IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PILLS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PILLS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES,
AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by
James Amaziah Whitney, of Dobbs Ferry, otherwise known as Greenburgh,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF PILLS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR." [A communi-
cation from abroad by James Amaziah Whitney, of Dobbs Ferry, otherwise known
as Greenburgh, New York, United States of America, Counsellor-at-Law.]
The chief object of this Invention is to provide means for manufacturing pills
with such accuracy as regards size and weight that those of any given or standard
class as regards size or weight will be for all practical purposes absolutely uniform,
and also to greatly cheapen the production of pills as compared with those made by
the ordinary hand method.
My said Invention, while more particularly intended for the manufacture of
pills from pill-mass, may be used for the production of similar spherical, oval, or
spheroidal articles from other plastic material of any appropriate kind.
In the practice of my said Invention a sheet of mass so called from which the
pills are to be made is placed upon a plate, the surface of which is formed with
slight parallel grooves or depressions, so that the sheet of mass is prevented from
being laterally displaced during the subsequent operation of grooving its upper
surface in order to form the same into parallel subdivisions preliminary to the
separation of the sheet of material or mass into parallel cylindrical strips. These
grooves are made by means of a roller, caused to traverse to and fro over the sheet
of mass or material, and circumferentially grooved in such manner that the ridges
between its grooves cut into the surface of the mass to a depth of more than one
CD

page_text: half of the thickness of the latter, thereby 'subdividing said surface of the mass into
corrugations or ridges, each of which is substantially semi-cylindrical in shape. The
roller by which this grooving is effected is provided with suitable adjuncts whereby
its descent and action upon the mass is graduated and controlled by a substantially
positive motion. The sheet of mass grooved or sub-divided on its upper side as
described is inverted upon a second grooved plate, the upper surface of which is
provided with grooves, which in their cross-section correspond substantially with
those of the roller above referred to, except that the ridges between the grooves of
said second plate are of such height that they do not extend quite to the internal
limits of the grooves in the inverted sheet of mass when the latter is placed thereon,
so that in such case there is left within the mass above each of the grooves of said
plate a longitudinal space which should be filled with powdered chalk, finely
ground liquorice root, or other like non-adhesive powdered substance. This is
provided by dusting the grooved surface of the sheet of mass with such powdered
material before inverting the said sheet, as just described. The inverted sheet is
acted upon by a grooved roller, substantially the same as that first above described,
except that its ridges are designed to cut no deeper than substantially one half the
thickness of the sheet of mass. This second roller, like that first mentioned, is
provided with suitable adjuncts for graduating and controlling its descent and
action upon the sheet of mass. The grooves and ridges of said second roller being
coincident with the grooves and ridges of the plate upon which the inverted mass
is placed, its descent cuts into and through the mass from the side opposite that at
which the mass was first grooved, the cuts or grooves from the upper side joining
those previously formed in the under side of the sheet of mass, and thus severing
-and-separating-the-said-sheet-into-substantially_cylindrical strips, and inasmuch as
the ridges or cutting edges of the roller pass into the spaces filled with the powdered
chalk or like material above the ridges or cutting-edges of the plate below before
themselves coming in contact with the ridges or cutting-edges of the said plate, it
follows that the separation of the strips one from another without danger of two or
more of the strips adhering together is effectually secured. The strips lying parallel
with each other are placed upon a third grooved plate, but in a position transverse
to the grooves thereof. The grooves in this third plate are semi-circular in their
cross-section when the strips of mass are to be formed into spherical pills, and semi-
oval in their cross-section when the said strips are to be formed into oval pills. Another
plate having grooves corresponding to and coincident with the third plate above
imentioned, and arranged to have a reciprocating movement and also a graduated
and controlled descending movement upon the third plate above mentioned,
acts upon the upper side of the strips of mass, while the aforesaid third plate acts
upon their under side, the said strips being rolled between the two until the two
plates coming substantially in contact the strips are divided into pills. The several
inechanical combinations of parts by which the aforesaid operations are carried into
effect are of such character that the mass is readily and quickly transferred
from one set of devices to another, as required in the successive stages of tho
inanufacture of the pills from the sheets of mass, and also of such a character that
while one portion of the mass is being grooved on its upper side as described,
another portion already grooved and inverted as set forth is being separated into
strips, while a third portion already converted into strips and placed upon and
across the grooves of the third plate aforesaid is being shaped and separated into
pills, so that when the apparatus is in full operation three several and separate
portions of the mass are simultaneously operated upon, each at a different stage or
step in the operation of converting the mass into pills.
In order to provide the sheets of mass of convenient width and thickness, the
mass in the form of lumps or blocks more or less oblong in shape is placed upon a
substantially plane movable plate which is itself placed upon a longitudinally
reciprocating bed provided with sido pieces to limit the lateral expansion of the
mass as the same is rolled down to the requisite extent. This rolling down of the
mass is effected by means of a roller placed above the reciprocating bed and in a

