Improvements in Machines for Moulding Bricks, Tiles, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Moulding Bricks, Tiles, and the like.
I, DAVID BLACK, of 12, Huntly Terrace, Shettleston, in the County of Lanark,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines for moulding bricks, tiles, and the like, and it
has for its object, (1) to simplify the working parts of such machines and thereby
minimise friction, (2) to improve the construction so as to increase the output or .
reduce the power necessary to drive such machines, and (3) to deliver the brick,
tile, or other article, in the exact form imparted to it by the mould, without the
disadvantage hitherto experienced of damaging the edges or other parts.
The improved apparatus comprises one or more upright stationary casings, each
having a central orifice within which is situated a wheel or wheels having a series
of moulds or pockets extending radially from the periphery, said wheel or wheels
revolving clear of the inner surface of the orifice in the casing upon a horizontal
stationary shaft or axle. The mould wheel or wheels is or are driven by spur or
other gearing secured upon the face of said wheel or wheels, and the moulds or
pockets are preferably lined with plates capable of being withdrawn in order that
others may be substituted to suit the size and form of brick or other article to be
moulded. The inner end of each of the moulds or pockets consists of a movable
bottom or plunger having on its outer side a roller which is acted upon to mould
The clay, during the rotation of the mould wheel, by a stationary cam secured
upon the fixed shaft. This cam is preferably so formed as to impart to the
plungers, (1) no movement during the time the moulds are being filled, (2) a
movement for a predetermined time corresponding to the initial pressure desired,
(3) an additional pressure if desired, (4) a dwell, during which the pressure is
constant, thus allowing the brick, tile, or other article time to set, and (5) to release
the pressure previous to the expulsion of the moulded article. These movable
bottoms or plungers press the clay against pallet or delivering boards which form
temporary covers for the moulds, and which are fed, one into each mould after the
mould has received its charge of clay, the backs of the pallet boards bearing
against the surface of the orifice in the casing, which orifice forms a race for the
boards. The inner surface of each plunger and if desired the corresponding sur-
face of each pallet board may be provided with a projecting portion to form the
frog" in the case of a brick, or any ornamental design in relief or intaglio, in the
case of an ornamental tile or other article having an ornamental face or faces.
After each mould has received its charge of clay and before the delivering boards
are fed into the mould a scraper or doctor" is passed over the top of the mould
in order to roughly level it. This scraper is actuated by one end of a beam lever
fulcrumed on the stationary shaft and actuated by a cam upon a sleeve on said
shaft. On the rotation of the mould wheel the moulds are brought in succession
to the ejecting point where the outer sides of the movable bottoms or plungers are
acted upon by an ejecting piece which receives its motion from a cam on the sleeve
before mentioned, the sleeve being geared to a toothed wheel on the face of the mould
wheel. At the ejecting point a frame having receiving arms is provided on to
which the pallet or delivering board is brought and this frame at the proper time
"6
26

page_text: is caused to travel downward and forward to correspond to the combined motions
of the rotating wheel and of the ejected brick. This motion is communicated to
the frame by a lever? a roller on which is acted upon by an inclined plane which
is in turn actuated by the second arm of they beam lever. The receiving arms
are of sufficient breadth to pass outside of an endless band, and are arranged to
pass below the line of travel of said, band, which conveys the brick together with
its pallet board to any desired 'point: The pallet boards are then removed and
conveyed, by mechanical. or other means to the hopper, for receiving them which is
situated over the mould wheel radially in line with the centre of rotation. These
boards may fall by gravity one at a time into the pockets of the mould wheel, but
a feeding device is preferably provided for this purpose on the side of the hopper.
This device consists of four small levers one at each corner of the hopper, these
being connected together and arranged to feed the pallet board by the action of
projections on the mould wheel.
To allow for the expression from the moulds or pockets of any surplus clay the
face or faces of the wheel or wheels are preferably formed with a series of perfora-
tions opposite and.communicating with the interior of each, mould.or. pocket, and
these perforations may be further covered on..the outside. by perforated plates to
which motion is given by-inclined portions on the casing to close more or less at
the proper time the outlet orifices for the expressed clay.. The mould wheel is
provided with a light annular gutter to catch and .lead..the expressed clay clear of
the machine.
