Abstract: An ultra-high pressure solid pressing machine of the type having a pair of upper and lower platens mounted in a press frame and movable relatively toward and away from each other, a mold unit interposed between the upper and lower platens and including at least a cylindrical cavity for receiving raw material therein, upper and lower conical surfaces formed around the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical cavity, and upper and lower anvils fitted respectively in the upper and lower conical surfaces through a gasket to compress the raw material in the cylindrical cavity under an ultra-high pressure, characterized in that the pressing machine includes a plurality of mold units stacked one on another between the upper and lower platens through insulators with axes of cylindrical cavities of the respective mold units being in vertical alignment with each other and a current supply control separately connected to the mold units.

Abstract: A press for forming sheet material into a shaped article comprising a frame, first and second complementary dies, a cam supported by the frame for reciprocally moving the first die along an axis between a first position axially spaced from the second die and a second position fully mated with the second die, the cam including a dwell period when the first die is in the second position. The press includes a bolster supporting the second die for axial movement between upper and lower limits, the bolster being axially spaced from the upper limit by movement of the first die to the second position. The press also includes a hydraulic power circuit responsive to the position of the cam for normally biasing the bolster toward its upper limit under a first hydraulic pressure and for biasing the bolster toward the upper limit under a second hydraulic pressure during the dwell period, the second hydraulic pressure being greater than the first hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A machine which makes building blocks from earth efficiently and rapidly has a pair of block forming molds at each end of the machine for simultaneously forming blocks at each end by means of a pair of rams. The hydraulic cylinder which actuates the two rams is located away from the axis between the two rams. The use of two molds eliminates wasted motion of the machine as a block is formed at one end of the machine as the ram is being retracted from the other end.

Abstract: In a press operable for movements of proof plate exchangeably mounted on an end of a press die into and out of a mold, and wherein the proof plate normally does not exceed a position wherein its topmost portion is at most flush with a topmost portion of the mold during the movements, the improvement includes a drive device independent of the movements for moving the proof plate beyond the topmost portion of the mold, so that the proof plate projects through the mold, and is thereby freely accessible for the purpose of being replaced.

Abstract: The apparatus has a plurality of open-ended female dies with a movable lower male die positioned in the lower end of each one. A supply box is shiftable over the female dies to deposit concrete therein, following which a plurality of upper male dies are moved down into the female dies to compact the concrete therein into chairs. Wire supply means feeds wires through the upper male dies and into the concrete in the female dies before the concrete is compacted. After the wires have been cut above the female dies, the upper male dies are retracted and the lower male dies are moved upwardly to eject the compacted chairs from the female dies.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing pastry comprises a plate having a plurality of mold cavities arranged in a regular pattern. Each of the cavities has at its upper rim an upwardly projecting cutting edge. A sheet of dough is laid over the plate and pressed toward it by a flat plate or rolling pin so that the cutting edges cut out individual dough pieces, one in each mold cavity. The dough pieces are pressed into the cavities by cup-shaped elements carried by a rigid support and arranged in the same pattern as the mold cavities so that a cup-shaped element enters each cavity. The distance the cup-shaped elements enter the mold cavities is limited by adjustable screws on the support. The cup-shaped elements are of material having good heat conductivity and thermal capacity and are left in the mold cavities during baking to assure uniform baking of the pastry.

Abstract: Compacting apparatus for making composition logs from particulate matter includes a compression chamber having a precompression chamber axially aligned on one end of the compression chamber and a feed mechanism for feeding particulate matter for loading into the precompression chamber for compression ultimately in the compression chamber.

Abstract: This invention provides a high output machine for effecting the production of organic thermoplastic articles by the compression molding technique. A plurality of molding members having open top molding cavities are movable around a horizontal closed loop path. A plurality of horizontally moving plungers are provided which are respectively co-operable with the molding members in a portion of their path to close the open top of the molding cavities. Successive gobs of heated organic thermoplastic material are deposited in the open top molding cavities at a point prior to the molding members moving into vertical alignment with the plungers. A relative vertical displacement between the plunger and the molding members is then effected to bring each plunger into engagement with the respective molding member and effect the compression molding of the inserted gob to conform to the molding cavity.

Abstract: A frame comprising crossplates 8 and 13 coupled and spaced apart by coupling rods 10 (FIG. 2) faces, by the crossplates 8 and 13, opposite ends of aligned plunger pairs 7 and 16, there being a plurality of said pairs associated with respective openings, in which they are a close sliding fit, in a housing in which is a supply chamber 2 surmounted by a supply hopper 6. Reciprocation of the frame 8, 10, 13 causes movement of the plungers 7, 16 with there being a movement time lag between the plungers of the pair to provide, when within the supply chamber 2, a space between the confronting ends of said plungers 7, 16, for receiving material from the chamber 2 as an object 18 which can be ejected (e.g. by wire 21) when the said ends are outside the housing 1. This arrangement ensures consistency of shape of the product and of the location at which it engages from the device, facilitating subsequent treatment and/or handling thereof.

Abstract: A press is provided for forming articles from compressed refractory material such as bricks, the press including a press bed, a crown spaced from the press bed, and a plurality of prestressed support columns rigidly supporting the press bed and the crown in spaced apart relation. The support columns each include a central tie rod including one end extending through a portion of the press bed and including another end extending through a portion of the crown and rigidly engaging the crown. The support columns also include an outer hollow cylindrical member surrounding the tie rods, one end of each of the hollow cylindrical members being positioned against the upper surface of the bed and the opposite end of each of the hollow cylindrical members engaging a lower portion of the crown. The tie rods are subjected to a tensile force while the outer cylindrical members are simultaneously subjected to a compressive force thereby providing a rigid frame structure and one resistive to twisting.

Abstract: A press is provided of the type used in compressing refractory material at high pressures in the manufacture of bricks and the like. The press includes a bed, columns supported by the bed, and a mold table slidably supported on the columns, the mold table including a central aperture housing a removable mold. The press further includes at least one plunger extending upwardly into the mold cavity of the mold. The press also includes a pallet for supporting the plunger, the pallet being releasably attached by alignment pins to the press bed and being supported for slidable movement on the upper surface of the press bed by a plurality of inflatable air bags located between the upper surface of the press bed and the pallet, the air bags each including at least one aperture in the bottom wall of the air bag. Air can be forced into the air bags to cause inflation of the air bags and can escape through the aperture in the bottom wall to form a fluid cushion between the pallet and the upper surface of the press bed.

Abstract: The invention includes apparatus for use in molding refractory material and is useful, for example, in molding bricks and other similar products. The apparatus includes a mold table supported by a plurality of vertical columns, the mold table being supported for translational movement on the columns. The apparatus further includes a mold box supported by the mold table, the mold box including at least one vertical mold cavity having opposite open ends. The apparatus also includes a plunger assembly supported below the mold and including at least one plunger having an end received in the mold cavity. A plunger assembly is also supported above the mold and includes at least one plunger receivable in the mold cavity, the plungers of the opposed plunger assemblies being functional to compress refractory material placed in the mold.

Abstract: A punch and die set for operation by the ram of a powder compacting press, comprising at least three concentrically disposed telescopic punches independently reciprocable within a single die cavity. Each punch is separately supported by a punch holder plate, one of which is directly reciprocable from the press ram, another of which is reciprocable by way of appropriate abutments dependent from the first punch holder and the third of which is independently reciprocable relative to the first one by way of fluid pressure.

Abstract: Method of using an opposed ram hydraulic press for compressing powder in a die to form a compact. The press including hydraulic and electrical control circuits for decompressing the compact progressively and smoothly to a relatively low punch hold down force and maintaining this hold down force relatively constant until the compact is substantially completely ejected from the die.

Abstract: There is disclosed a highly accurate counting and handling arrangement particularly adaptable to large-volume, high-speed multiple-output apparatus producing discrete, solid particular objects, such as tablets. Sensing means, preferably retroreflective optical sensors, fluidic sensors or strain-gauge sensing arrangements, are employed in associated with existing apparatus to detect each object at the point where the objects are substantially completely formed. The signals generated by the individual sensors are received by a control counter arrangement which provides a continuous separate displayed counting for each sensor employed. The control counter arrangement has provision for separately presetting the maximum desired count of sensed objects for each sensor employed.