IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING BRICKS AND TILES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CARL SCHLICKEYSEN, of 17 Wassergasse Berlin, Prussia, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING BRICKS AND TILES" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for cutting bricks and tiles into lengths as
the moulded column of clay issues from the die plate on to a series of rollers
mounted on a carriage. In this operation, the carriage firstly has to be held
stationary while a length of clay column has passed along the rollers to the end of
the carriage, whereupon the latter is moved forward by the still protruded clay
column up to the point where the cutting off is effected. The carriage together with
the brick or tile cut off is then moved sufficiently farther forward at a quicker
speed than the issue of the clay colum to form an opening between the end of the
latter and the brick cut off in order to enable the latter to be lifted off, whereupon
the carriage is moved back into its original position.
These movements have heretofore been effected by hand by the operator, and the
present invention has for its object to effect them automatically by the aid of
the cutter frame when this is moved by the operator or automatically by machinery
for cutting off a brick or tile from the protruded clay. For this purpose there is
provided according to one arrangement a connection between the said frame and
the fixed table of such a nature that when the cutter frame is not actuated the
connection is strained so as to hold the table stationary against the face of the
moulding die, but when the frame is moved to effect the cut, such connection is
slackened, so as to permit of the carriage partaking of the movement of the clay
column as this is protruded from the die. This connection may consist either of a
radius rod pivotted at one end to the table and having at the other end a slot and
pin connection with the cutter frame, so that when this is moved for effecting the
cut, the radius rod in moving with it from the extreme position in which the pin
is at the end of the slot causes the pin to travel down the slot and thus render the
carriage free to move forward. Another arrangement consists of a chain or cord,
the end of which is either connected directly to the cutter frame or to an arm
projecting therefrom, or to an arm on a spindle that is caused, by a geared con-
nection with the axis of the cutter frame, to partially rotate when the latter is
actuated. In all these arrangements the chain is held stretched when the cutter
frame is in the backward position, and is slackened when it is actuated for
outting.
According to another arrangement, instead of holding and releasing the carriage
by tightening and slackening a connection, the cutter frame or an arm projecting
therefrom is provided with an incline that, when the frame is in the backward
position, bears against a fixed stop on the table, and thus causes the carriage to be
held against the die face, while when the cutter frame is actuated, the incline
recedes from the stop and thus renders the carriage free. Or the inclines may be
fixed on the table and the stops be formed on or by the cutter frame or arm thereof,

page_text: As it is necessary that the forward motion of the table should commence
immediately upon its being released, this is facilitated by forming other inclines on
the cutter frames that, when this is actuated, are pressed against stops on the table
and thus initiate the movement of the carriage, which afterwards continues to
move with the protruded clay column.
In this case also the stop may be on the cutter frame and the incline fixed on
the table.
As, after the cut has been effected, the carriage requires first to be moved
forward with the cut off part of the clay in advance of the other part, and be
afterwards moved back again for the purpose before stated, considerable force is
required to move the carriage with the advancing clay lying upon its rollers.
In order to reduce the power required for this purpose, those rollers on the
carriage on which the clay column rests, are according to my invention mounted
upon a small separate carriage running upon the main carriage, such small carriage
being connected to the fixed table by a chain or rod that, when the carriage
performs the first outward movement, permits the small carriage to travel with it,
but when arrived at the point where the cut is effected, the chain or rod prevents
the small carriage from travelling farther, so that it remains stationary while the
main carriage inakes the further advance. Thus on pushing back the main
carriage again there will only be the friction due to the small carriage rolling
upon it instead of that due to the rollers running on the underside of the column
of clay.
Another improvement relates to the formation of the studs at the one end of
roofing tiles, by cutting away a portion of the central rib that is formed on the one
side thereof by the moulding die. For this purpose a lever is pivotted to the
underside of the carriage of the cutter frame one end of which lever is curved
upwards and carries a cutting wire or blade while the other end is formed with an
incline. While the carriage is held stationary up against the inoulding die, the
said incline on the lever bears against a fixed incline on the table, so that the lever
is held with its cutter in a raised position and at such a height that as the clay
column for forming the tiles is protruded on to the carriage, the said cutter cuts
away the central rib, but when the carriage begins to advance with the clay
column, the lever, being freed from the fixed incline, drops, and thus leaves
standing the last portion of the rib on the portion about to be cut off for a tile.