page_text: position transverse thereto, the said roller receiving a vertical movement by means
of a suitable lever and toggle-joint, so that the mass being carried to and fro under
the roller and tho latter being pressed down upon the mass, the mass is gradually
reduced in thickness until the limit of the downward movement of the roller is
reached, whereupon the movable plate is taken away from the bed with the mass
lying upon it in a sheet of uniform width and thickness which may then be cut
transversely into sections, each of which forms what I have termed a sheet of mass
to be conveyed to the apparatus first hereinbefore referred to, to be formed into
substantially cylindrical strips and then into pills.
My said Invention, of the general operation of which I have just herein before
given a description, may be used not only for the manufacture of pills, but for the
manufacture of other articles of similar shape from other suitable plastic material.
My said Invention comprises a novel method of making strips of mass or equivalent
plastic material by forming the sheet of mass or material with parallel divisions
extending through more than one half of the thickness of the sheet, and then
inverting the sheet and completing the separation of the strips by coincident
divisions in the opposite side of said sheet. Also the novel method of preventing
the adhesion of the substantially cylindrical strips of mass or equivalent plastic
material to the mechanism whereby they are formed by providing the sheet of said
mass or material with parallel divisions extending through more than one half the
thickness thereof, then inverting the partially divided sheet upon a suitably grooved
plate, the ridges between the grooves of which extend through only substantially
one half the thickness of the sheet, and then separating the strips by parallel
divisions on the other side of the sheet, and coincident with those first formed.
Also the novel method of insuring the separation of the strips of mass or plastic
material by first forming the sheet of mass into parallel divisions extending
through more than one half the thickness of the sheet, then filling to a greater or
less degree the said divisions with powdered chalk or other suitable powdered
material, then inverting the said sheet and completing the formation of the strips
by coincident divisions on the opposite side of the sheet. Also the combination in
a machine for making pills and similar articles from plastic material of the following
elements, viz., a plate substantially plane faced except for shallow grooves provided
to prevent casual displacement of material therein, and designed to receive a sheet
or portion of the plastic material, a mechanical device for forming parallel divisions
in the mass to a depth greater than one half of the thickness of said sheet when
the same is rolled down to its minimum, a plate having grooves of a contour sub-
stantially coincident with the aforesaid divided surface of the plastic material, and
a mechanical device for dividing the opposite surface of the sheet coincident with
the divisions first made therein, the said parts being provided for joint use and
operation.
Also the combination in a machine for making pills or similar articles from
plastic material of two grooved plates, the grooves of the one plate being coincident
with those of the other, and mechanism for imparting a simultaneous downward
and reciprocating movement to one plate with reference to the other. Also the com-
bination of a plate substantially plane faced, but provided with means for preventing
the casual lateral displacement of the material upon it, and calculated to receive the
sheet of mass preparatory to the grooving of its upper surface. A grooved plate,
upon which the sheet of mass grooved as just indicated may be inverted; a grooved
roller for grooving the aforesaid upper surface of the sheet of mass, and a roller for
grooving the opposite side of the said sheet of mass when the same is inverted, as
described. Also the combination of a grooved plate for receiving the inverted sheet
of mass, and constructed or arranged to be tilted or turned in opposite directions with
a plate for holding the sheet of mass while the upper surface thereof is being grooved,
and a plate for receiving the strips of plastic material and suitable mechanism for
forming divisions in the upper surface of the plastic material for completing the
division of the sheet of mass from the opposite side of said sheet, and for dividing and
shaping the strips thus formed into pills or like articles on the plate which receives

page_text: said strips as just above indicated. Also the combination with the grooved plates
which divide the strips of mass into pills or like articles of mechanism for imparting
a reciprocating longitudinal movement to one of the said plates, and inclined planes
constructed and arranged to graduate and control the movement of one of said
plates toward the other in dividing and shaping the strips of plastic material into
pills or like articles. Also the combination with the reciprocating grooved plate,
and the co-incident grooved plate by which the strips of plastic material are
divided into pills or other like articles of a carriage which supports and carries
the reciprocating plate in due relation with its coincident grooved plate during the
said operation. Also the combination with a grooved roller of a plate constructed
with shallow grooves or depressions in its upper surface to prevent casual lateral
displacement of the mass or other plastic-material during the operation of the
said grooved roller thereon to groove or corrugate the upper surface of the said
mass or other plastic material. Also the combination with the grooved roller
and plate last mentioned of means for graduating the descent of the said roller
upon the said plate during the operation of grooving and corrugating the
mass or other plastic material upon the latter. Also the combination with the
roller and plate last mentioned of vertically movable rails and mechanism for
raising and lowering said rails, to more effectually graduate the distance between
said roller and plate. Also the combination with the roller and plate last
mentioned and the vertical rails just indicated, of a grooved plate for receiving the
mass or other plastic material inverted from the plate whercon it is first grooved
or corrugated, a grooved roller for completing the separation of the mass or other
plastic material into strips, and mechanical means_for_graduating_the_vertical-
movement of the rails to gradually lower the two rollers simultaneously upon the
aforesaid plates, arranged in due relation therewith. Also the combination with
the two rollers and the two plates last mentioned of mechanism for automatically
stopping the movement of said rollers at intervals to permit the manipulation
of the plates, as, for example, when transferring and inverting the mass or other
plastic material from the plate on which it is first grooved or corrugated to the
plate on which it is separated into strips. Also the combination with the grooved
plates by which the strips themselves are separated and arranged into pills or like
articles of inclined planes arranged to lower the uppermost of the said plates to
and upon the lowermost of the said plates, a cam for regulating the movement of
said inclined planes, and mechanism for stopping the motion of the said cam to
permit the continued reciprocating movement of the uppermost of the said plates
after the same has reached its limit of descent upon the lowermost of the said
plates, in order to more thoroughly effectuate the symmetrical finishing of the pills
or like articles. My said Invention also comprises a novel combination of a bed
with a roller placed transversely thereto, one capable of a reciprocating movement
with reference to the other, a removable plate placed upon the said bed in such
manner that the mass or other plastic material is supported thereon while being
rolled into a sheet, and suitable means for forcing the roller toward the said plate
in order to roll down the sheet to the degree of attenuation required for its
subsequent convenient manufacture into pills. Also the combination with the
bed, the roller, and the movable plate, just above indicated, of properly arranged
stops for limiting the downward movement of the roller with reference to the said
removable plate in order to insure a determinate and uniform thickness in the
sheet of mass or other plastic material. Also the combination of a vertical frame
or standard, a carriage capable of vertical movement on said frame, a roller mounted
on said carriage and carried thereby, a toggle joint for giving vertical movement
to the carriage and consequently to the roller, and a bed for supporting the mass
or other plastic material against the pressure of the roller. Also the aforesaid bed
as constructed with a rack, in combination with a spur-wheel gearing into the said
rack, a pinion on the shaft of the said spur-wheel, a tooth sector gearing into the
said pinion, and a crank and pitman for communicating a vibratory movement to
the sector, the parts being arranged to give the requisite reciprocating movement

page_text: to the bed with reference to the roller above. Also the combination of the
aforesaid bed constructed with a rack, a toothed sector connected therewith to
give motion to the bed, a roller for rolling the mass or other plastic material as the
same is supported upon the bed, a carriage for carrying the roller, a vertical
frame or standard affording guides or bearings for the carriage, a toggle-joint for
giving vertical movement to the carriage, and a lever for actuating the toggle-joint,
these parts being arranged to act in unison during the operation of rolling the
block or portion of mass or other plastic material into a comparatively thin sheet
of substantially uniform thickness throughout its area,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th April 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PILLS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR." A communication
from abroad by James Amaziah Whitney, of Dobbs Ferry, otherwise known as
Greenburgh, New York, United States of America, Counsellor at Law.
The chief object of this Invention is to provide means for manufacturing pills
with such accuracy as regards size and weight that those of any given or standard
class or size as regards size or weight will be for all practical purposes absolutely
uniform, and also to greatly cheapen the production of pills as compared with those
made by the ordinary hand-method.
My said Invention comprises certain novel methods and combinations of parts
for converting sheets or portions of pill-mass into symmetrically shaped pills of
practically perfect uniformity in size and weight, as regards any given nominal or
standard size; also certain novel combinations of parts for rolling the pill-mass
into sheets of suitable width and thickness preparatory to its conversion into pills.
My said Invention while more particularly intended for the manufacture of pills
from pill mass as aforesaid, may be used for the production of similar spherical,
oval, or spheroidal articles from other plastic material of any appropriate kind.
In the accompanying Drawings,―
Figure 1 is a plan or top view representing an apparatus comprised in the said
Invention, and designed for forming pills or similar articles from sheets of pill mass
or other suitable plastic material.
Figures 2 and 3 are detail views of certain parts of the said apparatus.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the said apparatus on the line x, x,
Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section of the said apparatus on the line y, y',
of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a detail view of certain parts of the said apparatus.

