AN IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF DRESSING ENAMELLED BRICKS, TILES, OR SLARS AND ADDADATTIC MO DE ThrowEn PHAR
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Craig, of the Firm of J. & M. Craig, of
Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, for an Invention of " AN
IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF DRESSING ENAMELLED BRICKS, TILES, OR
SLARS AND ADDADATTIC MO DE ThrowEn
PHAR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Craig at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August 1881.
JAMES CRAIG, of the Firm of J. & M. Craig, of Kilmarnock, in the County of
Ayr, North Britain. "AN IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF DRESSING ENAMELLED
BRICKS, TILES, OR SLABS, AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR.”
This Invention relates to an improved mode or means of dressing or removing
the superfluous enamelling or glazing composition from the edges or sides and ends
of enamelled or glazed bricks, tiles, or slabs by means of apparatus or machinery
specially designed to effect this purpose.
In the manufacture of enamelled or glazed bricks, tiles, or slabs, the bricks or
blocks are dipped in the enamelling or glazing composition to form a glazed surface
on one or more of the sides or ends, and in the dipping process the adjacent sides
are coated at the edges with enamel which it is desirable to remove by dressing or
moosing" before the goods so coated are placed in the kiln to be fired.
"
As hitherto practised the dressing of enamelled or glazed bricks or slabs has
been effected by the use of rubbing surfaces operated by hand, but by the present
Invention a superior finish is obtained, and a great saving in time and labour
effected.
The Invention consists essentially in forming the rubbing surfaces of travelling
endless bands, or of the flat sides or circular edge of revolving discs or drums
covered with wire cards or carding cloth, or with hard fibre or other similar
material, or serrated or indented to rub off the superfluous enamel at the edges of
the bricks, tiles, or slabs, such bands, discs, or drums being operated by motive-
power machinery.
According to one modification of the improved apparatus an endless band or belt
is mounted over_a, pair of pulleys on vertical, horizontal, or inclined spindles, so

page_text: that the band may run on edge horizontally or vertically, or at any angle. The
pulleys are however by preference carried on vertical spindles passing up through
a table or framing, to which the bearing blocks of the spindles are secured, and
motion is imparted to one of the spindles by means of gearing or a belt and pulley
from a counter shaft. The belt or band is formed of or covered with wire cards or
carding cloth similar to. that used for the cylinders of wool carding engines, and
this carding cloth is attached to the endless band either by lacing or sewing, or by
an adhesive composition, such as rubber solution, or the carding cloth may itself be
used as the belt or band. The belt or band thus formed is stretched to a moderate
extent over the pulleys, so as to run freely and without vibration. The operation
of dressing or moosing "the bricks or blocks is performed by simply holding and
pressing them against the flat side of the running belt, a flat bearing or rest block
or board being fixed on the table at the back of the belt to prevent the belt
yielding or giving way, and to secure perfect dressing or squaring of the bricks.
The bricks may be held by hand against the rubbing surface of the band, or be laid
on the table or on a board, by preference slightly inclined, so that the band will
traverse the end or side of the brick at an angle, and prevent the formation of a
jagged edge or arras. The carding-cloth is freed from the enamel dust by opening
out in taking the curve of the pulleys, and shoots are provided in the table or
frame of the machine to lead away the dust. An attendant may dress the bricks
on the flat part of the belt on each side of the pulleys, or when the bands are long
rests or bearing boards may be fixed behind the band at regular intervals in the
length of the table to enable a number of operators to work on each side of the
table.
In another modification of the improved apparatus a revolving disc or drum is
used, and is mounted on a horizontal or vertical or inclined spindle carried in
bearings on a table or framing. The flat sides of the disc or drum or the circular
surface thereof are covered with wire cards or carding-cloth, against which the
sides or ends of the bricks are pressed to dress them or rub off the superfluous
enamel adhering to the edges.
