Improvements in and relating to the Method of and Apparatus for Molding Articles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
Improvements in and relating to the Method of and Apparatus for
Molding Articles..
*
"
I, FREDERICK EGGE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
No. 107, Park Avenue, Bridgeport, in the County of Fairfield and State of
Connecticut,, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, 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
-My invention relates to certain. new and useful improvements. in the method of
and apparatus for molding articles from small pieces, or chips of amber, and has, for
its object to retain the natural qualities and attributes of the amber and to afford
a very simple and effective method of solidifying the particles of amber into a single
homogeneous mass.
It is essential that, in the formation of various articles from small pieces or chips,
of amber, that mone of the natural oil and succinic acid of the amber should depart
from the latter, and heretofore, in the few processes that have been patented for
molding small pieces of amber into single articles, the all-important end in view is
the preservation of the essential oils and succinic acid, and the liberation of such
oils and acid is supposed to be due to excessive heat..
Now excessive heat is of course injurious because the amber is thereby charred
and decomposed and rendered unfit for use, but, the liberation of the oils and acid is
not always due to excessive heat.
An intermittent pressure on the molds even when heated to a proper degree will
cause the particles of amber, to part with more or less of said oils and acid, while
any pressure on the molds, no matter how gradually it is applied, will not prevent
the escape of said oils and acid as long as there is communication with the air and
the inside of the molds, or if after, the amber has been, compressed the contraction
of the molds and amber leaves a free space between the molds and the molded
article..
In processes heretofore known, the pressure does not appear to have been con-
sidered as an important factor in the accomplishment of the end aimed at, and while
I am fully aware that the molding of amber by the application of heat and
pressure is not new, still it is an indisputable fact that the word "pressure" has
been used in the above-mentioned patented processes in the vaguest and most
generic sense, whereas I am abundantly able to show that in my improved
process the pressure is the key to the success which has hitherto attended,
experiments.
...
my
On the other hand, I will hereafter, show that it is impossible to burn or char the
amber in practising my process.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification-
Figure 1 is at perspective of a pair. of molds, and a mold box, such as I. use in
carrying out my invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section through the molds, and box showing as a molded
article a mouth-piece for, a' cigar, and
1
Figure 3 ista view similar. to Figure 2, but showing particularly, a threaded plug
within the end of the mouth-piece.
!.
י
Figures 4, 5, and 6.are elevations of presses for carrying out my improved
method.
Similar letters denote-like parts in the, several figures of the drawing.
The inolds shown are adapted for the formation of a mouth-piece for a cigar, but

page_text: CILIS IS U QUISC SHOWn by way of CA
nation, as I IS ODVIOUS
may be formed to produce any article desired.
Also I will state that the molds and mold box form no part of my present
invention since they are old and well known and their operation needs no
description herein.
t
A, are the molds, and B, the mold-box. From a post, C, extends a bracket, D,
upon which the molds and box properly assembled rest.
E, is a bracket extending from the post, C, and having an open head, F, as shown
at. Figure 4.
G, is a beam which rests upon the upper mold, the rear end of said beam
extending through the head F, and bearing against a bolt, H, which passes-
through the top of said head and abuts against a concavity, a, in the upper edge of
the beam.
For all practical purposes the beam might as well be simply pivoted within the
bracket, E, but I prefer the construction shown because I am thereby enabled to
normally elevate or depress the beam either to accommodate different sizes of molds
or mold-boxes or for any other obvious reason.
I
At the outer end of the beam are suspended weights, I, by which the pressure on
the molds is determined. Figure 5 virtually shows a construction the same as
Figure 4, with the exception that instead of resting directly upon the bracket, D,
the molds and box are supported on top of a gas chamber, J, which in turn rests
upon said bracket, while the beam is secured by the bolt, H, within the post. itself
instead of the bracket, E.
In Figure 6 the bracket, E, extends straight out from the post, C, and the beam
is in the shape of an L-lever pivoted at the angle to said bracket, the molds and
mold-box being clamped between the heel of said lever and a shoulder, K,. secured,
to the bracket.
There is a principle which underlies my invention and which I believe to be of.
vital importance in the molding of articles from pieces of amber by the application.
of heat and pressure, namely, the application to the molds of a constant pressure,
yielding but not relaxing only when opposition is met with in the expansion of the
molds or amber.
