Improved Machinery for Moulding Medicated Articles known as Pellets and Tablets.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery for Moulding Medicated Articles known as
Pellets and Tablets.
I JAMES TAYLOR AUCHINACHIE of 12 Mid Street, Keith, Banffshire, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to facilitate the moulding of medicated tablets and
like articles from pulverised compounds, and to give them solidity and shape by means
of pressure.
In carrying out my invention, I form a cylinder with rows of radial holes, which
either form the moulds for the tablets or pellets, or the seats for moulds which are to
be fitted therein.
The moulds, whether formed in the cylinder or fitted thereto, are made preferably
of steel, with loose bottoms or plungers, which plungers are capable of adjustment for
determining the depth or capacity of the moulds, and serve also to discharge the moulds
of their contents. The cylinder is formed with heads, which are cast with, or have
attached to them hollow trunnions. These trunnions are supported on bearings in the
side frames, and serve to support a central axle, the middle portion of which
is formed excentrically, to receive an inner cylinder, for the purpose to be presently
explained.
Immediately above the mould cylinder, and in the plane of its axis, is a follower,
consisting of a bar carrying, on its under face, a series of plungers, in number equal
to the number of moulds contained in one row. This follower or plunger bar is
attached to a pair of vertical slides, which work in guides in the side frames. The
side frames carry, at their upper part, a crosshead, and between the crosshead and the
follower are interposed two pairs of toggle levers, for imparting a downward pressure
to the follower. The pairs of toggle levers are connected together, and, through a
connecting rod attached to a crank of the main driving shaft, they are caused to
depress the plungers of the follower into the moulds presented to their action, and
then raise the plungers clear of the mould cylinder.
For the purpose of regulating the pressure of these plungers, adjusting screws are
provided for raising and lowering the position of the bearing points of the toggle
levers. The excentric cylinder situate within the mould cylinder is grooved longi-
tudinally on its periphery, for the purpose of receiving a series of plunger bars,
equal in number to the rows of holes formed in the mould cylinder. If, for example,
the mould cylinder carries six rows of moulds, the like number of bars will be fitted
to the inner excentric cylinder, each being provided with plungers equal in number
to the moulds in the several rows of the mould cylinder.
These plungers will remain in their moulds, and the bars will remain in the longitudinal
grooves in the excentric cylinder. The heads of the mould cylinder are grooved
radially to receive the ends of the bars, and thereby form a stable connection between
the two cylinders, and, on the outer face of one of the heads, ratchet teeth are formed,
onto which takes a pawl carried by a radius arm, fulcrummed on the cylinder axle.
A rod pivotted to this radius arm takes onto a crank pin of the driving shaft, and,
as motion is imparted to this driving shaft, the pawl will be caused to rack round the
cylinder, and bring the lines of moulds in succession under the plungers of the
follower. The moulds are charged with the medicated compound, which is to be
moulded, from a hopper overlying a portion of the cylinder, but just clear of it.
stirrer is fitted to the bottom of this hopper, which delivers its contents into the rows
of moulds, as they are brought up in succession, and passed under the hopper by the
action of the pawl on the ratchet teeth.
A
It will now be understood that the lines of moulds coming up in succession, will be

page_text: filled by the hopper; that the contents will then be submitted to the pressure of the
plunger carried by the follower; and that the moulds will be discharged by the
outward thrust of the inner plungers, which, rotating with the mould cylinder, will
receive a sliding motion due to the excentricity of the grooved cylinder in which
their bars are loosely mounted. In order to regulate the depth of the moulds, the
excentricity of the inner cylinder is made adjustable. To this end, a quadrant arm
is keyed to the dead axle of the cylinder, and is capable of being made fast to the main
framing by a clamping screw in any desired position.
The variation of the position of the arm will raise the inner plungers higher in the
moulds, or sink them lower at the time the moulds are being filled, and consequently
the capacity of the moulds for receiving the medicated compound may be increased
or diminished at pleasure.
A fixed or movable wiper may be applied to the mould cylinder to facilitate the
discharge of tablets or pellets.
Dated this 3rd day of April 1889.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery for Moulding Medicated Articles known as
Pellets and Tablets.
I JAMES TAYLOR AUCHINACHIE of 12 Mid Street, Keith, Banffshire, Engineer,
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:
.
The object of this invention is to facilitate the moulding of medicated tablets and
like articles from pulverized compounds, and to give them solidity and shape by means
of pressure.
In carrying out my invention, I mount horizontally, within suitable side frames,
a cylinder with rows of radial holes, which either form the moulds for the tablets or
pellets, or the seats for moulds which are to be fitted therein.