page_text: Figures 7 and 8 are front views illustrating the manner in which certain parts
are manipulated in the use and operation of the said apparatus.
Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are detail views drawn to a larger scale illustrating
portion of the said apparatus.
Figure 14 is a side elevation partly in longitudinal section of an apparatus also
comprised in the said Invention, and designed for forming the mass or other
plastic material into sheets of uniform width and thickness, preparatory to the
transformation of the said sheets into pills or the like.
Figure 15 is a plan or top view of the last named apparatus.
Figure 16 is an end view of the same.
Figure 17 is an end view of a portion thereof taken from the end opposite that
shewn in Figure 16; and
Figure 18 is an end view corresponding to Figure 17, but shewing a modification
of one part of the said apparatus.
Having reference first to Figures 1 to 13 inclusive, which relate to the means by
which pill-mass or like plastic material in the shape of sheets is formed into pills
or similar articles; A is a horizontal frame which is supported upon legs or
standards B. A plate C is placed upon one end of the frame A, the said plate
having two arms a which are pivoted at b to the frame A. This plate C has an
outwardly projecting handle a¹ by which it may be turned round its pivots b; it
also has its upper surface slightly grooved or corrugated in a direction parallel with
its axis of movement around its pivots b. The said grooves are arc-shaped in their
cross section, and the ridges which divide them coincide with those of the roller D,
hereinafter described. The grooves-in-the-said-plate-C-are-made-comparatively
shallow, as the ridges between them are intended to penetrate less than one half
way through the thickness of the sheet or layer of mass placed upon the said plate,
preparatory to the formation of the cylindrical strips from which the pills are
ultimately formed, the object of the said grooves in the plate C being to prevent
the mass from casually slipping laterally out of place, as in some instances is liable
to occur when the said plate C is formed with an entirely plane surface; E is
another flat plate, the upper surface of which is grooved in directions parallel with
the grooves of the plate C. The grooves in this plate E however are of such depth
that the ridges between them will extend substantially half way through the sheet
of pill mass operated upon; the said grooves in the plate E are of semicylindrical
cross-section, and the ridges formed by the edges of the semi-cylindrical grooves
are sharp-edges or acute; the grooves are of a uniform depth and width propor-
tioned to the size of the strips of pill mass to be formed upon the said plate in the
manner hereinafter described. The plate E is provided at its left hand lateral edges
with two pivoted arms c, which are connected at their outer extremities by a rodd,
which when the plate is in its horizontal position rests in deeply notched bearings e.
Upon the opposite side of the plate E are two pivotted arms f, each of which is
provided with a stud or pin g projecting outward therefrom. These studs or pins g
when the table E is in its horizontal position rest in deeply notched bearings h on
the frame A. The forward one of the pivotted arms fis provided with a handle i.
When in its horizontal position the plate E is supported by the aforesaid notched
bearings e and h, the rod d being axially coincident with the pivots b or axis of
movement of the plate C. The plate E may be turned round upon the axis of its
shaft d until it is brought over and upon the plate C. In like manner the plate C
may be turned upon its pivots b until it is brought over and upon the plate E.
When the said two plates C and E are brought together the grooves of the one
plate are coincident with the grooves of the other. When thus brought together
the two plates may be simultaneously turned upon their common axis of movement,
that is to say, upon the axis of the pivots b and shaft d.
F is a third plate which rests upon and is supported by the flat adjacent upper
surface of the frame A, and which has projecting from its inner end arms k
which are pivoted in the bearings provided upon the frame A, the said
bearings being axially coincident with the bearings of the plate E, so that the

page_text: plate E may be turned over upon the plate F, or the plate F over upon the plate E,
or both moved together and simultaneously. To enable the plate F to be thus
manipulated it is provided with a handle m. The plate F has its upper surface
grooved in a direction at right angles to the direction of the grooves in the
plates C and E. The grooves in the plate F have a cross section of a width,
depth, and shape corresponding to that desired to be given to the completed pills;
thus, for example, if the pills are to be spherical the grooves of the plate F will be
semi-cylindrical, and of the same width and depth as the grooves of the plate E;
whereas if the pills are to be oval or oblong the grooves in the plate F will be
semi-oval in cross section, so that the said grooves in conjunction with those of the
plate F³, hereinafter described, will present a cross section corresponding to the
longitudinal section of the finished pill. The depth of the said grooves however
should not matorially differ from the depth of the grooves in the plate E.
D and G are two rollers, the journals of which work in suitable boxes 7, provided
upon the carrier bar H which receives a to-and-fro movement by means of a crank I
and connecting rod J. The bearings of these two rollers are made vertically
adjustable by means of threaded shanks a" and jam nuts b', 6", suitably arranged
in relation to the carrier bar H. The roller 1 is circumferentially grooved, the grooves
being substantially semi-circular in their cross section. When this roller is rolled
over the plate C the grooves of the said roller are coincident with the grooves of
the said plate C. It is intended that theso grooves of the roller D shall not be
substantially semi-circular in cross section, but that the ridges between them shall
be somewhat higher or more extended than is necessary for giving a true semi-
circular cross section to the grooves, in order that when the mass upon the plate C
is acted upon by the roller D the ridges between the grooves cutting into the
upper side of the mass shall extend somewhat more than half way through the
thickness of the sheet of mass.
The roller G is also circumferentially grooved in the same manner as the
roller D, the grooves of the said roller G being coincident with the grooves of the
plate E when the said roller is moved over the said plate. The grooves in the
roller G, may when preferred be of a somewhat greater depth than that required
for a true semi-circular cross-section, in order that the sharp edges of the ridges
between the grooves may more effectually ensure a thorough cutting or separation
of the mass into strips, as hereinafter described. Inasmuch as it is desirable that
the cutting action of the rollers D and G upon the mass when the latter is upon
the plate C or upon the plate E should be gradually exerted, provision is made
for the gradual lowering of the said rollers upon the said plates, as the rollers are
moved to and fro over the said plates by the action of the crank I.
In the end of the frame A, adjacent to the outer end of the plate C, a deep
vertical recess or socket is provided, in which is placed a guide-rail L, the said
guide rail being held in proper position in the said recess or socket and resting
upon the upper side of a bar M placed underneath the same. This bar works
through inclined slots formed in fixed blocks or bearings P. Through the
inclined slots of the said blocks or bearings P pass the angles or inclines n of the
bar M in such manner that when the said bar is pushed forward the angles or
inclines will elevate the said bar throughout its length and thereby raise the
rail L, and when the said bar Al is moved backward the said angles or inclines
acting upon the well known principle of an inclined plane will cause the said bar,
and consequently the said rail L, to descend, the arrangement of these parts being
also substantially the same as hereinafter described with reference to Figure 9.
Clasps S are attached to the rail by bolts or screws and pass underneath the bars M
to more firmly connect the two. Any end wise movement of the rail is prevented
by adjacent fixed cleats S³. The plate E at its edge adjacent to the plate F is
provided with an extension 20, in which is formed a vertical groove recess or socket
bimilar to that already described as situated at the outer end of the fraine A, and
in this socket is placed another guide rail L together with another bar M, having