In a modification of the improved machine, the outer end of each of the moulds
or pockets may be fitted with a plunger provided on its outer face with rollers,
which on the rotation of the mould wheel, are acted upon by the inner, surface of the
orifice in the casing in order to press the brick; tile or other article to the desired
form and size. The inner surface of the orifice in the casing is in this case so formed
as to impart to the plungers the movements previously described in reference, to the
stationary cam. The plungers may either be carried in sliding covers adapted to
be withdrawn into guides formed on one side of the mould. wheel rim or to be
withdrawn entirely as hereinafter described. The clay is pressed by these plungers
against the bottoms of the moulds which are each formed by a plate having in this
case-no movement excepting, at a particular point where the moulded article is
expelled. When the brick or other article has been moulded, and before it is
brought by the rotation of the mould wheel opposite the ejecting point, the plunger
is withdrawn by the action of a lever. actuated by a cam or eccentric, into the
sliding cover which carries it, and which is then withdrawn transversely of the
wheel rim into the guides formed for. ita on. said.wheel. When no sliding, cover
is provided the plunger may be entirely withdrawn from the mould wheel into a
race round which it is carried by projections on the mould wheel, or by projections
on a travelling band-or-chain, or by other means, until it is brought opposite its
own particular mould or pocket;. (after the. contents of said pocket has been dis-
charged and the pocket refilled with clay), and placed into the pocket by the action
of an inclined portion of the race, or by a lever actuated by a cam or eccentric.
When the mould or pocket from which the moulded article is to be expelled, is
brought opposite the ejecting point, the bottom of the mould is acted upon by an
ejecting rod situated between the wheel rim and its nave,' said rod being guided
between jaws, or otherwise, on a bracket secured on the stationary shaft, and being
actuated by a cam or eccentric carried on the before-mentioned sleeve on said shaft.
The clay is fed by gravity from the hopper directly into the moulds or pockets,
or into a chamber in the stationary: casing communicating with the mould or
pockets, or the hopper may be provided with fluted rollers or a travelling band
or chain having a number of projections at right angles to said band or-chain
to ensure the proper feeding of ither clay into the chamber, and the chamber
in the stationary casing may if desired be. provided with a plunger adapted-to push
the clay into the moulds for pockets, the plunger having preferably perforations
in it to permit of the passage of the surplus clay. This plunger may or may not,

page_text: be recessed, but when recessed it would be deeper than but otherwise of similar
shape to the brick or other article to be moulded, the mouth of the plunger being
preferably provided with knife edges in order to cut the clay. The bottom of the
plunger would be movable in order to push the clay before it into the moulds or
pockets, the cutting portion of the plunger and the movable bottom being actuated
separately by cams, eccentrics or other means at different times. Instead of the
above described methods of charging the moulds or pockets, the plunger (after
it has been withdrawn from its pocket, in order to eject the moulded article, and
has been carried round the race), may be caused to enter the chamber in the
stationary casing and push the clay, before it into its own mould or pocket, the
action of entering the plunger and charging the mould with clay being simul-
taneous; or a serew of any desired form may be employed for this purpose. The
inner surface or that portion of the surface of the orifice in the casing which
acts upon the plungers may be made up of several parts adapted to be moved
in relation to each other in order to decrease or augment the pressure at any
point.
The shaft or axle instead of being stationary may revolve with the mould
wheel, in which case the ejecting mechanism would be carried outside of said
mould wheel.
As a further modification' the rollers on the outer face of the plungers may be
dispensed with, the plungers being in this case carried constantly on an endless
travelling band or chain to which motion is imparted by a hexagonal or other shaped
drum, the backs of these plungers being acted upon by rollers, situated between
the parallel sides of the chain, which enter, press, and finally withdraw the
plungers from the mould boxes.
Another modification of the invention consists in applying the pressure on one
face of the mould wheel, the bottom which forms the other side of the mould being
acted upon from without to eject the moulded article; or in combination with
the first described modification the two sides of the brick, tile, or other article,
may receive pressure from movable plungers, these being released at the proper
tine to eject the brick.
By either of the above described methods a plain moulded article can be
obtained or a moulded article stamped or otherwise ornamented on one, two, three
or four of its sides, the wheel being rotated at constant speed during the feeding
and pressing of the and the ejecting of the moulded article.
Dated this 30th day of October 1897.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Machines for Moulding Bricks, Tiles, and the like.
I, DAVID BLACK, of 12, Huntly Terrace, Shettleston, in the County of Lanark,
Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to machines for moulding bricks, tiles, and the like,
and it has for its object, (1) to simplify the working parts of such machines and
thereby minimise friction, (2) to improve the construction so as to increase the
output or reduce the power necessary to drive such machines, and (3) to deliver
the brick, tile, or other article, in the exact form imparted to it by the mould,

page_text: without the disadvantage hitherto experienced of damaging the edges or other
parts.
a
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 being
vertical transverse section and Fig. 2 an end elevation of the improved machine.