The moulds are made preferably of steel, with loose bottoms or plungers, which
plungers are capable of adjustment for determining the depth or capacity of the
moulds, and serve also to discharge the moulds of their contents. These plungers are
carried by bars fitted to an excentric cylinder situate within the mould cylinder.
The plunger bars equal in number the rows of moulds carried by the mould
cylinder. If, for example, the mould cylinder carries six rows of moulds, the like
number of bars will be fitted to the inner excentric cylinder, each being provided
with plungers equal in number to the moulds in the several rows of the mould
cylinder.
The heads of the mould cylinder are grooved radially to receive the ends of the
bars, and thereby form a stable connection between the two cylinders, which are
rotated together by a reciprocating pawl or its equivalent.
Immediately above the mould cylinder, and in the plane of its axis, is a follower,
consisting of a bar carrying on its under face a series of plungers in number equal
to the number of moulds contained in one row. The side frames carry at their upper
part a cross head, and between the cross head and the follower are interposed toggle
levers for imparting a downward pressure to the follower.
The moulds are charged with the medicated coinpound which is to be moulded,
from a hopper overlying a portion of the cylinder, and fitting closely thereto.
stirrer is fitted to the bottom of this hopper, which delivers its contents into the
rows of moulds as they are brought up in succession and passed under the hopper.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the moulding press or machine, and
T-
1
T

page_text: Fig. 3 is an end view, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, of the cylinder which
carries the moulds, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine, showing
the means for adjusting the position of the excentric sleeve cylinder which carries,
and controls the in and out movements of, the plungers forming the bottoms of the
moulds.
AA is the framing of the machine, from the cross-head of which depends the
follower of the moulding press. B is the cylinder to which the rows of moulds bb
are fitted. The drawing shows six of these rows, but more or less may be used to
suit the diameter of the cylinder employed to carry them. The moulds are con-
veniently made in rows in steel bars, and the number of the moulds in each row will
be determined by the capacity intended to be given to the machine. The drawing
shows six moulds in each bar. These bars fit between segments constituting the
main portion of the periphery of the cylinder B. The segments are secured at
their opposite ends to flanged discs which form the heads of the cylinder. These
heads are cast with trunnions to receive an axle B', which is fitted to the framing,
and forms a support the cylinder. The mould bars, which are slightly tapered in
cross section, are conveniently inserted endwise in place, one of the heads of the
cylinder being radially slotted for that purpose. When inserted in the cylinder,
they are locked in position by means of a plate 61, slotted radially like the adjacent
cylinder head, and capable of turning on the trunnion which carries it, to present a
solid surface to the ends of the mould bars. Ä clamping screw or screws will serve
to retain this plate in its adjusted position. B is an excentric forming part of, or
keyed to, the axle B. This excentric serves as the support for, and means for
radially adjusting, a sleeve cylinder C, the ends of which fit against the heads of
the cylinder B. care plungers carried by bars c¹, and serving to close the inner
ends of the moulds b. Underlying these bars c', are bars c³, which are made fast
to the sleeve cylinder C, and carry, at one end, staples c³, through which the
adjacent ends of the bars c project; the opposite ends of these bars e' carry, at their
It is
under-sides, projections which serve to interlock with the ends of the bars c.
by means of the plunger bars c¹, that rotary motion is transmitted from the mould
cylinder B to the sleeve cylinder C. For this purpose, the heads of the cylinder B
are fitted to receive the ends of the plunger bars, the one head having radial rebates,
and the other radial slots, which slots are closed by means of the adjustable plate b²,
when the bars are in place.
The plungers c are connected to their bars by being passed through holes in the
bars, their heads, or end flanges, being countersunk into the bars. These plungers,
it will be understood, constitute not only the bottom of the moulds, but serve also
to discharge the contents therefrom. The compressing plungers are represented,
at d, as screwed into a bar d', which is slidden endwise into a rebate formed in the
under face of the follower D. This follower slides in guides in the framing A, and
is supported and operated by toggle levers D1 D1, which are socketed in blocks D²,
carried by adjusting screws, which pass down through the crosshead of the framing.
The inner ends of the toggle levers ride upon a horizontal shaft D³, to which is keyed
an arm D, terminating in a crank strap. The crank fitting this strap is a portion of
the shaft E, which receives rotary motion through suitable spur gearing from the
driving shaft F, mounted on the opposite side of the framing to that on which the
crank shaft is carried. It is from this slowly rotating shaft E, that the 'motions for
driving and locking the mould cylinder (as will be hereafter explained) are
derived.