Both of these modifications of apparatus are also applicable for dressing enamelled
bricks in cases where the enamel or the glaze to be removed has been applied after
a process of baking or biscuiting. In such cases the rubbing surface employed may
be softer and more yielding, and it is preferred to make the said revolving disc or
drum of wood or metal, into or through the flat sides or in the circular surface of
which cocoa-nut fibre, bristles, or other fibrous material is inserted to form a
rotating brush. The sides or ends of the bricks from which the coating of enamel
or glaze composition is to be removed are pressed against the brushing surface on
the sides or circular edge of the revolving disc or drum. Similar brushing surfaces
may be attached to the endless band arrangement already described to adapt it for
use in dressing bricks subjected to this double process of glazing or enamelling.
The rubbing surfaces of the running bands or of the revolving discs or drums
used for dressing the bricks, tiles, or slabs may be formed of other suitable brushing
material; or they may be made of metal, with toothed, serrated, or indented
surfaces similar to rasps or files.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Craig in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th February
1882.
:
JAMES CRAIG, of the Firm of J. & M. Craig, of Kilmarnock, in the County of
Ayr, North Britain. "AN IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF DRESSING ENAMELLED
BRICKS, TILES, OR SLABS, AND APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
My said Invention relates to an improved mode or means of dressing or removing
the superfluous enamelling or glazing composition from the edges or sides and ends
of enamelled or glazed bricks, tiles, or slabs by means of apparatus or machinery
specially designed to effect this purpose.
"
In the manufacture of enamelled or glazed bricks, tiles, or slabs, the bricks or
blocks are dipped in the enamelling or glazing composition to form a glazed surface
on one or more of the sides or ends, and in the dipping process the adjacent sides
are coated at the edges with enamel, which it is desirable to remove by dressing or
'moosing" before the goods so coated are placed in the kiln to be fired.
As hitherto practised the dressing of enamelled or glazed bricks or slabs has
been effected by the use of rubbing surfaces operated by hand, but by the present
Invention a superior finish is obtained, and a great saving in time and labour
effected.
The Invention consists essentially in forming the rubbing surfaces of travelling
endless bands, or of the flat sides or circular edge of revolving discs or drums
covered with wire cards or carding cloth, or with hard fibre or other similar
material, or serrated or indented to rub off the superfluous enamel at the edges of
the bricks, tiles, or slabs, such banda, discs, or drums being operated by motive-
power machinery.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended for that purpose a Sheet of
explanatory Drawings to be hereinafter referred to, and representing modifications
of my improved machinery or apparatus for dressing enamelled bricks, tiles, or.
slabs. In these Drawings the same reference letters are used to indicate the same
or like parts where repeated.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is an elevation, and Figure 2 is a plan of one modifi-
cation of the improved machine or apparatus; and Figures 3 and 4 are an elevation
and plan respectively of a modified arrangement of the apparatus.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, the improved apparatus comprises
an endless band or belt A mounted over a pair of pulleys B, B, which may be on
vertical, horizontal, or inclined spindles, so that the band may run on edge
horizontally or vertically, or at any angle. The pulleys B, B¹, are however by.
preference carried, as shown, on vertical spindles 6, 61, passing up through a table
or framing C, to which the bearing blocks of the spindles 6, 61, are secured, the
spindle 6 being carried in a footstep bearing b and by a journal bearing B³ above
the table C, while the other pulley is carried loose on a stud or spindle b¹ fixed on
a bracket B. Motion is imparted to one of the spindles 6 by means of a bevil
pinion D at its lower end in gear with a bevil wheel D' on a horizontal shaft D³,
fitted with fast and loose pulleys D³, and driven from any convenient rotating
shaft. The belt or band A is formed of or covered with wire cards or carding cloth
similar to that used for the cylinders of wool carding engines, and this carding
cloth is attached to the endless band A either by lacing or sewing, or by an
adhesive composition, such as rubber solution; or the carding cloth may itself be
used as the belt or band. The belt or band A thus formed is. stretched to a
Dio lerate extent over, the pulleys B, B₁, so as to run freely and without vibration.

