Improvements in the Manufacture of Glass, Opal, Crystal, Porcelain, and like Substances, and Machinery and Appliances therefor.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 8th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 7th Oct., 1887.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Glass, Opal, Crystal, Porcelain,
and like Substances, and Machinery and Appliances therefor.
JOHN ARMSTRONG, C.E. Architect 11 Queen Victoria Street London, E.C. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention consists in inserting wire-work or wires of metal or other material
or design or devices or fabric, or of printing on the interior or exterior of the glass.
The ordinary table commonly used for rolling glass is used in connection with this
invention but instead of being in one piece it is made either in two separate tables
or, that the table is constructed in two or more parts and jointed together for the
purpose hereafter described.
The table and roller and other parts may be made in metal or porcelain or earthen-
ware or other non oxidising or non expansive material.
To one part of the table is attached a receiving apparatus for containing the wire-
the glass
work or other fabric, or printing apparatus &c. to be introduced into or upon
or other material. The receiving apparatus consisting of a frame with hinges and
springs &c. which fold and enclose the wire-work to be introduced into the glass or
the printing type or blocks or other instrument. This apparatus is made to fold
backwards and forwards so that when a sheet is rolled in the ordinary way across the
table the receiving apparatus is then folded upon one part of the sheet of hot glass
(when the wire is to be inserted) the table is then folded one portion over the other the
wire-work in the apparatus holding the portion of the sheet in position during the
revolution of the table or the part which contains it until it comes above the other
portion of the sheet of glass and by pressure of the table itself, or a roller or other
instrument the two portions of the sheet of glass thus folded are united, leaving the
wire work between, (or if printed, the apparatus containing the blocks &c. are thrown
back before the revolution of part of the table and leaves the impression on one part
of the sheet, while the other part of the sheet is brought over it, and by the above
method the two sheets are united leaving the impression between,) or the impression
may be made the same way on the outside only. Any colours can thus be printed on
the sheets by using a material of easily fusible qualities for the printing ink, which by

page_text: the heat of the soft sheet of glass forms a permanent stained impression. Plates of
glass &c. reheated can be applied on the table in lieu of rolling and the process
proceeded with as before described, one plate cut in two, or two plates, or one single
plate doubled at the centre is also applicable for the above process. Also a second
rolling may be performed with an additional batch of molten glass after the apparatus
has been applied, instead of the divided table. The apparatus for the wire &c. being
attached thereto as in the divisional table. Several sheets or layers of wires or wire
work or other fabric &c. can be placed together by the above process, with one or more
apparatuses. Wires are also made to project over the ends or edges of the plates when
finished and may be connected to lead or metal strips or other material, or object, for
the purpose of fixing. Copper or other non-perishable material may be used for all
the wires or for parts only exposed and ordinary iron or steel or other wire in the
unexposed parts.
In making hollow articles, the hot or melted glass or other material &c. is placed in
quantity into the mould sufficient to make a thin shell. The plunger is then brought
down into the mold and this thin shell is formed, after having removed the plunger,
the wire or other fabric &c. is then inserted and the plunger again applied and removed
then another supply of hot glass &c. is then added and the plunger again applied to
finish the article.
The moulds, plungers &c. may be heated or cooled as may be required they being
made hollow for that purpose to admit of steam, water &c. or other cooling or heating
agent. The piece of glass with wire or other fabric &c. already inserted may be also
applied to the mould and the plunger only once applied to finish the article. The
tables, rollers &c. in the before mentioned machinery are also constructed with heating
and cooling apparatus. By this process the wire or other fabric device &c. is placed
in the centre of the material.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Glass, Opal, Crystal, Porcelain,
and like Substances, and Machinery and Appliances therefor.
JOHN ARMSTRONG 11 Queen Victoria Street London, E.C. 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 :-
The invention consists in inserting wire-work or wires of metal or other material or
designs or devices or fabric, or of printing on the interior or exterior of the glass.
The ordinary table commonly used for rolling glass, is used in connection with this
invention, but instead of being in one piece, the top is made either in two separate
tables or constructed in two or more parts as in Fig. 1 and 2, at E, and B, and jointed
together for the purpose hereinafter described.
The table, and roller and other parts may be made in metal, porcelain or earthen-
ware or other non-oxidising or non-expansive material.
