Improvements in Brick-making Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brick-making Machines.
I, ROBERT KNICKERBOCKER, of Chicago Illinois, United States of America
Machinest, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what mauner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention relates to the class of brick machines in which is provided a rotary
platten having mold boxes therein and having reciprocating dies adapted to press the
clay within the box to form the brick, and by a continuous movement of the dies to
eject the same from the mold after it is pressed.
My invention relates to certain improvements in this class of brick machines
which may be summarized as follows:
First: The combination with a rotating platen, having mold boxes therein, of a
series of lower or bed dies having bearings upon a cam track of peculiar con-
figuration, whereby is imparted to them a vertical reciprocating movement, of a
series of upper dies secured to rotate with an upper frame and adapted to b'e
vertically moved by a cam track also of peculiar configuration and formed upon
the under side of a stationary frame, in order to gradually press or form the brick
between their lower faces and the upper faces of the bed dies, and whereby ample
time is given for the release of the air in the clay and the brick while under
forming pressure is gradually elevated within the mold box and its edges are filled
out true and aro polished.
Second: The combination with the upper dies, of a second cam track upon which
said dies also have a bearing and which is adapted at one point of their circuit to
elevate them in order to clear the feed spout which delivers the clay to the mold
boxes.
1
Third: The provision of an adjustable section in the cam track of the lower or bed
dies, whereby the quantity of clay fed to the mold boxes may be varied.
:
Fourth To the provision of a lower auxiliary cam track whereon the lower or bed
dies have a bearing and whereby said dies are positively depressed after the brick has
been formed; and said cam track having also therein an adjustable section.
Fifth To the provision of a removable section in the stationary top plate of the
machine whereby the removal and insertion of the upper dies is made possible, and to
a similar provision in the lower cam track.
Sixth An improved feed which is of such construction as to permit ample time for
the filling of the mold as it passes beneath the feed spout and having means for
relieving itself in case of an obstruction, such as a stone in the clay, whereby danger
of breaking the machine is obviated.
:
Seventh In an improved form of knock-off device for removing the brick froin
the platen without injuring them.
My invention also consists in certain novel devices and combinations of devices for
effecting these desirable ends, as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings;
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, some of the parts omitted and others being shown
entire.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in side elevation taken from that side of the machine on
which the feed box is located and showing one means of adjusting the movable cam
track section.
Fig. 4 is a diagramatic view of the main cam tracks showing their peculiar
configuration with reference to each other.

page_text: Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the adjustable section of the lower auxiliary cam
track.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the stationary top plate of the machine
showing the removable section thereof and also portions of a carrier belt and feed
spout and showing also, partly in plan and partly by dotted lines, the knock-off
device; and
Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of parts of the knock-off device.
In the drawings 9 represents a convenient base for the machine on the upper
surface of which is formed a circular cam track 10, having a removable section 11, to
permit the taking out and replacing of the dies. The bearing face of this cam track
is inclined downwardly from its inner to its outer edge, that is toward the centre of
movement, as clearly shown in the drawings and for a purpose hereinafter described.
Rising from the centre of the frame is an integral extension of the base in the
form of a column 12 which is the axis of the rotary parts. At the top of said
column is secured a stationary plate 13, parallel to the base baving a removable
section 13a, and on the under surface of said plate is a circular cam track 14,
whose face is inclined, toward the common centre of the rotating parts. 15 is a
rotary platen having the mold boxes 16, and which platen may be rotated by a
suitable driving pinion on shaft 17, enmeshing with gear teeth 18 on the periphery of
the platen. 19 is a frame secured by the bolts 20 to rotate with the platen. In this
frame ways are formed by the guide strips 21 for the upper dies 22, whose cross heads
move within the ways and carry the conical rollers 23, which are adapted to the
bearing surfaces of the cam track 14. The cross heads of the upper dies will slide
freely in the ways and the cam track 14 being of the configuration shown in Fig. 4,
will cause these dies at one point of the revolution, indicated at a b Fig. 4, to move
downward and enter the mold box after the latter has been filled. From 6 to c
the cam track 14 gradually rises and the upper die will rise under pressure of the
lower one until it reaches the point c, from whence to d-the cam track inclines
upwardly sharply, thus permitting of the upper die being raised to pass any
obstruction on the platen, as for example, the stationary feed box 24. From d to e
the upper cam track may be horizontal and the upper die may be moved in a
horizontal plane to pass said obstruction, after which the track declines sharply
from e to a, thus causing the descent of the upper die upon the clay, which it
commences to press at a.
