GB2255930A

GB2255930A - Manufacture of pottery articles

Info

Publication number: GB2255930A
Application number: GB9211037A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rupert Harry Colin Loof
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-22
Filing date: 1992-05-22
Publication date: 1992-11-25
Also published as: GB9211037D0

Abstract

A device for making an article of pottery comprising a substrate surface (15) (Fig 3, not shown) upon which a quantity of unformed clay is placed and an excavator means 1a, operable to remove quantities of clay such that an inner surface of the article is formed therein. The excavator means 1a preferably comprises a shaped cutting/shovelling means 5a attached to an actuator 3 to allow movement of the cutting/shovelling means 5a. The actuation means is preferably attached to support means (9, 16,) (Fig 3, not shown) to allow three dimensional movement of the cutting/shovelling means. The invention also provides for a pressing device and a centering device. The device may be utilised either in conjunction with a potter's wheel, or without a potter's wheel, in which case a mould 28 might be used. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MAKING ARTICLES OF POTTERY The present invention relates to a device and method for making articles of pottery.

It is presently known to make articles of pottery using, inter alia, a potter's wheel, or, by using the "slab method".

Using the slab method, it is necessary to join various "slabs" of clay together to form an article of pottery this method, by necessity, resulting in joins between the various "slabs" of the article. Obviously, such joins are the weak points of the article, and, if the article is dropped or bumped, is prone to crack along such joins.

Utilisation of a potter's wheel does obviate the necessity to have joins in the article between the various surfaces thereof, however, as will be appreciated, a potter's wheel is not always available for use, and even if a potter's wheel is available, a considerable amount of expertise is generally required to efficiently and effectively produce an article on such a potter's wheel.

The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art methods of making pottery, by providing a device and method for making pottery which shall be termed hereinafter as the "excavation" device and method.

As will be appreciated from a reading of this specification, the device described hereinafter is capable of being used in a wide variety of ways, by being either manually controlled or automatically controlled, and is capable of being used either with or without a potter's wheel. In all such applications, the utilisation of the "excavation" device and method results in a professional quality article being produced by either a novice or an expert, which is devoid of joins and is quick and easy to produce.

In one form the present invention provides a device for making an article of pottery, comprising: a substrate surface, upon which a quantity of unformed clay can be placed; an excavator means, operable to remove quantities of said clay such that a surface of said article is formed.

In a further form, the present invention provides a method of making an article of pottery, comprising the steps of: supplying a predetermined quantity of unformed clay onto a substrate surface; excavating quantities of said clay such that an inner surface of an article is formed therein.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of the excavator portion of the device; Fig. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the excavator of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates a front elevational view of the excavator attached to the support and stand over a potter's wheel; Fig. 4 illustrates a side elevational view of the device illustrated in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 illustrates a plan view of the excavation device on it's support (without a potter's wheel); Fig. 6 illustrates a front elevational view of the device illustrated in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 illustrates the use of a mould in conjunction with the device of Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 8 illustrates a front elevational view of the device of Fig. 7;; Fig. 9 illustrates a front elevational view of an alternative cutting/shovelling means attached to the excavator; Fig. 10 illustrates a side elevational view of the device illustrated in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 illustrates a front elevational view of a pressing means above a potter's wheel; Fig. 12 illustrates a front elevational view of the pressing means of Fig. 11 above a mould; Fig. 13 illustrates a plan view of a supply means to place a quantity of unformed clay onto a substrate surface; Fig. 14 illustrates front elevational view of a pressing means for making an article of pottery after only one pressing; and, Fig. 15 illustrates a plan view of pressing means referred to in Fig. 14.

