US1001609A - Automatic tile-machine. - Google Patents

Description

H. & J. H. BESSER.

AUTOMATIC TILE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1909.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IJOLUMIIIA PLANOHRAPII 60.,WA5IIINOTON. [L c.

ATTORNEY H. & J. H. BBSSER.

AUTOMATIC TILE MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 29, 1900 Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

4 BHEETBSHEBT 2.

INVENT j/W ATTORNEY WITNESSES: W W flh I coLummA I'LANOIIRAPII cu wnsmNoTom D. c

H. 6: J. H. BESSER.

AUTOMATIC TILE MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) mums, 1009.

1,001 ,609, Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

5 I 57 be 7m m J@\\ 7 WITNESSES: \NVE W Wag I I ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH cu.. WASHINGTON. I), I."

H. & J. H. BESSER.

AUTOMATIC TILE MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILBD JUNE 29, 1909.

1,001,609, Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

4 BEEBT8-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: NVENTO E g fig,

W ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH Cu., WASHINGTON. IL c HERMAN BESSER AND JESSE H.

PATENT @EFTCE.

BESSER, OF ALPENA, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC TILE-MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, I'IERMAN Bnssnn and Jesse ill. Bnssnn, both citizens of the United States, residing at Alpena, in the county of Alpena and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic 'lile-Ivlachines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a :full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to automatic tile machines and is more particularly directed to that type of tile machines employing a whirling head or former and a cylindrical mold casing, one movable relative to the other, whereby the former or head is caused to enter the mold to form the tile.

One object of our invention is the provision of a neat, strong, simple and compact machine of this character, comprising a small number of working parts whereby access may be easily had to all parts of the machine, and lloor space is economized, as well as danger to the operator avoided.

To these ends, the present machine avoids the use of a moving table carrying the molds.

Another object is the provision of a machine whereby the tile, after it is made, is not moved or jarred in any way, thus avoiding the mechanism and attention required by the use ot' a moving table.

A. further object. is the provision of a light, simple machine of few parts, capable of a greater capacity than heretofore.

A still further object is the provision of a machine which will make harder and more compact tile than hereto-tore.

Still another object. is the provision of a tfOlllptlCt machine whereby the tile are made at a convenient height to enable the operator to remove and place the molds in position with ease and rapidity.

Another object is the provision of means for preventing the entrance of extraneous material into the bearings.

A further object is the provision of a packer head and mold which center perfectly.

Another object is the provision of a ma chine having a direct drive which economixes power and avoids the noise and repairs incident to machines which are otherwise driven.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 29, 1909.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

Serial No. 504,982.

A further object is the provision of a machine of this nature which all'ords no obstruction to the entrance of the material into the mold.

A still further object is the provision of a machine whereon tile throughout a wide 'ange of sizes can be made.

To these and other ends, therefore, our invention consists in certain novel features and combinations such as will be more tully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of one embodiment of our invention, showing the mold in position to receive material, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the mold in its lowest posit ion, Fig. 3 is an end view, Fig. at a detail of the supporting or bottom ring of the mold, Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the connection between the levers and the bottom ring. and Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing our in vention arranged as a battery, and Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modified form of the lever adjacent the driving gears.

()ur invention in brief, comprises a whirling or rotary packer head or former, a pair of rings, the upper of which is movable relative to the lower, levers 't'or actuating the movable upper ring and the packer head or the lower ring, and means For actuating the lovers synchronously.

In making a tile, an empty cylindrical mold casing placed on end on the lower or supporting ring, while the upper ring is maintained in raised position, after which the upper or retaining ring is lowered onto the upper end of the empty mold casing to hold it in position, means being provided to prevent the rotation oi the casing relative to the rings. The lower end of the casing is practitailly closed by the upper reduced end of the whirling packer head which projects into the casing a slight dis tance. The cement, concrete or other plastic material is now deposited in the mold. llelative movement vertically oi. the mold and packer head now takes place, until the grooved bottom oi? the packer head lies op posite the retaining ring, the body of the packer head extending above the mold. whereupon additional material may he "l ed to the mold, atter which a reverse movement of the one relative to the other takes place, I until the parts are returned to their normal positions. The retainer ring is now caused to rise, releasing the mold which is removed and an empty mold substituted therefor, whereupon the same procedure is repeated.

