IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING CLAY WARE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Crawford of Glasgow in the County of Lanark
and Peter Graham of Stockton on Tees in the County of Durham for an
Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING
CLAY WARE
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Crawford and Peter
Graham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th May
1883.
WILLIAM CRAWFORD, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, and PETER GRAHAM
of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING CLAY-WARE,"
This Invention has for its object, by the use of improved machines, to effect the
moulding or shaping of clay or similar plastic material into various forms of ware,
such as cans or jars, jugs, bottles, tea-pots, cup-bandles and the like.
Under different modifications, the improved machines are adapted (1) for shaping
the internal or external surfaces of articles of hollow-ware, formed within or upon
moulds which retain the plastic clay, (2) for moulding or shaping solid ware or solid
parts of clay-ware, and (3) for shaping simultaneously the internal and external
surfaces of hollow articles of clay-ware without the use of moulds or dies.
In one modification of the improved machines the clay or plastic material to be
moulded or shaped is carried in a series of moulds or "wheels" ranged radially
round a horizontal frame or table fitted on a vertical shaft to which is imparted
an intermittent rotatory motion which brings the moulds in succession under a
vertical shaft carrying a shaping tool or profile. Each of the series of moulds or
" wheels is carried on a vertical spindle fitted in bearings in the intermittently
rotating frame or table, and the lower end of each spindle is fitted with a disc or
wheel which is driven by friction from a rotating disc or wheel on a horizontal
driving shaft below, during the time only that the mould or wheel is under the
shaping tool. While one of the moulds or wheels carrying the plastic clay, is
under the shaping tool, the shaft on which such tool is fitted, is caused to descend
and enter the mould, or is brought down into close proximity with its external
surface, according as the clay ware is to be shaped internally or externally by the
tool. The descent of the shaping tool at the proper time, and for the requisite

page_text: interval is effected by means of a cam or lever acted on by a wiper on a shaft
driven from the shaft from which the moulds or wheels are driven, and acting
through a chain or cord, or through levers on the shaping tool shaft, which is raised
after each action by a counterbalancing weight or spring. The shaping tool is
fitted eccentrically on its carrying shaft, and the parts are so arranged that by the
action of the cam, the shaping tool is lowered quite clear of the mould, and then
by a partial rotation of the shaft brought into contact with the clay surface to be
shaped; and before being withdrawn from the mould (when articles such as jars
with narrow mouths or necks are being formed) the tool is brought round to clear
such narrow opening. A sudden jerking motion is also given to the tool before it
begins to act on the clay to free the tool of any clay which may be adhering to it.
While one mould or wheel is being rotated by the friction discs or other gearing
under the shaping tool, the remaining moulds of the series are stationary, and in
the interval the shaped articles may be removed from one or more of the moulds,
and fresh clay placed in others to be ready for the shaping operation. The
intermittent rotation of the carrying frame or table required for bringing each
mould in succession under the shaping tool, may be imparted to it by any ordinary
well known means, but it is preferred to employ for this purpose a mechanical
arrangement or escapement device which forms a special feature of this Invention.
This consists of a star wheel or series of radial arius in number equal to the
number of moulds or wheels, fitted on the vertical shaft carrying the mould frame
or table, and acted on by a screw-like blade or cam surface on a horizontal rotating
shaft, such as the wiper shaft. At each revolution of the horizontal shaft, the
angled blade presses round one of the radial arms or teeth of the star wheel, and
brings a new mould under the shaping tool, and the star wheel is locked in this
position during the interval requisite for shaping the clay by means of a segment
or segmental disc which enters a slot in the eye of the star wheel at the moment
the angled blade or cam ceases to press on the radial arms and passes out of this slot
just before the angled blade or cam again comes into action.
