and between them.
When they revolve the troughs are stationary-and thus in that case I give an
alternate rub to the plates against the trough and a wash with clean melted metal as
they pass against the rollers.
By the arrangements described I can pass more plates than usual through the
finishing grease pot or vessel.
And therefore I have more dripping of melted coating metal in such finishing pot
or vessel than when I pass few plates.

page_text: And 1 also have thick or heavy or undesirable grease or flux which I desiro to
remove readily or speedily.
Therefore I shape the finishing grease or flux pot or vessel so that the bottom slants
or slopes to a hole or recess in which I can place the bottom of a metal or flux
pump.
Sometimes I have a pipe passage or opening at the bottom of this finishing grease
or flux pot so placed and arranged that I can readily open or close it or draw off
quickly either metal grease or unsuitable matter which I wish to remove.
Dated this 26th day of November 1886.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Coating with Tin or other Coating Metal Sheets,
Plates, or Pieces of Iron or other Metal.
1, EDMUND MOREWOOD, of Llanelly, in the County of Carmarthen, Tin Plate
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
When using an automatic cradle for raising the coating or coated plates in or
from the finishing grease or flux into the rollers or finishing instruments the attendant
at that department has his hands more free and can pass a greater number of plates
in a given time they are supplied to him more rapidly than at present from the
earlier parts or stages of the process.
Therefore in order to relieve the washman or attendant who passes on the plates
from the tinning or coating part of the process to or towards the finishing from the
necessity of watching the position or condition of the cradles and to lessen the call on
his time or attention. I have and use a holder or receiver into which the washman or
attendant passes a supply of plates in process of tinning or coating instead of dropping
them as he does now through the grease on to the cradle in the finishing pot by
which the plates are raised into the rollers or finishing instruments which work in or
in contact with the grease flux or finishing matter.
This holder or receiver is set so as to be convenient to the attendant who passes the
plates forward from the tinning-and who not having to watch the position or
condition of the cradle or cradles but only to keep a supply of coating plates in or to
the holder or receiver is relieved from a portion of his present work and from the
inconvenience sometimes experienced in feeding the more distant cradle and is enabled
to pass the plates forward more rapidly than usually.
The attendant at the finishing-cradles rollers or instruments being assisted by an
automatic cradle has his hands free and is able conveniently to do his part in operating
upon or finishing the increased supply sent forward.
And then with a sufficient supply of reserve plates conveniently at hand the finishing
attendant can feed two cradles or finishing instruments simultaneously or at about
the same time and receive the plates again as they are delivered from the finishing
rollers or instruments.
When working as above described with a reserve of plates contained in a holder or
receiver I find it advantageous to provide a rest in connection with the cradle so
arranged as to feed or supply the foot of the cradle automatically when it is unoccupied
so that the attendant at the finishing pot may have greater freedom of action and
may not be so limited as to the time at which to introduce the plate.
When supplying or presenting two or more plates to the finishing instruments or
cradles at or about the same time I find it convenient to connect these two or more
cradles together so that one raising instrument or arrangement will act upon or in
•

page_text: combination or in connection with two or more raising or finishing cradles instruments
or plates at the same time.
By dwelling more or less in the reserve the plates in process of coating pass on from
thence with the coating inore or less reduced or improved.
Figure 1 shows in plan the general arrangement of a plant adapted for working in
the manner above described. a is the tin pot; the tinnan when at work stands at
the spot marked b. c is the soaking pot (which frequently is not used). d is the
hob at which the washman works to brush over the plates. e marks the spot where
the washman stands. is the washman's dipping pot. g is the reserve holder or
receptacle, as here shown it is a pot with pegs in it and contains hot grease. Or it
may be a hot air chamber with a roof or lid containing preferably carbonaceous
matter.
1 find it well to arrange the tops of the plates so that they project and the attendant
can withdraw them by tongs or other appliances.
If the coated surface becomes yellow or discolored it is improved or set right by
immersion in finishing metal or grease. 1 and 2 are two finishing pots also con-
taining hot grease and tinned rollers. In this instance the upper finishing rollers
are three abreast. In each pot there is also a cradle which receives the sheet plate or
piece and then rises automatically and delivers the sheet plate or piece to the lower
rollers and as it rises out of the pot it passes between two pair of rollers. ¡ marks
the spot at which the attendant on the finishing pots stands. The pots a, c and fare
of the usual sort and they are arranged in the ordinary manner. The pot c is often
dispensed with. But in working the washman does not as is now usual put the sheets
plates or pieces into the finishing pot when he has finished with them but he puts
them into the reserve holder or receiver which now for the first time is provided.
A transverse vertical section of the reserve holder or receiver and the finishing pots is
shown at Figure 2. The finishing pots do not in themselves present any novelty but
they are so arranged that one boy or man can attend two of them. He works with
two pair of tongs, one in either hand and with them he simultaneously takes two
plates from the reserve holder or receiver; he passes them down simultaneously
through the first pair of rollers in either pot and the automatic cradles bring them
again simultaneously between the two pair of rollers. The attendant seizes with his
tongs the sheets plates or pieces as they rise and he lays them aside, only now requiring
to be rubbed in bran to remove the grease or to be otherwise cleansed. The rollers
in these pots are driven in the usual way, and the cradles are so actuated that they keep
time the one with the other in their movements, this is important in order to make the
system practicable.
up
Sometimes in order that the plates may have a longer dwell in the finishing
grease, I provide additional finishing rollers and cradles and then also it is necessary
that the cradles should be so actuated that they keep time the one with the other.
In place of employing two finishing pots as represented in Figures 1 and 2 I may
use one pot adapted to operate on two sheets plates or pieces simultaneously. Figure 3
shows a vertical and longitudinal section of such a pot and Figure 4 is a vertical
transverse section. This pot also has its cradle provided with shelves which may
receive the sheets plates or pieces at any time when it is convenient to the attendant
to supply them and which retain the sheets plates or pieces until the proper time
arrives for them to descend on to the platform of the cradle. In working with the
pot shown by these figures the attendant stands in front of it and the reserve holder
or receiver is behind. He takes two sheets plates or pieces two at a time and places
them on the cradle rests, and the emerging sheets plates or pieces he receives and lays
aside. in Figure 4 shows a plate which has just been placed on the rest or step of
the cradle and is another plate which has just been presented by the cradle to the
rollers mm are stationary hook like guides within the pot. Inn are the cradles which
by the cranks oo are moved up and down upon the guides. o¹ is the platform of the
cradle which supports the plate as it is raised to the rollers. pp are rockers jointed
at their lower ends to the platforms of the cradles. The rests or steps which
temporarily support the plates are at the top of these rockers; they are controlled by

