IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COATING OR COVERING METALLIC SHEETS OR PLATES WITH TIN OR OTHER METALS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Matthews, of Abercarne, near Newport, in the
County of Monmouth, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR COATING OR COVERING METALLIC SHEETS OR PLATES
WITH TIN OR OTHER METALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Matthews at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th March 1881.
ISAAC MATTHEWS, of Abercarne, near Newport, in the County of Monmouth.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COATING OR COVERING
METALLIC SHEETS OR PLATES WITH TIN OR OTHER METALS."
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of self acting
machinery or apparatus driven by any convenient prime mover for coating or
covering metallic sheets or plates with tin or other metals, and is more especially
applicable to the manufacture or production of tin and terne plates, whereby the
operation is more effectually and expeditiously performed than by the means
heretofore ordinarily employed.
In carrying out this Invention I employ a rectangular or other conveniently
shaped vessel of cast iron or other suitable material for containing the molten metal
to be employed as the coating or covering. This vessel, which is heated in any
convenient manner, is enlarged at one end for the purpose of receiving the plates
to be coated, whilst at the other end there is provided an arrangement for receiving
the roll box. The plates to be coated are fed into the bath of molten coating metal
at its enlarged end, which is capable of containing any desired number of plates at
the same time, the said plates being moved forward consecutively along the bath by
suitable machinery, such, for example, as endless travellers, or the like, until they
arrive at the neck or end of the enlargement of the vessel, at which point there is
provided a pair of wire brushes or a pair of steel plates so slit as to form a comb,
between which brushes or steel comb plates the metal plates to be coated are
partially passed and received on the further side by machinery which passes on the

page_text: plates to the further end of the pot or bath, and underneath the roll box. The
lower end of this roll box is caused to dip a short distance, say about two and a
half inches, into the molten metal, and contains two or more pairs of rotary
delivery rolls. Underneath these rolls there is provided a shoot or guide enclosed
all round, and so placed as that its upper edge shall stand about a quarter of an
inch above, and its lower edge about two inches below the surface of the molten
tin or other metal. The primary object of the said shoot is to keep back and
prevent the surface scruff from adhering to the plates as they are passed upwards
through it to the grip of the lower pair of rolls, which serves to pass them onto
the remaining rolls. Under the top or finishing rolls there is placed a pair of comb
plates between the edges of which the coated plate passes, the pressure of the comb
plates being adjusted and regulated by a thumb screw, thereby regulating the
quantity of coating metal on the plates, and remedying defects in the coating.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Isaac Matthews in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th September 1881.
ISAAC MATTHEWS, of Abercarne, near Newport, in the County of Monmouth.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COATING OR COVERING
METALLIC SHEETS OR PLATES WITH TIN OR OTHER METALS."
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of self
acting machinery or apparatus, driven by any convenient prime mover, for coating
or covering metallic sheets or plates with tin or other metals, and is more especially
applicable to the manufacture or production of tin and terne plates, whereby the
operation is more effectually and expeditiously performed than by the means
heretofore ordinarily employed.
In carrying out this Invention I employ a rectangular or other conveniently
shaped vessel of cast iron or other suitable material for containing the molten metal
to be employed as the coating or covering. This vessel, which is heated in any
convenient manner, is enlarged at one end for the purpose of receiving the plates
to be coated, whilst at the other end there is provided an arrangement for receiving
the roll box. The plates to be coated are fed into the bath of molten coating
metal at its enlarged end, which is capable of containing any desired number of
plates at the same time, the said plates being moved forward consecutively along
the bath by suitable machinery, such, for example, as endless travellers, or the like,
until they arrive at the neck or end of the enlargement of the vessel, at which point
there is provided a pair of wire brushes or a pair of steel plates so slit as to form
a comb, between which brushes or steel comb plates the metal plates to be coated
are partially passed and received on the further side by machinery which passes
on the plates to the further end of the pot or bath, and underneath the roll box.
