IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR.
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Gregg, of the City and County of Phila-
delphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, in the United States of
America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
BRICKS AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR.
"
Sealed the 25th April 1878, and dated the 16th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Gregg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th November 1872.
I, ISAAO GREGG, of the City and County of Philadelphia, in the
State of Pennsylvania, in the United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND IN MACHINERY THERETOR," to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates more particularly to moulding bricks by
impact, but some of the devices for carrying the said Invention into
effect may be obviously used in machines acting upon a different
principle.

page_text: The machines now in general use, so far as my knowledge extenas,
have moulded and solidified the clay by the force of compression, which
has been attended with many and serious objections. When the clay is
subjected to pressure or compression it has been found that the air per-
meating the clay is condensed in the mass, no opportunity being offered
for its escape during the process; and when it is subjected to heat the
air will expand and cause the bricks to crack. This method also
requires a great degree of power to give to the brick the proper solidity,
thus materially affecting the cost of operating the machine, and also
subjecting it to severe strains which tend to break and disorganize the
mechanism.
Attempts have been made heretofore to solidify the clay by the impact
or percussion of falling bodies. This method tends in a great degree to
increase the density of the clay, while the concussion of the blow
disturbs the air, and aids materially in its escape. It has been demon-
strated by experiment that a far greater force can be exerted to solidify
the clay by this means than could be obtained by the same power
required to lift the weights if employed to compress the clay. The
methods heretofore used and the machinery employed for manufacturing
bricks upon this principle have been found imperfect, and are not
now in general use.
It is the object of my Invention to apply the principle of impact to
the manufacture of bricks, whereby the clay may be subjected to a rapid,
thorough, and uniform treatment, and the machinery operated with less
power and at a greatly reduced cost.
My' said Invention consists generally in a novel method of manu-
facturing bricks by first supplying the clay in the proper condition to
the moulds; then moving the mould to a beater, where it is stopped
while the clay is impacted in the mould by a succession of blows from
the beaters; then moving the mould to the knife to size the brick; and,
finally, ejecting the finished brick from the mould by the connected and
progressive movements of the mould.
My said Invention further consists in the following combinations of
mechanism for carrying this method into effect :-
First. In combining a revolving table of mould boxes with stamps or
beaters to impact the clay in the moulds, and so that the table will
present the moulds successively to the action of the beaters.

page_text: Also, in combining a revolving table carrying mould boxes, having an
automatic intermittent movement with intermittently operating beaters
that impact the clay in the moulds, and so combined that the table and
beaters are caused to operate alternately.
Also, in combining a mould box to hold the clay beaters to impact the
clay, a continually moving tripping device to lift the beaters, and an
automatic detent to intermit the action of the tripping device upon the
beaters at regulated intervals, so that the beaters will operate at the
proper moment.
Also, in the combination of a mould box to hold the clay beaters to
impact the clay, a continually moving tripping device to operate the
beaters, and a detent lever pivoted to the frame under control of the
workman, to prevent the beaters from operating whenever it is
so desired.
Also, in combining the mould box, the beaters, and a tripping device
with a spring to accelerate the movement of the beaters, and give an
increased force to the blow.
Also, in combining the beaters, the trippers for operating the beaters,
mechanism for operating the trippers, and a clutch device to prevent the
movement of the trippers from being reversed, and the machine thereby
deranged.
Also, in combining a mould table with beaters having a wedge shaped
arm that enters a mortise in the table, and serves to guide the beaters in
descending upon the clay in the moulds.
Also, in combining an intermittently rotating table of mould boxes,
followers in the moulds, and an anvil beneath the table, upon which
the followers rest to prevent their yielding while the clay is being
impacted.
Also, in combining the framework of the machine, a mould table,
followers in the moulds, a hopper for holding the clay agitators for
feeding the clay to the moulds, and a track over which the followers
move that can be adjusted by set screws to regulate the height of the
followers in the moulds, and thereby regulate the quantity of clay
supplied to the moulds, so as to form a brick of the proper size without
leaving too much clay to be removed by the sizing knife.