To one part of the table, B. E, is attached a receiving apparatus for containing the
wire-work or other fabrick C or for printing blocks types or other material, or for
substances to be introduced into or upon the glass or other material. The receiving
apparatus consisting of a frame with hinges and springs, which fold and enclose the
wire work to be introduced into the glass or the printing type or blocks or other
instrument.
This apparatus is made to fold backwards and forwards from H (Fig. 1) in the
direction of the arrows G until it covers the table E.
When a sheet of hot glass is rolled in the ordinary way along the table, by means
of the roller A, the apparatus C having the wire work inserted is then folded upon one
part of the sheet of hot glass, and fixed in position by the spring catches K the move-
able portion of the table (E) is then folded over upon the unmoveable portion (B),
carrying with it the apparatus C, the wire work in (C) holding the sheet of hot glass
on the table E in position during the revolution.
By pressure applied or by the weight of the portion of the table E, the two sheets
are united leaving the wire-work or other fabric in the interior, the table E is then
folded back and the catches opened and the frame work of the apparatus relieved and
the glass taken out into the annealing kiln.
If printing blocks are used in the apparatus, after they are inked by a suitable
material of easy fusion the apparatus is made to fold over above the portion of the
table E until the blocks or type touch the hot sheet of glass and leave an impression
the apparatus is then thrown back and the portion E of the table is made to fold over
the portion B (if the impression is to be in the inside, if on the outside the table is not
folded. Any colours may be printed upon the glass in this way with a material of an
easily fusible character for the printing ink, which by the heat of the soft sheet of
glass forms a permanent stained impression.
Plates of glass &c. re-heated can be applied on the table in lieu of rolling and the
process proceeded with as before described one plate cut in two or two plates or one
single plate divided at the centre is also applicable for the above process.
Also a

page_text: second rolling may be performed with an additional batch of molten glass (after the
apparatus has been applied) instead of the divided table being folded over the other.
The apparatus for the wire &c. being attached thereto as in the divisional table.
Several sheets or layers of wire or wire-work or other fabric &c. can be placed
together by the above process with one or more apparatuses.
The apparatus C may be used also at the side of the table as shown by the dotted
lines at D.
Wires are also made to project over the ends or edges of the plates when finished
and may be connected to lead or metal strips or other material or object for the
purpose of fixing. Copper or other non perishable material may be used for all the
wire work or for parts only exposed and ordinary iron or steel or other wire for
the unexposed parts.
In making hollow articles. The hot or melted glass or other material is placed in
quantity into the mould sufficient to make a thin shell. The plunger is then applied-
the wire-work being placed on the plunger, is carried down into the mould and forced
into the inner surface of the glass-the plunger is then removed and if necessary
another supply of hot glass is dropped into the mould and the plunger again applied.
This second and additional portion of hot glass may be dispensed with if thin articles
are required. A piece of hot sheet glass with the wire already inserted may be
applied to the mould and the plunger brought down upon it to give it the necessary
form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,
1st. The combination, together or separately of the ordinary rolling table for glass
making with an apparatus as herein described to contain or hold wire-work or other
fabric &c. to be introduced into the glass, or for printing blocks or types for printing
on the interior or exterior of the sheet of glass.
2nd. The combination, together or separately of a divisional table as shown and
described herein, with apparatus as described and shown.
3rd. The process described for inserting wire work singly or in several layers into
soft or molten glass, Opal &c. as herein described.
4th. The process of printing devices in the interior or exterior of the glass as
herein described.
5th. The process of making hollow articles with the wire work inserted as herein
described and shown.
6th. The Combination, together or separately of wires or other fabric, projecting
over the edge of the sheets of glass, as herein described and shown.
7th. The Combination with the ordinary wires or wire work inserted, of wire work
or wires of copper or other non perishable material to project over the edges of the
glass for fixing purposes and connected to strips of metal or other material as herein
described & shown.
8th. The Combination, together or separately of table, rollers, and other parts
exposed to the hot glass to be made in porcelain, earthenware or other non oxidising
material or non expansive material, as herein shown or described.
9th. Sheets of glass reheated and applied to the table instead of rolling the glass
being folded up by the divisional table is herein shown.
10th. Process of making hollow articles from sheet of hot glass with the wire work
already inserted as herein described.
Dated this 15th day of June 1887