Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Manufacturing Printers "Leads" and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th June, 1897--Accepted, 11th Sept., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Manufacturing
Printers "Leads" and the like.
I, FREDERIC ULLMER, of 5, Alwyne Square, Canonbury, in the County of London,
Engineer, do bereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to my invention I manufacture printer's "leads," and the like by a
process which consists of casting and hot rolling, pieces of metal to a desired width
and thickness, the object being to close up the grain, and render the said pieces of
metal, hard, durable and elastic, and also to impart to the same a polished, or
burnished surface: an advantage not possessed by such articles manufactured by other
processes, which consist in either casting, or casting and afterwards planing or scraping
to the desired width and thickness.
The machinery or apparatus for manufacturing printers "leads" and the like by my
process is somewhat as follows:-
To melt the lead or other suitable metal or alloy I use one or more melting pots of
suitable size and shape, heated by any convenient means. One of the said melting
pots, is made to move by suitable mechanical apparatus and is suspended over or
against a casting box, of suitable size and shape, constructed in two or more sections,
one or more sections being mounted in bearings or suspended between cone centres
as may be most suitable.
When closed, the said casting box, forms in its interior, one or more openings of
suitable length width and thickness, and the exits of the said openings are wholly or
partially stopped to regulate the pressure of air desired against the incoming melted
metal. Fixed by screws or otherwise, at one end of a section of the said casting box,
is a plate, hereinafter called the nipple plate, having an orifice through it communi-
cating with the interior of the said casting box.
Fixed by screws, or otherwise, on the side, or at the bottom, of the said movable
melting pot, is also a plate having upon its surface a raise projection made with a
shoulder hereinafter called the nipple, having an orifice through it communicating
with the interior of the said movable melting pot. When the said movable melting
1xt is moved in the direction necessary to bring the said nipple into the orifice in the
sid nipple plate, the shoulder on the said nipple, fits against the surface of the said
nipple plate, and the melted metal is thus prevented from escaping otherwise than into
the opening leading to the interior of the said casting box. To regulate the flow of
metal, a well or chamber is formed in the interior of the said movable melting pot,
fitted with pumps, valves &c., similar to those used for type casting machines, but
adapted in its construction to the peculiar requirements of my process, and the orifice
in the said nipple communicates with the interior of the said well or chamber and is
opened and shut by a valve.
To prevent blow holes or air holes being formed in the process of casting, the pump
is balanced, counterpoised or weighted, equivalent to the amount of pressure necessary
to displace the air contained in the interior of the said casting box, so that the
melted metal takes the place of the air by forcing the latter out: if the pump is
wrongly balanced, a portion of air remains behind, causing blow ble or air holes.

page_text: The said casting box is heated by any convenient means to enable the melted metal
to flow to the bottom of the said casting box, and to facilitate the rapidity of casting,
a suitable arrangement is provided to cause water to flow on to the said nipple plate,
immediately after the pieces of metal are cast and the said movable melting pot moves
away therefrom.
All the mechanical apparatus previously described is mounted, fixed or attached to
suitable framework, and actuated by suitable shafts, wheels, cams, levers &c.
Mounted on the same, or on separate framework are two or more rollers, made to
revolve by suitable gearing in fixed or movable bearings, the periphery of the said
rollers being provided with a polished or burnished surface, to impart to the pieces
of metal which are passed between then, a like polished or burnished surface in the
process of reducing, or compressing the pieces of metal to the desired width and
thickness.
To keep the pieces of metal, as also the rollers to the desired heat they are
heated by any convenient means. To keep the pieces of metal from spreading beyond
the desired width and from bending out of the straight during the process of passing
between the said rollers, one or more of the said rollers are provided with flanges or
to effect the same object in another manner guide pieces may be provided and fixed
in contact with the sides of the said rollers, to form a groove or channel between
their peripheries the desired width and thickness.
