US1220521A - Machine for making concrete blocks. - Google Patents

Description

J. D. LODGE & W. C. PELL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1916.

1,220,521 Patented Mar. 27, 1917,

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1. D. LODGE & w. C. P'ELL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1916'.

13%521 Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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Witnesses Inventors rezw by 1' Attorneys J. I]. LODGE 6a WRC. PELL.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED. MAY 3. I916.

mzmm, Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Witnesses l '1 j inventors Attorneys J. D. LODGE W. C. PELL. MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS. APPLICATION man MAY 3. 1916.

1,2%O,521. Patented. Mar. 2?, 1-917.

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JOHN DUNKIN LODGE AND WILLIAM C. FELL, 0F BBIDGEPORT, WEST VIRGINIA; FLORA N. PELL, COMMITTEE OF WM. C. FELL, AN INSANE PERSON; SAID LODGE AND SAID COMMITTEE ASSIGNORS TO SAID JGEN D'UNYIN LODGE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS.

Application filed. May 3, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN D. Loner and lViLLIAM C. PELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Harrison and State of Vest Virginia, have invented a new and useful Machine for Making Concrete Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains generally to molding machines, and aims to provide a novel and improved machine for mak ing concrete or other plastic blocks.

It is the object of the invention to provide a machine of the character indicated embodying a mold, a ram for pressing the concrete within the mold, a table or movable bottom for the mold, and a novel actuating mechanism for operating said ram and table, said mechanism being controllable to bring the ram and table into play at the proper time, whereby the ram is first moved into the mold to compress the concrete therein, and is then retracted and moved out of the way, after which the table is raised to raise the completed block out of the mold for the removal of the block, the table then being returned so that another charge of concrete can be dumped into the mold for a new operation.

The present machine has improved features of construction and operation, whereby to facilitate the operation, there being means for stopping the ram and table at the proper time, as when the ram is moved into the mold to a predetermined distance and is retracted and moved out of the Way, and when the table is raised to eject the block from the mold, and is retracted to normal or initial position. By the provision of such means, the operation of the ram and table is automatically stopped at the proper positions thereof, to relieve the operator of this responsibility, but the machine has means whereby the operator can quickly bring the several parts into operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a block molding machine, the combination with the mold and block ejecting means, of novel means for removing the ejected block from above the mold to one side thereof, out of the way of the ram.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for centering the ram Specification 0: Letters Eatent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917. Serial No. 95,203. i

when it is returned from one side of the mold to a position above the mold to enter the same.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a machine having the characteristic features above noted, and which is improved generally in its construction and details, to enhance the efficiency and utility thereof.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is another elevation thereof looking at right angles to the line of view in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing the friction wheels.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the intermediate friction wheel and its yoke.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail showing the connection of the ram with its actuating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating a part of the controlling means.

Fig. 7 is another detail view of the controlling means.

F 8 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 7 looking at right angles to the line of view in said figure.

Fig. 9 is a? fragmental plan view showing the controlling lever.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental elevation of the mold and block removing device showing the block supporting brackets moved toward one another.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 2, portions being broken away, showing the block supporting brackets swung into position to engage the ejected block.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the mold and ram centering means.

The machine has a frame of suitable construction, and is supported in any suitable manner, said frame comprising a base 1,

standards 2 secured to the base, and a yoke member 3 attached to the upper ends of the standards.

Mounted upon the base 1 is mold 4 having its top and bottom open, and a table or bottom plate 5 is movable within the mold and is supported by rack bars 6 to the upper ends of which the table is secured. The rack bars 6 slide through the base 1 and mesh with pinions 7 secured upon the shaft 8 journaled to the base. This shaft 8 is rotated, as will hereinafter more fully appear, for raising and lowering the table, the table being raised to lift or eject the completed block from the mold, in order that the block can be readily removed.

The block removing device embodies a rock shaft 9 having its terminals journaled in bearing brackets 10 attached to the mold 4 adjacent its upper edge, and brackets 11 are slidable'or feathered upon the rockshaft 9 adjacent the terminals thereof and between the brackets 10. These brackets 11 have outstanding arms 12, and arms 13 arranged at right angles with the arms 12 and oflset relative thereto, the arms 12 being closer together than the arms 13. The arms 13 are normally spaced from the mouth of the mold. A hand lever 14 is fulcrumed, as at 14, to'the rock shaft 9 between its ends, and is connected by links 15 with the brackets 11, whereby said lever 14 can be swung in two directions, to slide the brackets 11 toward and away from one another, and to rock the shaft 9. The operation of this device will be explained hereinafter under the operation of the entire machine.