page_text: Also, in combining a table of mould boxes, followers in the boxes,
inclines for raising the brick to the knife, a smoothing iron, and a
friction roller for raising the brick to the smoothing iron to be
finished.
Also, in combining with the framework of the machine a vibrating
lever pivoted to the frame, and operated by a cam on a driving shaft to
reciprocate a head piece which discharges the bricks from a revolving
table when they are ejected from their mould.
Also, in combining with the above-mentioned device a sand receptacle
or sieve and ratchet teeth on the guideways of the head piece that shake 1
the sieve as the head piece reciprocates, so as to sand or lubricate the
table over which the bricks are moved.
Also, in combining a revolving mould table provided with ratchet
teeth around its periphery a continually moving pawl for operating upon
the ratchets, and a switch for disengaging the pawl whereby the motion
of the table is intermitted at regulated intervals.
Also, in operating a mould table intermittently by means of wiper
arms secured to a disc on a revolving shaft at such distances from each
other that the arms will operate upon projecting pins secured to the
under side of a circular table during a part of the revolution of the 2
shaft, and cease to operate upon them during the remainder of its
revolution.
Also, in combining with either of the above-mentioned devices for
revolving the table a detent to prevent the backward movement of
the table when it is not being operated upon by the pawl or the 2
arms.
-
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Isaac Gregg in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 14th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC .30
GREGG, of the City and County of Philadelphia, in the State of
Pennsylvania, in the United States of America, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Isaac Gregg, Her special licence that I,
the said Isaac Gregg, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Isaac Gregg, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS
AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR,” upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Isaac Gregg my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Isaac Gregg, do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 more particularly to moulding bricks by
impact, but some of the devices for carrying my Invention into effect
may be obviously used in machines acting upon a different principle.
The machines that are now in general use so far as my knowledge
extends, have molded and solidified the clay by the force of compres-
sion which has been attended with many and serious objections. When
the clay is subjected to pressure or the force of compression it has been
found that the air permeating the clay is condensed in the mass, no
opportunity being offered for its escape during the process, and when it
is subjected to heat the air will expand and cause the bricks to crack.
This method also requires a great degree of power to give to the brick
the proper solidity, thus materially affecting the cost of operating the
machine and also subjecting it to severe strains which tend to break and
disorganize the mechanism.

page_text: Attempts have been made herefore to solidify the clay by the impact
or percussion of falling bodies. This method tends in a great degree to
increase the density of the clay, while the concussion of the blow dis-
turbs the air therein and aids materially in its escape. It has been
demonstrated by experiment that a far greater force can be exerted to
solidify the clay by this means than could be obtained from the power
required to lift the weights if employed to compress the clay. The
methods heretofore used and the machinery employed for manufacturing
bricks upon this principle have been imperfect and are not capable of
turning out a good quality of brick in sufficient numbers to render them
of any commercial value or bring them into general use.
It is the object of my Invention to apply the principle of "impact,"
to the manufacture of bricks whereby the clay may be subjected to a
rapid thorough and uniform treatment, and the machinery operated
with less power and at a greatly reduced cost, and my Invention
consists-
First. In a novel method of manufacturing bricks by first supplying-
the clay in proper condition to the molds; then moving the mold to
a beater, where it is stopped while the clay is impacted in the mold by
a succession of blows from the beater, then moving the mold to a
knife to size the brick, and finally ejecting the finished brick from the
mold by the connected and progressive movements of the mold as
herein-after more fully set forth.
My Invention further consists in the following combinations of
mechanism for carrying this method into effect, viz :-
:-
And secondly. In combining a revolving table of mold boxes with
stamps or beaters to impact the clay in the molds so that the table will
present the molds successively to the action of the beaters, as herein-
after set forth.
Thirdly. In combining a mold box to hold the clay beaters to impact
the clay, a continually moving tripping device to lift the beaters, and an
automatic detent to intermit the action of the tripping device upon the
beaters at regulated intervals so that the beaters will operate at the
proper moment, as herein-after set forth.
Fourthly. In the combination of a mold box to hold the clay beaters
to impact the clay, a continually moving tripping device to operate the