page_text: angles or inclines n; the bar M passes through blocks or bearings P". Corresponding
to the blocks or bearings P, but provided at the aforesaid part of the said plato E,
as represented in Figure 5, these bars M and rails L are operated simultaneously
by means hereinafter set forth. The upper edge of each rail L is tongued, as shown
at c. Upon the outer end of the shaft of the roller D is placed a grooved wheel N,
which runs upon the adjacent rail L, the groove of the said wheel N receiving the
tongue of the said rail. In like manner the outer end of the shaft of the roller G
is provided with another grooved wheel N which in like manner runs upon its
adjacent rail L, the groove of the roller fitting upon and receiving the tongue of
the said rail, so that by these means the grooves of the said rollers D and Gare
kept coincident with the grooves of the respective plates C and E as the rollers
pass to-and-fro over them. When the bars M are moved forward to lift the rails L,
the rollers D and G in passing over the plates C and E will be held at any
appreciable distance therefrom, and in proportion as the bars A are moved
backward to permit the rails L to descend, just in the same proportion will the
rollers D and G be let down towards the surface of the plates C and E until the
flanges at of the rollers rest upon narrow flat edge portions 65 provided on the plates,
so that the ridges of the roller G will be substantially in contact with those of the
plate E, but practically without danger of the two sets of ridges abrading or
crushing each other. By this regular descent of the said rollers upon the mass as
the same lies on the plates the action of the parts upon the mass to divide the
same is rendered gradual and positive. In order to secure the requisite movement
of the bars M there is placed at a slight distance behind them a rock shaft P¹
-provided-with-two-vertical-arms Q, the upper ends_of_which are behind but at a
slight distance from the rear ends of the two bars M. Interposed between the
upper end of one arm Qand the rear ends of the adjacent bar M is a sliding block R.
Underneath this bar àl is a spring f', one end of which is attached to one of the
clasps, and the other to the bar M, so as to tend to draw the said bar
backward and to throw backward the arms Q of the rock shaft P¹. A
sliding bar T working in suitable guides g' has one of its ends in contact
with the rear side of the upper extremity of one of the arms of the said rock
shaft P while the opposite or rear end of the said sliding bar T is in contact with
the circumference of a graduated cam U, a spring being applied to the bar T to
press its rear end against the circumference of the graduated cam U. This cam
has its circumference cut into a number of successive steps, each succeeding step
being at a lesser distance from the axis of movement of the said cam in order that
the bars M may be permitted to descend at intervals, as hereinafter explained; the
said can also being so shaped that after the bars M have reached the limit of
their rearward stroke the sliding bars T, and consequently the bars M, will suddenly
be thrown forward to lift the rails L, and consequently the rollers D and G.
Upon the frame A, in rear of the plates Cand E, and substantially on a line with
them, is a table or platform A5, and the throw of the crank I is so proportioned
that at each rearward stroke thereof it brings the rollers D and G upon the said
platform and clear of the plates C and E, so that when the motion of the machine
is stopped with the said rollers on the said platform room is afforded for the
turning movement of the said plates. The shaft V of the cam U works in suitable
bearings provided on the frame A, and is connected by a spur wheel W and
pinion w with the shaft A' of the crank I. This shaft A' is connected by bevelled
pinions B and C with the driving shaft D¹. Fixed upon the frame A, at each
side of the plate F, but at such distanco therefrom as not to interfere with the
movement of the said plate are inclined bearings, which for convenience of
description I term inclined planes E', and which are shewn in cross-section in
Figure 10, in side view in Figures 8 and 11, and in longitudinal section in
Figure 12. These inclined planes are longitudinally grooved in their upper sides,
as shewn at n', to receive a correspondingly shaped tongue formed on a sliding bar,
which for convenience of description I term a moving inclined plane F", the slope