The whirling packer head can be caused to move relative to the mold, which in that instance would be held stationary during the operation of forming the tile, but in the present instance we have shown the mold as being reciprocated relative to the whirling packer head, which latter is retained at a constant elevation.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a framework braced as at 1, 1, and provided near one end with the standards 2, 2. One end of a vertical shaft 3 is stepped in a bearing 4 in front of the standards 2, 2, the shaft extending parallel with the standards and provided at its upper end with a packer head or former 5, the base of which is peripherally grooved as at 6, the upper end being reduced as shown. The general shape of this former is set forth in detail in our copending application filed Feb. 27, 1999, Serial No. 180,365, except that we have added the peripheral groove thereto. The shaft passes through a bracket bearing 7, projecting from the frame A and lies between the projecting horizontal arms 8, 8, of the frame. A pulley or other wheel 9 on the shaft is connected directly with a source of power whereby the shaft is rotated.

One means of forming the mold is as follows: A pair of vertical guides 10, 10, are mounted at their lower ends in the arms 8, 8, such guides extending parallel and preferably in alinement with the shaft 3 in front of the standards 2, 2. The upper ends of the guides are received in the projecting upper ends of diagonal braces 11,11, carried by the frame and standards, such projecting upper ends overhanging the forward ends of the arms 8, 8. Sleeves 12, 12 are slidingly mounted on the guides, the sleeves each being provided with inwardly projecting lingers 13, 13, overlapped by the ears 1st, 14, projecting from diametrically opposite points in the circumference of a supporting ring 15, on which the lower end of the mold casing 16 is seated. The cars and fingers are releasably and positively connected by bolts 17 or other suitable fastening means so that supporting rings of varying sizes can be secured to the sleeves to enable the machine to make tile of different diameters.

In order to releasably retain the mold casing in position on the supporting ring we provide a retaining ring 18 secured to sleeves 19 slidable on the guides 10 in the same manner as described, in connection with the supporting ring and its sleeves.

The cylindrical mold casing 16 is of any convenient form that shown in my copending application above referred to, such. casing being provided with the handles 20 whereby it is placed on and removed from the supporting ring. In order to prevent the rotation of the mold casing on the ring when the whirling packer head is introduced thereinto, we preferably provide the supporting ring with a stop 21 with which the handles engage.

As heretofore noted, it is possible to reciprocate the packer head vertically rel.- ative to the mold or vice versa, to reciprocate the mold relative to the packer head and in the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated a machine wherein the mold casin and its rin s are reci arocated rel ative to the packer head.

The normal position of the casing is shown in Fig. 1, wherein the upper reduced end only of the packer head extends into the bottom of the mold, to prevent the material deposited in the mold from passing entirely therethrough, the inclined wall 22 of the head leaving but a slight opening between itself and the supporting ring 15.

Fig. 2 shows the lowest position assumed by the mold casing, at which time the groove 6 of the head lies opposite the retaining ring 18, and as one means for effecting the movement of the mold casing between these two positions, we provide a pair of levers 23, 23, the rear ends of which are pivot-ally mounted on a rod 2 1 supported in brackets 25 on the rear of the frame A, the levers extending forward in planes parallel with the vertical planes of the arms 8. Preferably the forward portions of the levers are provided with a downward curve intermediate their ends, the forward ends of the levers being connected by means of links 26 to the radially projecting ears 2? on the sleeves 12, 12, supporting the sustaining ring 15. These levers 23, 23, adjacent their rear ends are conveniently provided with anti-friction rolls 28, 28, resting upon cams 29, 29, mounted on a cam shaft 30, journaled on and extending across the frame A. This shaft may be conveniently driven from a pulley 31 receiving its motion from any suitable source. Such pulley is mounted on a drive shaft journaled in the frame A, the drive shaft carrying a gear 33 whose motion is transmitted by suitable gearing to the cam shaft. The rotation of the cam shaft 30 causes the cams 29 to wipe against the levers 23 or the friction rolls 28 carried thereby, to raise and lower the mold casing, the throw of the cams being arranged. to actuate the mold casing between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

It is necessary that the retaining ring 18 be raised off of the mold when it is desired to remove a filled mold and substitute an empty one therefor, and as one means for mechanically accomplishing this movement of the retaining ring, we provide the cam shaft 30 with the cams 36, 36, adapted to en gage anti-friction rolls 37 on a pair of levers 38, 3S, pivoted at their rear ends on the rod 24L, the torward ends of the levers being connected by links 32) to the projecting lips ett) on the sleeves 1t), 19, to which the retaining ring 18 is connected.