In Figs. 1 and 2 are illustrated front and side elevational views of the excavator means la of the device in accordance with the present invention. The excavator means is shown having a pair of parallel tubes 2 connected in spaced apart relationship by a plate 1 and adapted to receive a pair of elongated tubes 3 therethrough for slidable movement relative to the tubes 2. For support purposes, the elongated tubes 3 are provided with a joiner piece 4 at the upper end thereof, and the lower end of the tubes has a shaped cutting/shovelling means 5a attached thereto. In this embodiment, the cutting/shovelling means is comprised of a pair of thin tubes or wires 5 extending downwardly from the elongated tubes 3 and has a further thin tube or wire 6 connected between the lower ends thereof.It will be appreciated that the tubes or wires 5 and 6 are thin enough to cut through clay in a relatively clean manner.

Intermediate the ends of the elongated tubes 3, is provided an adjustable stop 7 connected on a plate 7a: the upper end of the adjustable stop 7 being adapted to contact with the piece 4 at a predetermined position such that movement of the cutting/shovelling means in a vertical direction beyond a prescribed limit is impeded. Viewing Fig. 2 will illustrate that a clip 8 is provided at the rearward side of the excavator, adapted to fit over the support 9, the support 9 being itself illustrated in Figs. 3 et al.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the composite device comprising the excavator means la attached on a support 9, which support 9 is itself attached to supports 16, the lower end of the support 16 in turn being attached to a substrate surface upon which a potter's wheel 15 may be provided. It will be appreciated that the excavator means la is movable along the length of the elongated support member 9, in this case being slidable along the support 9 by virtue of the nature of its connection with the aid of clip 8. Adjustable stops 13 and 14 are adjustably provided intermediate the ends of the elongated support member 9 to prevent movement of the excavator beyond these positions. These may be set by an operator as required. In turn, the elongated support members 9 are adjustable in elevation, movable in the vertical direction about upright elongated support members 16.Also shown is a marking/cutting means 19 which may be utilised to mark the outer edge of the article of pottery.

This marking/cutting means 19 is shown comprising a downwardly extending rod 19 attached to a slidable mounting 18a, slidable along support 9. The rod 19 may be adapted in the vertical direction as required by an operator. When this marking/cutting means 19 is utilised in conjunction with the potter's wheel it will be appreciated that the rod 19 will easily mark an outer circumference of the proposed article of pottery. The rod 19 can also be utilised as a device to excavate the exterior surface of the article of pottery. That is, by lowering the rod 19 towards the potter's wheel, when the wheel is rotated, the rod 19 will perform a cutting action to form an exterior surface on an article of pottery. It will be appreciated that, in place of a straight rod 19, a carved marking/cutting means may be provided to create a curved outer surface on the article of pottery. These marking/cutting means will also be appreciated to provide a simultaneous purpose of centering the unformed clay as the waste material is removed from about the outer surface.

In Figs. 5 and 6 are illustrated the utilisation of the device without a potter's wheel. In this embodiment, wooden or plaster of Paris bats 23 are provided on the substrate surface, and unformed clay 24 is supplied within the confines of the borders thereof. Once the clay is supplied within the confines of these borders, it is preferably pressed by a pressing means such that the outer surfaces of the final article become moulded to the shape of the inside surface of the borders.An almost instantaneous method of making an article of pottery can then be adopted firstly by constructing a mould selected according to the outer shape of the predetermined article of pottery, and, secondly, by shaping the said pressing means, which is made of Plaster of Paris or other materials, so that the width of the said pressing means is made narrower than the mould by an amount equal to the width of the rim of the predetermined article of pottery, and made lesser in depth than the mould by an amount equal to the thickness of the base of the said predetermined article of pottery.

After the clay in the mould has been pressed down by the pressing means and after the trimming of any excess clay away from the edges of the said pressing means, the said pressing means and the completed article of pottery can be lifted and removed from the said Plaster of Paris mould.