page_text: of the inner side thereof being opposite to that of the inclined plane E', as repre-
sented in Figures 8, 11, and 12. These inclines F" are connected at their outer
ends by a cross-piece G", so that the two may move in unison.
In order that the inclines F may not be lifted from their places in the operation
of the machine, there is attached to the outer side of each a cheek-piece or plate H",
upon the lower inner edge of which is formed a spline f" which fits into a
groove g formed in the outer side of the adjacent inclined plane E', and extending
parallel with the slope of the said inclined plane E'.
In order to further steady
the movement of the inclined planes F upon the inclined planes E¹ there is
extended from each of the latter to the adjacent parts of the frame A a spiral
spring I, which also serves the additional purposes of tending to draw backward
or outward the inclined planes F" to keep the bar f of the cross piece G" in
contact with the cam G¹, the shaft H' of which works in suitable bearings
provided on the frame A, and which has at its outer end a spur-wheel K' which
gears into a spur-pinion K" on the adjacent end of the driving shaft D. Each of
the inclined planes F" is longitudinally grooved in its upper edge, the said upper
edge being substantially level, that is to say, in a plane parallel with the plane
occupied by the plates C, E, and F. These grooves receive tongues L" formed
longitudinally on the under-sides of the side-bar M" of a carriage R', the side-
pieces M being connected by a cross-piece R", of such conformation as not to
interfere in its movements with the other and adjacent parts of the apparatus.
This cross-bar R" is provided underneath with lugs which permit the attachment
by means of a cross-piece 8 of a pitman S", which, as shown in Figure 4, connects
with an excentric TI on a counter shaft T", which by incans of a pinion shown in
dotted outline at m¹¹ in Figure 4 is driven from a spur wheel all on the driving
shaft D.
F3 is a plate, the underside of which is formed with semi-circular grooves corre-
sponding in depth, width, and contour to the grooves in the plate F, and which, as
shewn at c in Figure 10, is hinged at one edge to the adjacent side-pieces M" in
such manner that the plate F3 can be thrown over and away from the plate F, or
be brought down over the same in a position parallel therewith, and there retained
by means of a suitable bolt or spring-catch w which takes into a cavity formed
in the inner edge of the opposite side bar M, the plate F³ being carried by the
carriage R, and the latter receiving a vibratory motion from the cam C' it
follows that the plate F³ will be moved to-and-fro over the plate F, and inasmuch
as the grooves of the plate F³ are coincident with those of the plate F, cylindrical
strips of pill-mass placed between the two plates transversely to the grooves
thereof will be rolled over and over and divided into pills, circular in cross section,
and having a longitudinal section corresponding to that of the coincident grooves
of the plates F and F; this operation is performed as the two plates aforesaid
approach each other, and the mass is subjected to the cutting action of the two
It is also to bo
plates and the shaping action of the surfaces of the grooves.
observed that inasmuch as the side-pieces M" of the carriage R' move longitudinally
upon the upper surfaces of the inclined planes F, and these latter move upon their
coincident inclined planes E', it follows that as the inclines F" are pulled back-
ward by the springs 1" against the cam G¹, and the said cam rotates in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4, the said cam G₁ will first move
forward the inclines " to raise the carriage R¹, and consequently the plate F³, and
then backward to lower the said carriage and plate, the carriage being raised or
lowered according as one or the other portion of the said cam is acting upon the
bearing of the cross bar G₁ of the inclined planes F", provision being made
for raising the plate F³ to such a distance from the plate F that the strips of pill
mass may not be crushed when first placed between the said plates, and for then
gradually lowering the plate F³ simultaneously with its vibratory motion in order
that the operation of separating the strips into pills may be performed by the
gradual descent of the plate F3 toward the plate F during the aforesaid vibratory
motion of the plate F. By releasing the catch the plate F³ may be thrown
111

page_text: upward and backward clear of the plate F, in which case it may rest against the
cross piece x¹ of a suitable standard ', which latter is attached to the adjacent
portions of the frame A. In order to stop the notion of the machine at will, the
pulley D on the driving shaft D¹ is connected with the latter by means of a
suitable clutch E³, operated by a lever G³, the opposite end of which works
between two studs a³ on a sliding bar H3 which is placed in suitable guides on the
frame A, and which passing under that portion of the said frame which supports
the plate E, projects beyond the front of the apparatus, and is provided with a
suitable handles by which it may be moved backward or forward. The spring
is of sufficient tension when permitted to act to throw the clutch out of gear with
the pulley D³ in order to stop the machine. By pushing the rod H³ inward the
clutch connects the pulley D³ with the shaft D¹, thereby putting the machine in
motion. The rear or inner end of the bar H³ has a notch or shoulder f³, and when
the said bar is pushed inward to set the machine in operation this shoulder passes
underneath a spring-catch G, which is shewn in detail in Figure 2, this catch G³
being pressed downward by a spring ³. A lever 13 is connected by a rod i³, with
the inner end of the catch G, the said lever 13 having its rear end turned at right
angles to its main portion in order that the rod i³ may be more conveniently con-
nected with the aforesaid end of the spring catch G. This lever 13, the fulcrum of
which is represented at j³, connects by a rod with a treadle m³, so that by
pressing down on the forward end of the said treadle the spring catch G' will be
lifted, thereby releasing the bar H³, whereupon the spring actuates the shipping
lever G³ to throw the clutch out of gear with the pulley D³ and stop the motion
of the driving shaft, and consequently of the machine. The apparatus may thus
-be-stopped-and-started at will._In_its_ordinary use and operation, however, it is
preferable that its motion should be stopped automatically when a full round of its
operations has been completed. In order to provide for this there is attached to
one end of the shaft V of the cam U, a second cam n³, so proportioned that at the
completion of each round of the operations of the machine the portion of the
circumference of the cam farthest from its axis will act upon the inner end of an
arm of the spring catch G, to depress the same, in the same manner that the
said inner end of the said catch is depressed by the action of the treadle m³,
thereby releasing the bar H³ and permitting the spring c³ to actuate the lever G³,
to move the clutch E³, and release the driving pulley D³, and thus stop the motion
of the driving shaft, the machine being started at the commencement of the next
round of operations by pushing forward the bar H³.
Inasmuch that as it is desirable that after the plate FS has been brought down
upon the plate F, the reciprocating movement of the plate F³, with reference to
the plate F, should be still continued for an appreciable length of time, it is found
best in practice that the motion of the cam G₁ should be arrested during a brief
interval to permit such movement of the plate F³ with reference to the plate F.
In order to provide for this the cam G¹ is loose upon the shaft H', except when
made fast by the action of a clutch placed upon the shaft H₁ of the said cam.
In order to obtain the requisite longitudinal movement of the clutch ³, the shaft H¹
is hollowed to permit the passage of a rod 83 through the same, and its connection
by any suitable device with the clutch, so that a longitudinal movement given
to the rod actuates the said clutch to release the cam G¹, or to make the samo
fast to the shaft H', as the case may be.
The requisite movement of the rod s at the proper intervals is provided for by
means of a lever R³, pivoted at u³, one end of which lever is attached to the end of
the rod 83, and the other to the end of a sliding bar P3, which works through
suitable guides provided on the frame A, and which has its rear extremity pressed
against the circumference of a cam S³ on the shaft V, the said bar P³ being pressed
backward against the said cam S³, by means of a spring w³.
The shape of the cam S³ is shown in the detail view, Figure 6. When the bar P³
is forced inward by the more prominent portion of the cam S³, the clutch
operated to make fast the cam G¹ to the shaft H1, so that the said cam may act upon
is

