US2007961A

US2007961A - Apparatus for manufacturing varicolored tile

Info

Publication number: US2007961A
Application number: US697659A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph S Bolton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-11-11
Filing date: 1933-11-11
Publication date: 1935-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1952-07-16

Description

R. S. BOLTON July 16, 1935.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VARI-COLORED TILE 5 Sheets-Shae Filed Nov 11, 1933 ewa; 6015571" July 16, 1935. R, s, BOLTON 2,007,961

APPARATUS'FOR MANUFACTURING VARI-COLORED TILE Filed NOV. 11, 1933 3 Sheets-Shqet 2 1 J8 MI" WWW" July '16, 1935. R s, BOLTON 2,007,961

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VARI-COLORED TILE Filed Nov. 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 c c c 57 5,2 53 c Ll l i iill W '74 eaqmi z ozzzm Patented July 16, 1935 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING VARI- COLORED TILE Ralph S. Bolton,Miami Beach, Fla. ApplicationNovember 11, 1933, Serial No, 697,659

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to a new and. improved process and apparatus for making and applying vari-colored designs to tiles and other similar articles.

Heretofore in designing tiles and other similar ornamental surfaces, it-has been customary to form from a stencil or templet the particulardesign to be embodied in the tile. Consequently, these stencils can only be used for forming one 1.0 design or pattern. i

One of the important features of the present invention is to provide a collector grid which is constructed and so associated with the measuring and guiding grids of a tile shaping apparatus, that the grids may be used for forming an indefinite number of colored designs.

A further object consists in providing a new improved method of forming an ornamental tile.

Another object consists in providingan apparatus for making an ornamental tile, in which movable means are provided for retaining the individual tiles properly in position during the molding operation.

A still further object is to provide in a color measuring and collecting device having superposed removable grids, means for insuring .difierently colored material being delivered uniformly to the cells in which they are intendedito be deposited.

Another cbjectgconsists in an improved photo- .ongraving process for making plates having a large number of very ,small openings, which plates may be successively associated with the collector grid for making a vari-colored tile design, or may be associated with the measuring and guide grids for blockingkout such cells as are to be closed in order that the remaining opened cells will be outlined to form the particular color design to be produced.

*Other' objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and drawin s.

. In the drawings, in which-are disclosed sev- .eral preferred embodiments of the invention,

Figure l is a sectional view showing the col" lector grid, intermediate grid and measuring grid in their assembled positions. l Figure 2 is a view showing the grids removed and the separate sections of the tiles enclosed within the mold frame. i

Figure .3 is a plan view of a tile'made in ,ac- .cordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-41 of Figure .3.

Figure 5 is a sectional exploded view of the grids shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of an apparatus for pressing the separate sections of the tile to,- gether when the collector grid is withdrawn and the mold frame substituted therefor.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the pressure apparatus shown in Figure 6, employed for applying a cement backing tothe tiles.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of an apparatus that may be associated with the movable CO1." lector grid and supporting base for raising the grid relative to the base and moving the mold frame into position. Additionally the apparatus shows means for withdrawing material that may adhere to the cells of the grid when the latteris raised. 1 l

Figure 9 Ba view of an apparatus similar'qto Figure 8,.but showing the same associated with a press'i'or compressing the material and for applying a backing to the tile. Figure 10 is a plan view partly in section of a modified form of the invention. p

t Figure 11 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is .a plan view of a tile forrned with the grid embedded therein.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts in the severalviews, l0 designates a smoothbase or plate whichis arranged to receive a removable collector grid j I having a frame 42 provided on the underside thereof with straps l3 that may be adjustably SC? cured to the frame by the screws M which extend through elongated slots 9 in the straps vl3 so as to receive the nuts .9. When the grid I is positionedon the base it the inner sides of the straps .13 engage adjacent sides of the basesoas to .fixedly maintain the parts in position, and due to the adjustable connection of the straps 13 with the frame, the former may move into close engagement with the adjacent sides of the plate 2H3 so as to take up wear between these parts and insure the proper positioning of the grid on the base. An intermediate guide grid 1H1 is arranged to be superposed on the grid ll and has a marginal frame I5 having adepending strap, l5 secured to the underside thereof by the threaded bolts H and or a Width to fit w th n a omp :m nt rv sh uld re po i n 8 formed in he 1 per surface of the frame 12. Positioned above the intermediate grid is the measuring grid 1! 9 having a frame 2-0 to which is secured to th underside PATENT OFFICE thereof, a marginal strap 2| arranged to fit on a complementary formed portion in the upper surface of the frame 15 when the grids are assembled in superposed relation, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The grids are preferably made of light metal and instead of having separate straps or retaining members secured to the underside of the frame of each grid, these straps may be in the form of integral depending flanges so as to provide a positive means for maintaining the grids in position when placed one upon the other.