page_text: the guides m m so that when the cradle is up the rest or step stands out in front of the
guide to receive the plate but as the cradle descends the rocker falls back within
the guide and the lower edge of the plate being no longer supported the plate drops
down on to the platform o. The cradle then rising presents the plate to the rollers.
It will be seen that the rollers are in this case sufficiently long to admit of two plates
to rise simultaneously between them I therefore term these rollers a double set.
Sometimes when I pass the plates or pieces in process of coating through or in
contact with melted metal or flux I cause them to travel between what I call in and
out rollers.
These rollers are not in pairs. But each alternate roller or some one of them is a
little out of line with another or others.
I prefer to keep them supplied with melted coating metal by causing them to
revolve in cups or troughs containing melted metal of the desired kind or quality.
I prefer to make the rollers revolving. The cups or troughs are stationary.
I usually employ guides to assist the plates in travelling in the desired direction.
Sometimes I so arrange that the plates shall have alternate rubbing or sweeping―
or rolling or washing.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of a pot with in and out rollers; preferably it contains
heated grease. are the tinned rollers they are driven by ordinary gear but they
are not as heretofore arranged in pairs on a level the one with the other, nor do they
come into contact or nip the sheets plates or pieces together; on the contrary they are
set in and out. are troughs beneath the rollers, they are supplied with melted
coating metal as is commonly practised. The sheets plates or pieces are in the usual
way dropped down on to the cradle (which is represented in the drawing) and by the
cradle they are raised between the in and out rollers. Sometimes I attach stationary
wire brushes to the under sides of the troughs in such positions that the sheets
plates or pieces as they rise rub against them. The sheet plate or piece then is
operated upon alternately by being rubbed upon the stationary brushes and by being
rolled by the rollers. I find that in some respects a more satisfactory finish is produced
in this way than can be produced by raising the sheets plates or pieces between rollers
by which they are nipped. This is especially the case if the sheets plates or pieces
when brought to the rollers are not entirely free from scruff as in and out rollers
are not so liable to be fouled by the scruff as nipping rollers are found to be. Some-
times place a pair of nipping or finishing rollers above the in and out rollers or so
as to act upon the surface of the plate or withdraw it after it has passed between the
in and out rollers.
Sometimes I make the bottom of the finishing pot or vessel slanting and shape it so
as to enable me to collect or remove more readily the drippings refuse or undesirable
matter from the metal grease or flux.
I use a pump as shown or have a pipe or opening at the bottom for the removal of
the undesirable or superfluous metal or matter.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of a finishing pot in which the bottom is inclined.
The rollers and the cradle and instruments for operating with the sheets plates or
pieces are also shown. s is a pump to remove the metal and drippings from the lowest
part of the pot. Or in place of using a pump a simple outlet with a metal trap may
be provided.
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 improvements substantially as described in the process of coating which
consists in passing the sheets plates or pieces when ready for finishing into reserve
holders or receivers and then taking them from such holders or receivers and passing
them through the finishing pot in place of passing the sheets plates or pieces when
ready for finishing at once through the finishing pot as herein set forth.
2. The combination of apparatus substantially as described in respect to Figures 1
and 2.

page_text: 3. The combination of apparatus substantially as described consisting of a reserve
holder or receiver and two sets or a double set of finishing rollers so arranged that
the attendant who brings the sheets plates or pieces on from the tinning or coating
may place the said sheets plates or pieces into the holder or receiver and the attendant
who attends the finishing rollers may take them two at a time and pass them
simultaneously through the finishing apparatus as herein set forth.
4. The combination of apparatus substantially as described consisting of a reserve
holder or receiver and two or more sets or a double set or sets of finishing rollers and
cradles automatically moved and coupled together presenting the sheets plates or
pieces to such rollers as herein set forth.
5. The combination of apparatus substantially as described consisting of a reserve
holder or receiver and two or more sets or a double set or sets of finishing rollers and
cradles provided with rests or steps which receive the sheets plates or pieces and
automatically at the proper time pass them on to the platform of the cradle which
presents them to the rollers as herein set forth.
6. The combination of apparatus substantially as described consisting of two or
more sets or a double set or sets of finishing rollers and cradles coupled so that they
work together keeping time the one with the other presenting the sheets plates or
pieces to the finishing rollers as herein set forth.
7. The improvement substantially as described in the process of coating or finishing
which consists in passing the sheets plates or pieces between in and out rollers as
herein described.
8. A finishing pot with inclined bottom and arrangements for the removal of
superfluous metal or matter substantially as described in respect to Figure 6.
L
1002
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.