This act would constitute the completion of the construction of the article of pottery which would then be ready for drying and, later, firing. Details of said pressing means are illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 (the numbers in both Figs. 14 and 15 referring to the same parts). Frame lc supports the said pressing means. Rod la slides within rod lb. At end of rod la.is fixed a plate 2, made of wood or other material, which supports the plaster of Paris pressing means 3. The plaster of Paris pressing means 3 is held in position under plate 2 by two brackets 4 which are moulded with the said pressing means 3 enabling it, and any other plaster of Paris pressing means, to slide in under support plate 2.Before the said pressing means 3 is pressed down into said mould 6, care should be taken to see that all sides of the said pressing means 3 are equidistant from the sides of said mould 6 (the distance being equal to the width of the sides of the proposed article of pottery while the distance pressing means 3 is pressed down will be no lower than the thickness of its base. Clay 5 is in mould 6 ready for pressing.

On the other hand, if the said pressing means is so constructed that it is lesser both in width and depth than the pressing means referred to in the previous paragraph, then the inner surface of the sides and base of the article of pottery would be excavated using the excavator means la movable in the three dimensions, as desired. Fig. 6 illustrates, more clearly, the mechanism of this embodiment of the invention which facilitates movement between the upright members 16 in the forward and backwards direction on the substrate surface 24a. As seen, the upright members 16 have their lower extremities 21 thereof provided within channels 22 for forward and backward movement therein. The amount of movement can be controlled by a threaded rod 26 provided with adjustable stops 25 thereon, typically embodied as bolts.

In Fig. 7 is illustrated a mould which might typically be used to mould an article having an elliptical outer shape and flat base. The mould 28 would preferably be constructed in two parts separable at joins 30. The unformed clay should be initially compressed within the confines of the walls 32, and then, unless the procedure to create an "almost instantaneous method of making an article of pottery" referred to in relation to Figs. 5 and 6 above, is followed, the excavation procedure may be commenced. For ease of understanding, an elevational view of this embodiment of Fig. 7 is illustrated in Fig. 8. It will be appreciated that a mould of any desired shape could be provided, selected according to the desired outer shape of the article.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated an alternative cutting/ shovelling means. Instead of the cutting/shovelling means 5a of Fig. 1 being provided, a plate like member or scoop 33, an example of which is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 may be provided. Height adjustability of the plate like member or scoop 33 in connecting same to the handle portion of the excavator may be enabled by the provision of the slit 34 and bolts 35 which would operate in known manner.

After an article of pottery has been initially moulded and has become leather-hard, the potter then normally performs the operation of turning and trimming. The usual method of performing these operations is to turn the article of pottery upside down on the potter's wheel, and use special turning and trimming tools. Utilising the device of the present invention, the turning and trimming operations could be performed utilising the excavator depicted in Figs.

9 and 10. That is, the excavator of Figs. 9 and 10 could be used to trim the bottom of the article of pottery to ensure it is of uniform thickness or create a foot or other additional member on the bottom of the article.

In Figs. 11 and 12 are illustrated a compressor or pressing device 36, designed to press the unformed clay to compact same within the confines of borders 23 or the surface 31 of mould 28 and also to press downwardly unformed clay on a potters wheel so that a lesser amount of clay would need to be excavated. In particular, Fig. 11 illustrates a pressing device 36 over a potter's wheel 15, and Fig. 12 illustrates a pressing device 36 over a mould 23. The compressor may for example consist of a rod 38 having a plate like member 39 attached to the lower end thereof and a handle 40 attached to the upper end thereof, the rod 38 passing through an orifice provided in a support 41. The rod 38 may be threaded and be rotated within the orifice, also threaded to move the compressor in an upwards and downwards motion.Alternatively, the orifice might simply guide the rod, each of the rod and orifice being non-threaded.

In Fig. 13 is illustrated a plan view of a supply means 42, which comprises a device which is designed to "throw" the clay into the centre of the substrate surface, ready for the excavating operation to commence. The bottom of the box containing the clay should contain a threaded rod made adjustable by means of nuts on either side of the base of the said box. The end of the said threaded rod should be aligned with the dead centre of the potter's wheel so that the centre of the unformed clay will be indicated by the hole made by the said threaded rod. The threaded rod should be adjusted so that the end is no lower than the thickness of the base of the proposed article of pottery. This would assist in centering the clay on the potter's wheel; It will be appreciated that a similar device may also be provided to remove the final article of pottery from the substrate surface.