The lower dies, marked 25, move in ways 26 and carry the conical rollers 27
which are adapted to the lower cam track 10. The configuration of this track is
shown in Fig. 4 and is of a uniform inclination from to g. At the point the
clay will have been filled into the mold box, whose bottom is closed by the lower
die, and which die will then move upward, no pressure being exerted, however, until
the upper. die has arrived at a. At that point the pressure of the clay between the
two dies commences and is constantly increased until the upper die reaches, at which
point the upper die begins to rise as before described, while the lower die constantly
ascends from f to g, from which latter point to the brick is gradually moved upward
within the mold box, thus perfectly filling out and polishing its edges. From / to i
the lower die may travel in a horizontal plane, that is, with its upper end flush with
the face of the platen and then it may descend by gravity, but it is preferably
positively depressed by means of a lower auxiliary cam track 28, which receives a
roller 29 secured to the end of the arbor 30 of the roller 27. This auxiliary cam
track need only be of such length as to act upon the lower die during its movement
through a fragmentary portion of its circuit, as for example, from i to and it
effectually prevents any imperfections of operation caused by the clogging or
sticking of the die in the mold box. I prefer to make this section of cam track 28
vertically adjustable and the means whereby it is adjusted are shown in Figs. 5
and 6, in which figures the cam track has supporting feet 28a entering apertures in
the base 10, which base is cut away beneath the cam track 28 to receive the
wedge 31, which latter terminates in a threaded end 32 to which the adjusting
nut 33 is applied. By tightening this nut the wedge will force the track section 28

page_text: upwardly and when this track is reached by the roller 29 the die 25 will be lowered
in the mold box but the roller 26 will be held suspended above the cam track 10,
and thus by the vertical adjustment of this track 28 the quantity of clay admitted to
the mold boxes may be regulated.
The clay or other material to be pressed will be fed to the molds through a
stationary feed box 24 which may be a continuation of a suitable feed hopper 31,
and has an open lower end which registers with the various mold boxes as they are
successively presented beneath it in the revolution of the platen. This feed spout I
prefer to make of a width at least twice the width of the mold box, as clearly
shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, so that ample time is given for the clay to fill the
box, while the latter is passing under the upper end of the feed spout. It frequently
happens that hard substances, such as imperfectly ground clay, stone and other
foreign substances are delivered to the mold boxes through the feed spout and if the
latter he made solid, some part of the machinery or the foreign substance must be
crushed or broken. To avoid this I provide a hinged valve 35 in one side of the
feed box, which is held normally closed by means of the spring 36. If an obstruc-
tion is presented to the mold, in this operation this hinged valve will open under the
unusual strain thereby relieving the pressure and obviating any danger of breaking
the machinery.
In order to elevate the upper dies to cause them to clear the feed spout, I have
extended the journals of the anti-friction bearings of the upper dies and secured on
the outer ends of said journals, travellers 37, which are adapted to bear upon a
circular cam track 38, formed of separate pieces 39 bolted or otherwise secured to the
under side of the top plate 13, or if preferred made integral therewith. The path
of this cam track is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 and a portion thereof is
clearly shown in Fig. 3. At the point on said track on which Fig. 3 is taken it has
a sharp incline, marked 40, which carries the die up to a height sufficient to clear
the top of the feed spout, and a straight portion of track 42 carries the die over
the feed spout, while a sharp decline 43 permits the die to drop down after it has
cleared the spout to enter the mold box. The track 38 also acts as a support for the
upper dies to prevent their dropping too far into the mold box and thereby serves as
a stop to limit the downward movement of said dies.