Figs. 3 and 4 are part transverse section and part longitudinal vertical section of
a modified form of machine, and Fig. 5 an elevation partly in section of another form
of machine, both of which are hereinafter particularly described. Fig. 6 is a side
elevation of one form of plunger used in feeding the clay into the mould and
Figs. 7 and 8 are side and front elevations respectively of a modified form of
feeding plunger. Fig. 9 is a part longitudinal vertical section of a machine in
which the pressure is applied on three sides simultaneously.
Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved apparatus comprises one
or more upright stationary casings A, one only being shown on the drawings,
each having a central orifice B within which is situated a wheel C, or wheels
having a series of moulds or pockets D extending radially inwards from the peri-
phery, said wheel or wheels revolving clear of the inner surface of the orifice B
in the casing A upon a horizontal stationary shaft or axle E. The mould wheel C
or wheels is or are driven by spur or other gearing F, G, the spur wheel F being
secured upon the face of said mould wheel or wheels, and the moulds or pockets D
are preferably lined with plates H capable of being withdrawn in order that others
may be substituted to suit the size and form of brick or other article to be moulded.
The inner end of each of the moulds or pockets D) consists of a movable bottom or
plunger I having on its outer side a roller J which is acted upon to mould the
clay, during the rotation of the mould wheel C, by a stationary cam K secured upon
the fixed shaft. This cam K is preferably so formed as to impart to the plungers,
(1) no movement during the time the moulds are being filled, (2) a movement for
à predetermined time corresponding to the initial pressure desired, (3) an addi-
tional pressure if desired, (4) a dwell, during which the pressure is constant, thus
allowing the brick, tile, or other article time to set, and (5) to release the pressure
previous to the expulsion of the moulded article, the cam being preferably con-
structed of several pieces K¹ adjustable in relation to each other. These movable
bottoms or plungers I press the clay against pallet or delivering boards L which
form temporary covers for the moulds D, and which are fed, one into each mould
after the mould has received its charge of clay from the hopper X the backs of
the pallet boards L bearing against the surface of the orifice B in the casing A,
which orifice forms a race for the boards L. The inner surface of each plunger I
and if desired the corresponding surface of each pallet board L may be provided
with a projecting portion to form the "frog" in the case of a brick, or any
ornamental design in relief or intaglio, in the case of an ornamental tile or other
article having an ornamental face or faces. After each mould D has received
its charge of clay and before the delivering boards L are fed into the mould a
Scraper or doctor" M is passed over the top of the mould in order to roughly
level it. This scraper may be traversed horizontally and transversely of the mould
wheel by one end of a beam lever fulcrumed on the stationary shaft and actuated
by a cam upon a sleeve N on said shaft, or as illustrated it preferably consists of a
thin sheet of metal corresponding to the breadth of the mould D and it is lowered
into and raised out of the mould D at the proper times by the action of projec-
tions N¹ formed on the wheel face on a bell crank lever O engaging the scraper M.
On the rotation of the mould wheel C the moulds D are brought in succession
to the ejecting point where the outer sides of the movable bottoms or plungers I
are acted upon by an ejecting piece P which slides in a slot K2 in the cam K
and receives its motion from a cam Q on the sleeve N before mentioned, the
sleeve N being geared by a toothed wheel R to gearing R1, R2, R3, the latter gear
being secured on the face of the mould wheel C. At the ejecting point a frame S
having receiving arms S¹ is provided on to which the pallet or delivering board L
is brought and this frame S at the proper time is caused to travel downward
and forward to correspond to the combined motions of the rotating wheel C and

page_text: This motion is communicated to the rame
he ejected brick T.
ch engages studs S3 on the frame, a roller on said lever being acted upon by
inclined plane which is in turn actuated by the second arm of the beam lever
Or a tail St on the lever S may be acted upon by a bell crank
ore referred to.
er S, one end of which is acted upon by the projections N¹ on the mould
eel face C. The receiving arms S¹ are of sufficient breadth to pass outside of
endless band U on a roller U¹ and are arranged to pass below the line of travel
said band as shown, which band conveys the brick T together with its pallet
ard L to any desired point. The pallet boards L are then removed and conveyed
mechanical or other means to the hopper for receiving them which is situated
er the mould wheel radially in line with the centre of rotation or to a race V as
These boards may fall by gravity one at a time into the pockets of the
preferably provided for this purpose on the
hould wheel, but a feeding device
ide of the hopper. This device consists of four small levers one at each corner of
he hopper, these being connected together and arranged to feed the pallet board
y the action of projections on the mould wheel, or as shown the pallet boards may
ave pins L on their sides the lower of which fall into notches C¹ on the peri-
phery of the mould wheel C, the boards being carried round by the action of the
notches upon the pins L' of the pallet board L. Additional pallet boards may be
used when desired, these being formed to fit the moulds or pockets and being
fed into the moulds so as to rest upon the plungers before the mould receives its
charge of clay.
hown.