The ram 14 is suspended from the superstructure and has its upper end journaled upon a crank or wrist pin 15 connecting a pair of gear wheels 16, which are journaled for rotation, as at 17, within the frame member 3, whereby said gear wheels 16 in being rotated in one direction, will depress the ram, and in being rotated in the opposite direction, will raise or retractthe rain from the mold.

The, actuating mechanism embodies pinions 18 meshing with the gear wheels 16 and secured upon a counter shaft 19 journaled upon the member 3, and gear wheels 20 are also secured upon the shaft 19 and mesh with pinions 21 secured upon another counter shaft 22 j ournaled upon'the member 3. A friction wheel 23 is secured upon the shaft 22 to be engaged by a friction wheel 24 below it. This friction wheel 24 is mounted upon an actuating shaft 25 journaled in bearings 26 carried by a yoke or lever 27 whose terminals engaged at fulcrum rod 28 carried by brackets 29 attached to one end of the member The yoke 27 projects inwardly towardthe center of the frame and has an inwardly projecting arm 30, and when said arm 30 is'raised, the friction wheel 24 is brought into contact with the friction wheel 23, whereby the shaft 25 in being rotated will transmit motion to the gear wheels 16 at aproper speed ratio, whereby the wheels 16 are operated much slower than the actuating shaft 25 but with greater power, in order thatthe ram will be operated properly.

Mounted for rotation upon the actuating shaft 25 at the opposite sides of the frameare loose pulley wheels 31 and 32, which are rotated in the opposite-directions, by means of belts (not shown) or other suitable means. Cooperating with the pulleywheels 3'1 and 32 are the respective clutch boxes 33 and 34, and a bar 35 is terminally connected with the clutches. The clutches are for the purposeof connecting the pulley wheels 31-32 with and disconnecting them from the driving shaft 25. When the bar 35 is in intermediate position, the clutches are open, and the pulley wheels are disconnected from the shaft 25, and when the bar 35 is moved in one direction, one clutch is thrown in for connecting the respective pulley wheel with the shaft, while when'the bar 35 is moved in the'opposite direction, the other clutch is thrown in for connecting its pulley wheel with the shaft 25. bar 35 in one direction or the other, from intermediate position, it is possible'to rotate the shaft 25 in either direction.

As a means for shifting the clutch bar 35, a lever 36 has one end pivotally connected with the bar35 between its ends, and'said lever 36 is fulcrumed, as at 37, to a transverse bar 38 attached to a pair of the standards'2. The lever 36 is provided with a slot 39 receiving the lug 40 projecting from a collar 41 which is secured upon a sliding and rocking shaft 42 "mounted for sliding and rotary movements in bearings 43 attached to those standards'2 to which the'bar 38 is fastened. "When'th'e shaft 42 is slid longitudinally,'the lug 40 in working in the slot 39, will swing the lever 36, to reciprocate the bar 35, and as a means for manually shifting the shaft 42, a collar'44 is disposed loosely thereon adjacent one bearing 43, and is provided with an annular groove 45 in which a finger 46 carried by said bearing engages, to prevent the longitudinal movement of the collar 44, but to permit the same to oscillate. The collar 44 has a bracket 47 to which is fulcrumed a controlling lever 48, and said lever has a loop or yoke 49 surrounding the shaft 42, and pivotedthereto, as at 50, whereby when the lever 48 is swung by hand, it moves the shaft longitudinally. hen the lever 48 is swung either upwardly or downwardly, it will rotate the shaft 42, which is utilized for controlling the yoke 27 and friction wheel 24 carried thereby. Thus, the collar 41 has an arm 51 projecting therefrom which is'con- Thus, by shifting the.

nected by a link 52 with the arm 30. Consequently, when the lever 48 is raised, the arm 51 is moved downwardly, to pull the link and yoke 27 downwardly, thereby removing the friction wheel 24: away from the friction wheel 23, and disconnecting the actuating shaft 25 from the ram operating device.

The shaft 8 is also rotated by the actuatshaft 25, for raising or lowering the table, and to this end, a worm wheel 53 is secured to the shaft 8 at one side of the base 1, and meshes with a worm 5e secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 55 journaled through bearings 55 carried by the frame.