In modifying this machine to adapt it for moulding or shaping solid articles of
clay-ware, such as handles for tea-cups, jugs, teapots, and the like, the devices for
rotating the moulds are dispensed with, and the moulds or half moulds are fixed
on the carrying frame or table. This frame or table has imparted to it an
intermittent rotating motion by means of the star wheel arrangement described,
or by similar means, and the moulds are in succession brought under an upper half
mould or die, which takes the place of the shaping tool. The clay within the
moulds or dies is pressed by the upper half mould to the desired shape, a metal
ring or flange being provided when required to regulate the degree of pressure on
the clay. A movable bottom is by preferrence formed on the lower part of the
moulds or dies, and is provided with a spindle projecting beneath, by which the
mould bottom is raised to facilitate the removal of the moulded article when the
table is moved round.
For shaping plain jars and similar bollow ware, moulds for holding the clay
may by our Invention be dispensed with, and both the internal and external
surface may be shaped by tools which are profiles of these surfaces and which
are brought into contact with the clay while it revolves on a wheel or wheel-
head.
The modification of shaping machine first described may be used for this purpose
by employing wheels instead of moulds and having two shaping tools carried by
the tool shaft or holder. In shaping the clay by the use of profile tools without
moulds, these tools must be brought gradually together to thin out the ware, and
allowance must be made for the correspondingly increasing diameter of the articles
being shaped.
For shaping simple forms of clay-ware without the use of moulds, the machine
is modified accordingly.
A single revolving wheel or wheel-head is by preference used and is driven by
friction discs and bevil gearing.

page_text: This wheel-head is carried in bearings on a frame which is fitted to slide
horizontally in guides under the vertical shaft carrying the shaping tool, or "rib"
which is used for the internal surface of the ware to be shaped. This tool is
brought down to act on the mass of clay placed on the wheel-head by means of a
cam, and is raised when the work is completed by a counterbalancing weight or
spring connected to the tool shaft by a cord, chain or lever. The profile or tool
which shapes the external surface of the ware is carried by a slide or movable
holder fitted in the framing of the machine, and is moved by a cam.
As the mass of clay on the wheel head is being formed, the frame carrying the
wheel-head is gradually traversed on its guides outwards from its position
immediately under the shaping tool shaft to compensate for the gradually
increasing diameter of the article being shaped and to keep the tools applied
to the work. This traversing motion of the frame is effected by means of a
lever, acted on by a cam or by a crank on one of the rotating shafts of the
machine, and while the carrying frame is traversed one of the frictional driving
discs is moved towards the centre of the other by adjustable levers, so as to reduce
the velocity of rotation of the wheel head, as the article being shaped increases in
diameter and is reduced in thickness.
After the ware is shaped on the wheel head, the sliding frame is drawn back
by a weight.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Crawford and Peter Graham in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th November 1883.
WILLIAM CRAWFORD, of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, and PETER GRAHAM
of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
FOR MOULDING OR SHAPING CLAY-WARE
"
Our said Invention has for its object, by the use of improved machines to effect
the moulding or shaping of clay or similar plastic material into various forms of
ware, such as cans or jars, jugs, bottles, teapots, cup-handles and the like.
Under different modifications, the improved machines are adapted (1) for shaping
the internal or external surfaces of articles of hollow ware formed within or upon
moulds which retain the plastic clay (2) for moulding or shaping solid ware or
solid parts of clayware, and (3) for shaping simultaneously the internal and
external surfaces of hollow articles of clay-ware without the use of moulds
or dies
Our Invention is illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, in which Figures
1 and 2 are respectively a front and a side elevation (with the framing in section),
and Figure 3 is a plan of one modification of the improved apparatus for shaping
hollow ware within or upon the mould. Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a side
elevation and plan of a modification of machine for shaping hollow ware internally
and externally without the use of moulds; and Figures 6, 7, and 8, illustrate
details of the first machines as applied to shaping such articles of solid ware as
tea-cup handles and tea-pot lids by compression.