The pressure caused by the weights is not only constant but the softening or
fusing of the amber actually governs the operation of the pressure, for the latter.
is résisted at first by the hard particles of amber, and as the latter softens by,
degrees the pressure will automatically operate and cause the molds to approach
each other until the said particles are compressed into the desired shape. There-
fore, the heat applied is the primary agent which automatically effects the operation
of the pressure, and when the molds have been closed by the pressure (as can
readily be ascertained by inspection or by a gauge) the particles of amber will
have been softened and united in a homogeneous mass and the molding will have
been completed, and the heating agent may then be removed and the amber
"Allowed to cool under the pressure.
There is always more or less surplus amber forced out in the form of a fin
between the edges of the molds by the compression of the latter, but when the
amber contracts during cooling the relieving of the pressure from the body of
the molded article will cause said pressure to bear wholly upon this fin, the result
being that the latter will be ground or bitten off and the mold allowed to follow
up the contracted article in order that the latter may become cool under pressure.
Heretofore, pressure to the mold has not been applied uider. any uniformity
or rule, and therefore many articles are imperfectly molded or completely spoiled
by forcing the molds before the amber has been given that constituency by the
heat which will warrant a closing of the molds.
P
In my improved process it will be borne in mind that the actual change.in
the disposition of the amber particles as they soften or fuse under the action of
the heat automatically lessens the resistance to the pressure on the molds and
permits the latter to gradually close, and when said molds are closed the heating

page_text: agent is removed, because the very closing of the molds warns, the workman that n
the amber has been united in a homogeneous mass.
Therefore it will be readily understood that as long as the heating agent is
removed after the molds are closed by an automatic constant pressure, it is
impossible to char or decompose the amber, and moreover, I am enabled to entirely
dispense with a thermometer for determining, the degree of heat.
Cam or screw pressure on the mold is not desirable because contraction (or
cooling) of the molds and amber causes relaxation of pressure so that the amber
becomes loose in the molds, the consequence being that the molded article
frequently becomes warped and distorted and sometimes cracked and broken, while
at the same time the volatile parts of the amber oil are free to vaporize and
pass off into the air space around the molded article.
For a proper understanding of my invention, it must be borne in mind that a
pressure regulated and determined by hand is not the same and will not produce
the same results as a constant pressure automatically applied and following up
without an intermission the yielding of the article or substance during compression,
and also that it would never do, in the molding of a substance by heat and pressure,
to use a pressure which would not yield to the expansion of the molds and the
substance to be molded.
For instance, a pressure applied by a screw or cam while open to the objection
that it is intermittent, also has this disadvantage, namely, that any expansion of
the amber or molds after the operation of molding is completed and before the con-
traction takes place, will be successfully resisted by the molds, thereby causing the
amber to become charred and decomposed.
In other words, any force created by the expansion of the molds or amber
must cause the molds to yield, and moreover, during contraction the pressure
should force the molds closely to the molded article so as to prevent the escape of
the essential oils and succinic acid as hereinbefore set forth.
To sum up, the pressure required to mold whole articles from pieces of amber
must be constant and must yield without relaxing to the expansion of the molds or
amber when such expansion can find no other relief save the charring or decom-
position of the amber.
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. The hercin described method of making integral articles from pieces of amber,
consisting in molding such pieces into shape under the application of heat and a
constant automatic pressure, substantially as set forth.
2. The method of molding amber which consists in heating the molds and amber
and synchronously subjecting the same to an automatic and constant pressure,
substantially as set forth.
3. The method of molding amber which consists in synchronously applying to
the molds and amber heat and an automatic constant yielding pressure, sub-
stantially as set forth.
4. An apparatus for molding pieces of amber into a single article, consisting of
a support whereon the molds are placed, and a gravity press having a direct
bearing against said molds, substantially as set forth.
5. In an apparatus for molding amber, the combination with the molds and
mold-box containing the amber and a suitable support therefor, of means for
heating the amber, and means for exerting a constant automatic and uniform
pressure against said molds, substantially as set forth.
'
6. The method of making amber mouth-pieces for cigars and the like, consisting
in compressing the amber around a centrally disposed core, substantially as set
forth.
7. An apparatus for making amber mouth-pieces for cigars and the like,
consisting of properly shaped molds containing pieces of amber, a core comprising