Improvements in Apparatus for Kneading Indiarubber and like Materials.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 10th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Dec., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Kneading Indiarubber and like
Materials.
I ROBERT COWEN of 28 Elm Street Cambridgeport in the State of Massachusetts
one of the United States of America Superintendent of the Boston Woven Hose
Company of Boston in the State of Massachusetts aforesaid do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for kneading indiarubber gutta percha and like
materials requiring such treatment.
According to the invention feed-rollers are arranged so that the material to be
treated is passed between them and there is combined therewith an endless belt so
arranged as to receive the said materials from the rollers the belt being arranged
across the space between the rollers and extended under and partially about one of
the rollers whereby the material delivered upon the said belt is by it again returned
to the bite of the kneading rollers at their receiving side, to be again acted upon by
those rollers.
A rotatory brush or other suitable cleansing device is applied in position to remove
particles of material from the endless belt and these particles as removed may be
returned to the rollers.
Suitable distending rods or rollers are applied for distending the endless belt.
These distending parts are capable of adjustment so as to facilitate adjustment of
the tension of that belt and by supporting one of such distending parts upon a
cranked arm or arms having their centre disposed outside the line of draught of the
belt a convenient means of rapidly throwing the belt out of contact with the roller it
partially passes about is provided.
A handle connected to the distending part being used to swing the said part so as
to remove the tension on the belt and let it fall slack another of the distending parts
by a rack arm or similar adjustable part may be held at adjustable, distance for
regulation of tension of the belt.
The rollers are supported in suitable bearings capable of adjustment by screw
or otherwise aided by spring if required and are driven by suitable gearing and
all are carried by suitable framing.
Dated the 4th day of Norch 1987
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant,

page_text: one of the United States of America Superintendent of the Boston Woven Hose
Company of Boston in the State of Massachusetts aforesaid do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
This invention has for its object to provide a solf-feeding apparatus to be used in
reducing or kneading substances.
My invention has for its more particular object to provide a continuously-
operating kneader to be used in kneading or working up gutta-percha or india-
rubber.
Prior to my invention gutta-percha or india-rubber has been fed between rollers,
which crush or reduce the material placed between them, the said material falling from
between the rollers upon the floor or into a suitable receptacle, from whenco it is taken
by a workman and again placed between the said rollors.
My present invention has for its object to provide a self-feeding apparatus, and thus
make the process of kneading india-rubber or other material continuous, thereby
dispensing with the constant services of a workman to feed the material into the
apparatus.
My invention consists, essentially, of feed-rollers, between which the gutta-percha,
india-rubber, or other material is passed, combined with an endless belt to receive the
said material from the rollers and feed it again into the bite of the said rollers, as will
be described.
My invention also consists of feed rollers, between which the gutta-percha or like
material is passed, and an endless belt to receive the said material from the rollers and
feed it again into the bite of the said rollers, combined with a cleaner to remove
particles of material adhering to the endless belt.
Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of my improved self-feeding kneader, the
section being taken on line a, Figure 2; and Figure 2, a top or plan view of
Figure 1.
The sides A A', united by cross braces or rods a, provided with usual nuts, a¹,
constitute a supporting frame forthe apparatus. Each side A A¹ is provided with a
longitudinal slot, a², (see dotted lines, Figure 1,) the said slot receiving within it
boxes bb, which form journal bearings for shafts 62 63, respectively, the said shafts
having mounted thereon rollers 68. The shaft 63 at one side of the apparatus has

page_text: mounted upon it a belt pulley, c, and a grooved pulley, c', and at the opposite side of the
apparatus the said shaft has mounted on it a pinion, c³, in mesh with a gear, c³, on the
shaft 6, the rollers through said pinion and gear rotating in opposite directions.
Each side A A', as herein shown, has secured to its top by screws c a fender, c',
having its sides shaped as shown in Figure 1, to conform to the periphery of the
rollers 6, the said fenders and rollers formning a hopper, into which the gutta-percha
or india-rubber is fed.
The gutta-percha or india-rubber is first fed into the hopper referred to by the
workman, and is carried between the rollers. The india-rubber as it passes from the
rollers falls upon an endless belt, d, passed over a roller, dx, below and at the front
ond of the apparatus, the said roller being supported in bearings d², attached to the
sides A A, the said bearings being herein shown as bars provided with a series of
notches, d³, in one of which the journals of the said roller rest. The endless belt d is
carried below the rollers 64 65, one sheet or fold being passed around a stationary
cross-bar or roller, de, secured to the sides A A¹ at the rear of the apparatus, the other
sheet or fold pressing against the roller 6, the said endless belt being then passed
over a roller, d, having its bearings in arms d³, the said arms being pivoted or
hinged, as at d to the sides A A¹.
In operation the rollers 64 65 are rotated, as indicated by arrows 12, Figure 1, by a
belt on the pulley c, the said belt being driven by the rotation of a main or counter
shaft, or in other well-known manner. The gutta-percha or india-rubber or other
material, in a crude state, is placed by the workman in the hopper referred to, where
it is bitten or seized by the rollers b₁ and carried between them, it falling upon the
upper fold of the endless belt d as it passes from the rollers. As the gutta-percha
falls from the rollers upon the endless belt d it is carried upon the said belt, between it
and the roller 65, to the top of the said roller, the belt moving in the direction indicated
by arrow 20, Figure 1. As the endless belt passes over the roller d' in the direction
indicated by arrow 15 any particles of gutta-percha which might adhere thereto are
removed therefrom by a cleaner e, shown as a brush revolving in the same direction
as the roller d', as indicated by arrow 16, the gutta-percha brought up by the endless
belt and the particles removed therefrom by the said cleaner being again fed into the
bite of the rollers, to be again passed between said rollers, the action of the said
rollers upon the gutta-percha or other like material being continued until the said
material has been kneaded into a soft and pliable mass. The shaft ex of the cleaner
which removes the particles of material adhering to the belt has its bearings, as
shown, on top of the sides A A¹, and is secured in position by caps e2, (see
Figure 2) the said cleaner being rotated by a belt or rope, e, passed about a pulley, e¹,
on its shaft ex, and about the grooved pulley c¹ on the shaft 3, the said belt or rope
being crossed to impart reverse rotation to the said shaft 63 and cleaner-shaft ex.
The gutta-percha or other like material is fed continuously into the bite of the
rollers until it has been sufficiently kneaded; but when it is desired to remove
the said material the arms will be turned from their full-line into their dotted-line
position, (shown in Figure 1) the endless belt d at such time hanging loosely below
the rollers 6 65, as shown by dotted lines.
The bearings for the roller d*, being notched, permit the said roller to be adjusted
in its bearings to take up any slack in the endless belt which might arise after the
said belt has been in operation for some time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for kneading gutta-percha, india-rubber, and like material, feed-
rollers between which the material is passed, combined with an endless belt to receive
the said material from the rollers, arranged across the space between the said rollers,
and extended under and partially about one of the said rollers, substantially as
described, whereby the material delivered upon the said belt is by it again returned
to the bite of the said rollers at their receiving side, to be again acted upon by the
said rollers, as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2. In an apparatus for kneading gutta-percha, india-rubber, and like material, feed-
rollers between which the material is passed, an endless belt to receive the said
material from the rollers, arranged across the space between the said rollers and
extended under and partially about one of the said rollers, substantially as described,
whereby the material delivered upon the said belt is by it again returned to the bite
of the said rollers at their receiving side, to be again acted upon by the said rollers,
combined with a cleaner to remove particles of material from the endless belt,
substantially as described.
Dated the 10th day of Narramban 1007
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.