A bevel gear 56 is secured to the upper end of the vertlcal shaft 55 and meshes with a bevel gear 57 secured to one end of a shaft 'journaled to the member 3 below the yoke 27. Secured upon this shaft 58 is a friction wheel 59, and the friction wheel PA is disposed intermediate the friction wheels 23 and 59 to alternately engage them when the yoke 27 is moved upwardly and downwardly. When the yoke 27 is in an intermediate position, the friction wheel 2% is disengaged from both friction wheels 23-59, whereby the entire machine will be stopped.

One or each of the gear wheels 16 is provided upon the inner face thereof,with a pair of buffers 60, one of which, when the ram is" is raised or retracted from the mold, will strike the ram, as seen in Fig. 5, in order that the further rotation of the gear wheels 16, will carry the ram with them, to swing the ram to one side away from the mold. When the wheels 16 are rotated in one direction, one of the buffers 60 contacts with the ram, and when said wheels are reversed and rotated in the other direction, the other buffer contacts with the ram. The wheels 16 make practically a complete or almost a complete revolution during each operation, rotating in one direction in one opera tion, and in the opposite direction in the next. Thus, when the wheels 16 are in starting position with the ram swung to one side, the crank or wrist pin 15' is above the trunnions 17 and when the wheels 16 are rotated in the proper direction, the ram 14 is first returned to depending position and is then forced downwardly into the mold, and after the pin 15 passes its lowermost point, it moves upwardly, thereby retracting the ram from the mold, and when the ram is re tracted, the respective buffer 60 engages the ram and moves it toward the opposite side away from the mold.

Means are provided for automatically stopping the. machine when the ram is at either of its extreme positions, and for this purpose a. rock shaft 61 is journaled in standards 62 carried by the member 3, and has mounted thereon levers 63, one for each gear wheel 16, and one arm of each lever has a depending cam 64 co'o'perable with outstanding rollers or studs 65 and 66 carried by the outer side of the respective gear wheel 16. The roller 65 is so arranged, that when the ram is raised and swung away from the mold in one direction, the roller 65 engages the cam 6a and swings the lever 63, which results in the disconnection of the ram from the actuating shaft. The roller 66 is so arranged, that when the ram is raised and swung in the other direction, the roller 66 engages the cam 64, to swing the lever 63 for stopping the machine. The rollers 65 and 66 can be adjusted to different positions, to regulate the operation of the lever 63, the gear wheels 16 being provided with apertures 66 or other suitable means for the adjustment of said rollers. Pivoted to the other arms of the levers 63 are vertical rods 67 which project downwardly and slide through guides 68 carried by those standards 2 to which the bar 38 is attached, and the rods 67 are normally raised by springs 69, to restore the levers 63 to normal position. The push rods 67 when moved downwardly, serve to rotate the shaft 4:2, to move the yoke 27 downwardly, to disconnect the friction wheel 24 from the friction wheel 23, whereby to stop the machine. For this pur- 13086.3, pair of arms 70 are attached to the shaft 42 and project under the rods 67, to be operated thereby, in order that when the rods are moved downwardly, they swing the arms 70 downwardly to an intermediate position, whereby to remove the friction wheel to an intermediate position.

The shaft 42 is also rotated by the table actuating device, to stop the machine with the table either in raised or in lowered position. Thus, a rocking lever 71 is fulcrumed, as at 72, upon the base 1, and a pair of lift rods 7 374: are slidable through guides 75 and 76 attached to those standards 2 to which the bar 38 is attached, and the lower ends of the lift rods 73 seat upon the opposite arms of the lever 71. The upper ends of the lift rods 7374 project under the arms 70 to raise them under certain conditions, it being noted that the rods 73 and 7e reciprocate in opposite directions. Attached to the lever 71 is a tappet 77 projecting partially across the faces of a disk 80 secured to the end of the shaft 8, in the path of a pair of outstanding pins 7879 carried by said disk. The disk has apertures 81 for the reception of said pins whereby the pins can be adjusted to different positions. The pin 7 8 is engageable with the tappet 77 when the shaft 8 is rotated to raise the table, whereby to raise the rod 73, and the pin 79 is engageable with the tappet 77 when the table is lowered to normal position, whereby to raise the rod 74.