In the modification of the improved machine, illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3,
the clay or plastic material to be moulded or shaped, is carried in a series of
moulds or
"wheels" A, A, A, ranged radially round a horizontal frame or table B,
fitted on a vertical shaft C to which is imparted an intermittent rotatory motion
which brings the moulds A in succession under a vertical shaft D carrying a
shaping tool or profile D¹. Each of the series of moulds or "wheels" A¹ is carried
on a verticle spindle a fitted in bearings in the intermittently rotating frame or
table B, and the lower end of each spindle a is fitted with a disc or wheel A¹
which is driven by friction from a rotating disc or wheel A³ on a horizontal
driving shaft E below, during the time only that the mould or wheel A is under
the shaping tool D¹. While one of the moulds or wheels A carrying the plastic
clay is under the shaping tool D¹, the shaft D on which such tool is fitted is caused
to descend and enter the mould A, or is brought down into close proximity with
its external surface, according as the clay ware is to be shaped internally or
externally by the tool. The descent of the shaping tool D' at the proper time,
and for the requisite interval, is effected by means of a cam lever or slotted
quadrant Facted on by a wiper or by a pin f on a disc F¹ which is fitted on a
shaft G driven by worm gearing G₁ from the shaft E from which the moulds or
wheels A are driven, and acting through a chain or cord f' or through levers on
a cross bar f2 on the shaping tool shaft, which is raised after each action by a
counterbalancing weight F2 or by a spring.
The shaping tool D¹ is fitted eccentrically on its carrying shaft D, and the parts
are so arranged that by the action of the cam or quadrant F and pin f the
shaping tool D¹ is lowered quite clear of the mould, and then by a partial rotation
of the shaft brought into contact with the clay surface to be shaped, and before
being withdrawn from the mould (when articles such as jars with narrow mouths
or necks are being formed) the tool is brought round to clear such narrow
opening.
For this purpose a guiding feather F³ is cast or formed on the framing D* which
carries the shaft D, and the cross bar f bearing against it guides the tool during

page_text: its descent, but by slipping off the feather at the lower end, allows the tool to be
swiveled round by the pull of the chain f¹ on the cross bar f' until the tool acts
on the clay in the mould, In rising, the guiding feather acting on the cross bar f³,
reverses the action and allows the tool to rise clear of the narrow mouth of the
jar or other ware. A sudden jerking motion is also given to the tool before it
begins to act on the clay to free the tool of any clay which may be adhering to it.
This is effected by the pin f slipping out of the slot in the chain quadrant F, to
release it momentarily, and the quadrant striking against a stop b which may be
formed on the disc F. While one mould or wheel A is being rotated by the
friction discs A', A' (or other gearing under the shaping tool) the remaining
moulds A, A, of the series are stationary, and in the internal the shaped articles
may be removed from one or more of the moulds, and fresh clay placed in others
to be ready for the shaping operation. Three moulds or wheels are shown in the
machine represented in the Drawings, as forming jelly-cans with contracted mouths,
but a larger number may be used.
The intermittent rotation of the carrying frame or table B required for bringing
each mould A in succession under the shaping tool D¹ may be imparted to it by
any ordinary well known means, but it is preferred to employ for this purpose a
mechanical arrangement or escapement device which forms a special feature of this
Invention. This consists of a star wheel or series of radial arms H in number
equal to the number of moulds or wheels A, fitted on the vertical shaft C carrying
the mould frame or table B, and acted on by a screw-like blade or cam surface H¹
on a horizontal rotating shaft such as the wiper shaft G. A each revolution of the
horizontal shaft G, the angled blade H' presses round one of the radial arms or
teeth of the star wheel H, and brings a new mould A under the shaping tool D¹;
and the star wheel H is locked in this position during the interval requisite for
shaping the clay, by means of a segment or segmental disc 'H' which enters a
slot h in the eye of the star wheel H at the moment the angled blade or cam H¹
ceases to press on the radial arms H, and passes out of this slot h just before the
angled blade or cam H' again comes into action.