page_text: . For the purpose of tightening the band A when it becomes slack the bracket Bs
carrying the stud or spindle b¹ is fitted to slide in a guide slot B, and its position
is adjustable by means of a screw spindle b³ attached to it, and worked by a hand
wheel B, which acts as a nut.
The operation of dressing or "moosing" the bricks or blocks is performed by
simply holding and pressing them against the flat side of the running belt, a flat-
bearing or rest block or board E, preferably covered with a smooth iron plate or
sheet, being fixed to the table C at the back of the belt A to prevent the belt
yielding or giving way, and to secure perfect dressing or " squaring" of the bricks.
The bricks may be held by hand against the rubbing surface of the band A, or be
laid on the table or on a board F, by preference slightly inclined, as shown, so that
the band will traverse the end or side of the brick at an angle, and prevent the
formation of a jagged edge or arras. The carding cloth is freed from the enamel
dust by opening out in taking the curve of the pulleys B, B¹, while passing round
them, and shoots G are provided under openings in the table or frame C of the
machine, to lead the dust into boxes G³, which may be removed when filled.
Guards H of sheet metal or other material are fitted over the table C, and round
the pulleys B, B¹, to prevent the enamel dust from being scattered around the
machine. An attendant may dress the bricks on the flat part of the belt on each
side of the pulleys; or when the bands are long rests or bearing boards, such as E,
may be fixed behind the band A at regular intervals in the length of the table, to
enable a number of operators to work on each side of the table. Side tables K are
shown, on which the bricks are laid after their ends or faces are dipped in the
enamel or glaze wash which is placed in the trough L, and from these tables K the
bricks are lifted to be dressed.
In the modification of the improved apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4 a
revolving disc or drum M is used instead of the band A, and is mounted on a
horizontal (or it might be vertical or inclined) spindle N carried in bearings N' on
a table or framing C. One or both of the flat sides M' of the disc or drum (or it
might be the circular surface thereof) are covered with wire cards or carding cloth,
against which the sides or ends of the bricks are pressed to dress them, or rub off
the superfluous enamel adhering to the edges.
Both of these modifications of apparatus are also applicable for dressing enamelled
bricks in cases where the enamel or the glaze to be removed has been applied after
the bricks have been partially burned or biscuited. In such cases, when the modi-
fication of machine shown in Figures 3 and 4 is used, the revolving disc or drum M
may be made of wood or metal, into or through the flat side M', or in the circular
surface of which cocoa-nut fibre, bristles, or other fibrous material is inserted to
form a rotating brush. The sides or ends of the bricks from which the coating of
enamel or glaze composition is to be removed are pressed against the brushing
surface M on the sides or circular edge of the revolving disc or drum M. Similar
brushing surfaces, such as bristles or cocoa-nut fibre, may be attached to the
endless band A in the arrangement of machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 to adapt
it for use in dressing bricks subjected to this double process of glazing after
biscuiting.
The rubbing surfaces of the running bands, or of the revolving discs or drums
used for dressing the bricks, tiles, or slabs, may be formed of other suitable brushing
material; or in the case when a revolving drum is used they may be made of
metal, with toothed, serrated, or indented surfaces similar to rasps or files, and
when serrated surfaces are employed these may be formed on plates attached to the
sides of the drum.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
"1
First. The dressing or moosing" of enamelled tiles or slabs by means of

page_text: travelling or rotating surfaces or apparatus, substantially such as herein described
in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The construction and arrangement, substantially as herein described, of
machines or apparatus in which travelling bands or belts or rotating drums fitted
or covered with carding cloth, or wire cards, or with bristles, or other fibrous
surfaces, or serrated plates are used for dressing or "moosing" enamelled bricks,
tiles, or slabs.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Craig, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
VA
WES CRAIG. (10.)