The machine also includes means for centering theram when it is returned from one side of the mold to a position above the mold. Such means embodies a pair of arms 909l overhanging the ends of the mold past which the head of the ram swings or moves, said arms being provided with upstanding rollers 92 at their free ends to contact with the head and the ram. Thearms 90'91 are-secured upon the upper ends of vertical shafts or spindles 93 journaled in bearings 9-1 secured to the corners of the mold at one side thereof, preferably at that side opposite the block removing means. Coiled wire torsional springs 95 are disposed upon the shafts 93 and are arranged to swing the arms 9091 toward one another over the ends of the mold. The arm 90-has an extension 96 which is connected by a link 97 with the arm 91, whereby both arms '90-91 swing toward and away from the mold simultaneously. When either of said arms is swung away from the mold, the other isalso moved away-from the mold, and the two arms are moved toward the mold simultaneously. Thus, supposing that the ram 14 is retracted, when it is moved toward one side of the machine, it contacts with one of the rollers 92, and swings the respective arm away from the mold, said roller being forced away from-the'end of'the head of the ram and passing onto the side of said head. The other arm is swung away from the mold at the same time. When the ram returns to position above the mold, it will pass between the arms 9091, and said arms being spring pressed to move toward the mold, will cause the rollers 92 to clasp the ram therebetween and due to the fact that the movement of the arms 9091 is limited when they have brought the ram to centered position, they remain at such position during the time that the ram is depressed into the mold. When the ram is again retracted, it passes between the rollers '92.

In operation, supposing that the wheels 16 have rotated clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, until the 'ram 14 is retracted and swungto one side, the roller 65 in engaging the cam 64 will stop the'machine, so that it is in1position for a complete cycle of operation. The cam 6& being raised by the roller '65 swings the levers 63 thereby to depress the rods 67 a sufiicient amount, to move the arms downwardly to intermediate or neutral position, which will rock theshaft L2, to pull the link 52'downwardly. The yoke 27 is thus swung to intermediate position to disengage the friction wheel 24 from the friction wheel 23,thereby stopping the ram. Concrete or other plastic material is first i poured in'the mold 4, and the operator-then depresses "the hand lever 48 and'swingsthe same toward the proper side, wherebyto throw in the proper clutch of the actuating the concrete therein.

shaft 25, and to simultaneously swing the wheel 2% into engagement with the friction wheel The gears 16 are then rotated counter clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, whereby the ram is depressed. When the wheels 16 start to turn, the ram will swing back to pendant position over the mold l, and as the crank or wrist pin 15 moves to its lowermost position, the ram will be depressed forcibly into the mold, to compress As the'crank or wrist pin 15 continues its movement, it moves upwardly at the right hand side of the trimnion '17, and raises or retracts the ram 14. As-soon as the ram 14: is retracted from the mold, the respective'buffer 16 contacts with the ram and the ram is then swung toward the right, as seen in Fig. 2, away from the mold. At the "time that the ram is swung away from the mold, the roller 66 engages the cam 64, and swings the levers 63 to depress'the rods 67 for stopping the machine,

by removingthe friction wheel 2'4l from the friction wheel 23. The machine is thus stopped whenever the ram is "retracted and swung out of the way, and it will be noted that whenever the wheels 16 start to turn, to bring the ram to position to enter the mold, the arms 91 will serve to properly center the ramabove'the mold, as above explained. The ram is stopped at the proper time,'even though the operator is absent or negligent. When the ram is retracted and. mo'ved'out 'of the way towardone side, the operator now raises the lever 28 and swings it'sidewise in the proper direction, "to throw in the "proper clutch whereby the shaft 25 rotates in the proper direction, and to depress the yoke 27 to'bring the friction wheel 24 into engagement with the friction wheel 59. The friction wheel 59 is rotated by the actuating shaft, and rotates the vertical shaft 55, which in turn rotates the'sha'ft 8, so that the 'pinions 7 raise the rack bars 6 and table 5. The table thus pushes the block'out of the mold 4c, and when the table reaches a predetermined position, the pin '7 8 to intermediate position, which will raise the link and yoke 27 to disengage 'the friction wheel 2% from the friction wheel 59, thus stopping the movement of the table actuatingdevice. The completed block can now be removed from 'the table by first swinging the lever 14 outwardly and upwardlyyto turn the shaft 9 and brackets 11 to the position seen in Fig. 1'1, and then by swinging 'the lever 14- in a horizontal direction, the brackets 11 will "he moved toward one another, so'that the arms '13 engage-the block, while thearms '12 are brought into place adjacent one-side of-the block. Then, by swinging the lever 14 downwardly, the

brackets 11 are returned to normal position, and the block will now rest upon the arms 12, being transferred from the arms 13 to said arms 12. N hen the brackets 11 are in normal position, the block can be readily lifted therefrom, or a suitable contrivance for carrying the block can be moved between the arms 12, and then by swin -ing the lever 14:, the brackets 11 can be separated, to transfer the block from the arms 12 onto the block carrying member. The block, however, can be readily lifted from the arms 12 before they are separated. The table 5 is now returned to normal position, by swinging the lever d8 toward the opposite side so as to reverse the connection of the shaft 25 with the pulley wheels 8132, so that the shaft 25 will rotate in the opposite direction, and the lever d8 is then raised, to lower the yoke 27 in order that the friction wheel 24c will again engage the friction wheel 59. The shaft 8 is again rotated, but in the opposite direction, to move the rack bars 6 downwardly until the table is again in normal position, in which event the pin 79 engages and swings the tappet 77, to raise the rod 74: and its arm 70, which results in the yoke 27 being raised to intermediate position to disconnect the friction wheel 2a from the friction wheel 59, to stop the movement of the table actuating device. This completes the cycle of operation, and the operation is repeated as before, but the wheels 16 are rotated in the opposite direction with the same results.

' The present machine is thoroughly efficacious for pressing the concrete within the mold, retracting the ram and moving it out of the way, ejecting the block from the mold, removing the block from over the mold to one side, and returning the table, the machine being stopped automatically when the ram and table reach the ends of their respective movements, whereby the lack of attention of the operator will not result in a continued operation of the machine or the excessive movement of any of its parts. The advantages of this invention will be manifest to those versed in the art, and the other attributes and advantages of the present machine will also suggest themselves without further comment.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a molding machine, a mold, a ram movable into and out of the mold, and operating means carrying the ram and operable for moving the ram into and out of the mold and for moving the ram alternately to opposite sides away from the mold.

2. In a molding machine, a mold, a ram, means for moving the ram into and out of the mold and to one side away from the mold when retracted therefrom, and means operated when the ram is moved to one side away from the mold for stopping the movement thereof.

3. In a molding machine, a mold, a rotary member having a wrist pin, a ram connected to the wrist pin to be moved into and out of the mold thereby, and means carried by said member whereby when it is moved in either direction, the rain is swung to one side away from the mold when retracted therefrom.

4. In a molding machine, a mold, a rotary member having a wrist pin, a ram connected to the wrist pin to be moved into and out of the mold thereby, means for oscillating said member in opposite directions, means carried by said member for swinging the ram alternately to opposite sides when the ram is retracted from the mold, and means operable when the ram is swung to either side for stopping the oscillation of said member.

5. In a molding machine, a mold, block ejecting means working therein, a ram movable into and out of the mold, means for moving the ram into and out of the mold and to one side away from the mold when it is retracted therefrom, means for moving the ejecting means in opposite directions, actuating means for actuating the second and third mentioned means, means operable when the ram is moved to one side away from the mold for stopping the movement thereof, and means operable when the ejecting means is moved to either position for stopping the movement thereof. 6. In a molding machine, a mold, block ejecting means working within the mold, a ram, means for moving the ram into and out of the mold and to one side away from the mold when retracted therefrom, means for actuating the block ejecting means when the ram is moved to one side away from the mold, and block removing means operable when a block is ejected from the mold. for removing the block.

7. In a molding machine, a mold, a ram cooperating therewith, a table working within the mold, a wheel operatively connected with the ram, a second wheel operatively connected with the table, a lever, an actuating shaft carried by said lever, a third wheel carried by the actuating shaft and alternately engageable with the first and second mentioned wheels, oppositely rotating wheels mounted loosely upon said shaft, clutches for alternately connecting the last mentioned wheels with the actuating shaft, a slidable and rocking shaft, a controlling member connected to the second mentioned shaft, means operatively connecting the second mentioned shaft with said clutches and lever for alternately connecting the last mentioned wheels with the actuating shaft and for swinging said lever to bring the third mentioned wheel into and out of engagement with the first and second mentioned tionedwheel,and-' means operated when the table is at one position for operating the second mentioned shaft to move said lever to intermediate position away from the second mentioned wheel.

8. In a molding machine, a mold, a table working therein, actuating; means for raisingand lowering said'i table and including a disk, an actuating device adapted to be con nected with and; disconnected from said means and. having means for. changing: its direction of rotation, a slidable and; rocking shaft operatively connected: with the actuating; device whereby when said shaft is rocked, the actuating device is. connected with and disconnected from the table act-u.- atingmeans, and when the shaft is slid, the direction of rotation of the actuatingdevice is changed, arms carried by said shaft, a. rocking lever having. atappet, rods operated intoand retracted from. the mold when. said:

notary.- member isrotated in. opposite direc tions, and means.- canried by said rotary member engageablewith therram when. it is retracted for swinging. the ram to. one side away from themolda a molding machine, a rotating member: having a wrist pin, a ram connected to said wrist pin, an actuating device adapted: to. be connected with and: disconnected from said member and. having means for changing its. direction ofv rotation, a sliding and rocking shaft connected with SZlddi dc vice for changing the direction of rotation thereofwhen'theshaft is slid and. for swinging said; device. into and out of connection with said. member when the shaft is rocked,

said: shaft having an arm, a lever having a.

block and, to be swung toone side tor-.emove the block from over the mold.

12. In a molding-machine, a mold, a table movable therein for ejecting a block therefrom, andan oscillatory device mounted adjacent saidmold and including brackets movable to. and from one another, said brackets being swingable over the mold to engage the ejectedblock and being swingableto one side to. remove the block from over the mold.

13. In a molding machine, a mold, a table working therein for. raising a block therefronr and: an oscillatory device adjacent said mold including brackets movabletoward and; away from. one another, said brackets having;- outstanding; arms and; other arms arranged: at: anv angle therewith and spaced farther away from one. another, the secondmentioned arms. being engageable with. a block raised by the table when. the brackets are swung over the molch and; IIIOVBd toward one another, and the first mentioned arms being adapted to v receive and support the block when the brackets are. swung out: wardly.

1A; In a moldin machine, a-.mold,a. table movable therein or raising a blocktherefrom, a rock shaft at one sideof the mold, a air of brackets slidable on, said: shaft and a aptedi to be. swung over and: away. from the mold, saidz brackets being adapted; to engage a block raised by the tablewhen the brackets are swung over the mold andmovable toward one another, and: means. forre? tating said shaft. and! moving said: brackets toward.- and away from. one another.

15.. In; a moldingimachine, a mold, aitable movable. therein ton raising-- a. block; therefrom, brackets .canried by the mold, a. rock shaft journaled within. said: brackets, bracketsslida-bleupon SiLlCli shaftiand having: outstanding; arms and: others arms. arranged: at an. angle therewith. and spaced: farther from one another to engagea. block raised by said table when the. brackets are swung. over the mold and moved toward one another, a hand lever fulcrumed to said shaft, and links connecting said lever and second mentioned brackets.

'16. En a molding machine, a. mold; a ror. ta-ry memberhaving. awrist pin, a ramipiirotally connected with said: wrist pinto be advanced; intoand retracted. from. said mold,

'means carried by said rotary member en.-

gageabler with. the. ram. when it:- is retracted for swinging the ram to. one side away. from the mold, operating; means connected with said rotary memberandi having means for making and breaking the connection, and means controlled; by said rotary member when the ram is retracted and swung away from the mold; to disconnect said member from the actuating means.

1 7. Inamoldingmachine, a mold, a ram cooperable therewith,.means for advancing and retracting the ram into and out of the mold and constructed and arranged to move the ram to one side away from the mold when it is retracted, actuatin means, and means for connecting and disconnecting the aforesaid means and controlled by the first mentioned means to disconnect said means when the ram is retracted and moved to one side.

18. In a molding machine, a mold, a ram mounted for movement into and out of the mold and when retracted for movement to one side of the mold, and spring pressed means associated with the mold moved out of the way when the ram is moved to one side of the mold and operable to center the ram when it is returned into position to enter the mold.

19. In a molding machine, a mold, a ram mounted for movement to be projected within and retracted from the mold and when retracted to move to one side from the mold, and a pair of spring pressed arms connected with one another and having means for en gaging the ram to center it relative to the mold, said arms being adapted to be swung away from the mold by the ram when it is moved to one side.

20. In a molding machine, a mold, a ram projectible into and retractable from the mold and when retracted being movable to one side, a pair of spring pressed devices for centering the ram relative to the mold, either of said devices being adapted to be moved out of the way by the ram when it is moved to one side, and means operatively connecting said devices whereby they operate simultaneously.

21. In a molding machine, a mold, a rotatable member having a wrist pin, a ram pivotally connected with said wrist pin to be advanced into and retracted from the mold, means carried by said rotary member for engaging the ram when it is retracted for swinging the ram to one side away from the mold, and spring pressed means associated with the mold for centering the ram when it is returned into position to enter the mold, said spring pressed means being moved out of the way by the ram when the ram is moved away from the mold.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto afiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DUNKIN LODGE. WILLIAM C. PELL. Witnesses:

N. L. FITZHUGH, EDNA W. LODGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. 0.

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