Improvements in Machines for Forming Lozenges, Pills, Tablets, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Forming Lozenges, Pills, Tablets,
and the like.
I, ABRAHAM ROWLAND MORRIS, a Citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 217, Race Street, in the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia
and State of Pennsylvania, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
My invention has relation to a tablet forming machine of the type wherein
the tablet or lozenge is formed in a die by means of two oppositely arranged
plungers; and in such connection it relates to the construction and arrangement
of such a machine.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide in a tablet forming
machine in conjunction with a lower reciprocating plunger, two adjusting
brackets located on the shaft of the plunger, whereby the movement of said
plunger up or down may be regulated in the formation of tablets or lozenges of
varying thicknesses and two take-ups separately adjustable with respect to said
brackets; second, to provide in such a machine, in conjunction with the shaft
for operating the take-ups, a yoke or bracket forming an extension for the shaft
and adapted in operative position to enclose the power-shaft and to be readily
removable from the machine, said yoke having a roller adapted to engage a
suitable cam on the power-shaft to receive from said cam the necessary recipro-
catory motion; and third, to provide in such a machine, a cam of peculiar con-
struction for operating the said yoke, said cam having a portion of its periphery
slotted or cut away to permit of the removal of the yoke and its roller from the
machine.
My invention stated in general terms, consists of a tablet forming machine,
constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter more fully
described and claimed.
The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,
forming part hereof, in which
Figure 1, is a front elevational view, partly in vertical section, of a machine
embodying main features of my invention.
Fig. 2, is a side elevational view of the eccentric, divided strap and shaft
for operating the upper plunger.
Fig. 3, is a cross-sectional view of the machine on the line x-x of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, is a top or plan view of the cam and yoke adapted to transmit reci-
procatory movement to the lower plunger.
Fig. 5, is a horizontal sectional view on the line y-y of Fig. 1, illustrating
the upper adjusting bracket and the upper take-up respectively in top or plan
view.
Fig. 6, is a vertical sectional view of the two adjusting brackets and take-ups
in operative position on their respective shafts.

page_text: Fig. 7, is a similar view illustrating a modified form of the take-up of Fig. 6;
and
Fig. 8, is a top or plan view of Fig. 7.
Referring to the drawings a, represents the pedestal or base of the machine
upon which is supported the main frame-work a¹, as well as the curved bracket
or standard a², forming bearings a', for the counter shaft a of the machine.
The frame-work a', supports the power-shaft a³, and also a table b, in which is
suitably supported a die , within which a pill, tablet or lozenge is to be formed
by the co-action of the upper plunger d, and lower plunger e, which at certain
intervals are caused to approach each other within the die to compress the loose,
material fed to the die. In the drawings of the present application I have
not illustrated the mechanism for conveying from the receptacle to the
die 6', the material to be compressed, since such mechanism forms part of a
companion Application filed under even date herewith and numbered 10809 of
1899.
The upper plunger d, is preferably held in a split sleeve or chuck ', on the
end of a shaft 2, by means of a tightening-nut d, and the shaft d, is pivoted as
at, to the lower member f, of a divided strap which encircles an eccentric f¹,
secured to and travelling with the power shaft a³, of the machine. The upper
member 2, and lower member f, of the strap are bolted together at their ends
and wear upon the eccentric or strap may be readily and simply taken up by
tightening the bolts, and thus drawing the members of the strap together. This
construction also permits of the ready withdrawal of the plunger and its shaft
from the machine for the purpose of repairs, adjustment or the like.
Upon the power shaft a³, is located a cam g, having its interior cut out to
form at the center a two throw cam plate g¹, and a peripheral rim or flange g².
In the groove thus formed is adapted to travel a roller h³, secured to a C-shaped
yoke or bracket h, and as the cam revolves it is adapted to raise and lower the
yoke h, through its roller . The. yoke. encloses or partially surrounds the
power shaft a³, as illustrated in Fig. 3, but can be readily removed from
the machine, if desired, its opening ', permitting it to slip. past the shaft a. The
peripheral flange or rim g2, of the cam g, is partly cut away as at g³, to permit the
roller 2, to slip out of the groove in said cam and to thereby release the yoke from
its connection with the said cam.
.
To the lower end of yoke h, is secured the upper end of a shaft k, guided in the
frame-work a¹, and having a reciprocatory movement conveyed to it by the yoke h.
At or near the lower end of this shaft k, are located the two take-ups 1 and 2,
each of which is preferably constructed as follows:-The take-up consists of the
forked end, body portion, and split sleeve portion, which latter portion
is adapted to embrace the shaft k, and to be tightly clamped thereto by means
of the tightening bolts . The two take ups are independently adjustable on the
shaft k, and compensate respectively for the upper and lower adjustment of the
lower plungere, as well as for the wear and tear upon the yoke h, or cam g
The forked ends 3, of the two take-ups surround and slide upon the shaft el, of
the lower plunger e, and their range of movement is limited by the position of the
upper and lower adjusting brackets m and m', on said shaft e¹. These adjusting
brackets m and m³, each consist of a split-strap surrounding the shaft e, and
tightly clamped thereon by means of the bolts m³, which when tightened draw
the members of the strap together and bind them tightly to the shaft. In the
operation of the machine, it is frequently necessary to change the range of
movement of the lower plunger e, whereby tablets or lozenges of varying thick-
ness may be produced. The simplicity of construction of my two adjusting
brackets m and m³, enables this to be easily and quickly accomplished for all that
is necessary is to unloosen the bolts at one side of each strap sufficiently to permit
the brackets to turn or slide on the shaft e¹, after which the adjusting brackets
may be independently slid to the required position and quickly and easily
locked in that position by retightening the bolts. The take-ups and kª,
may be

page_text: similarly manipulated to compensate for this adjustment or to compensate for
wear and tear of the operating yoke or cam.
In Figs. 7 and 8, a modified means for adjusting the take-ups is illustrated,
wherein the shaft k, is reversely threaded as at 7, to receive two screw collars
and, which are adapted to turn on the shaft k, the take-ups ¹ and ³, being cut
away as at 10, to permit the collars to turn. In this form the operator can
adjust the take-ups more accurately, for instead of moving each take-up manually
after the bolts have been loosened, the screw collars are advanced or lowered on
the shaft k, to indicate the position the take-ups should occupy.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is:
1. In à machine of the character described, a lower reciprocating plunger, two
adjusting brackets located on the shaft of said plunger, a second shaft, means
for reciprocating said second shaft, and two take-ups each comprising a forked
end portion sliding on the shaft of the plunger, a body portion and a split sleeve
portion surrounding the second shaft and adapted to be clamped thereon, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In a machine of the character described, in combination with a main power
shaft and a lower reciprocating plunger, a shaft and intermediate connections
adapted to operate said plunger, a yoke secured to said shaft and adapted to
surround the power shaft and to be withdrawn therefrom, and means, controlled
by the power shaft, for raising and lowering said yoke, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
3. In a machine of the character described, in combination with a main power
shaft, a lower reciprocating plunger, a yoke and intermediate mechanism for
reciprocating said plunger, a roller carried by said yoke and a cam secured to
said shaft in which the roller is guided, and said cam having a peripheral flange
partly cut away to permit of the withdrawal of the roller from said cam, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 27th day of April A.D. 1899.