To allow for the expression from the moulds or pockets of any surplus clay the
face or faces of the wheel or wheels are preferably formed with a series of perfora-
tions D¹ as shown at Figs. 3 and 4, and which may be used on the machine illustrated
by Figs. 1 and 2, these perforations being opposite and communicating with the
interior of each mould or pocket 1), and these perforations D' may be further
covered on the outside by perforated plates D³ to which motion is given by
inclined portions A5 ou the casing to close more or less at the proper time the
outlet orifices D¹ for the expressed clay. The mould wheel C is provided with a
light annular gutter C to catch and lead the expressed clat clear of the machine.
In a modification of the improved machine, and as illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4,
the outer end of each of the moulds or pockets D may be fitted with a plunger W
provided on its outer face with rollers W', which on the rotation of the mould
35 wheel C are acted upon by the inner surface of the orifice B in the casing A in
order to press the brick, tile or other article, to the desired form and size. The
inner surface of the orifice B in the casing A is in this case so formed as to impart
to the plungers the movements previously described in reference to the stationary
cam. The plungers W may either be carried in sliding covers W2 adapted to be
The clay is pressed by these
40 withdrawn into guides C3 formed on one side of the mould wheel rim or to be
withdrawn entirely as hereinafter described.
plungers W against the bottoms, of the moulds which are each formed by a
plate I as before described but having in this case no movement excepting at a
particular point where the moulded article is expelled. When the brick or othe
45 article has been moulded, and before it is brought by the rotation of the mould
wheel C opposite the ejecting point, the plunger is withdrawn by the action of
lever W actuated by a cam or eccentric W* into the sliding cover W whic
carries it, and which is then withdrawn transversely of the wheel rim into th
guides C3 formed for it on said wheel, by the action of a double-ended lever W
50 actuated by a cam,on the sleeve N or by like means, the other end of this lev
acting to close another slide.
When no sliding cover is provided the plunger or pallet board may be entire
withdrawn from the mould wheel C into a race A¹ formed in the casing A befo
the ejection of the brick by means of levers We acted on by cams Q on t
55 sleeve N round which race the pallet board is carried by projections C on t
mould wheel C as shown at Fig. 5, being first acted upon by projections on
travelling band or chain, or by other means, so as to carry it quickly out of the w

page_text: of the brick which is about to be delivered, the board being carried. round until:
it is 'brought opposite its own particular mould or pocket, (after the. contents. of.
said pocket has been discharged and the pocket refilled with clay), and placed into
the pocket D by the action of an inclined portion A2 of the race A¹, or by a lever
actuated by a cam or eccentric. When the mould or pocket 1) from which the
moulded articlé is to be expelled, is brought opposite the ejecting point, the
bottom I of the mould D is acted upon by an ejecting rod such as already described
in' reference to Figs. 1' and 2, situated between the wheel rim and its nave.
The clay is fed by gravity from the hopper X directly into the moulds or
pockets D), or into a chamber A3 as shown at Fig. 6, in the stationary casing A
communicating with the mould or pockets, or the hopper may be provided with
fluted rollers or a travelling band or chain having a number of projections at
right angles' to said band or chain to ensure the proper feeding of the clay into the
chamber, and the chamber A3 in the stationary casing may if desired be provided
with a plunger Y adapted to push the clay into the moulds or pockets D, the
plunger having preferably perforations in it, as shown at Figs. 7 and 8, to permit
of the passage of the surplus clay. This plunger may or may not be recessed,
but when recessed, as shown at Fig. 6, it would be deeper than but otherwise of
siinilar shape to the brick or other article to be moulded, the mouth of the plunger
being preferably provided with knife edges in order to cut the clay. The
bottom of the plunger Y would in this case be movable in order to push the
clay before it into the moulds or pockets D, the cutting portion of the plunger and
the niovable bottom being actuated separately by cams 7, 7' as shown, or by
eccentrics or other means at different times.