The pieces of metal are now ready to be cut to the required length, and should any
slight burrs be formed on their edges caused by the action of passing through the
said rollers, such burrs can easily be removed by knives or cutters, all of which can be
done by suitable mechanical apparatus mounted on framework connected with or
separate from the framework used for mounting the mechanical apparatus previously
described.
I would have it understood that the construction of apparatus employed may
be variously modified without departing from the peculiar character of my
invention.
Dated Santamber 10th 1906
Deted September
ember 10th 1806
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Manufacturing
Printers "Leads" and the like.
I, FREDERIC ULLMER, of 5, Alwyne Square, Canonbury in the County of London,
Engineer 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:-
According to my invention I manufacture Printers Leads and the like by a Process
which consists of Casting and Hot Rolling pieces of Metal to a desired width and
thickness: the object being to close up the grain and render the said pieces of Metal
hard durable and elastic, and also to impart to the same a polished or burnished
surface an advantage not possessed by such articles manufactured by other
processes which consist in either Casting or Casting and afterwards Planing or
Scraping to the desired width and thickness.

page_text: The Machinery or Apparatus for Manufacturing Printers' Leads and the like-
(hereafter termed Leads)- by my Process may be constructed as shown in the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1. is a Front elevation of a Machine for Casting the Leads.
Fig. 1 is an end view of a Casting Box showing same closed and open, to explain
the manner in which it is constructed.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation of a Machine for Rolling and Finishing the Leads..
In Fig. 1. A is the Framework on which is mounted fixed and moveable
mechanismp, the moving parts receiving their momentum from the shaft B which
receives a rotary movement from the Shaft b by means of the pinion wheel bi
gearing with the spur wheel 6, both shafts, B, b, working. in bearings attached to
the framework A and the shaft b receiving a rotary movement from any convenient
source of power. Fixed on the shaft B are Cams which move the levers C, D, E, F,
and the corinecting rod G, and the moveable melting pot H.
The interior of the moveable melting pot H is somewhat similar in its construction
to those used for Type Casting Machines 'but altered to suit the peculiar
requirements of my process. At the bottom of the moveable melting pot H is a
well or chamber A which is opened and shut off from connection with the moveable
melting pot H by the piston & which has short flutes-(as shown by dotted lines)
to effect this purpose. The piston h' is connected to fhe rod e working on the stude
by means of the bolt e2, the rod e being held down by the spring es attached to the
stud h screwed into the moveable melting pot H. The rod e is raised and lowered
by the lever E which has a lug on the end of it to fit underneath the rod. e.. The
lever e is held down by the spring e' attached to the angle piece a fixed to the
framework A, and the said springe being more powerful than the spring e pulls
down the lever E and raises the rod e by overcoming the resistence of the spring ;
this action allows the melted metal to flow from the interior of the moveable melting
pot H into the well or chamber & where it is imprisoned or shut off from connection
with the-greater bulk of melted metal in the moveable melting pot H, it is then
forced out by the pump & through an exit hereafter to be described. The pump *
is connected to the lever F working on the stud e¹ by means of the bolt f, and the
pump h after being naised by the lever F then descends by its own weight which is
proportionately greater than the weight of the balance weight, and the pressure
necessary for, the pump A to exert on the melted metal in being forced or pushed
out of the well or chamber is controlled or regulated by the balance weight f
which is made to slide up and down the lever F and is held in correct position by a
set screw.
The melted metal when forced or pushed out of the well or chamber h by the
pump h finds its exit through an orifice in the bottom of the well or chamber.h, the
said orifice being drilled or bored through a raised projection on the surface of a
plate attached to the bottom of the well or chamber h, the said raised projection
hereafter termed the nipple h³. The end of the piston h' is fitted into the orifice in
the nipple to prevent the melted metal from escaping out of the well or
chamber h except at the required time, viz.-when the piston A is mised (as shown
in Fig. 1.) and the melted metal in the interior of the well or chamber is cut off
from communication with the melted metal in the interior of the moveable melting
pot. H and the moveable melting pot H is in contact with the Casting box I by
means of the nipple being lowered into the orifice in the nipple plate i, the
moveable melting pot H being swung on the shaft h' fitted into the framework A and
being raised or lowered by means of a cam fixed on to the shaft B.
