IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANU- FACTURING ARTICLES WITH ANGULAR EDGES FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Snape, of Aberaman, Aberdare, in the County of
Glamorgan, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANU-
FACTURING ARTICLES WITH ANGULAR EDGES FROM PLASTIC MATERIALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Snape at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1877..
JOHN SNAPE, of Aberaman, Aberdare, in the County of Glamorgan.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES WITII ANGULAR EDGES FROM
PLASTIC MATERIALS."
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery for manufacturing articles
with angular edges from plastic materials.
In brick and tile making machines at present constructed the mouth of the
delivery aperture is provided with a moleskin lining on its four faces, the moleskin
being moistened with water to lubricate the plastic body as it travels through.
Now it has been found in practice that the friction of the clay against the moleskin
causes faulty edges and broken corners of the clay, which have to be dressed up
after the clay, in the form of bricks or tiles, have been removed.
According to my Invention I dispense with the moleskin lining, and therefore
obviate the inconveniences referred to.
I make my mouth-piece of metal with polished inner faces; at or near the angles
or corners only, I form apertures into which plugs of wood or other material are
placed, these having their outer faces capped or clothed with moleskin or flannel.
The plugs are hollow, and a supply of water is provided to the back ends that it
may-flow through the openings to the fabric; the chamber at the back of each of
the plugs is closed by a screw key or stopper, or the plug may be driven in from
the outside, and water can be admitted to the rear by suitable pipes.
The apertures in the mouth may be of any shape, and I prefer to arrange them
in pairs, one of which is in advance of the other, so that one face edge of the clay
is smoothed and left unbroken before the other face edge is brought into contact
with the other plug.
The supply of water is regulated by taps or valves.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Snape in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th November
1877.
"IMPROVE-
JOHN SNAPE, of Aberaman, Aberdare, in the County of Glamorgan.
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES WITH ANGULAR EDGES FROM
PLASTIC MATERIALS."
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery for manufacturing articles
with angular edges from plastic materials.
In brick and tile making machines at present constructed the mouth of the delivery
aperture is provided with a moleskin lining on its four faces, the moleskin being
moistened with water to lubricate the plastic body as it travels through. It is
found in practice, that the friction of the clay against the moleskin causes faulty
edges and broken corners of the clay, which have to be dressed up after the clay in
the form of bricks or tiles have been removed.
According to my Invention I dispense with the moleskin lining within the
mouth, and therefore obviate the inconveniences referred to.
I make my mouth-piece of metal with polished inner faces, and at or near the
angles or corners only at the sides. I form apertures into which plugs of wood or
other material are placed, these having their outer faces capped or clothed with
moleskin or flannel; the plugs are hollow, and a supply of water is provided to
their back ends that it may flow through the openings to the fabric; the chamber
at the back of each of the plugs is closed by a screw key or stopper, or the plug
may be driven in from the outside, and water can be admitted to its rear by
suitable pipes.
The apertures in the mouth may be of any shape, and I prefer to arrange them
in pairs, one of which is in advance of the other, so that one face edge of the clay
is smoothed and left unbroken before the other face edge is brought into contact
with the other plug.
The supply of water is regulated by taps or valves.
My Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed Drawings.
The metal dies A of the form or forms and dimensions required have their
internal surfaces polished, and at each angle of such die and at a specified distance
from the back of same are fitted two cylindrical wooden plugs with holes at their
centres, as shown at B, B, on longitudinal and half transverse sections on Drawings
Nos. 1 and 2; these wooden plugs B, B, are used for the purpose of securing and
placing in position the small discs of cloth, flannel, or other closely-woven fabric C,
shown around the plugs (by thick, dark lines), and also to convey the necessary
quantity of lubricant to the surfaces of such discs for lubrication; the said plugs
are placed in positions at each angle where required, one in advance of the other, as
shown in Drawings Nos. 1 and 2, and by which means the sharply defined angles
formed by the die are not destroyed. Each set of water plugs B, B, are provided
with a small regulating cock, shown plainly on Drawing No. 1, and are used for the
purpose of manipulating each corner separately, or all simultaneously, for lubrication
if desired or found necessary by a sudden change in the temper and consistency of
the clay being worked.
I dispense with the taper usually put at the sides of clay-working dies, and use
only the taper at top and bottom sides, or only at the surfaces of greatest area, tho
object of this arrangement being to relieve the sides from excessive friction, and
thereby ensure a nearly uniform flow of the clay stream to the delivery table D,
partially shown at Drawing No. 3, and in which Drawing its mode of affixing is
clearly shown in conjunction with a rotary continuous machine E. Should the
sections of such metallic dies be required of a complicated form, I make them in
two or more parts for greater facility in polishing the internal surfaces, but for all
plain sections, similar to that shown on accompanying plans, the dies would be
made in one piece; the object being, as before stated, to prevent the splitting and

page_text: cracking of clays at the angles whilst issuing from the delivery openings of brick-
making and clay-working machines, and also to obviate the great trouble and
expense of maintaining in working order the usual cloth-lined and water-lubricated
dies, and also to procure a glossed skin surface and sharply defined angles and
corners.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
Firstly. The improvement in dies used for shaping plastic articles, as herein set
forth, and substantially as shown in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. I claim the employment of plugs, preferably in pairs at or near the
angle corners of dies used for moulding bricks and like articles, as described and
shown, for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Snape, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
JOHN SNAPE. (L.S.)