A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE MORE EXPEDITIOUS AND ECONOMICAL MANU- FACTURE OF THE SWEETMEATS COMMONLY KNOWN AS 'DROP' OR 'SPOT' Goods, AND ALSO AS 'BUTTONS.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Hunter, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County
of Durham, Wholesale Grocer and Confectioner, for the Invention of "A NEW
OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE MORE EXPEDITIOUS AND ECONOMICAL MANU-
FACTURE OF THE SWEETMEATS COMMONLY KNOWN AS 'DROP' OR 'SPOT' Goods,
AND ALSO AS 'BUTTONS.'
333
Sealed the 29th April 1879, and dated the 30th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Hunter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1878.
JOHN WILLIAM HUNTER, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, Whole-
sale Grocer and Confectioner. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE MORE
EXPEDITIOUS AND ECONOMICAL MANUFACTURE OF THE SWEETMEATS COMMONLY
KNOWN AS DROP' OR 'SPOT' GOODS, AND ALSO AS BUTTONS.'"
.
The Invention consists of a machine for the more expeditious and economical
manufacture of the sweetmeats commonly known as "drop" or spot "goods," and
also as "buttons." The sweetmeats consist of grained sugar (coloured and flavoured
if desired) which while in a heated and partially melted state is dropped on sheets
of tin or other metal, or on paper or any other suitable material. "The machine
consists of a vessel into which the sugar is poured after being prepared in the
usual way. The vessel is supported between two uprights which form part of the
framework of the apparatus, and the lower part of it is provided with any suitable
number of funnel shaped openings according to the size of the machine. The
dropping of the sugar is effected by a number of pistons or rods corresponding
with the number of funnel shaped openings in the vessel, and such pistons or rods
are suspended upon a bar placed over the vessel before mentioned in such a manner
as to allow their lower ends to pass into the mouths or necks of the funnel shaped
openings. By a suitable arrangement of cams and connecting rods these pistons are
..

page_text: lifted and lowered at proper intervals, thus forcing out of the funnels small
quantities of the prepared sugar which drop on the metal or other sheets placed
below the openings. The machine is provided with an endless web or carriage on
which the aforesaid sheets are placed and which is made to move a suitable distance
between each lifting of the pistons, thus receiving the rows of drops as they are
successively discharged. The appliances are mounted on a suitable frame and are
actuated by a handle connected with a shaft on which the cams and cranks are
fixed. The vessel into which the sugar is poured is made double or "jacketed"
and steam or hot air is forced through the spaces when in use in order to prevent
the chilling and consequent solidifying of the sugar. The working parts of the
machine are made adjustable so that drops of different sizes may be produced.

page_text: :
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John William Hunter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th April
1879.
JOHN WILLIAM HUNTER, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, Whole-
sale Grocer and Confectioner. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE MORE
EXPEDITIOUS AND ECONOMICAL MANUFACTURE OF THE SWEETMEATS COMMONLY
KNOWN AS DROP' OR 'SPOT" GOODS, AND ALSO AS 'BUTTONS."
"
This Invention has for its object a new or improved machine for the more expe-
ditious and economical manufacture of that class of sweetmeats commonly known as
drop" or "spot" goods, " buttons," and "transparent drops."
Such sweetmeats usually consist of "grained sugar" mixed with other ingredients
and coloured and flavoured if desired, and which while in a heated and partially
melted state is dropped in small quantities on sheets of tin or other metal, or on
paper or any other suitable material.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, whereon
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, proceed more particularly
to describe and ascertain the same.
My improved machine consists of a receiving vessel indicated at A, Figure 1, and
a transverse section of which is shewn in Figure 4 into which the sugar is poured
after being prepared in the usual way. Such receiving vessel rests in a frame sup-
ported by the two uprights which form part of the framework of the apparatus and
the lower part of the vessel is provided with any convenient number of funnel
shaped openings, shewn at Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings,
which openings are regulated in size and number according to the size of the
machine.
The dropping of the sugar is effected by a number of pistons or rods P cor-
responding to the number of openings in the receiving vessel, which pistons or rods
are suspended on to a bar passing over the receiving vessel, as shown in
Figure 1, while the lower ends of such pistons or rods pass into the necks of
the funnels or openings, as shewn in Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying
Drawings.
By a suitable arrangement of cams and connecting rods which is presently
described such pistons or rods are raised and lowered at proper intervals, thus
opening and closing the necks of the funnels and forcing out therefrom at each down-
ward stroke small quantities of the prepared sugar which drop on to the metal or
other sheets placed below the openings.
The receiving vessel into which the prepared sugar is poured is made double or
"jacketed," and steam or hot air is made to pass through the spaces when it is in
use in order to prevent the cooling and consequent solidifying of the sugar. The
connections for the admission and exit of the steam are shewn at S, Figures 1 and 4
of the accompanying Drawings.
The machine is actuated by a handle connected with a wheel, shewn in Figures
1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, this wheel being attached to a spindle
passing through the lower portion of the centre of the machine. On this spindle
just outside the framework of the apparatus two cams are fixed, one at each end,
and directly over the cams are placed the connecting rods D which terminate at
their upper extremities in an adjustable screw passing through the ends of the sus-
pension bar or rod on which the pistons are hung.
When the handle is turned the cams act upon the connecting rods which alter-
nately raise and lower the suspension bar, thus imparting to the pistons the
necessary motion for producing the sweetmeats in the manner before described.
My improved machine is also provided with an endless web for carrying the trays
which receive the "drops." This web is stretched over two rollers placed one at
5 each end of the machine, the journals of one of which rollers, indicated at E, Figure 1,

page_text: work in suitable slots formed in the frame, while by means of thumbscrews this
roller can be moved nearer to or farther from the opposite one in order to keep
the endless web at a proper tension. Such endless web is made to carry the trays
along a sufficient distance between each action of the pistons by the arrangement
shewn in Figure 3, and which is as follows:-
A pin is fixed on the cam on the 'off side of the machine which serves to form a
crank by means whereof the connecting rod R, Figure 3, acts upon the rocking lever
L, which in its turn imparts the necessary motion to the endless web by
means of a ratchet acting upon a toothed wheel fixed to the spindle of one of the
rollers.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I claim,-
Firstly. The improved construction and arrangement of the vessel into which the
prepared sugar is poured, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated.
Secondly. The improved arrangement of funnels and pistons by which the drops
or other sweetmeats are produced, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein-before described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The improved construction and arrangement generally of my new or
improved machine for the more expeditious 'and economical manufacture of that class
of sweetmeats known as "drop" or "spot" goods or "buttons" and "transparent
drops,” substantially as herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Hunter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
TANY