In Fig. 3 I have shown the lower cam track provided with an adjustable section,
marked 44, said section being supported upon adjusting screws 45, which are provided
with a suitable gearing as shown in said figure and whereby the screws may be
turned to raise or lower the section 44 and thereby to limit the downward movement
of the dies and thereby to control the quantity of clay admitted to the mold box.
To remove the brick from the platen without injury, I have provided the knock-off
device shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, which consists of a series of
sweep arms rotatably mounted upon a stud bearing a gear enmeshed with the gear
teeth on the edge of the platen. 46 represent said sweep arms, 47 their studs and 48.
the gear thereof. Each of said sweep arms is preferably provided with pivoted
blocks 49, 50, which are adapted to engage respectively the end and side of the
finished brick and the revolution of the sweep arms is so regulated that these blocks
engage the brick at the moment that it has cleared the mold box and by their
rotation, operate to sweep the brick off the platen, preferably upon the travelling
belt 51, which will be adapted to conduct the brick to one side of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A brick machine having an upper and lower set of reciprocating dies, a stationary
base and top plate, said base having a circular cam track whereon the lower dies have a
bearing, said cam track extending with a uniform upward inclination throughout the
greater part of its length and having at one point therein a raised portion adapted to
lift the lower dies whereby to eject the brick, and said top plate having on its lower
surface a circular cam track on which the upper dies have a bearing said cam track

page_text: being inclined at one point therein toward the lower cam track and oppositely inclined
throughout a portion of its length but at a less degree than the corresponding portion
of the lower cam track, whereby the lower dies are caused to move faster than the
upper dies during the act of forming the brick and thus moving the brick under
pressure within the mold box, substantially as described.
2. In a brick machine having a stationary base and top plate, a revolving platen
and an upper and lower set of reciprocating dies rotatable with said platen, said top
plate and base having removable sections to permit of the insertion and removal of
the dies, substantially as described.
3. In a brick machine the combination of a stationary base and top plate, a rotary
platen, an upper and a lower set of reciprocating dies, cam tracks on the base and top
plate on which the respective sets of dies have a bearing and an upper auxiliary cam
track on which the upper set of dies also have a bearing, said upper auxiliary track
having a raised portion therein whereby to lift the dies at one point of their revolution
and a lower auxiliary cam track whereby said lower dies are positively depressed at
one point of their revolution, substantially as described.
4. In a brick machine having a stationary feed box, the combination with a rotary
platen having mold boxes therein, a feed spout whose upper end delivers over the path
of the mold boxes, reciprocating bed dies, a circular cain track upon which the bed
dies have a bearing, upper dies having a sliding bearing in a rotatable frame, a cam
track upon which the upper dies have a bearing, and a second cam track upon which
the upper dies also bear, said second track having a raised portion adapted to lift said
upper dies at one point of their revolution over said stationary feed box, substantially
as described.
5. In a brick machine having a rotary platen provided with mold boxes, reciprocating
bed dies having extended shanks and a cam track upon which said shanks have a
bearing, said cam track having an adjustable section mounted upon screws toward
either end thereof, and gearing for rotating said screws to adjust said section whereby
the movement of the bed dies may be regulated, substantially as described.
6. The combination in a brick machine of a rotary platen having a series of mold
boxes therein, reciprocating bed dies entering the bottoms of said mold boxes, and a
feed spout having an opening of greater width than said mold boxes and adapted to
discharge material passed through said spout into said boxes, substantially as
described.
7. The combination in a brick machine of a rotary platen having a series of mold
boxes therein, reciprocating bed dies entering the bottoms of said mold boxes, a feed
spout having an opening of greater width than said mold boxes and adapted to
discharge material passed through said spout into said boxes, said feed spout having
a hinged wall section, substantially as described.
8. In a brick machine having a rotary platen provided with mold boxes and
reciprocating dies adapted to discharge the brick from said boxes, in combination
tberewith a knock-off device comprising rotatable arms, having pivoted blocks thereon
adapted to bear respectively upon the end and side of the finished brick, substantially
as described.
Dated this 24th dore of Al 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.