page_text: beaters, and a detent lever pivoted to the frame under control of the
workman to prevent the beaters from operating whenever it is desired,
as herein-after set forth.
Fifthly. In combining a revolving mold table having an automatic
intermittent movement, with intermittently operating beaters that
impact the clay in the molds, and so combined that the table and
beaters are caused to operate alternately, as herein-after set forth.
Sixthly. In combining the mold box, the beaters, and a tripping
device with a spring to accelerate the movement of the beaters and give
an increased force to the blow, as herein-after set forth.
Seventhly. In combining a mold table with beaters having a
wedge-shaped arm that enters a mortise in the table, and serves to guide
the beaters in descending upon the clay in the molds, as herein-after
set forth.
Eighthly. In combining an intermittently rotating table of mold
boxes, followers in the molds, and an anvil beneath the table upon
which the followers rest to prevent their yielding while the clay is being
impacted as herein-after set forth.
Ninthly. In combining the framework of the machine, a mold table,
followers in the molds, a hopper for holding the clay, agitators for
feeding the clay to the molds, and a track over which the followers
move, that can be adjusted to regulate the height of the followers in the
molds, and thereby gauge the quantity of clay that is supplied to the
molds so as to form a brick of the proper size without leaving too much
clay to be removed by the sizing knife as herein-after set forth.
Tenthly. In combining a table of mold boxes, followers in the boxes,
inclines for raising the brick to the knife, a smoothing iron, and a
friction roller for raising the brick to the smoothing iron to be finished
as herein-after set forth.
Eleventhly. In combining with the framework of the machine a
vibrating lever pivoted to the frame, and operated by a cam on a driving
shaft to reciprocate a head piece which discharges the brick from a
revolving table, when they are ejected from the mold as herein-after
set forth.
Twelfthly. In combining with the above-mentioned device a sand
receptacle or sieve, and ratchet teeth on the guideways of the head piece

page_text: that shake the sieve as the head piece reciprocates so as to sand or
lubricate the table over which the bricks are moved as herein-after set
forth.
Thirteenthly. In combining a revolving mold table provided with
ratchet teeth around its periphery, a continually moving pawl for
operating upon the ratchets and a switch for disengaging the pawl,
whereby the motion of the table is intermittent at regulated intervals as
herein-after set forth.
Fourteenthly. In operating a mold table intermittently at regulated
intervals by means of wiper arms secured to a disc on a revolving shaft 1
at such distances from each other that the arms will operate upon pro-
jecting pins secured to the under side of a circular table during a part of
the revolution of the shaft, and cease to operate upon them during the
remainder of its revolution as herein-after set forth.
Fifteenthly. In combining with either of the above-mentioned devices 1
for revolving the table a detent to prevent the backward movement of
the table when it is not being operated upon by the pawl or the arms as
herein-after set forth.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure is a front elevation of the
machine with the beaters shown in their raised position; Figure 2, a 2
side elevation facing the hopper that feeds the clay to the mold boxes;
Figure 3, an elevation from the side opposite Figure 2, and facing the
sizing knife and smoothing iron; Fig. 4, a central, vertical, longi-
tudinal section facing the hopper; Figure 5, a plan view of the upper
frame plate, showing the arrangement of the gearing and shafting; 2
Figure 6, a plan view of the base plate, showing the inclines for raising
and withdrawing the followers in the mould boxes; Figure 7, a partial
elevation from the side shown in Figure 2, and showing a modification
of the device for moving and intermitting the movement of the table;
Figure 8, a plan view of the mold table showing the devices illustrated 8
in Figure 7, and with the framing of the machine in section; and
Figure 9, a detached view of the spring for accelerating the movement
of the beaters as herein-after described.
The main frame A has a circular base A', and an elevated platform A*
of corresponding shape to support the gearing and shafting. Suitable 3
uprights A', A', A', Aº, A', & A', serve to support the platform and
other parts of the machine, and securely brace and connect them

page_text: together. The platform may be connected with the base of the machine
by a suitable ladder, and protected by railings to aid the attendant in
repairing, oiling, and inspecting the machinery. A circular mold
table B has arms B¹ extending across its diameter to form a hub B*
which is supported by a similar hub A°, and arms A" connected with
the base of the frame. A centre bolt O is secured to the hub A°, and
serves as a journal for the hub B' of the mold table. A -suitable
number of mold boxes D, each having in this instance four molds D¹,
D³, D³, D', are bolted to the mold table and formed with rectangular
openings or guideways D³ in their inner flanges as herein-after described.
Each mold is provided with a follower E that fits snugly therein, and
has a pendent stem E¹ with a pin or lug e at its lower end which serves
to depress the followers in their molds as herein-after set forth. A
cylindrical hopper F with a neck F¹ to receive the clay is securely
bolted to the upright A³, and has a plate or flange Fs at its base that
bears lightly upon the face of the mold boxes, and aids to steady their
movement and to keep them in place, a revolving shaft F³ operated by a
bevel pinion Fª connected with the driving shaft is journaled at the top
and passes through the axis of the cylindrical hopper, and is provided
with radial arms that revolve with the shaft and serve to agitate the
clay, and feed it regularly to the moulds.
Two or more agitator shafts may be placed within the hopper, as
shown in the Drawings. A vertical rod or stem G is supported and
guided at its upper end in a cross brace that connects the uprights A*
and A³, and is secured at its lower end to a cross head G' which is con-
nected with guide rods G³ secured to the uprights A*, A', of the frame.
A. set of beaters G³, Gʻ, G³, Gʻ, are slightly smaller than the molds on
the table, to permit the air to escape when impacting the clay are
secured to the cross head, and may be made of any suitable weight and
material. A driving shaft H journaled in bearing blocks h on the
frame A is in this instance connected by a belt with pulleys on a shaft
supported on the base A³ of the frame, and operated by the main driving
power. Tripping arms I, I, of suitable form are secured to the driving
shaft and revolve with it. A plate G' is secured on the rod G at a proper
point to be operated upon by the arm I to raise the beaters a sufficient
height, and let them drop at proper intervals upon the clay in the mold
and give to it the requisite solidity. A plate J braces and connects the
beaters G³, G, G³, and G³ together, and an arm K projects downward

