IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANING AND PICKLING METAL PLATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lewis Griffiths, of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan,
Engine Fitter, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
CLEANING AND PICKLING METAL PLATES."
aled the 9th May 1876, and dated the 29th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lewis Griffiths at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th February 1876.
LEWIS GRIFFITHS, of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, Engine Fitter.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANING AND PICKLING METAL PLATES."
This Invention relates firstly to improved machinery whereby the cleaning by
friction of metal plates, such for example as those intended to be tinned, may be
automatically effected; and secondly to a modified form of the improved machinery
whereby metal plates may be automatically submitted to the action of and removed
from what is known as pickling liquor.
The apparatus may be described as consisting mainly of a rotating drum mounted
in a fixed cylindrical case, into which are fed from a hopper the plates to be operated
upon, the object being for the cleaning machine to give the plates a traverse motion
through bran or other cleansing substance contained in the space between the drum
and the case, and then to deliver them out of the machine, subjecting them in their
passage to the action of rotary brushes. The drum is fitted with sets of radial
fingers placed equidistant apart and carrying guide-rings of equal diameter and
concentric with the drum. The lower portion of the case is similarly fitted with
fingers to carry segment guides, which extend downwards from the hopper and
upwards to the delivery end of the machine. The hopper is closed at bottom by a
sliding plate which as the fingers of the drum go round cause it to recede and
allow of the plates contained in the hopper dropping in proper order between the
fixed and rotating guides. As the drum continues its rotation the fingers will
press the plates forwards, pushing them through the bran or other cleansing
material, and, carrying them up to fixed guides on the opposite side of the machine
between which they will pass, and by the action of the following plates be thrust
between rotating friction brushes. In advance of these brushes are delivery rollers,
which are caused to take hold of the plates and deliver them out of the machine.
Situate at convenient parts of the machine are wipers, between which the plates in
Price 6d]

page_text: their course are caused to pass in order that they may be cleared of any extraneous
matters adhering thereto.
In order to adapt this machine to the pickling of metal plates the case and drum
are made liquid tight, and suitably surfaced to resist the action of the dilute
sulphuric acid or pickle. There is also placed between the rotary brushes and the..
delivery rollers a trough of water for washing the pickle from the plates as they
· pass out of the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Lewis Griffiths in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th August 1876.
LEWIS GRIFFITHS, of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, Engine Fitter.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANING AND PICKLING METAL PLATES."
This Invention relates firstly to improved machinery whereby the cleaning by
friction of metal plates (such for example as those intended to be tinned) may be
automatically effected; and secondly to a modified form of the improved machinery
whereby metal plates may be automatically submitted to the action of and removed
from what is known as pickling liquor.
The machines used for these two purposes are shown in the accompanying Drawings,
and it will be seen that they possess several features in common, but each requires
in addition special devices to suit the particular purpose for which it is intended to
be used. The cleaning machine consists mainly of a rotating drum mounted in a
fixed cylindrical case, into which are fed from a hopper the plates to be operated
upon, the object being to give the plates a travelling motion through bran or other
cleansing substance contained in the space between the drum and the case, and then
to deliver them out of the machine, subjecting them in their passage to the action
of rotary brushes. The drum is provided with sets of radial fingers placed equi-
distant apart and carrying guide rings of nearly equal diameter to and concentric
with the fixed outer casing. The lowest portion of the fixed case is similarly fitted
with fingers to carry segment guides, which extend downwards from the hopper and
upwards to the delivery end of the machine and act as supports for plates as they
are carried through the machine. The hopper in which the plates are placed is
closed at bottom by a sliding door, which as the fingers of the drum go round
is caused to recede and allow the plates contained in the hopper to drop one
by one in proper order between the fixed and rotating guides. As the drum
continues its rotation the fingers will press the plates forwards and push them
through the bran or other cleansing material, and carry them up to fixed
guides on the opposite side of the machine between which they will pass,
and by the action of the following plates be thrust between rotating friction brushes.
Beyond these brushes are delivery rollers which are caused to take hold of the
plates and draw them away from the travelling fingers and deliver them out of the
machine.
Situate at convenient parts of the machine are wipers, between which the plates
in their course are caused to pass in order that they may be cleared of any
extraneous matters that may adhere thereto.
In order to adapt this arrangement of machinery for the pickling process the
fixed case and rotating drum are made liquid tight, and their surfaces are suitably
protected by enamelling, or otherwise, to enable these parts to resist the action .of
the dilute sulphuric acid, or pickle used for pickling the metal plates. There is
also placed at the delivery end of the pickling machine a trough of water, into which
the plates are delivered for the purpose of washing the pickle from the plates as
they pass out of the machine.
Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a side elevation of the cleaning machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view
of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation or longitudinal vertical section taken
in the line, C, D, of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken in the line H, H,
of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the delivery end of the machine.

