Iм- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SMALL SPHERES, USUALLY CALLED MARBLES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Norman, of Runcorn, in the County of
Chester, Sanitary Pipe Manufacturer, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SMALL SPHERES,
USUALLY CALLED MARBLES."
Sealed the 7th May 1872, and dated the 9th November 1871.

page_text: 3. For that purpose I employ a pair of rotating rolls for moulding or
shaping the spheres. The surfaces of these rolls are formed with
hemispherical recesses which fit opposite each other at the points of
nearest contact during rotation. Two hemispherical recesses thus
receive clay and form a sphere. As the rolls rotate the spheres drop
from the moulds, or they are gently forced out by a rotating brush.
The small spheres drop when released from the rolls on to a heated
jigger or vibrating plate or screen; therefrom they are conveyed or are
allowed to run into a revolving cylinder heated externally, or through
which heated gases are made to pass for the purpose of drying, baking,
and hardening them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Norman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
NORMAN, of Runcorn, in the County of Chester, Sanitary Pipe Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Norman, Her special license that
I, the said Thomas Norman, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Thomas Norman, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 MACHINERY
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SMALL SPHERES, USUALLY CALLED MARBLES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Norman, 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

page_text: 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 Thomas Norman, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet
of illustrative Drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say :-
-
These
The object of my Invention is to produce from plastic clay the small
spheres known as marbles in large quantities at a cheap rate.
small spheres are now, in addition to their use for playing, largely
employed in chemical processes.
•
For that purpose I employ a pair of rotating rolls for moulding or
shaping the spheres. The surfaces of these rolls are formed with
hemispherical recesses which fit opposite each other at the points of
nearest contact during rotation. Two hemispherical recesses thus
receive clay and form a sphere. As the rolls rotate the spheres drop
from the mould, or they are gently forced out by a rotating brush.
The spheres drop when released from the rolls on to a heated jigger or
vibrating plate or screen. Therefrom they are conveyed or are allowed
to run into a revolving cylinder heated externally, or through which
heated gases are made to pass for the purpose of drying, baking, and
hardening them.
Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2 a longitudinal elevation; and Fig. 3 a vertical
section at about the line A, B; all of machinery constructed and arranged
in accordance with my Invention. Like letters denote the same parts in
all the views.
Plastic clay of any desired kind, after having been first tempered and
freed from stones and objectionable matter, is fed by the endless band 1
to kneading and flattening adjustable rolls 2. The flexible band of
clay passes thence between the moulding rolls 3, whose surfaces are
formed with hemispherical recesses which meet each other during the
rotation. of the said rolls which are caused to move in opposite directions.
The spheres of plastic clay are allowed to drop out of the moulds on to

page_text: the travelling apron 4, but should any of them cling to the moulds
they are gently forced out by the rotating adjustable brushes 5. The
travelling apron 4 carries the spheres forward and delivers them to the
heated jigger 6, hereafter more particularly referred to. The gearing
whereby motion is imparted to the endless feed band 1, the kneading
rolls 2, and moulding rolls 3 above mentioned will be obvious to the
mechanic; the first motion shaft is marked 7, and the direction of
motion of the other parts is indicated by arrows. The travelling apron 4
is borne by rolls 8, and has motion imparted to it from the pulley and
shaft 9.
It will be seen that the Drawings show means whereby steam or other
heated fluid can be admitted to the kneading rolls 2 and moulding
rolls 3; the heating of these is advantageous in practice, but I would
have it understood that such heating is not indispensable.
I would also have it understood (A) that the kneading rolls may be
dispensed with, although the machine is more efficient with them;
(B) that instead of the travelling apron 4 the small spheres may be
allowed to fall directly or indirectly on to the jigger 6 or its equivalent;
C that instead of spheres other forms may be made by varying the
recesses in the moulding rolls; and D that segmental moulds may be
used as a modification of the rolls. The steam or heated fluid pipes and
glands are marked 10. The said jigger 6 is suspended by the chains 11,
and a vibrating motion imparted by the rotating shafts and cranks 12.
Heated or combustible gases are admitted through the pipe 13, and the
products allowed to escape through the exit 14. Thus the upper inclined
plate wherever the spheres are delivered, and over and down which they
roll slowly, is sufficiently heated to drive off the moisture and deliver
such spheres in a hard state to the revolving cylinder .15, hereafter
described. Instead of using gases in a closed chamber as a means of
heating, a fire may be applied directly to a vibrating plate or screen, or
other means of heating employed.
The revolving cylinder 15 resting on the driving carriers 16 operated
by the bevel gearing, and shaft 17 receives the dried spheres from the
jigger 6, and completes the baking and hardening by heating gases or
flame admitted through the pipe 18. A coal or other fire may be applied
directly to the cylinder if desired. The surfacing of the spheres is
also effected in the said revolving cylinder by friction caused during
rotation.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and par-
ticularized the same by details which answer well in practice, I would
have it understood that I do not confine myself to the employment of
the three several parts, namely:-(1) the moulding machine; (2) the
preliminary drying; and (3) the finish baking and hardening in com-
bination, as these can be used separately. What I do claim is,―
First. The moulding rolls 2 operating in the manner and for the
purpose set forth.
Second. The moulding rolls 2, in combination with the brushes 5, for
the purpose set forth.
Third. The rolls 2, and these with the brushes 5, in combination with
the heated jigger 6, for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The rolls 2, the rolls 2 and brushes 5, and the rolls 2, brushes
5, and jigger 6, in combination with the revolving cylinder 15, for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Norman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
In the presence of,
Witness,
JAMES JOHNSON,
Draughtsman,
for J. T. King,
4, Clayton Sq.,
Liverpool.
THOMAS NORMAN.
(L.S.)