Improved Machinery for Compressing Powdered Substances.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Applicatio
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 29th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery for Compressing Powdered Substances.
I, JOSEPH ALEXANDER MCFERRAN, of 1720, Green Street, in the City of Phila-
elphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Physician, do hereby
leclare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machines for compressing pulverized materials into the
form of pills or tablets, and has for its object the construction of simple and powerful
mechanism for this purpose, as fully described hereafter.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section of my improved machine; Fig. 2. is an end view
of the machine, with the base in section on the line 1-2, Fig. 1;-
Fig. 3. is a detached perspective view of the ejector and its connections;
Fig. 4. is a view of a nest of dies
;
Fig. 5. is a sectional view of a modified form of hopper; and Figs. 6, 7, 8, and, 9,
are views of modifications of details of my invention.
A, is the framework of the machine. A die-carrier, D, is supported on suitable
guideways, d, in the frame, and carries a die, D', which forms a receptacle for the
pulverized material. This die-carrier is given a reciprocating motion by a cam, C,
on a shaft, B, through the medium of a lever, L, block, l, and connecting-rod, M.
The die, D', can be adjusted to a nicety by moving the block, I, towards or from
the fulcrum of the lever, L. The block, in the present instance, has a set screw for
securing it to the lever, although other devices may be used for the purpose, without
departing from my invention.
On one end of the connecting-rod, M, is a ball, m, adapted to a socket, 1, in the
block, . The object of providing this ball and socket joint between the rod and block
is, first, to give a universal movement, and second, that the die-carrier may be
uncoupled from the lever by simply raising the rod out of connection with the block.
The die-carrier can then be removed for repairs, or for adjustment, or for fitting
different sized dies thereto.
The compression die, e, is carried by a plunger, E', connected to a crank, E, on a
shaft, B, by a rod, E2, the upper end of which has a bearing for the crank, the other
end being in the form of a cylinder adapted to a socket, forming a knuckle joint, so
that the plunger will not only be depressed by the movement of the crank, but will
also be raised, as will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawing.
The die itself I prefer to construct in the manner described in the Specifications of
the British Patents granted to me on the 18th day of July 1885, No. 8709, and on the
13th day of December, 1887, No. 17149.
The die, e, is attached to the plunger, E, through the medium of a chuck, e', which
is threaded and adapted to a threaded orifice in the plunger, this chuck being split in
the ordinary manner, forming spring jaws. A nut, F, forms a clamp for the chuck,
0 as well as a jamb nut to secure said chuck to the plunger.
Adapted to the die, D', is an ejector, g, which may be made in the manner described
in the aforesaid Specifications. This plunger has an annular groove at its base, and

page_text: is adapted to slide longitudinally in a slide-way, J, as the die-carrier is reciprocated
from a position in line with the upper die to a position in line with the opening in the
hopper described hereafter.
The guideway, J, is supported by and forms part of a post, I, in the present
instance, this post being adapted to bearings in the base of the machine, and has an
annular groove to which is adapted one end of a lever, G, which is pivoted at, gl, to
the base of the machine. The lever is acted upon by a vertical rod, H', which is a
continuation of a rod, H, having at its upper end an anti-friction roller, ', against
which a cam, C, acts. This cam is secured to the shaft, B. The rod, H¹, is adjust-
able in the rod, H, and is secured in its adjusted position by a jamb-nut, h, as shown
in Fig. 1.
A spring, s, attached to the frame bears against the underside of one arm of a
lever, G, and tends to keep the lever always in contact with the rod, H'.
To regulate the machine for quantity, I provide an adjustable rest for the post, I.
This rest, in the present instance, consists of a screw-rod, N, having a tapered
portion, n, on which the post rests. To this screw-rod is adapted a nut, n, which is
confined to its bearing in the base of the machine by a screw-pin, n², adapted to an
annular groove in said nut. The rod, N, is splined throughout, and in this spline
rests a lug, m³, (Fig. 2) which prevents the rod from turning. By turning the nut
so as to move the rod, N, in or out, more or less material can be inserted into the
lower die.
To regulate the pressure, I adjust the rod, H', in the tubular rod, H, as above
described.
In some cases the ejector, g, may merely rest upon the slide-way, J, and not
be confined vertically thereto. In this case, the ejector, instead of being forcibly
withdrawn, would fall by its own weight. I prefer, however, to use the devices
shown.