Underneath the moveable melting pot H is the casting box I swung on hinge.
joints a, a, nnd held by the bolt , this enables the casting box 1, to be swung
clear of the moveable melting pot H to clean or adjust it, and when it is in its.
correct position for casting the Leads, it is fixed by screws, or bolts, i, to the
framework A. The casting box I is made in sections, one section being moveable
and swung on coned centres i³, is, when closed the fixed and moveable sections form

page_text: in their interior an opening the size the Leads are required to be cast, and the
bottom of the opening is sufficiently closed to prevent the melted metal from
escaping and also the air is prevented from escaping too quickly, only experience
derived from experiments can demonstrate the amount of opening required, as
variations in the Auidity of the melted metal, or variations in its specific weight,
both govern the correct amount of opening required for the escape of the air and
also the correct weighting of the pamp-4, the correct combination of these influence
the quality of the article manufactured, and defects, such as split edges or blowholes,
are avoided or reduced to a minimum in the process of manufacture.
At the top of the moveable section of the casting box I is fixed a plate i³-
(hereafter called the nipple plate)-having an orifice through it communicating with
the interior of the casting box I, and the nipple h fits into the orifice in the nipple
plate to establish a communication between the well or chamber h and the interior
of the casting box I, so as to allow the melted metal in the well or chamber h to
pass from thence into the opening in the interior of the casting box I. Fig. 1 shows
the construction of the nipple plate and the interior construction of the -casting
<box I.
The casting box I is opened and shut by the lever C 'fixed on to the upright
-shaft C working in the bearing a attached to the framework A, the upright shaft C
being moved by a cam fixed on the shaft B, and the casting box I being opened and
shut by the lever Cworking in the slide C.
Working in a bearing a attached to the framework A is an apparatus hereafter
(called the water fountain J which receives its supply of water from the pipe j from
any convenient source. The Water fountain J is made hollow and has a valve
connecting it with the pipe j so that when the water fountain J moves inwards and
over the nipple plate the valve opens and water flows faom the pipe jon to the
nipple plate to cool or set the top of the Lead which has been cast. The water
fountain Jis fastened to the connecting rod G by means of the bolt j' and is moved
by a cam fixed on the shaft B.
To eject the Leads after being cast, the knob or projection on the end of the
lever D enters the orifice in the nipple plate and is moved downwards by a cam
fixed on the shaft B, the lever D returning to its former position by means of the
spring attached to the angle piece a fixed to the framework A.
When it is desired to-cast the Leads, the Metal or Alloy-being first melted in a
'suitable receptacle in, then transferred to the moveable melting pot H, which is
heated sufficiently to keep the Melted Metal or Alloy to the required fluid consistency;
the Casting Box I being also heated to allow the Melted Metal to flow down the
*required distance before it becomes set. The Machinery is then set in motion and
the lever C closes the moveable section of the casting box I, the moveable melting
pot H is then lowered and the nipple A' enters the orifice in the nipple plate :
the piston h¹ is. then raised and opens the orifice in the nipple h³, at the same time
-closing the means of communication between the well or chamber h and the moveable
melting pot H, at the same time the Pump h' descends and forces the melted metal
from the well or chamber & through the orifice in the nipple h into the opening in
"the interior of the casting box I, the piston h¹ then descends and closes the orifice in.
the nipple h at the same time opening the means of communication between the well
or chamber and the moveable melting pot H to allow another charge of melted
metal to enter the well or chamber h, then the moveable melting pot H is raised
and the water fountain J moves forward and over the nipple plate to flow water on
the top of the Lead which has been cast to cool or set it, the water fountain J then
returns to its former position and the lever C opens the moveable section of the
casting box I to the position required for the knot or projection on the end of the
lever D to enter the orifice in the nipple plate and eject the Lead which has
been cast, the Lead then falls into any convenient receptacle-say a box or shoot
provided for the purpose-and-as the leads are cast and accumulate in quantity,
they are removed to where they are trimmed and cut ready to be delivered into the
Rolling and Finishing Machine as shown in Fig. 2. This process of trimming and

page_text: cutting could be done by Machinery attached to or separate from the Casting
Machine from whence the Leads could be delivered automatically to the Rolling
and Finishing Machine, but it would require costly and complicated apparatus and
is preferably done by hand as a cheaper method.