page_text: the bearing of the cross piece G", in order to provide the requisite vertical
movement of the plate F³ with reference to the plate F.
When however the recessed portion of the cam S³ permits the rearward move-
ment of the bar P³, the lever R³ is actuated to disconnect the cam G¹, thereby
causing the shaft H' to run loose within the same, and causing the inclines F" to
remain stationary at that stage in the operation of the machine when the plate F³
has been brought down close upon the plate F, so that the reciprocating movement
of the plate will be continued to more completely finish the operation of rolling
and separating the strips into pills by the conjoint action of the said plates F³
and F, when the said plates are nearest together. In the operation of the machine
the pill-mass, in the form of a sheet of suitable thickness, is placed upon the
plate C, this being done while the rollers D and G are drawn back upon the flat
platform A³, at the rear of the plates C and E. The machine being then put in
motion the roller D moving to and fro over the plate C, and being gradually
lowered, as hereinbefore described, cuts into the upper surface of the sheet of mass
laid upon the plate C, and at the same time spreads out the mass to any requisite
extent, the result being that the upper surface of the sheet of mass is grooved or
corrugated by the action of the roller D, the corrugations being substantially semi-
circular in their cross section, and the grooves extending somewhat more than half
way through the thickness of the sheet of mass. The said sheet during the last
inentioned operation is held against casual lateral displacement by means of the
shallow grooves on the upper surface of the plate C, the said sheet being forced
into the said shallow grooves, while its upper side is being acted upon by the
roller D.
The operation of grooving or shaping the upper side of the sheet of mass
on the plate C being completed, the bar H, with the rollers G and D, is, by the
automatic stoppage of the machine as hereinbefore explained, brought over the
platform A to permit the manipulation of the plates C and D, the rails L being
meanwhile lifted preparatory to the next succeeding operation of the rollers D
and G. The plate E is then, by means of its handle i, turned over upon
the plate C, the grooves of the plate E fitting upon and clasping the corrugations
in the sheet of mass as the same lies on the plate C. This done, the handle a of
the plate C is also grasped by the operator, and the two plates with the sheet of mass
clasped between them are together turned over around the axes of the pivots b and
shaft d, until the plate E is returned to its horizontal position, whereupon the
plate C is turned back to its own horizontal position, leaving the sheet of mass
inverted upon the plate E; the plate C being now ready to receive a succeeding
sheet of mass to be acted upon by the roller D in the same manner as hereinbefore
described.
The ridges between the grooves of the plate E being calculated at one half the
thickness of the sheet of mass deposited on the said plate and the grooves formed
in the sheet of mass by the action of the roller D extending somewhat more than
halfway through the said sheet, it follows that when the latter is inverted upon the
plate E there exists at the underside of the said sheet a cavity above each of the
ridges between the grooves of the plate E. The machine being again set in
operation the roller G is moved to and fro over the plate E simultaneous with
the corresponding movement of the roller D over the plate C, and inasmuch as the
ridges between the grooves of the roller G are calculated to cut substantially one
half way through the thickness of the sheet of mass as it lies on the plate E, and
inasınuch as the grooves of the roller G are coincident with those of the plate E, it
follows that the upper side of the sheet of mass is grooved and corrugated, substantially
coincident with the grooves and corrugations of the now underside of the sheet of
mass, so that when the roller G, as hereinbefore described, has descended until it is
substantially in contact with the plate E, the mass on the said plate is divided into
strips which are of substantially circular cross section, it being found in practice how-
ever that the grooves of the rollers D and G and of the plate E may be so formed as to

page_text: give a very slightly oval cross section to the strips of mass without materially
interfering with the subsequent operation of rolling the strips into pills. It will
be observed that the spaces provided in the underside of the mass above the ridges
of the plate E as the mass lies upon the said plate greatly facilitates the separation
of the strips from each other. When the operation of forming the strips on the
plate E is completed the movement of the machine again ceases, the rollers D and G
stopping as before over or upon the platform A5. The plate F³ is then thrown
backward around its pivot c¹ and allowed to rest against the standard xl, thereby
permitting the plate F to be lifted by means of its handle m, and turned upward and
inward around the axes of the studs g and pivots at 7 until it is brought down upon
the plate E, the grooves and ridges of the plate F being transverse to the strips of
mass as the latter lie in the grooves of the plate E. The pivotted arms of the
plate F and the pivotted arms c of the plate c of the plate E are so formed that
when the plate F is brought over upon the plate E, as described, the face of the said
plate F will be substantially parallel with the face of the plate E, the two being at
such distance apart that the strips of mass are lightly held between them without
being crushed or deeply indented by the coincident pressure of the said two plates.
The operator grasping simultaneously the shaft d of the plate E and the
handle m of the plate F, the two plates F and E holding the strips of mass between
them are turned upward and over around the axes of the studs g and pivots at l
in the manner indicated in Figure 8 until the plate F is returned to its original
horizontal position, whereupon the plate E is turned backward to its own horizontal
position, leaving the strips of mass deposited upon the central portion of the
plate F and transversely to the grooves thereof, which done, the plate F³ is brought
down to its horizontal position and there locked by the action of the catch w". At
-this-stage-the-plate-Fis-held-by-the-inclined-planes-F, so-that-the-ridges-between-
its grooves but slightly touch or indent the upper sides of the strips of mass placed
between the said plate F³ and the plate F underneath. The strips of mass having
been transformed as described to the plates F, F³, the plates C and D are again
manipulated to transfer the sheet of mass from the former to the latter, which
being done, another and succeeding sheet is placed upon plate C. The machine
being then again set in motion the reciprocating movement of the plate F³ upon
the plate F, combined with the gradually descending movement of the plate F
upon the said plate F, causes the strips to be rolled between the two plates until by
the coincident actions of the ridges and grooves of the plate F³ and the ridges and
grooves of the plate F the strips are divided and shaped into pills. The most
effective and complete separation of the strips into pills, and the more finished form
of the latter, is ensured by the continuance of the reciprocating movement of the
plate F after its descent upon the plate F has been accomplished. When the
shaping of the pills between the plates F3 and F is completed the machine ceases
its motion with the rollers D and G situated as before or over the platform A³.
The plate Fs is then thrown upward and backward against the standard x, and
the plate F being then lifted and turned to receive the next succeeding batch of
strips from the plate E, the pills run off from the plate F as the latter is inclined,
and are caught in any suitable vessel temporarily held at the inner end of the said
plate F to receive them. In the treatment of the pill mass, as herein before
described, it is a matter of judgment to dust the surfaces of the plates C, E, F, and
also the surface of the mass with powdered chalk, ground liquorice root, or other
innocuous powdered material to prevent the mass from adhering too strongly to
the surfaces with which it is brought in contact. It will be observed that the
plates C, E, and F, and the parts directly co-operating with each are all in
operation, at the same time acting upon different sheets or portions of pill mass at
different stages of progress towards the condition of the fully formed pills, so that
a full round of the operations of the machine is completed with each complete
grooving and corrugation of the surface of the mass on the plate C, the separation
of one portion of mass into strips on the plate E and the separation of another
portion in the form of strips into pills on the plate I proceeding simultaneously