-
In order to insure the withdrawal of the ejector plunger to the proper depth, I
secure a pivoted tapered block, d, to the underside of the die-carrier, D, and raise
or lower this block by means of an adjusting screw, d', which is secured to, but free
to turn in, said block.
By this arrangement a delicate adjustment can be made, so that the lower die will
always receive the proper quantity of material from the hopper.
In place of the pivoted blocks shown in Fig. 1. a tapered block having a simple
vertical movement may be used as shown in Fig. 6. accomplishing the same
purpose.
In place of the single die and ejector shown in Fig. 1. a nest die may be used, as
shown in Fig. 4, which consists of a lower die having a series of orifices in which the
ejectors and plungers work.
The hopper, P, is pivoted to a stud on the frame, as shown in Fig. 2. so that it can
be swung away when necessary. The hopper may be of the same construction as
that shown in my former patents above alluded to. In the present instance the box
is shallow, and has bearings for a vertical shaft, p, on which is a pulley, p'. On the
main shaft, B, is a pulley, p², a belt, p³, passing around said pulley, p², around
idlers, p, and around the pulley, p¹, on the vertical shaft, p. On the shaft, p, is a
disk, q, having blades, q', which agitate the material and feed it to the orifice, s¹,
which is so situated as to be directly above the lower die when the carrier is
reciprocated.
In the bottom of the hopper is a long outlet opening, and the hopper is extended,
so that the powder begins to flow into the die immediately after it is withdrawn from
under the upper die, the material flowing into the lower die until it again comes
under the upper die, so the complete filling of the lower die is insured. In some
instances, the bottom of the hopper may be dispensed with, the die-carrier acting in
this instance as the bottom.
In some instances the pivoted hopper may be moved to fill the die which at the
same time will brush the finished pill away from the die.

page_text: prefer to
use a hopper like that shown in Fig. 5. which is more convenient for holding small
quantities of drugs.
When only a small quantity of pills, to fill a prescription, are required,
In place of the device shown in Fig. 1. for bolding the upper die, I may use the
device shown in Figs. 7. and, 8, which consists of a simple undercut pin or lug, e¹, on
the lower end of the plunger, and a die having a bevelled flange, e, adapted to fit
under said undercut pin or lug, the flange of the die having an orifice, e³, so as to
allow the die to be placed in position under the plunger, and by simply turning said
die, it will be held in place by the undercut pin or lug.
Where a number of sizes of pills are to be made, this mode of attaching is pre-
ferred, as the dies can be quickly removed and inserted without loss of time.
A
The shaft, B, is driven from a shaft, B', adapted to bearings on the frame, A, and
the shaft, Bi, is geared to the shaft, B, through the medium of gear-wheels, b, b'.
crank may be applied to the shaft, B₁, but I prefer in all cases to use a fly-wheel, R,
which is provided with a handle, R₁, by which it is turned, or, in some cases, a belt
may be used on said fly-wheel, as circumstances require.
In place of the tapered adjusting screw, N, (Fig. 2.) a set screw (Fig. 9.) may be
used, and in some cases the spring, s, may be dispensed with and a roller placed above
the cam, c¹, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. and adjustable from and towards the
roller, ¹. The rod, H₁, in this case would be pivoted to the lever, G, as shown by
dotted lines.
The cam, cl, may act directly upon the post, I, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.
but I prefer, in most cases, the construction shown.
-:1 10()
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
-
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery for Compressing Powdered Substances.
I, JOSEPH ALEXANDER MCFERRAN, of 1720 Green Street, in the City of Phila-
delphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Physician, 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:
My invention relates to machines for compressing pulverized materials into the
form of pills or tablets, and has for its object the construction of simple and powerful
mechanism for this purpose, as fully described hereinafter with reference to the
drawings which accompany the Provisional Specification filed with my present
application for Letters Patont.
On such drawings; Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section of my improved machine.
Fig. 2, is an end view of the machine, with the base in section on the line 1-2,
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. is a detached perspective view of the ejector and its connections.
Fig. 4. is a view of a nest of dies.
Fig. 5. is a sectional view of a modified form of hopper ; and
Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views of modifications of details of my invention.