page_text: therefrom, and is wedge-shaped to better enable it to pass into the
rectangular space or guide way D' in the mold box. By this means the
molds are always brought directly in line with the beaters, and the
edges of the molds never injured.
.
It is important that the edges of the molds should be sharp and
perfect, as otherwise the sizing knife would not give a smooth finish to
the brick.
An anvil L is securely bolted to the base A¹ of the frame, and serves
to support the followers and receive the shock of the blow from the
beaters. A spur gear M. secured to the shaft M¹ is driven by a pinion M³
on the main shaft, which is in this instance of such proportion that six
revolutions of the pinion will make but one of the spur gear. A cam
wheel N secured to the shaft M¹ has a grove n formed in its face that
receives a friction roller n' on an arm N³ pivoted to a bracket N'
on the frame. The free end of the arm N' is connected with and serves
to reciprocate a sliding bolt N³, the opposite end of which is pronged and
supported by a link N' pivoted to the frame in such manner that the
projecting end or prongs will straddle the beater stem G, and pass
beneath the cross piece G' when it is in its raised position.
The grove in the face of the cam wheel is of such form that the
detent is engaged with the cross piece G' during one-half the revolution
of the cam wheel, or three revolutions of the driving shaft, and dis-
engaged with the same during the other half of the revolution of the
shaft, and the other three revolutions of the trippers; other proportions
may be used, however, if found desirable. The driving shaft H has a
bevel pinion H¹ that meshes with a corresponding pinion O' upon a
countershaft O which is journaled in bearing boxes o, o¹, on the upper
frame A³, and revolves at a uniform speed with the driving shaft. The
countershaft is at right angles to the driving shaft, and passes over the
shaft Fs of the hopper, and extends to the rear of the machine. Mitre
pinions O³ and F' connect the countershaft with the shaft F, and serve
to operate it positively and at a regulated speed. Other mitre pinions O³
and P¹ connect the countershaft and crank shaft P, and serve to operate
it in the same way. The crank shaft P is supported in a vertical position
by bearings in the uprights A³, and has a crank wheel P³ secured to its
lower end. A pawl P³ is connected by an adjustable wrist pin p with
the crank wheel, and is held against the face of the ratchets of the table
by a spring roller P* secured to the upright A³ of the frame. By this