When the cutter frame operates with a horizontal transverse sliding motion the
said movement of the lever may be effected by inclines on the cutter frame, which
hold the cutter of the lever in the raised position so long as the carriage and frame
are stationary, but when the cutter frame is moved for effecting the cut the incline
thereon allows the cutter lever to drop.
When the rib on the clay column is situated on top instead of at bottom the
above described movement of the cutter lever is reversed, it being made to cut
when in the lowered position and not to cut when in the raised position.
The above described arrangements are applicable to cutter frames of any
description, whether these have a horizontal or a vertical to and fro sliding
motion, or are made to rock to and fro on a central pivot, or have an up and
down motion on a lateral axis. In the three first cases the frames are made to cut
when moving in either direction, and consequently the before described arrange-
ments of stops and inclines have to be duplicated thereon, while in the last case
the frame is only made to cut in its downward motion.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting Bricks and Tiles.
I, CARL SCHLICKEYSEN, of 17 Wassergasse, Berlin, Prussia in the Empire of
Germany, 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:—
This invention relates to apparatus for cutting bricks and tiles into lengths as
the moulded column of clay issues from the die plate on to a series of rollers
mounted on a carriage, which carries the cutter.
Heretofore the motion of the cutting carriage with the clay column has been
effected independently of the action of the cutting instrument, the carriage being
held back by the hand until the cutting instrument is put in action after which the
carriage is released so as to be able to move forward, and after the cut being effected
it was pushed back again and held until the next cut was effected. The motion of
the carriage and that of the cutting instrument have consequently each taken
place independently of the other, being effected by the hand of the operator,
although in their action they depend upon each other and have to follow each
other in a definite order.
The present invention has for its object to render the motion of the carriage
dependent upon the motion of the cutting instrument, that is to say, independent
of the action of the operator, and at the same time also, in cases where the
invention is applied to roof tiles, the partial cutting off of the rib that forms the
stud is also effected by means of the motion of the carriage independently of the
action of the operator, the arrangement for this purpose being such as to avoid, as
much as possible, loss of power, detrimental friction, and to ensure suitable starting
of the motion. The arrangements of the parts of the apparatus operating according to
my invention will vary according to the description of cutting instrument employed.
The usual cutting instruments are bow cutters, by which the cut is effected either
by a motion from one side to the other or by a to and fro motion, vertical cutters
and transverse cutters. In all these three systems it is necessary to effect a con-
nection between the cutting instrument on the carriage and the fixed framing or
table on which the carriage travels, such that the cutting instrument, when standing
still in its end positions, is prevented by this connection from moving further, but,
that when it receives its cutting motion, it is rendered free to travel and also, that
after the completion of the cut, it is only by means of the last part of its motion,
independently of the action of the operator, that it can be moved back. This con-
nection can be of two kinds with the three systems of cutting instruments; viz,
a tensional connection or a pressure connection.
The accompanying drawing shews various arrangements of such tensional or
pressure connections in diagrammatic views. In all the figures, similar parts are
indicated by similar letters of reference.
Fig. 4 shews a tension rod E as the connection between the cutting instrument D,
having horizontal cutting motion, and the table B, the connection being between
the points F and G. In place of the rigid rod E might be used a chain. When the
cutter D stands still in its end position I on the one side, E will have drawn
the carriage CC backward so as to lie close against B¹ B'. By pushing forward

page_text: horizontally the cutter, for instance, in the direction of the arrow at 1, the point
moves in the slot e towards the point G, (in the case of a chain, this will simply
slacken), and thus the carriage CC will be permitted to move in the direction of
its arrow I until it arrives at a point beyond the position II at which the cut is
completed. This forward movement is effected automatically in the known manner
by the friction of the advancing clay column A. In the case of a chain being
used, this will be taut at a point beyond position II at which the cut is completed.