The cells 22 of the collector grid are preferably formed by thin transverse and longitudinal partition members 23 (Figure into a series of very small cells or openings of uniform size and shape, which for the purpose of illustration, have been enlarged and greatly magnified in the drawings. In order to fully appreciate how small these cells are, it might be mentioned that in forming a tile of eight inches square, the collector grid will have approximately 16,324 cells or holes 22, thus permitting various attractive and artistic designs of different colors and configurations being employed for making up the ornamental tiles.

Positioned between the measuring grid i9 and the intermediate guide grid 14 is a slide 25 (Figure 1) for controlling the delivery of the different colored material from the measuring grid to the collector grid. The inward movement of the slide 25 is limited by the strap 2|. The cells of the measuring grid l9 and the guide grid M are equal in number to the cells of the collector grid I and are each arranged to be positioned in vertical alignment with the adjacent cell of the collector grid when the parts are assembled as shown in Figure l. The cells of the collector grid receive the differently colored materials which constitute the design of the tile and in order that the various colors may be selectively and sequentially deposited in their respective cells, the measurin'g grid 19 and the guide grid I4 have certain of their cells blocked out by removable plugs 26 and 2! (Figure 5) so that the remaining cells are opened in order that the various colors which the design tile is to assume, may be delivered to their corresponding cells in the collector grid.

Each of the cells 22 of the collector grid is of the same capacity as its aligned complementary cell 28 in the measuring grid i9 while the Width of the intermediate grid cells 29 (Figure 1) are preferably wider than the cells 28 and slightly narrower than the cells 22 in order to insure the material in the cells 28 being deposited in the cells 22 without engaging or adhering to the walls of the intermediate cells 29. The cells of the guide grid are blocked out similarly to the blocked out cells of the measuring grid with which they are associated so as to preclude the possibility of any of the colored material that might collect or adhere to the slide 25 from being moved therewith and falling into a cell that is intended to receive a differently colored material. It will be seen that by reason of blocking out the intermediate cells, should any material be carried by the slide 25, this material can empty only into one of the cells which is arranged to receive this particular colored material.

While the cells of the grids have been shown of substantially square shape, it will be manifest that they may be circular and assume various other shapes and configurations as may be found desirable. It will also be understood that the term tile as employed in the specification and claims is intended to include tiles and other ornamental articles of similar character which may be made of cement, clay, pulverized pulp, glass, rubber, cork, metals and other reduced or comminuted materials in powdered or plastic form. The depth of the collector grid cells 22 are such that when the tile is formed, its exposed ornamental surface is sufficiently thick as to be capable of withstanding the abrasive action to which articles of this kind are subjected. In other Words, the different colors constituting the particular tile design are retained in vertical alignment so that when the tile wears down, these different colors will not be distorted.

At this point it might be well to describe the steps for forming a cement tile with different colored designs in accordance with the present invention. Assuming that it is desired to make a tile 36) of the particular design as outlined in Figure 3 and that the design of the corner portions 3| 32 and 33 are to be colored green, the diagonal portion 34 brown and the remaining portion 35 red, so that the composite tile will have the configuration as shown. Certain of the aligned cells of the measuring and guide grids will first be blocked out by the plugs 26 and 2'! so that the opened cells will be of such a configuration as to form the corner designs 3|, 32 and 33. The measuring and collecting grids are then placed in superposed relation on the collector grid ll so that the cells in this grid will register with the complementary cells in the intermediate and measuring grids. Green colored cement in dry, wet or plastic condition is then introduced into the open cells of the measuring grid so as to completely fill the same and after the top surface is levelled oil, the slide 25, which previously has been moved to its closed position, is moved outwardly so as to cause the material in the cells of the measuring grid to be deposited uniformly into the complementary cells of the collector grid. The measuring and guide grids are then removed, and another set of these grids which have had their cells previously blocked out so as to form the designs 34 with their opened cells, are then placed on the collector grid, and brown cement is introduced into the open cells of the measuring grid and then deposited into their respective cells in the collector grid upon the actuation of the slide 25, This set of grids is then removed from the collector grid and another set which has had certain of its cells blocked out so that their opened cells will form the design are then positioned on the collector grid and red cement introduced into the openings in the measuring grid until they are filled. The slide 25 then deposits this cement into their respective cells in the collector grid. The cells of the collector grid will then be uniformly filled with the differently colored cement arranged to form the tile design shown in Figure 3. Manifestly, the measuring and guide grids may be successively blocked out in an indefinite number of ways to form variegated colored tiles or the like. Moreover, instead of forming the tile of cement, the same be made of any other suitable material, such as clay, pulverized pulp, glass, rubber, cork and the like. In depositing the final colored material the intermediate grid may be dispensed with since all of the other cells of the collector grid have been filled and there is no danger of the material being conducted to a cell for which it is not intended.