An auxiliary locking device is provided, formed by a lever I which is acted on
by a cam 1 on the shaft G to cause a projecting arm i at its upper end to enter a
notch formed in each carrying arm B' of the mould frame B, at the moment the
mould frame stops, and to release this arm i from the notch when the frame should
again commence to rotate. The various parts are carried by a strong framing,
and the main shaft E, is provided with belt pulleys by which it is driven.
In modifying this machine to adapt it for moulding or shaping solid articles of
clay ware, such as handles for tea-cups, jugs, and lids for tea pots, and the like, the
devices (such as the discs A³, A²) for rotating the moulds A are dispensed with,
and the moulds or half moulds a³, are fixed or held stationary on the carrying
frame or table B. This frame or table has imparted to it an intermittent rotating
motion, by means of the star wheel arrangement described, or by similar means,
and the moulds are in succession brought under an upper half mould or die A³
which takes the place of the shaping tool D¹, and is carried by the vertical tool
shaft D. These half moulds are A³ represented on their carrying tables B and
shaft D in front and side elevation in figures 6 and 7, and in enlarged detached
section in figure 8, as shown in this case for the forming of a tea-pot lid. The
clay within the moulds or dies is pressed by the upper half mould A³ to the
desired shape, a metal ring or flange being provided when required to regulate the
degree of pressure on the clay.
A movable bottom a³ is by preference formed on the lower part of the moulds
or dies, and is provided with a spindle a projecting beneath, by which the mould
bottom is raised to facilitate the removal of the moulded article when the table is
moved round.
For shaping plain jars and similar hollow ware, moulds for holding the clay may
by our Invention be dispensed with, and both the internal and external surface
may be shaped by tools which are profiles of these surfaces and which are brought

page_text: The
into contact with the clay while it revolves on a wheel or wheel-head.
modification of shaping machine first described may be used for this purpose by
employing wheels instead of the moulds A and having two shaping tools carried
by the tool shaft or holder. In shaping the clay by the use of profile tools without
moulds, these tools must be brought gradually together to thin out the ware, and
allowance must be made for the correspondingly increasing diameter of the
articles being shaped.
For shaping simple forms of clay ware without the use of moulds, the machine
is modified accordingly. A modification of a machine of this kind is shown in
figures 4 and 5.
A single revolving wheel or wheel-head A is by preference used, and is driven
by friction discs A¹, A and bevil gearing A³, A³. This wheel-head A is carried in
bearings on a frame K which is fitted to slide horizontally in guides under the
vertical shaft D carrying the shaping tool or rib at D', which is used for the
internal surface of the ware to be shaped. This tool D¹ is brought down to act on
the mass of clay placed on the wheel-head A by means of a cain L, on a rotating
shaft G acting on a heel piece f³ formed on a quadrant F to which is attached a
chain connected to an arm f2 on the tool or rib D'.
The tool is raised when the work is completed by a counterbalancing weight F2
(or by a spring) connected to the tool shaft by the cord or chain f, or by a lever.
The profile or tool D² which shapes the external surface of the ware is carried by
a slide or movable holder D³ fitted in the framing M of the machine, and is moved
by a cam N. This cam N acts through a lever jointed to the machine frame M
and connected by a slot and pin n¹ to the sliding holder D³, and the holder is brought
back out of contact with the work by a spring n³. As the mass of clay on the
wheel-head A is being formed, the sliding frame K carrying the wheel-head is
gradually traversed on its guides K¹ outwards from its position immediately under
the shaping tool shaft D to compensate for the gradually increasing diameter of
the article being shaped, and to keep the tools applied to the work.
This traversing motion of the frame K is effected by means of a jointed arm or
lever o acted on by a cam P or by a crank on one of the rotating shafts of the
machine, such as the cam shaft G; and while the carrying frame K is traversed
one of the frictional driving discs A¹ is moved towards the centre of the other A²
by jointed levers Q working on an adjustable centre pin q, so as to reduce the
velocity of rotation of the wheel-head, as the article being shaped increases in
diameter and is reduced in thickness. After the ware is shaped on the wheel-head,
the sliding frame K is drawn back by a weight, or by a spring. When the sliding
frame K is to be drawn back the disc A2 is moved out of contact with the disc A¹
by means of a lever R working in a collar r fixed to or formed on the back of the
disc A³.