G is a hopper extending across the machine, and made fast to the side frames, in
a position out of line with the compressing plungers d. This hopper fits the
cylinder B, so as to give it a clearance for rotating, and from its delivery mouth the
dry pulverized material is supplied to the moulds as they are brought up into line
with the hopper. A stirrer fitted in the lower part of the hopper, and receiving
rotary motion from the driving shaft F, serves to prevent the caking of the
pulverized compound, and ensure a free delivery of the same into the moulds. For
regulating this delivery, the openings in the mouth of the hopper are made capable

page_text: .
!
of contraction, an endway sliding plate,, formed, with holes corresponding to. the
openings in the hopper mouth;, serving to effect, this.contraction..
The internally rebated head of the mould cylinder B is provided with a steel ring
having notches (corresponding in number with the rows of moulds.), torreceivona
clawker, which imparts an intermittent rotary motion to the mould cylinder, This
clawker is shewn at h, in Fig. 2; as carried by a lever H, which is fulcrumined on the
axle B, and receives a reciprocating motion from the rotating crank shaft E. This
crank shaft carries, externally of the framing, a crank plate H', from the pin of
which depends a rod H2 pivotted to the lever H. At every throw, therefore, of this
crank pin, the clawker will be advanced, and caused to drive round the cylinder B
one sixth of a revolution.
Near the crank plate H; but within the framing, the crank shaft E carries an
excentric H, which, working in the strap of a slotted connecting rod H, coupling it
with a locking lever H' for locking the cylinder B, raises the locking lever clear of
the cylinder at the moment that the clawker is brought into action. When the
clawker has effected the required motion of the cylinder B, a spring pressing on
the back of the locking lever H, will cause it to enter a notch in the cylinder head,
and lock the cylinder in position. It is to permit of this action of the locking lever,
that the connecting rod I is slotted as shewn.
From the foregoing description of the moulding press, it will be understood that the
lines of moulds coming up in. succession (by reason of the intermittent rotary motion
imparted to the cylinder B) will be filled from the hopper G; that the contents of the
moulds will then be submitted to the pressure of the plungers d carried by the
follower D, and that the moulds will be discharged by the outward thrust of the inner
plungers when arriving at the position of 6*, Fig. 2, which plungers, rotating with
the mould cylinder, will receive a sliding motion due to the excentricity of the sleeve
cylinder C, on which the plunger bars c are loosely mounted.
I is an inclined board or shute situate below the mould cylinder, and provided to
receive the moulded pellets or tablets as they are discharged from the moulds, and
guide them into a suitable receptacle. For clearing the mould cylinder from the
pulverized compound that may be adhering to its periphery, a fixed brush I' is
provided, which, set in contact with the cylinder, will sweep off any dust that may be
adhering thereto.
In order to regulate the depth of the moulds, the excentric position of the inner
cylinder is made adjustable. To this end, a radial arm B³ is keyed to the dead axle
carrying the excentric B. This arm is slotted to receive a pivot pin projecting from
an adjustable nut 6, through which passes an adjusting screw ³, carried by lugs on
the side framing. A winch handle on one end of this screw 3, and a locking nut on
the opposite end, provide for the firm adjustment of the nut and the radius arm in
any desired radial position, and consequently for the turning of the excentric B2, and
the shifting of the excentric position of the sleeve cylinder C with respect to the
mould cylinder B. Thus, the plungers e, which form the bottoms of the moulds, may
be raised or withdrawn to any required extent as the moulds reach their filling
position, to suit the thickness of tablet desired to be moulded, by simply turning, the
adjusting screw 63 to the required degree, preparatory to starting the machine.
For adjusting the degree of pressure to be imparted to the moulded articles, it will
only be necessary to raise or lower the block D³ in which the toggle. levers are
socketed, thus varying the effect of the toggle levers upon the plungers. d, caused by
the movement imparted to them by the throw of the crank shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The arrangement of moulding press above described, which allows of the facile
changing of the moulds, and of the compressing plungers, to suit the varied require-
ments of the manufacturer; also of varying the thickness. of the tablets or pellets
moulded, and the amount of pressure to be applied to the moulded articles.

page_text: 2. In a moulding press fitted with a rotating mould cylinder, an excentric internal
cylinder which carries the plungers constituting the bottoms of the moulds, such
cylinder being adjustable, through the excentric on which it turns, relatively to the
mould cylinder, as and for the purpose above set forth.
3. In combination with a rotating mould cylinder, and a hopper for suppiying
thereto the compound to be moulded, vertically reciprocating compression plungers
operated by adjustable toggle levers arranged as and for the purpose above set
forth.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1890.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.