The collector grid II is then moved upwardly and away from the material to form the separate colored sections 36 (Figure 2), by any suitable means, and a molding frame 31 is substituted i the tile .35.

therefor, which frame constitutes the sides of the moldwith the plate downwardly from the mold frame 31 so as to insure the parts being maintained firmly in a fixed position during the pressing operation. .A

. plunger 52 having a head 43 of substantially the same size and shape as theinterior of the mold frame 37, is arranged to be reciprocably actuated by any suitable means, not shown, so as to cause the head 4L3 upon downward movement to compress the. sections 3% together into an homogene- (Figure '7) may be then introduced into the mold to form a backing for the tile. The dry cement may be of. any desired thickness relative to the thickness of the tile. The layers. of material thus formed. are then subjected to further pressure by the head 43 which causes the moisture in the colored body to travel upwardly through thedry cement to permeate the same and form a substantially plastic or wetted body which is shaped into the desired colored configuration of Upon the withdrawal of the head t3, the tile, which is in its final and complete form, is removed from the moldand allowed to dry or harden.

It will be noted that during the pressing operation, the exposed or ornamental surface of the tie engages the base l so that danger of marring the colored body of the design during the several operations is positively precluded. While the oementbacking may be omitted, it has been found that a better tileis formed when it is used.

While I have, for illustrative: purposes, shown a cement, backing, it will be obvious that any other suitable material. may be used, depending upon the composition of thecolored surface, such as f clay, pulverizedpulp, glass, rubber, cork, asbestos,

" the collectorgrid l2.

and the like; i

In Figure Bis shown an apparatus for me-. chanicaly removing the collector grid from the material and substituting a side mold frame i. therefor. This apparatus essentially comprises a bed it on which. is mounted a plate it by the bolts 3?. A stand 18. supportsthe plate or mold bottom it which carries the color material and Confined between opposite sides of the stand 28 and guide bars ill, there is positioned a movable mold frame till. Secured to the. underside of the mold frame 555 are the arms or rods which extend through aligned openings in the bed 45 and plate 56 and have their lower ends 'yieldably connected to a cross If! forming the bottom. While the collector grid ll may be .manually withdrawn from the material and the mold frame tions.

the colored material and has itslower portionengaging the marginal edge of the grid [2. Air under pressure is introduced into the chamber 6|, thus formed, by a flexible pipe 62 and is distributed through the chamber by the baffle 68. As shown, the grid l2 is about to be engaged by the movable mold 58 so as to be raised; upwardly and allow the sections of colored material to be enclosed within the mold frame. As the grid I2 is moved away from the colored body, air is conducted to-the chamber 6f through the pipe 62 so as to dislodge any particles of the colored material that might adhere to the cells of the grid and deposit these particles on their proper sec- The hood 6!) and its associated parts are then withdrawn and the head 64 of the plunger is positioned to compress and force the colored sections together into a homogeneous body. Instead of employing air under pressure to remove the particles of material from the grid, a suitable vibratory mechanism may be used for effecting the same result.

Prior to the pressing operatiomthe mold frame 5! has been raised by the actuation of the shaft 55 and cams 59 to constitute'the sides of the mold. In order that the mold frame 59 will be capable .of resisting the lateral pressure of the material,

there is preferably provided a reinforcing frame.

66 which has an inner inclined wall 6! that forms a wedging fit with a complementary side 68 on the movable mold frame 5B. These parts may be maintained firmly in position by a retaining member 69 in the manner as shown in Figure 9.

