IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CLAY OR OTHER PLASTIC MATERIAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING BRICKS, TILES, OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Goode Messenger, of Loughborough, in the County
AND
of Leicester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CLAY OR OTHER PLASTIC MATERIAL FOR THE
PURPOSE OF MAKING BRICKS, TILES, OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Sealed the 30th April 1880, and dated the 3rd December 1879.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Goode Messenger at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1879.
THOMAS GOODE MESSENGER, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CLAY OR OTHER
PLASTIC MATERIAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING BRICKS, TILES, OR OTHER
SIMILAR ARTICLES."
My Invention relates to machinery and apparatus for cutting or dividing the
stream of clay as it leaves an ordinary brick making machine into pieces, each of
which forms a brick, and it has for its objects improved methods of constructing
and arranging such machinery and apparatus so that it does not injure the clay in
the process of cutting, but leaves the corners and angles of the bricks true, and
their surface smooth, and avoids injury to them by handling them after they are
cut, whilst great saving of labour is effected in the manufacture and completion of
the bricks.
My Invention is also applicable to tiles and other articles of clay or other plastic
materials as well as to bricks.
In order to put my Invention into operation I make a strong framework of
metal, wood, or other suitable material, and upon this frame I arrange a receiving
board, upon which is received any desired length which has been cut off by a single
wire from the stream of clay issuing over friction rollers from the delivery mouth
of an ordinary pug mill or mixing machine.
The receiving board described is attached to a moveable frame, which is capable
of revolving or turning upon hinges at its back edge for the purpose hereinafter
described. The receiving board with the frame which supports it, as described, is
retained by a spring catch or other fastening in the proper position to receive the
length of clay, and I connect to it a lever having a moveable adjustable balance
weight, or I balance the receiving board and the length of clay by means of a
weight and chains or other suitable devices.

page_text: To the moveable frame described I connect a second moveable frame, preferably
also provided with an adjustable balance weight, and turning at its edge either
upon the same hinge as the moveable frame first described, or upon separato hinges
attached to the latter, so that the two frames may be turned upon their hinges
either together or separately.
Upon the front and back edges of the second moveable frame described I make
or fix any desired number of attachments, between which cutting wires may be
stretched and adjusted at any desired distances apart, and in order to prevent the
wires from breaking when stretched I prefer to arrange a spring of india rubber or
other suitable elastic material at the back of each of the nuts or other devices by
which they are tightened.
The piece of clay being in its proper position upon the receiving board the frame
last described, together with its cutting wires, is turned down upon its hinges so
that the wires cut the clay into the required number of bricks or other articles, and
the frame with its wires then becomes held securely down to the frame which
supports the receiving board by means of one or more strong spring catches or
other suitable fastenings. I prefer to arrange the catch already described by which
the frame carrying the receiving board is held down in its place in such manner
that the action of securing down the frame carrying the wires releases the first
named catch, and the first frame with its receiving board and the cut pieces of clay
upon it, together with the second fraine and its cutting wires can be turned simul-
taneously upon the hinges on the framework whilst they are locked together.
The clay having been cut into pieces as described, and the frame with the cutting
wires having been fixed down, I place upon the cut bricks a separate board, flat or
angled, and I secure this board in its place by spring hooks and catches or other
convenient fastenings, and I then lift up and turn over upon their hinges the two
boards having the bricks between them, and the latter are thus transferred froin
the receiving board of the machine to the separate board last described, upon which
they can be carried to any desired place to be dried and completed.
I arrange stops, slides, or detents in such positions that when the two boards
have been turned over as described they release the spring hooks or catches, and
thus set free the separate board upon which the bricks rest, and the frame being
then withdrawn the board, together with the bricks, are left upon suitable supports
or carrying bands or chains or other suitable apparatus for conveying them
away.
