GB393856A - Machine for making roofing tiles and like articles - Google Patents

Abstract

393,856. Moulding tiles &c. WALTER, O., Perrysville, Indiana, U.S.A. Nov. 10, 1932, No. 31844. [Class 87 (ii).] In mechanism for moulding concrete and like products, such as tiles, in open-top moulds 14, agitating fingers 20 are adapted to enter and reciprocate within the moulds so as to remove air bubbles and render the material of uniform consistency. The fingers 20 are carried on four horizontal members 36 supported on crossbars 30 of a lower reciprocable carriage. Crossbars 31 of the lower carriage are connected as by springs 87 to bars 28 of a vertically movable upper carriage. The carriages are supported on a fixed frame 12, 13 and slide in guides 26 thereon. In use, the mould box with mould plates 16 is mounted on a truck 10 and run beneath the suspended carriages. The moulds are then filled from a hopper 11 through a shoot 78, Fig. 6, having a gate 77 operated by a lever 75. The carriages are then lowered until the fingers enter within the moulds and the lower carriage is reciprocated to agitate the cement. The fingers 20 are guided into position by guide-teeth 40 on two opposed tooth-bars 41, which are laterally slidable and normally drawn together by springs. As the carriages descend the tooth-bars are forced apart by frames 45, the bent ends whereof engage rollers on the ends of the tooth-bars. The lower carriage is reciprocated by rods 63 connected to crank discs 62 mounted on a shaft 60 supported in bearings on the crossbars 28 of the upper carriage. The shaft 60 carries a pulley 59 driven by belts 54, 58 and pulleys 55, 57 from a motor 53 on the main frame. The upper carriage is supported by a rope 70 connected to the shaft 60, wound loosely round a shaft 56 whereon the pulley 57 is fixedly mounted, and then taken over a sheave 72 to present a free end 73. The carriages are almost counterbalanced by a weight on a lever 66 connected by a link 68 to the shaft 60. The carriages are raised by pulling the rope end 73 so that the coils on the shaft 56 tighten and the rope is further coiled up on rotation of the shaft 56. The belt 58 is normally slack ; it is tightened to drive the pulley 59 and so reciprocate the agitators, by a lever 100 carrying a belt-engaging pulley 102. The lever is locked in the tightening position by a lock-bar 103 having notches which engage the frame and a plate on a lever 90. The carriages are held in the upper position by a latch-bar 86 which is released for lowering by a lever 82. The upper carriage is locked in the lowered position by fingers 93 engaging the cross-bars 28 ; the fingers 93 are pivoted on the frame and are operated by the lever 90. Reciprocation is stopped by raising the lever 90 and so disengaging the lock-bar 103. The movements of the carriages are limited by stops. The truck 10 is positioned by guides 48 engaging rollers 49 mounted on the frame and also by a catch 51 which is engaged by a latchbar 52 on the frame. The hopper shoot 78, Fig. 6, extends across the width of the frame and on one side is formed by a plate which is removable to facilitate cleaning. The sides of the mould box may be hinged. The box may be filled with a double row of mould plates for tiles and a finger 20 may enter at the centre of each separate mould cavity.