Thus in either case during the end movement of the cutter D (still in the direction
of the arrow I) the rod E or the chain will draw the carriage CC backward in the
direction of the arrow III till it attains the position III. The carriage will then be
against B¹ B', whereupon, on the pushing back of the cutter D, during which
motion the cutting wire again cuts, the above described movements will be repeated.
The movements of the cutter being effected rapidly as compared with the forward
motion of the carriage, this will not have advanced sufficiently far to render the
connecting link or chain taut until the cut has been completed.
Fig. 11 shews the manner in which, with a vertically acting cutter D, a tensional
device, such as a chain E, or it might be a rod, is arranged in a similar manner and
with a similar effect to that above described between the cutter D and the fixed
table B.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 shew the manner of applying a tension chain E to a cutter which
As G is situated
moves upon a centre d under the middle of the clay column.
underneath d, the distance between G and F will become shorter on the movement
of the cutter or of its arm D2 from I to the middle II, while, on assuming the end
position III on the other side, it will again become taut, so that in the middle
position of the cutter, the carriage is free to be moved forward by means of the clay
column, while, at the end positions I and III of the cutter, the carriage will be drawn
back. Figs. 12 and 13 shew the last described arrangement with a cutter D having
a lateral centre of motion d, in which case the motion of the cutter must be trans-
mitted indirectly. The axis d carries for this purpose a bevil wheel gearing with
a second bevil wheel on the axis that carries the lever D². On effecting the
cut, the axes and lever D2 are rotated in the direction of the arrow I, whereby F is
made to approach G and thus allowing the forward motion of the carriage in the
direction of the arrow I together with the forward motion of the clay column. On
turning back or raising the cutter D, the connection E is again rendered taut and
the carriage is drawn back into its original position against B¹.
If pressing connection is to be employed, a stud is provided on the table B in
front of the cutter against which, during the motion of the cutter, an incline, fixed
on the latter, is made to slide, thereby rendering the carriage free to move.
Towards the end of the motion of the cutter, the incline bears against a second
fixed stud thus causing the cutter with its carriage to move back again. The same
action will be effected if both the pins are upon the cutter and the incline is upon
the table. Fig. shews an arrangement with two fixed studs G¹ G' on the table
and a double incline F¹ on the horizontally moving cutter G. This incline lies
with its highest or extreme point against the pin G¹, thereby pressing the carriage C
against B. If, now, the cutter is moved in the direction of its arrow I, thus
effecting a cut, G¹ will be liberated from F¹ and the carriage C C can be moved
forward in the direction of its arrow I by means of the clay column A. Towards
the end of the movement of the cutter, F bears against the stud G2, whereby the
carriage will be pressed back again into its original position against B¹. On drawing
back the cutter to the right, G2 will liberate the incline F¹ allowing the carriage CC
to move forward while G¹ presses it back again. In this case as also in some of
the other arrangements as the cutter may not have completed its cut when the
carriage commences to move back again, the end part of the cut will in that case
be somewhat curved, but this curvature will not be sufficient to be of practical
importance.
Fig. 5 shews an arrangement of the double incline F1 F2 on the vertically acting
cutter D and a stud G¹ on the table. On the downward cutting motion of D into

page_text: position II the lower incline F is released from G and the carriage can move
forward to the extent A with the clay column. On the cutter arriving at its end
movement III, the upper incline F2 comes into action and presses the carriage back
against B' by sliding against stud G.
Figs. 9 and 10 shew a cutter D with centre of movement d situated under the
middle of the clay column and having pressure arrangement G¹. On cutting, the
arm Frises into position II Fig. 10 and thus allows the carriage C to be moved
forward in the direction of its arrow I by means of the clay column, until the
arm F¹ bears against the incline G¹. If now the cutter is pressed back again,
F slides down against G¹ thereby moving the rod against B¹. The incline G¹ may
also be provided on each side of the table B against which the arms F¹ F2 of the
cutter slide up and down alternately so that the requisite motion of the carriage is
effected both by the to and the fro motion of the cutter. The advance on the
incline will then take place in the position II, Fig. 10 on the one side, and the
receding therefrom in position 3, Fig. 9, the backward motion of the carriage taking
place on the other side of the table.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew the last described arrangement applied to a cutter having a
lateral axis d in which case the arm F¹ in cutting is also moved away from the
incline G¹ travelling upwards thus permitting the forward motion of the carriage,
until in position II it bears against G₁; after this the cutter D is moved back for
effecting a fresh cut, whereby F¹, in sliding down against G¹, causes the carriage to
move back to B¹. A¹ shews the brick cut off.
