Improved Machine for Making Potters' Stilts, Spurs, Thimbles, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1900-Accepted, 29th Sept, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machine for Making Potters' Stilts, Spurs, Thimbles,
and the like.
JAMES MADDOCK, The Cedars, Alsager, Cheshire, Earthenware Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
1
The improvements in this machine consist in the application of steam power
for diving, and, automatic action for putting the clay bits or forms under the
press & taking the finished pieces away & depositing them on a board or other
convenience, which when full is taken to a stove & the articles died thereon
preparatory to being fired
The machine is made in the form of a press worked either by a cam, clank,
sciew or other motion by which a reciprocating motion is given to the dies
(top & bottom)
The reciprocating slide is fixed at an angle to the plane or horizontal so that
when the slide is at its highest part, the lower portion hangs a certain distance
in advance of the plumb or vertical line of the bottom die
The top die "which 18 fixed to the lower part of the slide" 18 so constructed
that it clings to the article after it is formed & consequently, when the dies
separate it goes up with the slide & on reaching the higher part the top die is
actuated by the same or similar effective mechanism which is used at the present
time This mechanism releases the article from the die & it (e the article)
falls in a vertical or plumb line with the slide (when at this higher position) &
drops on to the board or other convenience
The forms or bits are fed into the machine down a trough or slide at the
bottom of which is fixed a rocking shaft (similar to the movement actuated by
the pendulum of a clock) this rocking shaft has two levers fixed at right angles
to itself & in line with each other or any effective position
Each of these levers cames a spike or other contrivance, & the motion of the
10ching shaft is so timed that when the top spike presses into the form or bit
next to the bottom one, the bottom one 16 released & falls into the bottom die. &
when the motion is reversed another form tumbles into the place vacated by the
fist & so on, the motion repeating itself until the machine is stopped
Dated this 30th day of October 1899

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This machine which is a power driven one with automatic feed & take off
motion consists of the following motion & parts:-
A press worked on the rotary, cam, or lever principle to which are attached
dies (see A, B, A, B, Figs 1 & 2, as in an ordinary hand or lever press in different
ways to suit the construction of the article to be formed.
In connection with the press are athxed two rocking shafts (see Fig. 1, C, D),
which are worked & timed in accordance with the press either by levers as in
Fig 1 & 2 L, or by cam crank or other movement so that it will give the desired
motion to the 1ocking shafts
These rocking shafts have again levers E, F, Fig 1 affixed in such a form as
to work to & from the die at each reciprocation
To one of these levers which reciprocate over the die is fixed a box see
(Fig 1, G, & Fig 3) having a slide bottom (see section Fig 3, HI,) which is kept
shut by spring (M, see Fig 3 so long as it is not direct over the bottom die,--
when it moves forward to a position direct over the die the slide bottom 18
actuated by stud, levers, or ciank or by the motion of the box itself thereby
opening the bottom & allowing a piece of hard green clay (which has been put
in whilst the box was away from the die) to fall into the bottom die ready for
the top to come down & press it into shape
To the other lever F Fig 1 attached to the rocking shaft & reciprocating to &
from the die is fixed a small platform or table I Fig 1, this platform in passing
between the dies, passes over the box attached to the other lever, thereby
placing itself in a suitable position for the pressed article (which by the
construction of the die is caused to have greater suction of bearing suiface on
the top than the bottom die (a method previously in use) & 18 carried upwards
To enable the article to leave the top die, the suction is destroyed by steam
being passed through the dies This destroys the suction to such an extent
that, when the article is touched with a small piece of wine or sping J which
is attached to the lever working the box or to the box itself, it falls down on to
the table
And on the return motion, the table being moved away in a cucular form
caused by the principle of the rocking shaft movement is thrown at an angle
sufficient to allow it to roll off on to a flannel band or other contrivance which
passes round rollers Fig 2 K K placed a certain distance apart and the inter-
mediate space surrounded by a steam stove Fig. 2, N which brings the article
out in a dry state ready for putting into the oven or kiln
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 Automatic feed & take off motion
a 71