GB471589A - Improvements in apparatus for manufacturing pottery ware - Google Patents

Abstract

471,589. Moulding and jiggering pottery. MILLER, W. J. Feb. 3, 1936, No. 3265. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, Aug. 10, 1936.] [Class 87 (ii)] [Also in Group X] In a machine for manufacturing pottery from plastic clay on absorbent moulds, the moulds are conveyed in irregularly spaced relation and are transferred one at a time to clay feeding mechanism and then to jiggering mechanism, the moulds being finally accumulated on further conveying mechanism whence they are removed by hand. The moulds M are placed by the operator in random manner on the conveyer A which carries them to a transfer frame 4, guides 4a, being provided to position the moulds. The frame 4, carried on pivoted levers 7, is operated by cam 5 to transfer the moulds one at a time above the chuck 8 across a cleaning brush 4b. The chuck, actuated by a cam, raises the mould to the feeding belt 9. A cylindrical clay billet 5 is fed by the belt 9 into a seat 10a and a slice is cut off the end by a wire 12, which is oscillated in a substantially rectangular path by a frame 13 mounted on a shifting pivot 12a and actuated by a crank 16 in unison with the chuck 8 through rod 17. In a modification, Fig. 14, the wire carrying frame 13a is mounted on an eccentric sleeve 13b which has a limited play between screws 13f to produce the backward and forward movements of the wire. The wire 12 may be electrically heated and cleaned by a wiper 13k or air jet 13l. The severed slice is deposited on the mould by a pivoted frame 10 which is released by a pawl 11 actuated by the frame 13 at the end of its stroke. The belt 9 is driven intermittently by a clutch mechanism actuated by the engagement of the crank 16 with a rod 30. The charged mould is lowered on to a seat 42 which transfers it to the shaping position G where it is raised by a chuck into co-operation with a stationary die 47 which spreads the clay on the mould. The die 47 is heated by hot fluid and may have compressed air forced through it while suction is applied to the chuck through pipes 99. In a modification the upper die 47 may be reciprocated vertically by a cam and springs to give a quick release from the clay and the rim of the article may be trimmed by a spring-pressed heated ring 57 round the die 47. The mould is then transferred to the position H where it is raised into co-operation with a profiling tool 60, the mould being rotated in the raised position. Means are provided for permitting the tool 60 to yield under excess pressure and the tool is adjustably mounted for interchange and to compensate for wear. A groove 83a is provided in the face of the tool 60 to remove excess clay. At the end of the profiling operation a trimming tool 86 is moved into engagement with the rim of the article by the movement of the transfer device E. Various forms of profiling tools are described. The mould is finally lowered and transferred on to the conveyer B from which it may be removed to a dryer.