The lower end of this roll box is caused to dip a short distance, say about two and
a half inches, into the molten metal, and contains two or more pairs of rotary
delivery rolls. Underneath these rolls there is provided a shoot or guide enclosed
all round and so placed as that its upper edge shall stand about a quarter of an
inch above, and its lower edge about two inches below the surface of the molten
tin or other metal. The primary object of the said shoot is to keep back and
prevent the surface scruff from adhering to the plates as they are passed upwards
through it to the grip of the lower pair of rolls which serves to pass them onto
the remaining rolls. Under the top or finishing rolls there is placed a pair of
comb plates, between the edges of which the coated plates passes, the pressure of
the comb plates being adjusted and regulated by a thumb screw, thereby
regulating the quantity of coating metal on the plates, and remedying defects in
the coating.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings is a general plan of my improved machine; Figure 2
is a side elevation corresponding therewith; and Figures 3 and 4 are sectional
details hereinafter referred to.
My improved machine consists, first, of a rectangular vessel of cast iron A, A, A,
enlarged at one end where the plates to be coated are fed in. The opposite end is
shaped to receive a box for containing the finishing rolls, grease, and combs.
The vessel or tin pot is furnished with a moveable platform suspended by rods
from the brackets a, a, by which the platform can be adjusted to the required

page_text: depth to suit the size of plates operated on. There are fixed to the platform guides
for guiding the plates from the end of the machine where the plates are fed in to
the opposite or finishing end; there are also a corresponding pair of guides placed
above the platform. Secondly. Two pairs of reciprocating plates furnished with
teeth on their inner edges, and so fixed that when one plate of each pair is
advancing the corresponding pair are receding, the receding pair withdrawing their
projecting teeth within the edge of the advancing pair. Thirdly. A series of pairs
of rollers formed on the end of vertical spindles, as shown in the sectional detail at
Figure 4. Figure 3 is a section showing the grease box with positions of rolls,
.combs, and shoot. The machinery for giving the requisite motion to the rollers
and other parts is fixed on a cast iron bed plate B, B, B, lying parallel to the tin
pot.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The plates are fed in through a slot
in the feed box C, which has fixed to it a plate or frame sliding on two parallel
vertical rods, which plate or frame has fixed to it prongs with catches or projections
on them placed truly in line when the plate to be coated is tilted up against the
prongs. The projections catch the upper end of the plate as the prongs descend,
carrying the plate with them square to its proper position to be advanced by the
reciprocating teeth, the last tooth of the series putting the forward end of the top
plate within the grip of the first pair of rollers, forcing it through a pair of wire
brushes or combs b, thence to another pair of rollers. When the tail end of the
plate has passed the grip of the last pair of rollers it is advanced under the centre
of the finishing rolls by the bar c actuated by the roller fixed on the disc d and
the slotted lever e. When the moveable bar c is at the end of its forward stroke
the lever is put in motion by another roller on the disc d which lifts the plate
through a shoot shown in Figure 3. The upper lips of the shoot are about an
eighth to a quarter of an inch above the dotted line representing the metal, the
object of the shoot being to keep the plate free from the surface scruff. After the
shoot the plate passes between the first pair of finishing rolls, then between another
pair of combs for governing the quantity of metal to be put on the plates, and
finally through the last pair of finishing rolls. The disc f carries a roller which
actuates the feed lever h. The reciprocating plates are worked by an eccentric i
through the bark and the levers 7, 1, l. The end of the rod connecting the lever
with the moveable bar c has a slot working on a block fixed on a stud pin in the
bar c, which slot is about a quarter of an inch longer than the block, thus giving
motion to the lever m which throws the sprays for advancing the plates in and out
of the line of travel of the plates.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The improvements in machinery or apparatus for coating or covering metallic
sheets or plates with tin or other metals, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Matthews, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ISAAC MATTHEWS. (L.S.)