After the sections have been pressed together, any suitable binden suchas water, is applied to the colored body and a backing layer of dry material may be affixed to the body. The layers thus formed are then subjected to further pressure by the head Ed in substantiallythe same manner as previously described. .After the pressing operation, the head it is removed and the formed colored tile is withdrawn from the mold frame and allowed to set or harden. It will be understood, of course, that the binder employed will depend upon the particular character and com.-

' position of the colored material that constitutes The collector grid instead of being arranged to be moved away from the differently colored material may remain therein as indicated by the grid i5 (Figure 12). and be permanently embedded when the binder and backing are applied, thus providing an exposed surface in which the various colors constituting the design are separated by the ribs of the grid. These grids are preferably made of a metal which will take a polish so that when smoothed they will have a color that will blend with-the other colors constituting the tile design.

Instead of providing a plurality of measuring and guide grids for successively depositing the different colored cements which go to make up the particular designof the tile, there may be" closed so as to cut oil the other grid cells. In Figures 10 and 11 there is shown a copper plate 10 which is arranged to be associated with a collector grid H, said grid being substantially similar in construction to the grid ll previously referred to and additionally having its upper surface provided with a reduced shoulder portion 12 in which may be removably mounted the plate 10 so as to selectively and sequentially register the holes or openings 13 in the different plates with certain of the cells 74 of the grid H in order to form the desired color design. The plates 76,

it will be observed, are arranged to be successively positioned over the cells 14 of the grid 15 l with the individual plate openings 13 in registry with the cells 14 into which the particular colors corresponding to the design or pattern are deposited. After the cells M have been filled, the collector grid 1 I is removed and a mold frame may J be substituted therefor and the colored material treated in the manner as previously described.

As each of the plates 10 must be capable of being punctured to form a large number of very small holes or cells corresponding to the num- A ber of cells in the collector grid 1|, it will be seen that it is not commercially or practically feasible to puncture these holes by mechanical means since it would necessitate the expenditure of considerable time and labor.

I therefore preferably form the holes 13 in the various plates I9 by an improved photo-engraving process. Assuming that the perforations in the copper plate l are to be formed to reproduce the green corner designs 3|, 32 and 33 as shown in Figure 3, a copy of this colored design is painted on graph paper and brought into registry with a glass screen that has a plurality of black lines formed by hydrofluoric acid which etches or eats into the glass. As these lines are black or opaque, when the color design is superimposed or placed behind the glass, the clear design will appear through the white squares which are the clear glass. The squares necessary to produce the green design are then blacked out with a water soluble paint. The copy or colored design is then removed from beneath the glass screen and a white background, such as white paper, is substituted. The glass plate is then photographed, producing a negative in which the black squares appear white, and the white squares black. This negative when placed over a sensitized metal plate and subjected to light causes a positive impression of the glass screen as photographed to be left on the plate. The metal plate 76 having been treated with any of the known sensitizing agents and subjected to light beneath the above mentioned negative has printed upon it a likeness of the glass screen in which the various squares are identicalwhite for white-black for black. The white squares appearing on the sensitized metal plate represents those which were covered by black squares of the negative and naturally are not affected when subjected to light. These became soluble when subjected to a chemical bath, leaving the metal bare at the white areas. The plate is then subjected to an acid treatment which etches into the metal at these areas. Then the surface of the plate is subjected to a rolling process in which asphalt is applied to the surface and the acid treatment continued. In other words, the initial acid bath is only for a few seconds, while the second bath is continued until the acid eats entirely through the plates and forms the make the particular color design. Separate photo engraved plates are made of each color design which go into the manufacture of tile, and the process is repeated until each of the plates has the holes 13 formed therein to correspond in outline with its particular color design, so that when the plates are successively placed on the grid 1| they will fill the cells with the different colored cements to form the tile design.

As each metal plate is treated separately for its distinctive color, so must the glass screen be treated separately for each color by blocking out the squares for each color operation. The water soluble paint is applied so that it may be removed for each successive color.

Additionally, the plates 19 and the process for forming the openings 13 therein may be associated with the guide grid 14 and the measuring grid l9 to provide means for facilitating the introduction of the blocks 26 and 21 into these grids to close the cells in accordance with the particular design being produced. In other words, the plates 10 may be successively treated by the process as above described, so that when the corner portions 3!, 32, and 33 of the tile 30 are being formed, one of the plates 10 has openings 13 formed therein corresponding and aligning with the cells in the measuring grid I9 that are to be blocked out so that the open cells will form the corner designs. When the openings 13 are made in the plates 70 there is introduced into these openings and their aligned cells any suitable substance, such as wax, alloys or metals having a low melting point, which will solidify when cooled and will soften when heated in order to be easily removed from the cells. This substance will form the blocks 26 and 21, thus permitting the measuring and guide grids to have their particular cells successively blocked out in order to produce the desired color design of the tile.