The movements of the levers 2E) and 38 are synchronized .relative to each other, that is to say, the cams 36 are preferably larger than the cams Q9 andv are so arranged on shaft 23) relative to such cams 29 that when the latter have raised the mold :asiug to its highest limit ot movement, they will retain it in such position for a limited time, during which period the cams 36 will actuate the levers 38 to raise the retaining ring a suitable distance above the upper end ot' the mold casing, whereby to rel :ase the latter and permit the (amrator to first raise the casing so that its lower end will clear the reduced upper end of the packer head and then remove the casing from the machine and place an empty casing in position on the supporting ring. The depressed portions ot the cams 96 by this time, permit the levers :38 to descend, carrying with them the ring 18 which is automati "ally titted and rests upon the upper end of the empty casing, the retaining ring being held in position by its own weight to which is added the weight of the links 39 and levers 38.

The operation of so much of our machine briefly as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the material is fed into the empty mold casing in any convenient manner, the whirling packer head 5 preventing the material from falling through the mold, and throwing the ma terial by centrit'ugal action against the inner periphery of the mold casing. The cams it? now descend, which permits the levers 233 to move down ard, drawing with them the supporting ring. The mold and superposed retaining ring follow the supporting ring downward as though made in one piece therewith. This downward movement;- of the mold casing :auses the whirling packer head to enter the casing and lirmly part; the material against the sides thereof. the extreme diameter oi" the packer head adapted to have a sliding tit in the rings 15 and '18. hen the cams 29 have reached the lower limit ot their throw, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time the groove (l of the packer head lies opposite the retaining ring 18, the groove being of such width as to permit the entrance ol" additional material to the mold casing it desired. The mold .asing remains .in its lowest position for a moment and is then eltwated by the cams 2S) and levers 2 -3, the upper or retaining ring being raised with the mold and supporting ring to its original position. it will be noted that each tile is twice engaged by the packer head,

I I n which results in the :tormation of a compact,

smooth. article which is of the same strength or hardness, top and bottom. \Vhen additional material is added at the time the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, a most compact, non-porous tile is produced ot exceeding strength and hardness. When the mold casing ascends to its highest position as above described, the tile is ready for removal to accomplish which, the cams 29 are tormed with their outer ends broadened to retain the sup )oi.'ting ring temporarily in raised position. Just as the mold attains such elevated position, the anus I36 are timed to engage the retaining ring levers 239 to raise the retaining ring 18 oil the mold, at which time the casing containiiuz; the com plctcd tile is removed and an empty casing substituted thcrelor, whereupon the cams 236 permit the retaining ring to descend and lit upon the upper end of the empty casing and the 't'oregoing operation is repeated, the cams do being arranged to allord time in which to elt'cct this renmval and substitution. The descent oi the mold casing relative to the packer head operates to bring a down\\"ard pressure upon the head and shaft 3, as well as the step-bea ring at, to relieve which we provide a ball bearing, the same comprising an inverted ball race ett keyed to the shafttl, a second ball race {12 being supported against rotary movement on the shelf t?) projecting from the frame, a series of balls {l-Il: being interposed between the races so that downward pressure on the shatlt is transmitted to the frame through the shelt 4th and ball bearing. And in order to prevent the material from entering the ball bearing or the shal't b rarings T and t, we preferably key a plate 1 7 on the shaft Ii below the head and above the bearings. l urthermore, in order to prevent the material 't'rom scattering upon the machine, we atliX a shield 15 (conveniently consisting oil. a sheet oi metal) to the standards 2, 2, such shield being slotted as at l-(i to permit the levers 23 to extend therethrough. it is also obvious that the operating parts of the machine may be inclosed to a height even with the supporting ring when the latter is in its highest position. it desired.

The machine is simpl sand compact, strong and durable, consisting ot but 'lcw worlv'ing parts easily accessibls and not liable to get out of order easily. The molded articles are not jarred by the machine in any manner a l'ter completion. The til are delivered at an elevation convenient lor removal and the packer had will center perlcctly with the rings, because all tile ot' a given size are made on the same set ot rings. The material can be asily l ed. to the molds without inconvenience from moving parts and rings, and packer heads of various sizes can be substituted tor those shown, to produce tiles of dill'erent diai'netcrs. The machine shown will make tile of different lengths throughout a predetermined range and by changing the cams to vary the throw of the levers, tiles of a length outside this range can be made on the machine.

In Fig. 6 is shown a battery of automatic tile machines consisting of two machines arranged side by side, employing but one cam shaft, and means for driving the same. The cams on the shaft 30 are preferably so arranged on the shaft that the mold casings of the two machines operate alternately, thereby rendering it possible for one man to take care of both machines.