Instead of the above described methods of charging the moulds or pockets, the
plunger W or pallet board L (after it has been withdrawn from its pocket, in
order to eject the moulded article, and has been carried round the race A¹ in the
casing A), may be caused to enter the chamber in the stationary casing and push
the clay before it into its own mould or pocket, the actions of entering the plunger
and charging the mould with clay being simultaneous; or a screw of any desired
form may be employed for 'this purpose. The inner surface or that portion of
the surface of the orifice B in the casing A which acts upon the plungers Wor
pallet boards L may be made up of several parts A+, adapted to be moved in
relation to each other as shown at. Figs. 3 and 4, in order to decrease or augment
the pressure at any point.
The shaft or axle instead of being stationary may revolve with the mould wheel,
in which case the ejecting mechanism would be carried outside of said mould
wheel.
I
As a further modification the rollers on the outer face of the plungers may be
dispensed with, the plungers being in this case carried constantly on an endless
travelling band or chain shaped drum, the backs of these plungers being acted
upon by rollers, situated between the parallel sides of the chain, which enter,
press, and finally withdraw the plungers from the mould boxes.
Another modification of the invention consists in applying the pressure on one
face of the mould wheel, the bottom which forms the other side of the mould
being acted upon from without to eject the moulded article; or in combination with
the first described modification the two sides of the brick, tile, or other article,
may receive pressure from movable plungers W, I, I, I, as shown by Fig. 9,
these being acted upon by inclined races and released at the proper time to eject
the brick.
By either of the above described methods a plain moulded article can be
obtained or a moulded article stamped or otherwise ornamented on one, two, three
or four of its sides, the wheel being rotated at constant speed during the feeding
and pressing of the clay and the ejecting of the moulded article.
The moulds may be jacketed in order that the clay may be partially dried
during the pressing operation by means of steam or hot air circulated round the
moulds.

page_text: 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 improved machine for moulding bricks, tiles and the like constructed
substantially as described.
2. A machine for moulding bricks, tiles and the like, consisting of a wheel
rotating within a stationary casing upon a horizontal stationary axle and having
moulds or pockets formed in its periphery, the bottoms of said moulds or pockets
being formed by plungers adapted to give the desired pressure and to eject
the moulded articles by means of cams on the stationary shaft, and the tops of the
moulds being formed by pallet or delivering boards adapted to be fed into the
moulds to be carried round by the wheel in contact with the casing and to be
delivered from the moulds substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1
and 2.
3. In a machine for moulding bricks, tiles and the like, the combination of a
race or hopper from which the pallet or delivering boards are fed into the moulds
and of receiving arms raised to receive these boards and lowered to deliver the
boards, together with the moulded articles on to a travelling band, by means of
cams on the stationary axle or by projections on the mould wheel acting on bell
and 2.
crank levers substantially as described with reference to Figs.
"
4. In a machine for moulding bricks, tiles and the like, the arrangement of a
scraper or doctor" adapted during the rotation of the mould wheel to be lowered
into and raised out of the moulds or pockets by the action of projections on the
mould wheel upon bell crank levers substantially as and for the purpose set forth
with reference to Figs. and 2.
5. In a machine for moulding bricks, tiles and the like, a mould box having one
or more of its sides perforated to allow for the expression of the surplus clay and
covered by a perforated plate adapted to cover more or less the outlet for the clay
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
6. In a machine for moulding bricks, tiles and the like having a stationary
casing within which the mould wheel revolves the arrangement of plungers acted
upon by cam like portions on the casing said plungers being carried in sliding
covers adapted to be brought over the moulds and to be withdrawn into guides in
the side of the mould wheel by the action of a lever or levers actuated by a cam
on the axle of the mould wheel to permit of the ejection of the moulded article by
the plunger forming the bottom of the mould.
7. A machine for moulding bricks, tiles and the like, comprising a mould wheel
having moulds or pockets in its periphery in which the pressure is exerted on four
of the sides of the mould by plungers actuated by cams and inclined planes sub-
stantially as described with reference to Fig. 9.
8. In a machine for moulding bricks, tiles and the like having a mould wheel
provided with moulds or pockets in its periphery the combination of levers or arms
actuated by cams for withdrawing the top plungers and a race in the stationary
casing round which the plungers are carried substantially as described.
9. In a machine for moulding bricks, tiles and the like a plunger for feeding the
clay into the moulds, constructed and adapted to be operated substantially as
described.
ed this y
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.