My process may be economically and efficiently carried out by positioning the plates l0 and the collector grid II on a movable conveyor that successively carries the collector grid past the various measuring and intermediate grids in order that the different colors which constitute the particular design or pattern the tile is to assume, will be deposited sequentially in their respective cells in the collector grid. The collector grid, when it passes the last of the measuring and guide grids, will have its cells filled with the differently colored material and will then be transferred by the conveyor to an apparatus such as shown in Figures 8 and 9 where the grid I will be raised from the material to form the separate color sections, as indicated in Figure 2, during which operation the mold frame is raised to assume the position as shown in Figure 9. The apparatus shown in Figures 8 and 9 may be mounted on a revoluble member connected to a suitable drive mechanism, which in turn, is connected to the conveyor so as to synchronize the operation of the parts and cause the tiles being formed to be brought into proper registration with the binder, backing and pressing instrumentalities.

It is to be understood that the apparatus and method herewith shown and described are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and that such changes may be made as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A color measuring and collecting apparatus for manufacturing tiles comprising a base, a collector grid mounted on the base, a measuring grid,

lector grid mounted on the base, ameasuring grid and an intermediate guide grid associated with the collector grid so that the cells of the various grids are in alignment, the aligned cellsof the measuring grid being of less width than the cells of the intermediate grid whereby to insure the material being delivered to the collector grid v intermediate grid cells.

- 2. A color measuring and collecting apparatus for manufacturing tiles comprising a base, a coland an intermediate guide grid associated with the collector grid so that the cells of the various grids are in'alignment, the cells of the. measuring grid being of less width than the cells of the intermediate grid and the cells of the collector grid being of the same capacity as the measuring grid, and movable means positioned between the measuring grid and the guide grid forcontrolling the delivery of the material to the collector grid.

3. A measuring and collecting device for forming vari-colored tiles comprising a base, a frame having a collector grid removably mounted on the base, said grid being'divided by thin transverse and longitudinal partition'members into a number of small cells of uniform size and shape, an

intermediate guide grid superposed on the collector grid, a measuring grid positioned above said intermediate grid, a slide interposed between the measuringgrid and intermediate grid for controlling the flow of material to the collector grid, the aligned cells of the grids being of varying widths to insure the depositing of auniform quantity of the material into each of the collector gridcells, said measuring and intermediate grids having certain of their cells blocked out toinsure the desired color beingj deliveredtothe proper cells of the collectorgrid.

l. A measuring and collecting device for forming vari colored tiles comprising a base, aframe having a collector grid removably mounted on the base, said grid being divided by thin transverse and longitudinal partition members into a number of small cells of uniform size and shape, an intermediate guide grid on the collector grid, a measuring gridpositioned above and supported by said intermediate grid, a slide interposed between the measuring grid and intermediate grid for controlling the flow of material to the collector grid, the aligned cells of the grids being of varying widths to insure the depositing of a uniform quantity of the material into each of the collector grid cells, said measuring and intermediate grids having certain of their cells blocked out to insure the desired color being delivered to the proper cells of the collector grid, the blocked cells of the intermediate grid preventing material adhering to the slide from discharging into cells in which it is not intended.

5. A color measuring and collecting apparatus for forming multi-colo-red tiles including a base, a removable frame having a grid mounted on the base, said grid being divided by thin transverse and longitudinal partition members into a number of small cells of uniform size and shape for receiving the differently colored material used to make up the tile design, a molding frame arranged to enclose the base When the removable frame and grid are withdrawn therefrom, and means for insuring the withdrawal of the colored material from the cells of the grid when the latter is withdrawn from the material.

6. An apparatus for making colored tiles including a base, a frame having a grid mounted on the base and provided with small uniformly shaped cells, means for selectively and sequen tially filling the cells with differently colored material to produce a a predetermined tile design, means when the cells arefilled' for withdrawing the grid frame and grid from the base and substituting therefor a mold frame, means for forcing the separately formed sections into a com pact colored body, and means for pressing an applied backing to the body.

7. An apparatus for making colored tiles in cluding a base, aframe having a grid mounted on the base and provided with small uniformly shaped cells, means for selectively and sequentially filling the cells with differently colored'ma-j terial to produce a predetermined tile design, means when the cells are filled for withdrawing the grid frame and grid from the base and substituting therefor a. mold frame, and means for uniting the separately formed sections into a compact colored body.