A, is the framework of the machine. A die-carrier, D, is supported on suitable
guideways, d, in the frame, and carries a die, D¹, which forms a receptacle for the
pulverized material. This die-carrier is given a reciprocating motion by a cam, C,
on a shaft, B, through the medium of a lever, L, block, l, and connecting rod, M.
The die, D¹, can be adjusted to a nicety by moving the block, l, towards or from the
fulcrum of the lever L. The block, in the present instance, has a set screw for
securing it to the lever, although other devices may be used for the purpose, without
departing from my invention.
On one end of the connecting rod, M, is a ball, m, adapted to a socket, l, in the

page_text: T
block, 1. The object of providing this ball and socket joint between the rod and block
is, first, to give a universal movement, and second, that the die-carrier may be un-
coupled from the lever by simply raising the rod out of connection with the block.
The die-carrier can then be removed for repairs, or for adjustment, or for fitting
different sized dies thereto.
The compression die, e, is carried by a plunger, E', connected to a crank, E, on a
shaft, B, by a rod, E2, the upper end of which has a bearing for the crank, the other
end being in the form of a cylinder adapted to a socket, forming a knuckle joint, so
that the plunger will not only be depressed by the movement of the crank, but will
also be raised, as will be readily understood by reference to the said drawings.
The die itself I prefer to construct in the manner described in the Specifications of
the British Patents granted to me on the 18th day of July, 1885, No. 8709, and
on the 13th day of December, 1887, No. 17149.
The die, e, is attached to the plunger, E', through the medium of a chuck, e¹, which
is threaded and adapted to a threaded orifice in the plunger, this chuck being split in
the ordinary manner, forming spring jaws. A nut, f, forms a clamp for the chuck,
as well as a jamb nut to secure said chuck to the plunger.
Adapted to the die, D¹ is an ejector, g, which may be made in the manner described
in the aforesaid specifications. This plunger has an annular groove at its base, and
is adapted to slide longitudinally in a slide-way, J, as the die carrier is reciprocated
from a position in line with the upper die to a position in line with the opening in the
hopper described hereinafter.
The guide way, J, is supported by and forms part of a post, I, in the present
instance, this post being adapted to bearings in the base of the machine, and has an
annular groove to which is adapted one end of a lever, G, which is pivoted at, gl, to
the base of the machine. The lever is acted upon by a vertical rod, H', which is a
continuation of a rod, H, having at its upper end an anti-friction roller, h, against
which a cam, C¹, acts. This cam is secured to the shaft, B. The rod, H¹, is adjust-
able in the rod, H, and is secured in its adjusted position by a jamb-nut, h, as shown
in Fig. 1.
A. spring, s, attached to the frame bears against the underside of one arm of the
lever, G, and tends to keep the lever always in contact with the rod, H¹.
To regulate the machine for quantity, I provide an adjustable rest for the post, I.
This rest, in the present instance, consists of a screw rod, N, having a tapered
portion, n, on which the post rests. To this screw-rod is adapted a nut, n¹, which is
confined to its bearing in the base of the machine by a screw-pin, n², adapted to an
annular groove in said nut. The rod, N, is splined throughout, and in this spline
rests a lug, m', (Fig. 2.) which prevents the rod from turning. By turning the nut
so as to move the rod, N, in or out, more or less material can be inserted into the
lower die.
To regulate the pressure, I adjust the rod, H', in the tubular rod, H, as above
described.
In some cases the ejector; 9, may merely rest upon the slideway, J, and not be
confined vertically thereto. In this case, the ejector, instead of being forcibly
withdrawn, would fall by its own weight. I prefer, however, to use the devices
shown.
In order to insure the withdrawal of the ejector plunger to the proper depth, I
pivot a tapered block, d, to the underside of the die-carrier D, and raise or lower
this block as may be required by means of an adjusting screw, d', so that in the
traverse of the die carrier to under the hopper, the block, d, will insure the post I
descending to the required extent.
By this arrangement a delicate adjustment can be made, so that the lower die
will always receive the proper quantity of material from the hopper.
In place of the pivoted blocks shown in Fig. 1. a tapered block having a simple
vertical movement may be used as shown in Fig. 6, accomplishing the same
purpose.
In place of the single die, and ejector shown in Fig. 1, a nest die may be used,

page_text: shown in Fig. 4, which consists of a lower die having a series of orifices in which
he ejectors and plungers work.