These carrying bands or chains for receiving the boards which support the
bricks may consist of chains, ropes, or flat bands of india rubber or other suitable
material carried upon rollers or boards to any desired distance, and set in motion
in the usual well understood way by the engine which drives the pug mill or
mixing machine, or by other convenient power. As each board with its bricks
is deposited upon the the travelling bands or chains it is carried forward at any
desired speed, so that one board succeeds another as fast as the bricks are
produced.
When the boards have been thus brought to the desired place they are lifted
from the travelling bands, and the bricks are removed from them to the drying
ground or floors without handling, or they are placed upon barrows or other
vehicles to be conveyed to the drying ground or floors.
In order that all the bricks carried upon a board as described may be set upon
end on the drying floors without being touched by hand, forks, or other means as
ordinarily used, I prefer to place upon the upper side of such bricks a board, which
takes the place of the receiving board from which they were transferred to the
moveable board, as already described, and I secure it to the latter by spring or
hinged hooks or other suitable fastenings, and I then lift the two boards holding
the bricks between them, and adjust them on end in the desired position.
I then release the hooks or fastenings, and remove the boards, leaving the bricks
upon the floor, where they can be separated and their positions adjusted as desired.
The moveable separate boards upon which the bricks have been conveyed as described

page_text: are returned by travelling bands or other convenient means to the machine to be
reloaded with fresh bricks.
By my improved apparatus, as described, it will be seen that the bricks or other
articles are cut by the downward action of wires upon a board, whence they are
transferred to another separate board without being touched by hand.
The separate boards carrying thom are at the same time deposited upon travelling
bands or other carrying appliances, from which they can be finally removed and
deposited upon the drying floors by means of second separate boards without being
touched by hand.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Goode Messenger in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
June 1880.
THOMAS GOODE MESSENGER, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CLAY OR OTHER
PLASTIC MATERIAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING BRICKS, TILES, OR OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES."
My Invention relates to machinery and apparatus for cutting or dividing the
stream of clay as it leaves an ordinary machine for making bricks, tiles, or other
similar articles into pieces of such size that each forms one brick or other such
article, and it has for its objects improved methods of constructing and arranging
such machinery or apparatus so that it does not injure the clay or other plastic
material in the process of cutting, but leaves the corners and angles of the bricks or
other articles true and their surface smooth, and prevents the risk of injury to them
by handling them after they are cut, whilst great saving of labour is effected in
their manufacture and completion.
In order to put my Invention in operation I make a strong framework of metal,
wood, or other suitable material, and upon this frame I arrange and adjust a
horizontal receiving board, upon which is received any desired length, which is cut
off by a single wire in the usual well known way from the stream of clay issuing
over friction rollers from the delivery mouth of an ordinary pug mill or mixing
machine. The receiving board is attached to a moveable frame which is capable of
revolving or turning for a sufficient distance upon a bar pivot or hinges at its back
edge, and the board, together with the frame which supports it as described, is
retained by a spring catch or other fastening in the proper position to receive the
length of clay deposited upon it and cut off as described. I connect to the frame a
lever provided with a moveable adjustable balance weight, or I balance the
receiving board and frame and the length of clay by means of a weight and chain, or
other suitable devices. In combination with the moveable frame turning upon the
hinge as described 1 arrange a second moveable frame, preferably also provided with
an adjustable weight, and turning at its edge upon the same bar, or pivot, or hinges
as the frame already described, or upon separate ones, so that the two frames may

page_text: be turned upon their hinges either together or separately. Upon the front and
back edges of the second moveable frame described I inake or fix any desired
number of adjustable sets of attachments or supports, between which a corresponding
number of cutting wires may be stretched and adjusted at any desired distance
apart; and in order to prevent the wires from breaking when stretched I prefer to
arrange a spring of india rubber or other suitable elastic material at the back of
each of the nuts or other devices by which the wires are tightened. The piece of
clay being delivered in the proper position upon the receiving board, the frame last
described carrying the cutting wires is turned down upon its bar or hinges so that
the wires cut the clay into the required number of pieces of the proper size to
form bricks or other articles, and the frame with its wires then becomes secured
and held down in its position by means of one or more strong spring catches
or other suitable fastenings.
I prefer to arrange the catch or fastening first described, by which the frame
carrying the receiving board is held down in its place, in such manner that the
nction of securing and fastening down the frame carrying the cutting wires releases
or disengages such first mentioned catch, and the first frame with the receiving
board carrying the cut pieces of clay, together with the second frame and its cutting
wires can be turned over simultaneously upon the hinges, whilst they aro both
· locked together. The clay having been cut into pieces as described, and the frame
with the cutting wires having been fixed down I place upon the cut bricks a
separate board, cither flat or angled, and I secure this board in its place by spring
hooks and catches, or other convenient fastenings, and I thon lift up and turn over
upon the the two boards having the bricks between them, and the latter are thus
transferred from the receiving board of the machine to the separate board last
described, upon which they can be carried to any desired place to be dried and
finished. I arrange stops, slides, or detents, in such positions that when the two
boards have been turned over as first described, and thus set free, the separate
board upon which the bricks rest and the frame with the receiving board being
again turned over, the separate board carrying the bricks is left upon suitable
supports, or it may be deposited upon travelling bands or chains, or other suitable
apparatus by which it is carried away to any desired position.
These carrying bands or chains for receiving the boards which support the
bricks may consist of chains, ropes, or flat bands of india rubber or other suitable
flexible material passed round pullies or drums, and carried upon rollers or boards
to any desired distance, and set in motion in the usual well understood way by
the engine which drives the pug mill or mixing machine, or by other convenient
power. As ench board with its bricks is deposited upon the travelling bands or
chains it is carried forward at any desired speed, so that one board succeeds another
as fast as the bricks are produced. When the boards have been thus conveyed to
the desired place they are lifted from the travelling bands, and the bricks are
removed from them to the drying ground or floors without being handled, or they
are placed upon barrows or other vehicles to be conveyed to such drying ground or
floors.
In the accompanying Drawing, which is in illustration of my Invention,
Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 a vertical section, and Figure 3 a longitudinal
elevation partly in section of a machine used for cutting bricks. A is the framework
of the machine, and B is the receiving board, upon which a length of clay is
delivered from a mixing machine (not shewn in the Drawing) over the friction
rollers C, C, C. A moveable frame is shewn at D carrying a single wire, by which
the length of clay is cut off.
The receiving board B is carried by the frame E, which turns upon the hinge or
shaft F supported in the bearings R. A spring catch is shewn at G, which holds
down the receiving board frame E; and H shows a lever and weight, by which the
latter, together with the clay upon it, are balanced; K. is the frame carrying the
cutting wires N, N, N, and balanced by the lever and weight L. The wires N
are attached to the supports M, M, M; and 0, 0, 0, represent screwed nuts and

page_text: clastic washers, by which the wires are stretched; P is a spring catch, which holds
down the cutting frame K; and S (Figure 2) represents the cut bricks; T is one
of the moveable angled boards placed upon the bricks S; and U, U, are spring
hooks by which the board T is held down; V are the travelling bands, upon which
the boards T with the bricks are deposited, as shewn in Figure 2; W is a handle
for the purpose of detaching the moveable frames; and X is a handle by which,
together with the frame E, the attendant operates the machine. The action of
the apparatus is as follows:-The length of clay having been cut off and deposited
upon the receiving board B the frame K, with the cutting wires N, N, N, is brought
down, and cuts the clay into separate bricks, the frame K being then held down by
the catch P; at the same time, the catch G is set free, and the frame E and
receiving board B are released; the separate angle board T is then placed upon the
cut bricks S, and is held in its place by the spring catches U, U, and the board B
and frame E; the frame K and the bricks S are turned over together round the
hinge or shaft F, the board T carrying the bricks being deposited upon the
travelling band V, and carried away when the catches U, U, have been released.
The frame E with the board B is then detached from the frane K by the handle W,
and turned back again, and the operations repeated, during which the bricks are not
touched by hand. In order that all the bricks carried upon a separate board, as
described, may be set upon end on the drying floors without being touched by
hand, forks, or other of the ordinary used means, I prefer to place upon the upper
side of such bricks, whilst still resting upon the angled board, a board which takes
the place of the receiving board, from which they are transferred to the moveable
angled board, as already described; and I secure it to the latter by spring or
hinged hooks or other suitable fastenings, and I then lift the two bourds, holding
between them the bricks, and I adjust them on end in the desired position; I then
release the hooks or fastenings and remove the boards, leaving the bricks upon the
floor, where they can then be separated, and their position adjusted as desired.
The moveable angled or other boards upon which the bricks have been conveyed, as
described, may be returned to the machine by travelling bands or other convenient
means to be reloaded with fresh bricks. Figure 4 shows an arrangement of
apparatus which may be added to my improved machinery or apparatus already
described, when bricks for arches or culverts or other bricks having unequal sides
are to be made. K¹ is a frame fixed in an upright position, and carrying cutting
wires. A¹ is a moveable board to receive such culverts or other bricks having
unequal sides supported upon the frame A. One or more toothed racks are
arranged as shewn at B2, operated by the toothed pinion or quadrant B' fixed upon
the shaft D', which is actuated as required by a wheel or handle; attached to the
racks B is a frame carrying a thrusting board C¹.
When the apparatus is to be used a stream of clay is delivered over friction
rollers upon the receiving board in front of C, and is then forced forward by the
board C against the wires in the vertical frame, by which it is cut into pieces of
the size and shape required; they thence pass on to the loose receiving board A'
upon which they are conveyed direct to the drying floors or sheds, or they are placed
upon travelling bands and dealt with in the manner already described, whilst
another receiving board is placed upon the frame and the operation repeated. A
novel method which I sometimes adopt for making such bricks or articles having
unequal sides is the following:-I attach a mould plate of the desired shape to the
mouth piece of the pug mill in which the clay is mixed, or 1 fix wires in the desired
position across the front of the mouth piece, so as to cut the issuing clay into one
or more streams or bars of the proper section for the bricks or other articles required,
and after cutting a single length of such streams or bars with a single wire, I carry
them over the friction rollers on to the receiving board of the machine first
described, and I then cut them into separate pieces of desired length for the bricks
or other articles, and I then deal with them and deposit then upon moveable
boards without handling them, as in the arrangement and process first described. In

page_text: this way moulded bricks or other articles of different forms may be inade, and cut
without in any way affecting their quality.
By means of springs, stops, and catches, as described, the securing and releasing
of the different parts of the apparatus are made practically automatic. I prefer to
cover the receiving boards with zinc or other sheet metal, which is non-absorbant
and by which the movement of the clay over them is facilitated.
By my improved machinery or apparatus, as described and shewn, it will be seen
that the bricks or other articles are cut by the downward action of wires upon a
board, whence they are transferred to another separate board without being touched
by hand, and the separate boards carrying them can be at the same time deposited
upon travelling bands or other travelling appliances, from which they can be finally
removed and deposited upon the drying floors with or without second separate
boards without being injured by handling.
Having now described my Invention and the mauner in which it is to be
performed, I claim, the horizontal receiving board carried upon a hinged frame
turning upon the same or separate hinges or centre and carrying wires cutting
downward, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in the Drawing.
Also, the combination of the receiving board and its hinged frame, the binged frame
carrying the cutting wires, the moveable plain or angled boards, and the spring
catches or fastenings and handles, by which the bricks or other articles are conveyed
to any position, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing. Also, the
combination with the two hinged frames, the moveable plain or angled boards, and
the catches and handles, of travelling bands or chains, by which the bricks or other
articles are conveyed to any position, substantially as described and shewn in the
Drawing.
Also the general arrangement of the machinery or apparatus, substantially as and
for the purposes described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Thomas Goode Messenger, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 1st day of June, in the year of our Lord 1880.
THOMAS GOODE MESSENGER. (La)