The tension or pressure connection of the cutter with the fixed table may also in
all cases be effected by means of a mechanism connected by means of wel
levers etc. with the cutter as shewn at Figs. 12 and 13 where a cutter, with lateral
cutting action, is so connected by means of a pair of toothed wheels. The action
is the same as with the direct connection before described.
As the proper action of the above described mechanism depends upon the power
of the thinnest description of clay column for tiles to move the carriage C, in
consequence of its friction upon the rollers c, as soon as the carriage is rendered
free to move by the motion of the cutter, while, when the cut is effected, the
carriage has to advance faster than the clay column to a certain extent, in order
to enable the hand to be introduced between the end of the column and the cut-off
tile so as to remove the latter, it follows that the rollers c¹ under the clay column
have to rotate in the reverse direction, thus causing an increased friction and
consuming considerable power. This friction of the rollers c¹ against the clay
column A would be sufficient to break the thin clay column between x and y or, at
any rate, to draw it out so as to render it unserviceable. It is therefore necessary
for the proper action of the apparatus that, on the quicker advance of the carriage,
the rollers c¹ are not moved forward in a correspondingly quicker manner than the
clay column A lying upon them. This is effected as shewn in Figs. 1, 12 and 13
by rollers c¹ in a special frame C₁ which itself slides or runs with rollers upon the
carriage C when it is not desired that the rollers c¹ shall partake of its accelerated
motion. This frame Ct has connected to its back end a chain or a rod C², or two
such rods, which passes or pass through the front of the table B₁ and has behind
the latter a stop C³ consisting of a pin or disc which, at the end of the cutting
motion, and consequently at the commencement of the accelerated movement of C
bears against the end B₁ of the table and thus prevents the corresponding forward
motion of C¹; thus the carriage moves forward alone together with the cut off tile.
Figs. 14, 15 and 16 shew the several positions of the carriage C and frame C¹. On
the backward motion of C the carriage moves under the frame C¹ until it bears
against the end of the latter, after which it carries C with it until it bears against B¹.
If, however, the friction of the clay column upon C is very small, C¹ will move back
together with C from the commencement until it bears against B¹, when C will
move back under C¹ also until it bears against B. In this arrangement con-
siderable saving of power is effected by the periodical standing still of C and the
movement of the cutter is rendered more easy. In order to facilitate the starting

page_text: of the motion of the carriage C by the advance of the clay column at the moment
when the cutter is set in motion, so that the carriage at once moves forward with-
out loss of time or power at the same speed as the advance of the clay column, a
fixed incline or stud G³ is provided on the table B against which the cutter passes,
thus imparting the initial movement to the carriage. Thus in Figs. 1 and 10, the
arm F¹ of a cutter D moves against the incline G³ so as to force the cutter, and,
consequently, the carriage C to move in the direction to the right simultaneously
with the advancing clay column. Figs. 5 and 11 shew inclines G₁ for cutters with
vertical action which slide against fixed studs G³ on the table B, thus forcing the
carriage to move to the right as before. Fig. 3 shews a stud G* fixed on the cutter
which slides against fixed inclines on the table in order to move forward the
carriage. Fige. 6 and 8 shew the cutter D having an arc movement or a to and fro
are movement arranged to slide against an incline G³ of the table B, thus forcing
the carriage C forward to a corresponding extent.
If the above described arrangements are applied to presses for roof tiles in which
the studs or hooks are formed by partially cutting off a rib on the tile, this
formation of the stud must be effected simultaneously with the movement of the
carriage C and cutter D in order that the tile may be completely finished at the
end of the movement of the carriage. For this purpose, the carriage, Fig. 17,
having a cutter with horizontal cutting motion, is provided with a lever H¹ H²
pivotted on an axis H and carrying at H³ the cutting wire J, while the inclined
end of the arm H¹ is caused to bear against a bar H. In the position shewn,
J cuts the stud-rib off from the lower side of the clay column. If then the
carriage C moves forward, H¹ slides upwards against H thus causing the wire J
to sink down and consequently to leave the remaining portion of the rib standing,
while the cutter D is effecting its cut. On the backward motion of the carriage,
H2 H3 rises again, and again cuts off the stud rib from the freshly advancing tile.