In Fig. 2. K is the Framework on which is mounted fixed and moveable
mechanism, the moving parta receiving their momentum from the shaft L by means
of the pinion wheel gearing with the spur wheel, the shaft I, being mounted in
bearings attached to the framework K. Two Rollers M. N. provided with
axles m. n. work in bearings which slide in the upright. Standards attached to
the Framework K, the bearings being raised or lowered and held in position by the
pressure screw 2, the spur wheel ¹ being fixed on to the axle n. the Roller N is
made to revolve. by receiving a rotary movement from the shaft L by means of
the pinion wheel gearing with the spur wheel , the shaft L receiving a rotary
move ment from any convenient source of power-say a band attached to the
pulley 2. The Roller M is made to revolve by receiving a rotary movement from
the Roller N by means of gearing wheels fixed on to the axles m. n.
The Rollers M. N. are the width the Leads are required to be finished, and side
guide pieces O. are fixed to the upright standards and held in position to touch
against the sides of the Rollers M. N. to prevent the Leads from spreading
beyond the desired width and also to prevent them from bending out of the straight,
a channel being formed to receive the Leads as they leave the Rollers M. N by
fixing two guide pieces m³, n¹, to the upright standard k¹.
The Leads having been prepared for rolling and finishing, are laid upon the plate P,
attached to the framework K, and kept to the required heat by any convenient
means-say gas jets placed underneath the plate P.-The Leads are then introduced
one by one between the Rollers M, N, which reduce or compress them to the desired
width and thickness, at the same time imparting to them a polished or burnished
surface, and rendering them hard, durable, and elastic by closing up the grain of the
Metal or Alloy. The Leads, as they pass between the rollers M, N, are received into
the channel between the guide pieces m³, n', and conveyed along the shelf Q into the
rollers R, S, which hold them in position while the knives T remove any burr's
formed on the Leads by the action of passing through the rollers M. N. The Leads as
they pass between the rollers R, S, are received on to the shelf q and conveyed on to
the Roller Wheels U, u, u¹, uz, u³, u, us, uo, u, u", from which they can be received
by hand, to be cut up to the required lengths.
The shelf Q and the shelf q is attached to the upright standard ', and the
rollers R, S, are provided with axles r, s, working in bearings which slide in the
upright standards, attached to the framework K, the bearings being raised and
lowered and held in position by the pressure screws k, the roller S receiving a rotary
movement from the roller N by a band working off a pulley fixed on to the axle n on
to a pulley fixed on to the axle S. The Roller Wheels U. u, u', u², 20³, 10, ³, 10, 10', u',
work on studs, u, 0011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2014, 101, 1, ", screwed into the
framework K and are caused to revolve by the weight of the Lead pressing upon their
periphery as it travels along from the rollers R, S, and when released from the
rollers R, S, the momentum is sufficient to carry the Leads the required distance to
where they are received by hand.
I would have it understood that the construction of Machinery or Apparatus
employed may be variously modified, and departures from the precise construction
shown and described may be made without departing from the peculiar character of
my invention.
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 :-
The herein described process of making Printers Leads and the like whereby the
grain of the Metal or Alloy is closed up or compressed to render the same hard,
durable, and elastic, and to impart to the same a polished or burnished surface; the

page_text: Machinery or Apparatus for manufacturing same being constructed in such manner
that defects such as split edges or blowholes-are avoided or reduced to a minimum
in the process of manufacture.