The hopper, P, is pivoted to a stud on the frame, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it
an be swung away when necessary. The hopper may be of the same construction
s that described in my aforesaid Specifications. In the present instance the box is
hallow, and has bearings for a vertical shaft, p, on which is a pulley, pl. On the
main shaft, B, is a pulley, p³, a belt, p³, passing around said pulley, p², around
dlers, p, and around the pulley, p', on the vertical shaft, p. On the shaft, p, is a
disk, g, having blades, q', which agitate the material and feed it to the orifice, s',
which is so situated as to be directly above the lower die when the carrier is
reciprocated.
In the bottom of the hopper is a long outlet opening, and the hopper is extended,
so that the powder begins to flow into the die immediately after it is withdrawn
In some
from under the upper die, the material flowing into the lower die until it again comes
under the upper die, so the complete filling of the lower die is insured.
instances, the bottom of the hopper may be dispensed with, the die-carrier acting in
this instance as the bottom.
In some instances the pivoted hopper may be moved to fill the die, which at the
same time will brush the finished pill away from the die.
When only a small quantity of pills, to fill a prescription are required, I prefer. to
use a hopper like that shown in Fig. 5, which is more convenient for holding small
quantities of drugs.
In place of the device shown in Fig. 1, for holding the upper die, I may use the
device shown in Figs. 7, and, 8, which consists of a simple undercut pin or lug, e',
on the lower end of the plunger, and a die having a bevelled flange, e², adapted to
fit under said undercut pin or lug, the flange of the die having an orifice, e³, so as to
allow the die to be placed in position under the plunger, and by simply turning said
die, it will be held in place by the undercut pin or lug.
Where a number of sizes of pills are to be made, this mode of attaching is
preferred, as the dies can be quickly removed and inserted without loss of time.
The shaft, B, is driven from a shaft, B', adapted to bearings on the frame, A, and
the shaft, B, is geared to the shaft, B, through the medium of gear-wheels, b, b. A
prefer in all cases to use a fly wheel, R,
crank may be applied to the shaft, B¹, but
which is provided with a handle, R', by which it is turned, or in some cases, a belt
may be used on said fly-wheel, as circumstances require.
In place of the tapered adjusting screw, N, (Fig. 2.), a set screw (Fig. 9) may be
used, and in some cases the spring, s, may be dispensed with and a roller placed
above the cam, C', as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and adjustable from and
towards the roller, '. The rod, H', in this case would be pivoted to the lever, G,
as shown by dotted lines.
The cam, C, may be arranged under and so as to act directly upon the post, I,
as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, but I prefer, in most cases, the construction
shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is.
•
1. The combination, in a machine for compressing powdered substances, of the
reciprocating die-carrier, the die therein, an ejector carried by said die-carrier
having an independent vertical movement, with a plunger for compressing the
(substance, and a hopper, said die-carrier having a movement from under the plunger-
die to the hopper, substantially as herein before described.
2. The combination of a reciprocated die-carrier, the die therein and the ejector
carried thereby but vertically movable therein, with the plunger die, the hopper, and
a slideway by which a vertical movement is given to said ejector, substantially as
5 hereinbefore described.

page_text: 3. The combination of the die-carrier, its die, the plunger, the hopper, the ejector
adapted to an orifice in said die-carrier, a guideway, the lever and a cam for
operating said lever for raising the ejector substantially as herein before described.
4. The combination, in a reciprocating die-carrier, vertically operating dies,
the lower dies travelling upon a vertically operated slideway, and being at all times
under the control of said slideway, substantially as herein before specified.
5. The combination of a reciprocating die-carrier, means for operating the same,
vertically operated compression dies, the lower compression die travelling in a grooved
slideway, and an adjustable depression device mounted on the die-carrier and operating
to depress the said slideway, substantially as hereinbefore specified.
6. The combination of a reciprocating die-carrier, means for operating the same,
vertically operated compression die, the lower compression die being operated
from a vertically operated slideway, said slideway being adjustable for the purpose
of forming different sized pills or tablets, substantially as hereinbefore described.
7. The combination of the die-carrier, the die having a series of orifices, with an
ejector for each orifice, and a compression die having a series of projections adapted
to each of the orifices of said die, the compression die acting in unison to press the
pill, and the ejecting dies acting in unison to eject the pill, substantially as herein-
before described.
Dated this 28th day of December 1889
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant