US2556475A - Compressing machine - Google Patents

Description

June12, 1951 A. s. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 June 12, 1951 A. s. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 June 12, 1951 A. s. Kux

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 MEN m a m w 7 N J NGW mm QM Q m MN Nb m9 QB ON H uh Q QQNI mm ii- 05 Q31 8 NH MN! lm h R v q \W 1 t QM QU m m hm 1 0 g mm a? June 12, 1951 s, ux 2,556,475

COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 L TII June 12, 1951 A. s. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 Que/2267 (Z/efffijfla: 53 97% 7 1 at? June 12, 1951 A. s. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 June 12, 1951 A. s. KUX 2,556,475

COMPRESSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1947 a Sheets-Sheet 7 iiilWH m June 12, 1951 A. S. KUX

COMPRESSING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 8, 1947 Patented June 12, 1951 COMPRESSING MACHINE Albert S. Kux, Chicago, 111., assignor to Kux Machine Oo., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 8, 1947, Serial No. 784,877

Claims. 1

This invention relates to compressing machines generally, and more particularly to compressing machines for the automatic production of preforms or tablets from high bulk factor materials.

High bulk factor materials, examples of which are impact type plastics and some forms of asbestos, because of their poor feeding qualities and high compression ratios, in some cases as high as 12 to 1, cannot be automatically tableted or we formed on standard presses presently in use.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide improved means for automatically producing tablets or preforms from high bulk factor materials.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the foregoing character in which adiustments may be readily made to vary the compression ratios whereby to obtain preforms or tablets of varied densities.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a machine of the foregoing character which produces preforms or tablets having a high degree of uniformity in weight and size and which has a relatively high rate of production.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved machine of the foregoing character which is simple and durable in construction and highly emcient in operation.

Other and further objects of th present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration,

vshow exemplary embodiments and the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same principle may be used, and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art, without departin from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a right-hand side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale with parts omitted and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical sectional View taken on line 4 l of Fig. l on an enlarged scale with parts omitted and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view partly in section on an enlarged scale taken on line 55 of Fig. e and looking in the direction indicated by the aITOWS.

Fig. 6 is a plan view with parts omitted of the machine shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a partial plan view showing in dotted lines certain details of construction.

Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive are vertical sectional views on an enlarged scale showing the compressing elements in various positions of operation.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l 5 designates generally a frame structure of any desired size and configuration supported on a base I6. The frame includes a pair of spaced upright members I! and 58 between which and on which are supported the operative mechanisms of the machine hereinafter to be described.

Suitably journalled in the upright members I1 and I8 is a driving shaft it upon which are fixed for rotation therewith a combination pulley and fly wheel 2! and a pinion 22, the pulley 2| being driven by a belt, not shown, associated with a suitable source of motive power. The power is transmitted to the main driving gear 23 through a gear train which includes Pinion 22, gear 24 and pinion 26, the latter two being fixedly supported on shaft 21, and gear 23, which is rotatably supported on fixed shaft 28 suitably journalled in the upright members I! and IS, the gear 23 having a cam groove 33. Freely supported on shaft 28 for simultaneous rotation .thereon are cams 29 and 3!, eccentric 32 and gear 23. The cam 29, eccentric 32 and gear 23 are secured together in fixed relationship by a pin 35 extending longitudinally through all of said parts. The cam 29 is secured to the cam 3| for rotation therewith by means of a plurality of screws. A plurality of link members and crank arms hereinafter to be described are actuated by the said cams and eccentric to perform functions, as will be hereinafter described.

The forward portion of th frame i5 is provided with suitable guides 34 in which an upper slide designated generally by the numeral 36 is slidably mounted. The slide 36 may be of any suitable construction and in the embodiment shown includes a socket block member 3'! cooperating with a ball member 33 connected to an arm 39 pivotally connected to a crank arm which is pivoted on shaft 42. The crank arm M is connected through link 43 to a bell crank 44 connected to an actuating arm 46 which includes an eccentric strap 4'! in cooperative en agement with the eccentric 32. Associated with the socket 3'! and reciprocally movable therewith is a tubular member #28 having a longitudinally extending diametral slot 49. Received in the lower end of the member cc and movable therewith is a tubular compressing element 5 I provided with a shoulder 52 which abuts the lower end of the member 48.

A lower slide structure generally designated by the numeral 53 is slidably mounted in the guides 34 and includes a depending bored portion 63 through which the compressing element I and member 48 are arranged to reciprocate. Clearance is provided on each side of the slide structure to accommodate the bifurcated arm of a bell crank 54, the legs 58 of which are arranged to bear on semi-cylindrical bearing shoes 51 positioned on the structure as shown, the legs 55 being provided with complemental bearing surfaces to engage the bearing shoes 5i. The bell crank 54 is pivoted on shaft 59 and is provided at the end of arm BI with a cam follower roller 62 which engages in the cam groove 33 of gear 23.

The slide structure 53 is provided with a depending bored portion 63 which is in threaded engagement with an outer sleeve 64, the lower end of which receives a pressure pad 65. It will be seen by reference to the drawings that the upper compressing element 5i is adapted to reciprocate within the bore of the portion 63 and the bore of the pressure pad 65.

A clamp member at secured to portion 63 is adapted to frictionally engage the peripheral surface of the sleeve t4 and lock the same in a position of adjustment.

Arranged for freely sliding movement within the bore of the member 38 and upper element 5! is a core ejecting rod 61 connected to a bar menber 58 which extends through the diametral slot 49 of the member 48. The ejecting rod 81 is secured to and is arranged to move substantially simultaneously with the lower slide structure 53.

The frame I5 is provided with a bed indicated generally at 69 arranged between the upright members I! and I8. Supported on the bed 69 is a forwardly extending die table the. Depending from the die table led is a tubular portion II which serves as a guide for the member indicated generally at 12. The said member is provided with an enlarged portion I3 slidably received in the portion II and with a body portion I4 which is threaded substantially for its full length. Arranged in an annular recess at the top end of the member I2 is a plate I5 which supports the lower compressing element H. The provided with a shoulder which is engaged by a cooperating collar 19 for securing the said ele ment in position. Upper and lower collars 8i and 82 respectively, are in threaded engagement with the body portion l4 and serve as shoulders which cooperate with bifurcated arms of bell. cranks 84 and 3! as will be hereinafter described, for reciprocating the member l2 and oorrespondingly the compressing element ii. The collars BI and 82 are adjustable longitudinally of the member I2 and may be locked in a position of adjustment by means of the clamp bar 58 which engages serrations provided on the peripheral surfaces of the collars 8i and 82.

The bell crank 84 is pivoted on shaft 8? and is provided on its forward arm with a bifurcated portion, the legs 83 of which straddle the body portion i4. The said legs are formed to support semi-circular bearing shoes 38 which are adapted to engage the collar 3!. The other arm 85 of the bell crank 84 is provided with a cam follower roller 89 which cooperates with the cam 3i to actuate the bell crank 54 which acts to reciprocate the lower compressin element if, the upward travel of said element serving to 836Gb th said element is I compressed tablet from the die chamber as will be hereinafter described.

An arm 9i similarly formed with a bifurcated end providing legs 972 which cooperate with bearing shoes which are adapted to engage the collar 32 is pivoted on shaft 93. The rearward end of the arm BI is provided with a cam surface 94 which cooperates with a roller 96 carried on arm 97 pivoted on shaft as. The arm $1 is connected through a link 99 to a perforated ear IOI integral with the eccentric strap 41. Thus when the eccentric 32 is rotated the link 99 rocks the arms 9i about its shaft 93 and causes the roller 96 to ride on the cam surface 94 which in turn rocks the arm iii to reciprocate the lower element I1 which, in its upward travel, cooperates with the upper compressing element 5i which is then travelling downwardly to compress the tablet in desired final form. Both the lower compressing element and the member F2 are hollow and house therein a core rod I92 which may be of sectional construction and which remains stationary during the movement of the member '52 and the lower compressing element 'I'i. A threaded member W3 is provided for adjusting the position of the core rod W2.

A die N35 is supported on the die table I514 in alignment with the compressing elements 5i and Ti and is retained in position by a stepped annular ring it? suitably bolted to the die table I04.

Suitably supported for rotation on a spindle Hi8 carried in a boss I39 depending from the die table Hid is a turret indicated generally by the numeral 5 Il and formed of concentric cylindrical shells H2 and I i3 connected by radial webs H4 to provide a series of annularly arranged compartments H5, said compartments each being open at the top and the bottom. The turret is adapted to be rotated, as will be hereinafter explained, so that the compartments H6 are successively brought into register with the upper and lower compressing elements 5i and TI. This occurs when the element iii and the sleeve 54 are in retracted position.

The 'inner shell H3 is connected to a circular plate II? which is bolted to the flange IIB of a bearing member I it mounted on the spindle I09, the flange being provided with a plurality of spaced annularly arranged apertures IZI, one for each compartment IIG. Carried on the spindle I68 and connected thereto below the die table IN is a ratchet wheel I22. The said ratchet Wheel is actuated by a spring-biased pawl I23 pivotally mounted on an actuating bar I24 slidably carried in a channel guide I26. The rearward portion of the bar I24 is provided with a cam roller l2? arranged to cooperate with cam 29 for reciprocating said bar. A tension spring I3I connected to the bar I24 serves to maintain the roller I2! in operative engagement with the cam 29.

The forward portion of the actuating bar I24 is provided with a cam surface I32 adapted to cooperate with the roller mounted on the pivoted member I33 which is suitably connected to a pin I34 which reciprocably projects through an aperture in the table 34, the pin I34 being adapted to register in one of the annularly arranged apertures [2i to lock the turret Ill in one of a series of positions. It will be apparent that as the arm I24 is caused to slide forwardly of the machine the pawl I23 will engage the ratchet wheel I22 to index the turret III to the next succeeding position, In synchronism with such movement, but slightly in advance thereof, the cam surface I32 actuates the member I33 to move the locking pin I34 out of registration with the aperture in which it is engaged to permit indexing of the turret to the next succeeding position. Retraction of the actuating rod I24 permits the member I33 to return to upright position and effects registration of the locking pin I34 in the aperture in alignment therewith to lock the turret III against rotation. The member I33 is biased by a spring I35 contained in a housing I 36 depending from the die table I134.

A substantially triangularly shaped member I31 provided with an arcuately shaped aperture I38 is carried on supporting standards MI. The said member I 31 is disposed in a plane above v the top surface of the turret III and serves to support a vertical chute I42 which extends through the aperture I 38. The lower edges of the chute I42 are spaced slightly from the top edges of the turret III to provide clearance for rotation of the turret, but sufiiciently close substantially to effect a shearing action on the column of material bein fed into the turret compartment. Thus each compartment I I6 is filled with material uniformly flush with the top edges thereof.

The table I04 'is provided with a discharge opening I43 arranged so that each compartment N6 of the feed turret III sweeps thereover in its rotation. The said discharge opening serves as a means through which the compressed tablets and unused material are dropped onto an inclined vibrating screened chute I44 which effects a separation of the unused material from the compressed tablet. A suitable conveyor means indicated generally by the numeral I45 is associated with the chute I44 and with a hopper I48, in the latter of which is stored a supply of material, the conveyor means being arranged to carry the material upwardly to an inclined chute I46 which connects with vertical chute I42.

It is thought that the operation of this machine will be clearly understood from the foregoing, but briefly stated it is as follows, reference being had particularly to Figs. 8 to 11, it being understood that the cams and devices for operating the various parts are so arranged that they will operate the respective parts in timed relation with respect to each other.

The high bulk factor material to be compressed into tablets is elevated by the conveyor I45 and fed into the chute I42 where it falls by gravity into one of the compartments I I6, then in registration therewith. The turret III is caused to material to be compressed. correspondingly,

one of the compartments II6 leading the one being filled is brought into register with the compressing elements 5| and 'IT and the turret III is locked in position.

At the beginning of the compression stroke the element 5| and pressure pad 66 are in retracted position substantially as shown in Fig. 8 to provide clearance for the indexing and rotation of the turret III. The face of the lower element TI is substantially flush with the surface plane of the die table m4.

In the next advancing movement shown in Fig. 9 the element 5!, pad 68 and core ejecting rod 61 move substantially simultaneously into the space of the compartment H6. The said three elements in combination provide a olid ram or 6' plunger which in this case is of circular crosssectional area and which acts to partially compress the material in said compartment. At the stage of movement shown in Fig. 9, the top surface of the lower element H and the core rod I62 are substantially flush with the top surface of the die table I64, thus presenting a, flat plane against which a relatively large mass of material is partially compressed and firmly held.

In the next stage, illustrated in Fig. 10, the pressure pad 565 is shown as having reached the limit of its stroke. The upper compressing element however, continues downwardly, and simultaneously therewith the lower element I? recodes downwardly providing an annular chamber in the die I95, the core rod I92 at all times remaining stationary. A tablet I39 substantially in the form of an annulus is sheared from the partially compressed mass by the continued movement of compressing element 5|. The core Hit of the partially compressed mass is caused to enter into the bore of the upper element 5|, while the tablet I39 is pushed downwardly into the chamber of die it where it is fully compressed by the action of the upper and lower compressing elements 5| and ll respectively which move toward each other.

In the next stage of operation, as shown in Fig. 11 both the upper element 5| and pressure pad 6i; move upwardly to clear the top of the turret III to permit indexing of the same to the next succeeding position. In this movement the partially compressed core I413 still in the bore of the upper element 5| is carried into engagement with the core ejector rod 6'! which cooperates with the movement of the element 5| to eject the core I 46, which drops into the turret compartment immediately below it. Simultaneously, the lower element l'l rises to its nor mal position, flush with the surface of the die table I534, and in so doing ejects the compressed tablet I39 from the die. The next indexing of the turret III sweeps the contents of the compartment H6, which includes the finished tablet, partially compressed and non-compressed material, over the discharge opening I43 in the die table I34 through which they fall onto the vibrating screened chute I44, which acts to separate the finished tablet from the rest of the material, the said material falling through the periorations in the screen of the chute 44 and being carried with new material from the hopper I48 by the conveyor I45 to the chute M6.

When the compartment H5 just described is disposed over the discharge opening I43 the trailing compartment I Iii immediately adjacent is op" eratively aligned with the compressing elements 5i and ii, and the same cycle of operations hereinabove described is repeated.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to forming tablets only of the shape herein described, but that tablets of other desired shapes may be formed therewith. For example, by using compressing elements of solid cylindrical or polygonal cross section instead of annular cross section as shown in the drawings and omitting the core rods, tablets of solid cylindrical or polygonal shapes may be formed.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claims I claim:

1. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form a forming chamber, upper and lower compressing elements movable in said chamber in directions toward and away from each other, a rotatable turret including a plurality of compartments, each open on the top and bottom, said turret being so disposed that each of said compartments may be successively aligned with said compressing elements to permit said upper element to pass therethrough, means for delivering to each of said compartments successively a quantity of material to be compressed, means for advancing said compartments to bring the same successively into alignment with said com pressing elements, means for partially compressing the mass of said material within said compartments and for actuating said compressing elements to further compress a portion of said partially compressed mass in said chamber in tablet form.

2. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a forming chamber, upper and lower compressing elements movable in said chamber in directions toward and away from each other, a sleeve telescoped over said upper compressing element, a rotatable turret including a plurality of compartments, each open on the top and bottom, said turret being so disposed that each of said compartments may be successively aligned with said compressing elements to permit entry therein of said upper compressing element and said sleeve, means for delivering to each of said compartments successively a quantity of material to be compressed, means for advancing said compartments to bring the same successively into alignment with said compressing elements, means for actuating said sleeve and separate means for actuating said upper element to partially compress a mass of material within a compartment, said last-recited means further actuating said upper element to compress in said chamber a portion of said partially compressed mass into tablet form.

3. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a forming chamber, upper and lower compressing elements movable in said chamber in directions toward and away from each other, a sleeve telescoped over said upper compressing elements, a rotatable turret including a plurality of compartments, each open on the top and bottom, said turret being so disposed that each of said compartments may be successively aligned with said compressing elements to permit entry therein of said upper compressing element and said sleeve, means for delivering to each of said compartments successively a quantity of material to be compressed, means for advancing said compartments to bring the same successively into alignment with said compressing elements, means for actuating said sleeve and separate means for actuating said upper element to partially compress a mass of material within a compartment, said last recited means further actuating said upper element to compress in said chamber a portion of said partially compressed mass into tablet form, and means for ejecting said tablet from said chamber into said compartment.

4. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a formin chamber, upper and lower compressing elements movable in said chamber in directions toward and away from each other, a sleeve telescoped over said upper compressing element, a rotatable turret including a plural- 8 l ity of compartments, each open on the top and bottom, said turret being so disposed that each of said compartments may be successively aligned with said compressing elements to permit entry therein of said upper compressing element and said sleeve, means for delivering to each of said compartments successively a quantity of material tobe compressed, means for indeXing said turret to successive operative positions, means for locking said turret in said po sitions against movement, means for actuating said sleeve and separate means for actuating said upper element to partially compress a mass of material within a compartment, said last-recited means further actuating said upper element to compress in said chamber a portion of said partially compressed mass into tablet form, and means for actuating said lower compressin element to eject said tablet from said chamber into said compartment.

5. A machine for compressing material into tablet form comprising an upper compressing element, a lower compressing element, a chamher in which said elements are reciprocable, a sleeve closely surrounding said upper element and telescopically movable relative thereto, actuating means individual to the elements and to said sleeve, means for delivering between said elements material to be compressed, said means including a rotatable turret having a plurality of annularly disposed compartments arranged so that each of said compartments may be successively aligned with said compressing elements to permit said upper element and said sleeve to enter therein, means for delivering to each of said compartments a quantity of material to be compressed, means for advancing said compartments to bring the same successively in alignment with said compressing elements, means for locking said turret in such positions, motionimparting means for said actuating means arranged to cause said upper element and said sleeve to partially compress a mass of said material within a compartment alined therewith and to cause said sleeve to secure said mass Within an annular area surrounding said upper element while said upper element is actuated to further compress a portion of said partially compressed mass into a tablet form, said lower element being finally actuated to expel said tablet from said chamber.

6. A machine for compressing material into tablet form embodying a chamber comprising elements reciprocable in the chamber in directions towards and away from each other, means for confining a surplus or" the material to be compressed and delivering the same between said elements, one of said elements being constructed of relatively movable sections, both of said sections being movable in unison and simultaneously operating upon the confined material to initially compress a mass of said material in zones individual to the sections and means individual to one of said sections for positively operating it will respect to the other section to shear a tablet from said initially compressed mass in its respective zone after the said other section has reached the limit of its compression movement.

'7. A machine for compressing material into tablet form embodying a chamber comprising elements reciprocable in the chamber in directions towards and away from each other, means for confining a surplus of the material to be compressed and delivering the same between said elements, one of said elements being constructed of relatively movable sections, both of said sections being movable in unison and simultaneously operating upon the confined material to initially compress a mass of said material, in zones individual to the sections, and means for actuating said other element for imparting a compression movement in a direction opposite the movement of said movable section to further compress said tablet within said chamber.

8. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a table having a forming chamber, upper and lower compressing elements movable in said chamber in directions toward and away from each other, means for automatically confininga predetermined quantity of material and delivering the same betwcen said elements, means cooperating with said upper compressing element for partially compressing between said means and said table and between said compressing elements a mass of said confined material, and means for actuating said upper and lower elements first to shear a portion from said partially compressed mass and then to further compress said portion into tablet form within said chamber.

9. A machine for compressing material into tablet form comprising a table having a forming chamber therein, a lower compression element reciprocable in said chamber and at the limit of its movement in one direction having its compressing face in the plane of said table, a reciprocable compression element being constructed of relatively movable sections, with one of said sections being reciprocable in said chamber, means for delivering and confining between said table and said upper element a surplus of material to be compressed, both of said sections being movable in unison and simultaneously operating upon the confined material to initially compress a mass of said material in zones individual to said sections, means for positively operating one of said 10 I sections with respect to the other and said lower compression element to shear a tablet from said initially compressed mass in its respective zone after the other section has reached the limit of its compression movement and means for'actuating said lower compression element simultane ously in a direction opposite the movement of said movable section to further compress said tablet within said chamber. 1

10. In a machine for compressing material into tablet form, a table having a forming chamber, compression elements movable in said chamber in directions towards and away from each other, a compression sleeve associated with oneof said compression elements and movable relative thereto, means for delivering and confining in the zones of said elements and said sleeve a surplus of material to be compressed, said sleeve and associated element being movable in unison and simultaneously operating upon the confined material to initially compress a mass of said material in zones individual to said elements and said sleeve While said other element is at the'limit of its compression movement, means for individually actuating said elements simultaneously while a constant and unyielding pressure is maintained on said partially compressed material by said sleeve to shear from said material a tablet and then further to compress said tablet within said chamber.

ALBERT S. KUX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,597,803 Kearney et al Aug. 31, 1926 1,626,860 Mudd May 3, 1927 1,995,131 Reinhardt Mar. 19, 1935 2,325,687 Kux Aug. 3, 1943

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