8. An apparatus for forming vari-colored tiles comprising a stand for receiving a removable collector grid and base, means when the grid is mounted on the stand for removing the grid from the base and substituting a molding frame therefor, and means for removing any material collected on the grid when it is withdrawn from the base.

9. An apparatus for forming vari-colored tiles comprising a stand for receiving a removable collector grid and base, means when the grid is mounted on the stand for removing the grid from the base and substituting a molding frame therefor, means for removing any material collected on the grid when it is withdrawn from the base,

'rneans for forcing the sections of the material on the base into a compact body, and means for pressing an applied backing to the body,

10. An apparatus for making vari-colored tiles including a stand for receiving a mold bottom and collector grid, a mold frame associated with the stand and arranged to move the collector grid from the material and form the side walls of the mold, and means for actuating said mold frame.

11. An apparatus for making colored tiles including a base, a removable frame having a grid mounted on the base and provided with small uniformly shaped cells, means for filling the cells with differently colored material to produce a predetermined tile design, a mold frame associated with the grid, means for causing the mold frame to withdraw the grid from the base and leave the separate colored sections thereon, said mold frame enclosing the material when the grid is removed, and means for pressing the separately formed sections into a colored body.

12. An apparatus for making colored tiles including a base, a removable frame having a grid mounted on the base and provided with small uniformly shaped cells, means for filling the cells with differently colored material to produce a predetermined tile design, a mold frame positioned beneath the grid, means for causing the mold frame to withdraw the grid from the base and leave the separate colored sections thereon, said mold frame enclosing the material when the grid is removed, and means for pressing the separately formed sections into a colored body.

13. An apparatus for making colored tiles including a base, a removable frame having a grid mounted on the base and provided with small uniformly shaped cells, means for filling the cells with differently colored material to produce a predetermined tile design, a mold frame associated with the grid, means for causing the mold frame to withdraw the grid from the base and leave the separate colored sections thereon, said mold frame enclosing the material when the grid is removed, means for removing any material collected in the grid when the latter is withdrawn from the base, and means for pressing the separately formed sections into a colored body.

14. A measuring and collecting device for forming vari-colored tiles comprising a base, a frame having a collector grid removably mounted on the base, said grid being divided by thin, transverse and longitudinal partition members into a number of small cells of uniform size and shape, an intermediate guide grid superposed on the collector grid, a measuring grid positioned above said intermediate grid, and means for controlling the flow of material to the collector grid.

15. A measuring and collecting device for forming vari-colored tiles comprising a base, a frame having a collector grid removably mounted on the base, said grid being divided by thin, transverse and longitudinal partition members into a number of small cells of uniform size and shape, an intermediate guide grid superposed on the collector grid, a measuring grid positioned above said intermediate grid, and a slide interposed between the measuring grid and intermediate grid for controlling the flow of material to the collector grid.

16. A measuring and collecting device for forming vari-colored tiles comprising a base, a frame having a collector grid removably mounted on the base, said grid being divided by thin transverse and longitudinal partition members into a number of small cells of uniform size and shape, an intermediate guide grid superposed on the collector grid, a measuring grid positioned above and supported by said intermediate grid, a slide interposed between the measuring grid and intermediate grid for controlling the flow of material" to the collector grid, said measuring and intermediate grids having certain of their cells blocked out to insure the desired color being delivered to the proper cells of the collector grid.

17 A measuring and collecting device for forming vari-colored tiles-comprising a collector grid, and a measuring grid, said grids having aligned cells, said measuring grid having certain of its cells closed by removable means to insure the desired color being delivered to the proper cells of the collector grid, said removable means permitting the use of the measuring grid for forming other colored designs.

18. A measuring and collecting device for form ing vari-colored tiles comprising a collector grid, an intermediate guide grid, and a'measuring grid above said intermediate grid, said grids having aligned cells, said intermediate grid having certain of its cells closed by removable means to insure the desired color being delivered to the proper cells of the collector grid, said removable means permitting the use of the intermediate grid for forming other colored designs.

19. A measuring and collecting device for forming vari-colored tiles comprising a collector grid, an intermediate guide grid, and a measuring grid above said intermediate grid, said measuring and intermediate grids having certain of their cells closed by removable means to insure the desired color being delivered to the proper cells of the collector grid, said removable means permitting the use of the measuring and intermediate grids for forming other colored designs.

20. In an apparatus for forming varicolored tiles including a stand, a collector grid removably mounted on the stand, a mold frame surrounding the stand, and means for causing the mold frame to withdraw the collector grid from the stand and be substituted therefor.

RALPH S. BOLTON.