To the end of this lever R is attached a spring r, which by acting on the lever
and collar retains the disc A2 in contact with the disc A¹.
A tappet S is fitted on the cam shaft G and is arranged to strike at each
revolution a small bell-crank T to which the lever R is connected by a wire t. The
action of the tappet S is so timed that the lever R is pulled against the power of
the spring to take the disc A³ out of action, when the shaping of the ware on
the wheel-head is finished and the sliding frame K. is to be drawn back.
A
The same movement of the lever R causes a rod U fixed to it to act on a belt
fork V and shift the driving belt from the fast to the loose pulley and stop the
machine, so that the cames L, N, P, do not act on the several moving parts until
the finished ware is removed and a fresh piece of clay placed on the wheel.
catch on the rod U brings the belt fork back, and with it the belt is shifted on to
the fast pulley when the disc A2 again comes in contact with the disc A'. The
wheel-head A is driven from the rotating disc A¹ by means of bevil gearing A³
actuated from the disc shaft A which is carried in bearings in the sliding frame K,
and the disc A¹ is in turn driven by the disc A2 which is fitted on a horizontal
shaft E on which are fitted fast and loose pulleys El for a driving belt. On the

page_text: end of this shaft E is fitted a spur wheel E2 giving motion to a second spur wheel
on a shaft E³, and this shaft E³ gives motion to a vertical spindle E*, by means of
worm gearing G¹. This spindle E+, which is supported on footstep and journal
bearings actuates the cam shaft G through the bevil gearing J, J¹.
Having now particularly described the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is,-
First. The arrangement or combination of parts of a machine for moulding or
shaping clay-ware, substantially as herein described and illustrated in figures 1, 2
and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In machines for moulding or shaping clay-ware, the combination of the
mould table, provided with rotating or stationary moulds, over which a movable
tool is fitted, and means such as described for imparting an intermittent rotatory
motion to the table, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Third. In machines for moulding or shaping clay-ware, the arrangement on the
intermittently rotating mould table of rotating moulds or wheels, actuated by
friction discs, substantially in the manner herein described and illustrated.
Fourth. In machines for moulding or shaping clay-ware, the arrangement of
the rotating sengmental disc H2 and angled blade H acting on the star wheel H
to impart an intermittent rotatory motion to the mould table and lock it in
position while the clay-ware is being shaped, substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
Fifth. In machines for moulding or shaping clay-ware, the combination of
devices for actuating the shaping tool, substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
Sixth. The combination of parts forming the moulds for shaping or moulding
solid articles of clay-ware, substantially as described and illustrated in figure 6 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The arrangement or combination of parts of a machine for shaping
the internal and external surfaces of hollow clay-ware without the use of moulds,
substantially as herein described and illustrated in figures 5 and 6.
Eighth. In machines for shaping the internal and external surfaces of hollow
clay-ware, the arrangement of the frame K carrying the wheel head and gearing
for actuating the same, and adapted to slide outwards from the shaping tools
as the ware increases in diameter, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Ninth. In machines for shaping the internal and external surfaces of hollow
clay ware, the arrangement of cams and devices for actuating the shaping tools in
unison with the movement of the sliding frame carrying the wheel-head, substan-
tially as herein described and illustrated.
Tenth. The arrangement of adjustable levers Q acted on by the sliding frame K
to change the position of the disc A' relatively to the centre of the disc A³ to vary
the velocity of rotation of the wheel-head, substantially as herein described, and
for the purpose set forth.
In Witness Whereof, I the said William Crawford, on behalf of the said Peter
Graham and myself, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty first day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness,
JOHN SIME,
Clerk, Patent Office,
96 Buchanan Street
Glasgow.
WILLIAM CRAWFORD (L.S.)