Instead of the said supply means depicted in Fig. 13, a pressing means, different from that depicted in Fig. 11, could be constructed using the same hinge as that depicted in Fig. 13. The same hinge could be used as the fulcrum of a lever which at one end would be lifted manually so as to force downwards at the other end the said plate-like member 39a depicted in Fig. 11, so as to depress the unformed clay on the potter's wheel.

A similar structure could be used in connection with the frame depicted in Figs. 5 and 6. The said structure could be fixed to the table on which the said frame depicted in Figs. 5 and 6 is situated, and used instead of the pressing means depicted in Fig. 12. The lever would in like manner force the said plate 39 downwards so as to depress the unformed clay located on the base of the said frame depicted in Figs. 5 and 6.

It will be understood-by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications will be envisaged to the device as illustrated in the attached drawings and as described hereinbefore. For example, the device may be automated or computer controlled, such that human operation is unnecessary. For example, the required movement of the excavator could be programmed and driven by an electric motor, such that an article of pottery is produced without human contact. Such an embodiment would be envisaged to mass produce articles of pottery in accordance with the excavation method hereinbefore described.

Whilst particular embodiments of the invention have been hereinbefore described, any such variations and modifications which become obvious to persons skilled in the art should be considered#to fall within the scope of the invention as hereinbefore described and hereinafter claimed.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A device for making an article of pottery, comprising: a substrate surface, upon which a quantity of unformed clay is placed; an excavator means, operable to remove quantities of said clay such that an inner surface of said article is formed therein.

2. A device for making-an article of pottery as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mould provided on or about said substrate surface such that, prior to formation of an inner surface, pressure may be applied to said unformed clay to form an outer surface of said article.

3. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said mould is constructed of wood or plaster of Paris.

4. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said excavator means comprises: a shaped cutting/shovelling means to cut through said unformed clay and extract any excess clay from said quantity of clay such that an inner surface of said article is formed.

5. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an upper portion of said cutting/shovelling means is attached to an actuator means to allow movement of said cutting/shovelling means in a first plane.

6. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first plane is substantially vertically disposed.

7. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said actuation means is attached to a support means to support said actuation means and said cutting/shovelling means attached thereto and to allow movement of said actuation means and said cutting/shovelling means in a second plane.

8. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second plane is substantially perpendicular said second plane and is substantially horizontally disposed.

9. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said support means is attached to a stand means to support and allow movement of said support means, said actuation means and said cutting/shovelling means in a third plane.

10. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 9, wherein said third plane is substantially perpendicular to said first and second planes and is substantially horizontally disposed.

11. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said substrate surface is embodied as a potter's wheel.

12. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein said shaped cutting/shovelling means is comprised of a thin tube or wire shaped according to the desired shape of at least a portion of the inner surface of said article of pottery.

13. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein said shaped cutting/shovelling means is comprised of a plate-like member, which in plan view has at least one edge shaped according to at least a portion of at least one corresponding inner surface of said article of pottery.

14. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein said article is comprised of at least one first elongated member and at least one second elongated member slidable relative to said first elongated member such that movement in said first plane is permitted.

15. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of said elongated members are embodied as tubes, said first elongated member(s) being slidable without/about said second elongated member(s).

16. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein a first adjustable stop means is provided to limit movement between said first and second elongated member(s).

17. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 16, wherein said support means is embodied as a third elongated member provided substantially above and coplanar to said substrate surface, and wherein said actuator is attachable and slidable along said support means.

18. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 17, said third elongated member is provided with a second and third adjustable stop means to limit travel of said actuator means along said support means.

19. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein an outer surface marking/cutting means is provided to mark/cut the outer edge of an article of pottery and/or center said unformed clay.

20. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 19, wherein said stand means is comprised of at least a third elongated member to which said second elongated member is adjustably attached such that said second elongated member is adjustable in height.

21. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 20, wherein said third elongated member(s) are movable in the direction of said third plane.

22. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 21, wherein a lower end of said third elongated member is slidable within a channel or track.

23. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 22 wherein an adjustable stop is provided to limit the movement of said third elongated member along said channel or track.

24. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 23, wherein said applied pressure is applied by a press means, said press means comprising a plate member provided at one end of a threaded rod, said threaded rod being rotatable by a handle such that said plate is movable in a substantially vertical path.

25. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein said applied pressure is applied by a press means, said press means comprising a plate member provided on a pivoted lever supported at a fulcrum point, said applied pressure being applied by an operator onto said lever and being transmitted by said lever to said clay.

26. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 25, wherein any Plaster of Paris or other plate member when pressed into any mould reduces the amount of clay to be excavated from said mould, yet still leaves clay for excavation in essential areas, so that an article of pottery may be produced.

27. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26 wherein any Plaster of Paris or other plate member constructed by the method and measurements hereinbefore described, is shaped in such a way that after only one complete pressing a completed article of pottery of predetermined shape is produced.

28. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein any Plaster of Paris or other plate member when it is in the process of making a completed article of pottery by a press means, is guided downwardly by means of an unthreaded rod.

29. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28,. further comprising a supply means to place said quantity of unformed clay onto said substrate surface.

30. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29, further comprising a removal means to remove said article of pottery from said substrate surface after moulding of said article is completed.

31. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein said excavator means is an electrically driven drive means.

32. A device for making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31 wherein preprogrammed instructions relating to the required position/movement of said excavator are provided in a computer means, said computer means operating to drive said drive means.

33. A method of making an article of pottery, comprising the steps of: supplying a predetermined quantity of unformed clay onto a substrate surface; excavating quantities of said clay such that an inner surface of an article is formed therein.

34. A method of making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 33 wherein, prior to said excavating step, an outer surface of said article is formed.

35. A method of making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 34, wherein said outer surface is formed by applying pressure to clay such that the outer surface of said clay is shaped by a mould.

36. A method of making an article of pottery as claimed in claim 35, wherein said mould is constructed of wood or plaster of Paris.

37. A method of making an article of pottery, as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 36, wherein said inner surface is formed by excavating quantities of said clay by an excavator means, said excavator means comprising: a shaped cutting/shovelling means to cut through said unformed clay and extract any excess clay from said quantity of clay such that an inner surface of said article is formed.

38. A method of making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 37, wherein: an upper portion of said cutting/shovelling means is attached to an actuator means to allow movement of said cutting/shovelling means in a first plane; said actuation means is attached to a support means to support said actuation means and said cutting/shovelling means attached thereto and to allow movement of said actuation means and said cutting/shovelling means in a second plane; and said support means is attached to a stand means to support and allow movement of said support means, said actuation means and said cutting/shovelling means in a third plane.

39. A method of making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claim 33 to 38, wherein said substrate surface is embodied as a potter's wheel.

40. A method of making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claim 33 to 39, wherein said unformed clay is supplied onto said substrate surface by a supply means.

41. A method of making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 40, wherein said article of pottery is removed from said substrate surface after moulding of said article is completed by a removal means.

42. A method of making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 41, wherein said excavator means is driven by an electrically driven drive means.

43. A method of making an article of pottery as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 42, wherein said electrically driven drive means is operated by a computer means preprogrammed with the required position/movement of said excavator.

44. A device for making an article of pottery in any one of claims 33 to 43, wherein, after only one pressing by a plaster of Paris pressing means, an article of pottery is produced.

45. A device for making an article of pottery substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

46. A method for making an article of pottery, substantially as herein described in relation to the accompanying drawings.