page_text: with the grooving and corrugation of the upper surface of a third portion on the
first mentioned plate C.
The combinations of parts represented in Figures 14 to 18 inclusive relate to the
production of sheets of mass from which the pills are formed, as herein before
described. A is a longitudinal sliding bed provided at its lateral edges with side
pieces a, and having formed lengthwise upon its underside a rack b* The interal
portions of this bed A* rest upon the horizontal side bars c* of the stationary
frame A of the machine, the said side bars being bevelled at their inner edges, as
shewn at a Attached by bolts or otherwise to the adjacent lateral portions of
the underside of the bed A* are cleats f*, the outer edges of which are bevelled in
such a manner as to hold underneath the bevelled edges of the side bars c*, so that
the bevelled edges of the cleats f*, acting in conjunction with the adjacent under
edges of the bed A* constitute horizontal V-shaped guides, into which fit the bevelled
edges of the side bars c, so that while an easy longitudinal movement is permitted to
the bed its lateral displacement is effectually prevented. B is a spur wheel which
gears into the rack b* on the underside of the bed A*, and the shaft g of which
has upon it a spur pinion C*, which gears into a toothed sector D* pivoted to the
lower part of the frame, as shewn at *. The arm or spoke m* of the sector D*
is slotted, as shewn at c*, to permit the adjustment of a bolt or stud n*.
At any
requisite distance from the axis of movement of the sector D* to the bolt or
stud n is attached one end of a pitinan E*, the opposite end of which is attached
to a crank F, upon the shaft G* of which is placed a driving pulley H*. This
driving pulley is preferably connected with the shaft G* by means of a clutch I*
of any ordinary or suitable construction actuated by an elbow lever K*, to one end
of which is connected a spring u*, so arranged as to actuate the elbow lever K*
and bring the clutch I* out of connection with the pulley H*. Connected with the
lower or horizontal arm of the elbow lever K* is a lever L, upon the free end
of which is provided a treadle M*, so that by pressing down the said treadle M⭑
the clutch will be thrown into connection with the driving pulley H*, whereupon
the latter giving rotation to the shaft G, and consequently to the crank F*,
communicates a vibratory motion to the sector D*, which, acting through the
pinion C✶ and spur wheel B*, multiplies its speed and gives a comparatively rapid
reciprocating movement to the bed A*. Upon the bed A* is placed a removable
plate N*, which is fitted snugly but not tightly between the two side pieces of the
said bed, and which is prevented from slipping longitudinally upon the latter
by means of any desired number of pins d", which pass down through corresponding
holes in the bed A*, as indicated in Figure 14.
Firmly secured to the side bars c* of the frame of the machine is a vertical frame
or standard P, the lower or vertical portions * of which constitute guides for a
vertically moving carriage R*, the lateral portions of which are suitably fitted
upon or around the portions * of the frame or standard P. Upon the top of the
said frame or standard is pivotted a bent lever S*, the lower arm t* of which forms
the one half of a toggle-joint of which the other half is shewn at w* and the pivot
at . The lower portion or link w* of the toggle-joint is pivotted, as shewn at f*,
to the vertically moving carriage R*. The said carriage R* is provided with
bearings g, which receive the journals * of a shaft T*, upon which is a roller W*.
By operating the lever S* the carriage R*, and consequently the roller W*, may be
lifted from or moved downward toward the bed A*, that is to say, from or toward
the plate N, which is placed upon the said bed. In order that the limit of
downward movement of the roller may be accurately gauged and maintained to
ensure uniformity in the thickness of the sheets into which the mass is to be
formed, and to determine such thickness according as the sheets are to be used for
the manufacture of pills of one size or another, set screws A¹* are passed up
through nuts formed in the side bars c* of the frame of the machine, the upper
ends of the said set screws projecting upward underneath the adjacent portions of
the carriage R*, so that by adjusting these set screws their upper ends are caused
to act as stops to limit the downward movement of the roller, in other words, to

page_text: adjust and regulate the space between the roller at the end of its downward
movement and the adjacent upper surface of the plate N*.
In the operation of the apparatus the plate N should be dusted with pulverized
chalk, ground liquorice root, or other material used in the art of pill making, to
prevent the adhesion of the mass to the surfaces with which it comes in contact.
The lump of mass, preferably of oblong form and narrower than the space between
the side pieces of the bed A*, is thrown lengthwise upon the plate N*; the treadle M*
is pressed downward to set the mechanism in notion to give the reciprocating
movement to the said plate N*. This done the lever S* is manipulated to force the
roller Wdownward upon the mass as the latter is carried to and fro underneath
the roller. While doing this the upper surface of the mass should be occasionally
dusted with chalk, ground liquorice root, or like powdered substance, in order to
prevent the mass from adhering to the roller. As the operation proceeds the roller
is gradually lowered, and by its action spreads the mass into a sheet of the required
thickness upon the bed N*, until the limit of the downward movement of the
roller being reached a continuance for a few inoments of the reciprocating motion
of the bed N* brings the mass to a practically uniform thickness throughout. This
done the treadle M is released, thereby stopping the motion of the bed A*, and
the lever S✶ is thrown upward, thereby releasing the mass from the action of the
roller W. The plate N* with the sheet of mass upon it is then removed to make
way for another plate and another quantity of mass to be treated in the same
manner, the stops or set screws A* when once fixed or adjusted ensuring
uniformity in the successive sheets. The sheets of mass thus obtained are divided
transversely by a knife or other suitable means and carried to any appropriate
mechanism for shaping them into pills. Inasmuch as the operation of shaping the
sheet of mass into pills commonly involves their being divided into cylindrical
strips, the plain roller W*, represented in Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, and
hereinbefore described, may after a sufficient number of the sheets_of_mass_have.
been forined-be-replaced-by-a-circumferentially grooved roller, indicated at W**,
Figure 18, the grooves in this last named roller being so proportioned that when
the sheet of mass has run underneath the same the upper surface of the said sheet
will be cut into semi-circular divisions, which, corresponding in position and
distance apart to the lines of subdivision in which the sheet is to be subsequently
separated into strips, so that the said semi-circular subdivisions may facilitate the
subsequent transformation of the sheet into the cylindrical strips preparatory to
the operations by which the mass is finally brought into the spherical shape
required for the pills. In practice, when it is desired to use the circumferentially
grooved roller W**, it will in many cases be found preferable to have one machine
constructed with the plain roller and another constructed with the circumferentially
grooved roller, so that as the flat sheets of mass of the uniform thickness come
from the one machine they may be immediately transferred to the other to have
their outer surface grooved or shaped, as above described.
The plate N* should preferably be made of metal or other stiff material, so that
it will retain its perfectly flat shape under the exigencies of use, but when preferred
it may be made of thin and comparatively flexible material, such, for example, as
paste-board or even of thick paper, the object of the plate N* being to provide for the
ready and rapid removal from the inachine of the finished sheet of plastic material
after the same has been brought to the uniform and desired thickness. It is also to
be observed that while I prefer that the bed A* have a reciprocating movement, as
herein before described and shewn, yet the same result will be obtained if the bed
itself be stationary and the reciprocating movement be given to the standards R*
and the parts carried thereon, including the roller W*.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The herein described method of making strips of mass or equivalent plastic
material by forming the sheet of mass or material with parallel divisions extending

