IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANING TIN, TERNE, AND METAL PLATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard James Hutchings, of Treforest, in the County
of Glamorgan, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
CLEANING TIN, TERNE, AND METAL PLATES."
Sealed the 5th December 1876, and dated the 12th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard James Hutchings at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June 1876.
RICHARD JAMES HUTCHINGS, of Treforest, in the County of Glamorgan.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANING TIN, TERNE, AND METAL PLATES."
"
IM-
My Invention consists in the employment of a cylinder or drum free to revolve
in a vessel or chamber containing bran, pounded or pulverized lime or other
suitable cleaning or polishing material, or combination of such materials.
The plates to be cleaned are placed on the circumference of the drum or cylinder,
and are there held by spring clips, or otherwise retained there during the rotation
of the drum or cylinder. As the said drum or cylinder revolves carrying with it
the said plates in and through the bran, lime, or other material or combination of
materials, so the said plates are cleaned, when this is sufficiently done on one side
the plates are removed from the first drum or cylinder and are placed on another
and similar drum or cylinder to clean the other side of the said plates. The
bottom of the chamber in which the drum or cylinder revolves is kept up to the
said drum or cylinders by springs, weights, or other equivalent appliances, such as
elastic cushions or beds, so that the plates during their revolution on the drum
or cylinder may be kept continually in contact with the bran, lime, or other
polishing material that is in the chamber. The plates after being removed from
second drum or cylinder are conveyed between rollers covered with sheepskin or
other suitable material whereby the plates are "dusted."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard James Hutchings in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th December 1876.
RICHARD JAMES HUTCHINGS, of Treforest, in the County of Glamorgan. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANING TIN, TERNE, AND METAL PLATES."
My Invention consists in the employment of a cylinder or drum free to revolve
in a vessel or chamber containing bran, pounded or pulverized line or other suitable
cleaning or polishing material, or combination of such materials.
Price 1

page_text: The plates to be cleaned are placed on the circumference of the drum or cylinder
and are there held by spring clips, or otherwise retained there during the rotation
of the drum or cylinder. As the said drum or cylinder revolves carrying with it
the said plates in and through the bran, lime, or other material or combination
of materials, so the said plates are cleaned, when this is sufficiently done on one
side the plates are removed from the first drum or cylinder and are placed on
another and similar drum or cylinder to clean the other side of the said plates.
The bottom of the chamber in which the drum or cylinder revolves is kept up to
the said drums or cylinders by springs, weights, or other equivalent appliances,
such as elastic cushions or beds, so that the plates during their revolution on the
drum or cylinder may be kept continually in contact with the bran, lime, or other
polishing material that is in the chamber. The plates after being removed from
second drum or cylinder are conveyed between rollers covered with sheepskin or
other suitable material whereby the plates are " dusted."
And in order that this my Invention may be more fully understood I will now
describe the same with reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a vertical cross section, and Figure 3 a
vertical longitudinal section of an apparatus constructed according to my Invention,
and Figure 4 is a vertical cross section of an apparatus according to a slightly
modified arrangement.
a is a drum or cylinder mounted on a spindle b, and caused to revolve by hand
or power as desired or required in a trough containing bran or other cleaning
material. The drum a is fitted with clips c, formed so as to hold the plates when
placed therein; Figure 2 shows a plate d, held by one set of the clips; a set may
conveniently consist of three, as shewn at Figure 3. The clips are fitted or formed
on bars e, which by jointed rods or links fare connected to a bar or arm g pro-
jecting out of one end of the drum where it comes ouce in every revolution into
contact with a fixed cam h, formed or fitted to the framework of the machine, the
consequence being that the arm g is moved by the cam h, and thereby the corres-
ponding set of clips are lifted or moved outward and release their hold on the
plate, springs being employed to cause the clips to resume their normal nipping
position.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The plate d is by the workman
dropped into the shoot or guide j, and when one of the sets of clips on the drum
comes round to this point they are in the opened position to receive, and then
inmediately afterwards made to nip the plate and hold it while it is carried round
through the bran or other cleaning material in the trough k; the clips retain
their hold on the plate while the latter is carried round by the cylinder and in
contact with the bran or other cleaning agent. When the plate has been carried
sufficiently far round, and the clips holding it stand, say in an upright position,
the said clips are actuated by the cam / so as to release their hold upon the plate
and allow it to drop into the hands of the workman, or it may be between a set of
rollers arranged to catch and remove it. The plate is then turned and placed
in a reversed position upon the same, or preferably upon another revolving
cylinder so as to clean the other side. In the latter case, and as shewn at Figure 2,
the plate is carried round between the drum and the inclined flap l, and is not
released until it is quite above the flap 1, the plate is then released and dropping
upon the inclined flap slides down (it may be between guides) into the "nip" of
the rollers m, m, which are covered or coated with sheepskin or other suitable
material for dusting or removing the adhering bran or other cleaning agent.
Behind these rollers are situated a pair of circular brushes n, n, revolving in a
direction contrary to that of the rollers, and by which both sides of the plate are
brushed and finished.
Figure 4 shews a modification of the apparatus already described, whereby the
bran or other cleaning material is held with a constant pressure against the plates
on the cylinder, the trough k is suspended in cords held in tension by springs q, as
is shewn on one side, or by weights 7, as is shewn on the other side of this Figure,

page_text: the object being to form a more elastic bed of bran or other cleaning material, and
to hold it up against the plate to be cleaned.
The drums are not necessarily placed and revolving horizontally as here shewn,
although I prefer to do so, for in some cases it may if desired be placed in a
vertical or angular position.
And having thus fully described the nature of this Invention, and how the same
is or may be carried into effect, I declare that I claim-
Firstly. The application of clip drums revolving in troughs for cleaning tin, terne,
and other plates, substantially as herein set forth.
Secondly. The application of one or more sets of rollers made with a surface of
sheepskin or other suitable material in combination with one or more sets of
revolving brushes for dusting tin, terne, and other metal plates after they have
been cleaned, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard James Hutchings, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
R. J. HUTCHINGS. (L.S.)