page_text: arrangement of shafting the pawl is operated by the driving shaft con-
tinually in a uniform manner, with but little loss of power. A cam
wheel Q on the shaft M¹ has a groove q formed in its periphery that
receives a friction roller q' on the lower end of an arm Q' pivoted to a
bracket Q' on the upper frame. The upper end of the arm Q¹is con-
nected by a link Q³ with a bell-crank lever Q' also journaled in brackets
Q' on the upper frame, so that the lever and arm are vibrated together
by the action of the cam upon the roller of the arm. A link Q' connects
the bell-crank lever with a vertical rod Q' supported by brackets upon
the upright As of the frame, and provided with a wedge-shaped switch Q®
at its lower end. The rod Q' receives an intermittent vertical movement
through the cam, arm, links, and bell-crank lever, and serves to disengage
the pawl with its ratchets at regulated intervals, and by this means inter-
mits the movement of the table. The grooves n and g in the cam wheels
N and Q are so formed, and have such relation to each other, that when
the detent is engaged to arrest the action of the beaters, the switch will
be withdrawn to permit the pawl to act upon and revolve the table. A
spring detent or pawl pivoted to the framing engages with the ratchet
teeth, and prevents the accidental backward movement of the table when
the pawl p³ is disengaged by the switch. This combination of devices
ensures a positive intermittent movement of the table, and a positive
intermittent movement of the beaters operating alternately.
Figures 7 and 8 show another form of the device for moving the
table, and is under certain circumstances better than that above
described, as it is a simpler mechanism, and will operate the table
by a more positive and regular movement. Friction rollers a are
placed beneath the mold table at regular distances from each other
instead of the ratchets above described, and a larger beveled wheel
is placed at the upper end of the crank shaft P. I secure radial
wiper arms P to the crank wheel to which the pawl was secured in
the other device. The arms are made adjustable so that they may
project any desired distance from the periphery of the crank wheel
They are placed at regular distances apart; or in other words they have
an uniform pitch, but only project from one half the periphery of the
wheel, so that they operate as a mutillated wheel in cogged gearing,
and by this mean moves the table during one half of the revolution
of the shaft, and permit it to remain at rest during the remainder of the
revolution.

page_text: Instead of simply a spring pawl to prevent the backward movement
of the table, I prefer to use a more perfect device operated by positive
means to stop the table when it has been moved the required distance,
and prevent it from moving either backwards or forwards because of the
impulse received from the wiper arm or any other cause, thus preventing
accident by the beaters striking against the mold table and not upon
the clay in the mold.
The construction and operation of the device is as follows:-A lever
arm R is pivoted at one end to the uprights A³ of the frame and
vibrates upon and is supported at its opposite end by a bracket R' in
the upright A³. A cam plate R³ is secured to the crank shaft above
the wiper disk, and is provided with a groover in its face formed
of two segmental concentric parts of different radius connected together
so as to form a single groove. A stud and friction roller 71 secured
to the lever arm takes into the groove, and as the cam plate revolves
the lever is vibrated at regular intervals so that it will be drawn towards
the mold table, and held in this position by the part of the groove
having the lesser radius and pushed away from the table, and thus
retained by the part of the groove having the greater radius. A
tooth R³ is secured to and made adjustable on the lever arm, and
engages with notches formed in the periphery of the mould table, so
that when the lever is drawn towards the table the tooth will engage
in the notch and hold the table in place, and when withdrawn by the
lever will permit the table to revolve.
In order that the amount of clay admitted to the molds may be
regulated so that just a very slight portion remains to be removed by
the sizing knife, I place directly beneath the hopper a horizontal table S
that can be raised and lowered by adjusting screws 8, 8, or other suitable
means. A hinged leaf S₁ is attached at one of its ends to one end of the
table, and inclines downwardly so that the other end rests upon the base
plate of the machine. The stems of the followers first rest upon the
inclined leaf, and are raised by it a suitable distance as the table revolves,
and then pass over the horizontal table which is adjusted so that a
sufficient quantity of clay is admitted to the moulds for the purpose
above named. The clay is struck off and levelled by the lower part F* of
the hopper as the table moves forward, or a separate sizing knife may be
attached to the framing of the machine. For this purpose a coiled spring
G³, secured to the cross brace of the uprights A', A³, encircles the

page_text: upper part of the rod G, and bears upon the plate G7, when it is raised
so as to accelerate the blow of the beaters when they are raised
by the tripping arms or released from the detent.
upon
A lever Go provided with a projecting prong or hook is pivoted at its
5 end to the cross brace of the framing at the front of the machine in such
manner that the prong will be directly in front of, and slightly below
the cross head G³ of the beaters when they are in their raised position
supported by the beaters. The lever extends down in front of the
machine within reach of the workman, and when desired the beaters
may be permanently suspended and prevented from operating. The anvil
L above referred to has a horizontal face and a beveled or rounded
edge that raises the followers slightly above the table when they rest
the anvil, so as to relieve the table of the concussion of the blow
when struck by the beaters, and also ensures the uniform depth of the
moulds. An incline plane L' gradually raises the followers in the moulds
until they reach a horizontal plane L', arranged directly below a sizing
knife T, secured to the upright Aº of the frame, and the bricks are by
this means leveled off at a uniform thickness. A smoothing iron U is
secured to and made adjustable on the upright A' of the frame, and a
roller V journalled to the base of the frame is arranged directly beneath
the smoothing iron and at the termination of the horizontal plane just
described. This roller serves to raise the follower and present the brick
directly and easily to the smoothing iron to be finally finished upon its
surface. The inclined plane L³ continues from the top of the roller V to
the rear of the machine, where the bricks are completely ejected from
the molds and ready to be taken from the machine.
In order that the brick may be automatically removed from the mold
table on to off bearing boards or to an endless belt that carries them
away from the machine, I provide a forked lever W, journaled to brackets
W², secured to the standards A', Aº, at the rear of the machine, and
vibrated by a cam spur w on the cam wheel N that operates the switch
mechanism. The lower ends of the forked lever are connected in a
suitable manner to a head piece W³ working in guides to³, secured to the
rear standards A7, A8, of the machine, and serves to reciprocate it over the
face of the mould-table at the proper moment for discharging the brick
from the table. Sand boxes X, provided with perforated bottoms X³, are
fitted into them, rest upon serrated plates Y that serve to shake or agitate
the boxes as the head piece is reciprocated. The fine sand, or other