page_text: through more than one half of the thickness of the sheet, then inverting the sheet
and completing the separation of the strips by coincident divisions in the opposite
side of the said sheet, substantially as herein set forth.
Second. The herein described method of preventing the adhesion of the sub-
stantially cylindrical strips of mass or equivalent plastic material to the mechanism
whereby they are formed by providing the sheet of the said mass or material with
parallel divisions extending through more than one half of the said thickness
thereof, then inverting the partially divided sheet upon a suitably grooved plate,
the ridges between the grooves of which extend through only substantially one half
of the thickness of the sheet, and then separating the strips by parallel divisions on
the other side of the sheet, and coincident with those first formed, substantially as
herein set forth.
Third. The herein described method of ensuring the separation of the strips of
mass or plastic material by first forming the sheet of mass into parallel divisions
extending through more than one half of the thickness of the sheet, then filling to
a greater or less degree the said divisions with powdered chalk or other suitable
powdered material, then inverting the said sheet and completing the formation of
the strips by coincident divisions on the opposite side of the sheet, substantially as
herein set forth.
Fourth. The combination in a machine for making pills and similar articles from
plastic material of the plate C having a substantially plane surface provided with
shallow grooves to prevent casual displacement of the material therein, and designed
to receive a sheet or portion of the plastic material, a mechanical device for forming
parallel divisions in the mass to a depth greater than one half of the thickness of
the said sheet when the same is rolled down to its minimum, a plate E having
grooves of a contour substantially coincident with the aforesaid divided surface of
the plastic material, and a mechanical device for dividing the opposite surface of
the sheet coincident with the divisions first made therein, the whole provided for
joint use and operation, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fifth. The combination in a machine for making pills and similar articles from
plastic material of a grooved plate F, a coincidentally grooved plato F³, and
mechanism for imparting a simultaneous downward and reciprocating movement
to the plate F3 with reference to the plate F, substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
Sixth. The combination of the plate C, having a substantially plane surface but
provided with means for preventing the casual lateral displacement of the material
upon it, the grooved plate E, and the grooved rollers D and G, substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
Seventh. The grooved plate E, constructed and arranged to be tilted or turned in
opposite directions, in combination with the plates C and F and suitable mechanism
for forming divisions in the plastic material on the plate C, and for completing the
division of the mass into substantially cylindrical strips on the plate E, and for.
dividing and shaping the strips into pills or like articles on the plate F, all
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Eighth. The combination of the inclined planes E' and F", the reciprocating
plate F, and suitable mechanism for giving a longitudinal movement to the inclined
planes F, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the carriage R¹, the grooved plate F, and the grooved
plate F³, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the grooved roller D of the plate C, constructed
with shallow grooves or depressions in its upper surface to prevent casual lateral
displacement of the mass during the operation of the grooved roller thereon,
substantially as herein set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the grooved roller D and plate C of means,
substantially as described, for graduating the descent of the roller upon the plate
during the operation of grooving and corrugating the mass thereon, substantially as
herein set forth.

page_text: Twelfth. The combination with the roller D and plate C of vertically movable
rails Land means, substantially as described, for raising and lowering the said rails
to graduate the distance between the said roller and plate, substantially as and for
the purpose herein set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination of the rollers D and G arranged for simultaneous
operation, the plates C and E, the vertically movable rails L, L, arranged to receive
the weight of the rollers, and means, substantially as described, for graduating the
vertical movement of the rails to regulate the distances of the said rollers from the
said plates, substantially as herein set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination with the rollers D, G, and the plates C, E, of the
mechanism, substantially as described, for automatically stopping the movement of
the said rollers at intervals to permit the manipulation of the plates, substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination with the plates F, F³, inclined planes E¹, F", and
cam G¹, of mechanism, substantially as described, for stopping the motion of the
cam to permit continued motion of the plate F3 after the same has descended to the
plate F, substantially as herein set forth.
Sixteenth. As a means for forming sheets of plastic material for the manufacture
of pills and similar articles, a bed A* and roller W*, one having a reciprocating
movement in relation to the other, a removable plate N*, and means, substantially
as described, for forcing the roller down toward the plate N*, substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
Seventeenth. In an apparatus for forming sheets of plastic material for the
manufacture of pills and similar articles, the combination of the bed A* with a
movable plate N*, vertically adjustable roller W*, and adjustable stops AL*, for
limiting and regulating_the_downward-movement of the roller W* toward the
-plate-Nin order to determine the thickness of the sheet of plastic material,
substantially as herein set forth.
Eighteenth. In an apparatus for forming sheets of plastic material for the manu-
facture of pills and similar articles, the combination of the vertical frame or
standard P*, the carriage R*, roller W*, toggle joint t*, w*, and bed A*, all
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Nineteenth. In an apparatus for forming sheets of plastic material for the manu-
facture of pills and similar articles, the bed A constructed with the rack 6*, in
combination with the spur wheel B*, pinion C*, toothed sector D*, crank F*, and
pitman E*, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Twentieth. In an apparatus for forming sheets of plastic material for the manu-
facture of pills and similar articles, the combination of the bed A* constructed
with the rack b*, the toothed sector D* connected with the rack b* to give motion
to the bed, the roller W*, carriage R*, vertical frame or standards P*, toggle-
joint t*, w*, and levers S*, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.