page_text: In Fig. 3, A, A, is a rotating drum, which is mounted in suitable bearings in the
fixed casing. On the periphery of the rotating drum A are fixed projecting fingers
B (see Figures 3 and 4), which carry rings or hoops C, C, arranged concentrically
with the outer casing. The lower half of the fixed casing is also provided with
projecting fingers for supporting segment guides E, which serve as a support for the
plates as they are carried through the semiannular space formed by the rotating
drum A and the semicircular trough D. The plates to be operated upon are
placed in a hopper G, the lower end of which is closed by a sliding door F, so
formed and arranged that it acts as a self-acting feed to the machine and only one.
plate at a time can pass into the interior of the machine. When this sliding door
F is opened a single plate will drop into the machine, and is pushed forward by
the fingers of the rotating drum so that they pass around the lower part of the
trough D, between the guides C and E, and through the wipers H, then through
the bran, which extends round half the circumference of the drum. They are then
pushed through the wipers J and guides K. These latter guide the plate between
the revolving, brushes L and rollers M, the circumferences of which are made (by
means of suitable gearing), to travel at a quicker speed than the drum. By this
means the plates are pulled out at a quicker speed than they travel through the
machine. The quick speed of the brushes and rollers causes them to clear the
fingers, and they deliver the plate from the machine. Only two brushes Land
two rollers M are shown in the Drawing, but more may be used if required..
In Sheet II. of the Drawings I have shown various views of the pickling machine.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the machine with part of the chimney or stack Z. cut
away in order more clearly to show the inclined plane wheel L which works the
mechanism, whereby the feeding of the plates to be operated upon is regulated.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the machine; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section; and
Fig. 9 a transverse section of the machine. Fig. 10 is a plan (on a reduced scale).
showing a general view of the whole pickling apparatus, including the washing tank
and oscillating or rocking cradle. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the
washing tank and oscillating or rocking cradle drawn on an enlarged scale.
The plates to be operated on are passed edgewise into the hopper G, at the
bottom of which is a sliding door H, which forms a self-acting feeding apparatus
and regulates the supply of metal plates. This sliding door is worked by the
connecting rod J, on the other end of which is placed a friction roller K, which
comes in contact with the inclined planes of a wheel L, L, as the air-tight drum A
revolves. The reciprocating motion of the connecting rod J causes the door H to
close and stop the plates from entering the bath of liquid for the time. When
these inclined planes L, L, pass the friction roller the vertical weighted levers M,
M, fall plumb, and cause the door H to open for the time, and when the door opens,
the plates to be operated on fall from the. hopper G into the bath of diluted
sulphuric acid contained in the semicircular trough D. The plates are carried
around by the fingers a, a, which are rivetted or screwed on the air-tight rotating
drum A. The plates are thus passed slowly through the liquid in the semi-annular
space formed by the circular drum and semicircular trough. The liquid contained
in the trough is heated to the required temperature by the introduction of steam
through the perforated steam pipes 8, 8, 8. When the plates are pushed up to the
opening O they fall by their own gravity into the tank P containing water. In this
tank are placed the inclined bars Q, Q, to facilitate the operation of taking out the
plates by manual labour from the tank P. The plates are then placed in the
washing tank R, Figures 10 and 11, upon the oscillating cradle T, which is worked
by the connecting rod u and a crank v fixed on the main driving shaft W. The
oscillation of the cradle T causes the plates to receive a good swilling in the water
contained in the tank R. Over the semicircular trough D is placed a wooden
chimney or stack Z to carry off the steam and fumes evolved during the pickling
proċess.
Having now described my Invention of Improvements in Machinery for
Cleaning and Pickling Metal Plates," and having explained the manner of carrying

page_text: the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as
aforesaid
The general arrangement and construction of parts herein shewn and described,
whereby the metal plates when introduced into the machine are automatically
carried through the machine, and during their passage are subjected either to a
rubbing or cleaning operation in one machine, or to a pickling and washing
process in another machine as herein set forth.
"I clain particularly the combination of a rotating drum provided with pro-
jecting fingers or equivalent devices (for taking hold of, pushing, or carrying
forward the metal plates), with a stationary semicircular trough or casing provided
with segmental guides for supporting the metal plates, which are automatically
supplied to the working parts of the machine from a hopper, as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I; the said Lewis Griffiths, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, the 26th day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
LEWIS GRIFFITHS. (L.S.)