page_text: lubricating material is thus sifted over the surface of the table. An
.inverted incline Z is arranged at the end of the incline L', with flanges
2,2, that bear upon the pins e of the follower stems as the table
revolves, and serve to withdraw the followers to their normal position to
prepare the molds to receive a new supply of clay when they have
reached the hopper in their second revolution.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The clay is first prepared
by means well known to the art and delivered to the neck of the hopper
by means of an endless belt or other suitable contrivance in a com-
minuted and slightly moist condition. The agitator, revolving at a 1
regulated speed supplies the clay to the molds in a uniform manner,
an the adjustable track is gauged to regulate the amount of clay
admitted to the molds, which are then in condition to be brought
beneath the beaters.
The Drawings represent the table when brought in position to permit 1
the beaters to operate. The switch is about to release the pawl from the
ratchets of the table, and the detent is thrown into position to hold the
table in place. The bolt is now withdrawn from the beaters to permit
them to make the first blow. The driving shaft now makes three
revolutions; the beaters give three blows to the clay in mold box :
No. 1, and lift the beaters to their elevated position. The detent then
engages with the beaters, the switch is withdrawn from the pawl, and
the detent lever from the notch in the periphery of the table, and the
table is moved by the next three revolutions of the driving shaft to
bring box No. 2 under the action of the beaters. This operation:
continues, and the mold boxes after leaving the beaters pass on to the
knife and smoothing iron. The followers are raised by the incline and
roller as described, and the bricks are sized by the knife and finished on
their upper surface by the smoothing iron. The sweep head then moves
across the table and the bricks are discharged from the machine on to a
the endless belt, or on to the trays to be carried away.
I claim as my Invention

page_text: 3. The combination of the table, the molds, the beaters, the
continually moving tripper, and the automatic detent to intermit the
operation of the beaters, substantially as set forth. -
4. The combination of the mold boxes, the beaters, the tippers,
and the detent lever to contol the action of the beaters, substantially as
set forth.
5. The combination of the intermittently moving and revolving
mold table with intermittently operating beaters that impact the clay
in the molds, these parts being combined to operate intermittently,
substantially as described.
6. The combination of the mold table, the beaters, the trippers, and
a spring to accelerate the movement of the beaters, substantially as set
forth.
7. The combination of the mould table provided with a mortise,
and the beaters provided with the wedge-shaped arm, substantially as
described.
8. The combination of the intermittently rotating mold table, the
beaters, the followers in the molds, and the anvil to support the beaters,
substantially as described.
9. The combination of the framework of the machine, the mold box,
the followers, the clay hopper, agitators for feeding the clay, and the
adjustable track, substantially as described.
10. The combination in the manner described of the revolving
table, the mold boxes, the followers, the incline, the stationary friction
roller, and the smoothing iron, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
11. The combination of the framework of the machine, the revolving
table, the vibrating lever, and the reciprocating discharging head, sub-
stantially as described.
12. The combination with devices last enumerated of a sand
receptacle, and the ratchets on the guides to shake the receptacle, sub-
stantially as described.
13. The combination of the revolving mold table provided with ratchet
teeth, the continually moving pawl, and the switch for disengaging
the pawl, substantially as described.

page_text: 14. The combination of the circular mold table provided with pro-
jecting pins, and a continually revolving disc provided with projecting
arms, arranged as described, to intermittently revolve the table.
15. The combination of a revolving mold table, operated as described
with a detent to prevent its backward movement, substantially as set
forth.
ISAAC GREGG. (L.S.)