It is evident that changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the several parts described, without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus fully disclosed our invention, what we claim as new, is

1. A tile machine comprising a whirling packer head, a supporting member, a mold casing removably mounted thereon, means for reciprocating the supporting member relative to the head, a retaining ring, and means synchronized with the means actuating the supporting member, for raising and lowering the retaining ring relative to the mold intermediate the two strokes, constituting each reciprocation of the supporting member.

2. A tile machine comprising a rotating packer head, a mold casing, a supporting member on which the casing is removably mounted, a retaining member on the casing, means for lowering the casing and subse quently raising the same, and sustaining it temporarily in raised position, and means for raising, sustaining and lowering the retaining member during the maintenance of the mold casing in raised position.

3. A tile machine comprising a rotating shaft, a packer head carried by the upper end of the shaft, a movable supporting member, a mold removably seated thereon and adapted to receive the head, means for moving the mold and supporting member relative to the packer head, and means for retaining the mold on the supporting member.

4-. A tile machine comprising a rotary packer head, guides arranged laterally of the head, upper and lower sleeves movable on the guides, rings releasably connected to the upper and lower sleeves respectively, a mold casing removably received between the rings and adapted to receive the head, levers connected to the lower sleeves for moving the mold and rings up and down, other levers connected to the upper sleeves for moving the upper ring relative to the mold, and cams for actuating the levers, the cams so arranged relative to each other that the movement of the upper sleeves relative to the mold takes place intermediate the up and down movement of the mold.

5. A tile machine comprising a rotary shaft, a packer head at the upper end thereof, guides located adjacent the shaft, a set of upper and a set of lower sleeves on the guides, a supporting ring releasably connected to the lower sleeves, a retaining ring releasably connected to the upper sleeves, a mold casing removably received between the rings, the casing and rings lying in alinement with the head, two sets of pivotally supported levers, links connecting the free ends of each set of levers to the upper and lower sleeves respectively, and cams for actuating the levers, the action of the levers being synchronized to permit the retaining ring to release the mold intermediate the up and down movement of the latter.

6. A tile machine comprising a whirling packer head, a mold casing adapted to receive the head, and means for raising and lowering the mold casing relative to the head, the latter provided with means adapted to permit the entrance of additional material to the mold intermediate the down and up strokes constituting one reciprocation of the mold casing.

7. A tile machine comprising a whirling packer head, a mold casing adapted to receive the head, and means for raising and lowering the mold casing relative to the head, the latter provided with a peripheral groove on its base, adapted to permit the entrance of additional material to the mold intermediate the down and up strokes constituting one reciprocation of the mold casin g.

8. An automatic tile machine comprising a rotary shaft, a packer head on the upper end thereof, a ball race fixed to the shaft, a rigidly supported ball race, balls interposed between the ball races, and a mold casing movable relative to and adapted to receive the packer head.

9. A tile machine comprising a rotary shaft, a packer head at the upper end there of, bearings for the shaft, a plate on the shaft above the bearings, and a mold casing movable relative to and adapted to receive the packer head, the plate located below the lowest limit of movement of the mold casing.

1.0. A tile machine comprising a frame, a rotary shaft, a packer head at the upper end of the shaft, a mold casing movable relative to and adapted to receive the packer head,

levers pivoted on the frame and adapted to actuate the mold casing, means for operating the levers, and a slotted shield interposed between the lever-actuating means and the mold casing, the levers projecting through the slots in the shield.

11. A battery of tile machines, comprising a plurality of frames, a single cam shaft jonrnaled on the frames, a vertically extending rotary shattt tor each tran'le, a packer head on each rotart shaft, a mold easing cooperating with each packer head levers for operating the mold easing relative to the packer head and cams on the shaft for actuating the levers, the cams so arranged on the shaft as to operate the mold casings alternately relative to their respective packer heads.

12. A tile machine comprising a frame, a cam shaft journaled thereon, two sets of cams on the shaft, two sets of pivotally supported levers actuated by the cams, a rotating tile-forming member, a supporting ring in which the tile forming member is received, a mold casing seated on the supporting member, one set of lovers pivotally connected to one of the members to reciprocate such member relative to the remaining member, and a retaining ring associated with the mold casing, the remaining set of levers connected therewith.

In testimony whereof, we atlix our signatures in presence oit. two witnesses.

lIllIth [AN BESSER. JESSE I-l. BESSER. lVitnesses Ina lVlInnaUoIr, HARRIET L. Yams.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

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