Figs. 18 and 19 shew modifications of this arrangement in which the cutting off of
the stud rib is not effected directly and alone by means of the carriage motion but
from this motion and that of the cutter combined. The cutter D has in this case
two inclines H* H' against one of which a lever H2 H³, with its cutting wire J,
rests, while the clay column is moving forward and the cutter D remains stationary.
At the moment when the motion of the cutter begins, H2 slides down through the
distance D³ during which time it leaves the stud remaining on the tile, while, at
the end of the cutting motion, it again rises upon H in order to again effect the
cutting off of the stud rib on the following length of clay column. If the stud rib
is not formed on the underside of the clay column but on the upper side thereof,
the inclines H' H, Fig. 17, must be arranged in the reverse position, as the
movement of the wire J will have to take place in the reverse direction. In the
arrangement Fig. 18 and 19 there must be provided, in place of raised inclines,
corresponding recesses, which are not shewn.
In addition to the above mentioned advantages of this arrangement consisting in
rendering the motion of the carriage independent of the operator, it being effected
by the movement of the cutter and also consisting in an independent motion of the
rollers c¹ for the purposes described, there is also the further advantage that the
small losses of time before and after each cut, after the commencement and before
the end of the carriage motion, are obviated and also that the cutting off of the
stud rib for roofing tiles does not require a separate expenditure of time, resulting
in a quicker production than was possible heretofore. Lastly the above arrange-
ments have the advantage that the cutter motion can be effected by machinery
instead of by hand.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim in respect of apparatus for
cutting bricks and tiles, is.
1. The connection of the cutting instrument with a point of the framing or table
by a chain or other connecting link in such manner that the cutting instrument

page_text: and with it the carriage carrying the same are held in the backward position
thereby during the commencement and the end of the cutting motion, while during
the remainder of such motion it permits of the forward motion of the carriage
owing to the approach of the two points of connection of the said chaiu or link,
substantially as herein described.
2. In apparatus for cutting bricks and tiles, providing one or more studs and
inclines respectively on the cutting instrument of the carriage and on the framing
or table, so arranged that before the commencement of the cutting motion the
carriage is held back by a stud bearing against an incline, while during the cutting
motion the stud slides off the incline, so as to permit of the forward motion of the
carriage, and at the end of the cutting motion the carriage is moved back again
into its original position by the stud sliding against an incline substantially as
herein described.
3. Mounting the rollers of the carriage on which the clay column moves
forward upon a frame that can slide or roll upon the carriage, which frame is
connected by a rod or link with the fixed table, so that it can only move with the
carriage to the extent permitted by the said rod or link, substantially as and for
the purpose herein described.
4. Providing studs or inclines G³ on the framing or table against which the
cutting instrument bears when at rest, so that at the commencement of its cutting
motion it slides past the incline or stud and is thereby moved forward together
with the carriage to a small extent, so as to overcome the inertia of the latter,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
5. Providing a lever H¹ H' with cutting wire J on the carriage in such manner
that when the carriage C is at rest the said lever is held in such a position by an
incline H on the table B as to cut the stud rib off the advancing clay column by
means of the wire J, while on the forward motion of the carriage, the lever is
freed from the incline, causing the wire J to sink or rise, and to leave a portion of
the rib standing, substantially as herein described.
6. Providing projecting or recessed inclines H' Figs. 18 and 19 by means of
which, when the cutting instrument is at rest in its extreme position and the clay
column is moving forward, the lever H2 is raised or lowered, in order to cut off the
stud rib by means of the wire J during that time, while during the motion of the
cutting instrument the lever H2 slides upon D³ and owing to the resulting down-
ward or upward motion of wire J, is made to leave a corresponding portion of
the rib standing, substantially as herein described.