AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SWEETMEATS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Pearce Wilding, of the Firm of Fell & Wilding,
of the City Patent Office, 23, Rood Lane, Fenchurch Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agents, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF SWEETMEATS." A communication from abroad by
H. Zimmermann, Thiele, and Holzhause, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of
Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Pearce Wilding at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th April 1881.
SAMUEL PEARCE WILDING, of the Firm of Fell & Wilding, of the City Patent
Office, 23, Rood Lane, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents.
"AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SWEETMEATS." A com-
munication from abroad by H. Zimmermann, Thiele, and Holzhause, of Magde-
burg, in the Empire of Germany.
The said Invention relates to the manufacture of sweetmeats, and is designed
to produce, by mechanical and automatic means, a particular form of sweetmeat in
a more rapid, certain, and economical manner than can at present be effected by
hand labour.
The apparatus to effect this purpose consists essentially of an open box of any
suitable material, but preferably of wood, to contain the confection or material in
a condition ready for forming into shape. To the bottom of this box is fastened a
perforated form plate suitable for producing the required shape of sweetmeat, and
such as is at present used for the purpose by hand.
Into the open top of the horizontal box fits a pressing plate held by a vertical
rack toothed spindle in the jaw of a lever bent over the box.
To this lever and thus to the pressing plate is given a reciprocating motion from
an eccentric or cam on a rotating shaft through a rocking lever or other suitable
mechanism. A pressing action upon the eccentric or cam may be secured by the
action of a spiral spring. The shaft box and lever may be supported and carried
on a suitable frame or stand.

page_text: The action of this pressing plate serves to force the confection or sweetmeat stuff
through the perforated form plate at the bottom of the box.
The sweetmeats, in divided portions, are then received upon a sheet spread over
a movable plate under the form plate of the box.
To effect the peculiar form of sweetmeat, which is desired to be in three
decreasing tiers, one on the other, this underplate is caused to make three
successive diminished rises and three corresponding increased falls during the
pressing through of the confection by which the three successive tiers are formed.
The lower plate then finally falls back to its original lowest position before it first
rose to receive the confection, so that the sheet of finished sweetmeats may be then
withdrawn, and a fresh sheet introduced on the lower plate, when the operation
will be repeated.
This motion of the lower plate may be effected by bell crank levers, of which one
end runs in a suitably shaped serpentine slot on drums rotating with the main
shaft, or by the direct lift of a pin operated by two suitably shaped grooves in two
channel plates.
.
As however there is in the successive operations less and loss confection or
material in the box than during the first operation, it is necessary that the upper
pressing plate shall be gradually fed forward, before pressing, at a corresponding
and suitable rate of advance. This is effected by means of the rack on the spindle
of the pressing plate before referred to. This rack is held in position by gearing
into a pinion wheel carried in the jaw of the pressing lever. The pinion wheel
hás fastened to it a ratchet wheel and pawl fect which, operated by an intermittent
cam action from the main shaft, feeds forward the pinion wheel, the rack, and thus
the pressing plate, at the time when it is rising, before its forward pressure
upon the confection, or resting before commencing its descent.
The rack and upper pressing plate may be raised and disengaged from the box
when required, so that it is left free for refilling when emptied.
"
The box is attached to the frame in such a way that it can be easily reversed
so as to offer the lower form plate for thorough cleaning, which may occasionally
be desirable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Pearce Wilding in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th October 1881.
SAMUEL PEARCE WILDING, of the Firm of Fell and Wilding, of the City Patent
"AN IMPROVED
Office, 23, Rood Lane, in the City of London, Patent Agents.
MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SWEETMEATS." A communication from
abroad by H. Zimmerman, Thiele, and Holzhause, of Magdeburg, in the Empire of
Germany.
The said Invention relates to the manufacture of sweetmeats, and is designed
to produce, by mechanical and automatic means, a particular form of sweetmeat in
a more rapid, certain, and economical manner than can at present be effected by
hand labour.
The apparatus to effect this purpose consists essentially of an open box of any
suitable material, but preferably of wood, to contain the confection or material in
a condition ready for forming into shape. To the bottom of this box is fastened a
perforated form-plate suitable for producing the required shape of sweetmeat, and
such as is at present used for the purpose by hand.
Into the open top of the horizontal box fits a pressing plate held by a vertical
rack toothed spindle in the jaw of a lever bent over the box. To this lever, and
thus to the pressing plate, is given a reciprocating motion from an eccentric or cam
on a rotating shaft through a rocking lever or other suitable mechanism. A pressing
action upon the eccentric or cam may be secured by the action of a spiral spring.
The shaft-box and lever may be supported and carried on a suitable frame or
stand.
The action of this pressing plate serves to force the confection or sweetmeat
stuff through the perforated form plate at the bottom of the box.
The sweetmeats, in divided portions, are then received upon a sheet spread over
a movable plate under the form plate of the box.
To effect the peculiar form of sweetmeat, which is desired to be in three
decreasing tiers, one on the other, this under plate is caused to make three successive
diminished rises, and three corresponding increased falls, during the pressing through
of the confection by which the three successive tiers are formed. The lower plato
then finally falls back to its original lowest position before it first rose to receive
the confection, so that the sheet of finished sweetmeat may be then withdrawn
and a fresh sheot introduced on the lower plate, when the operation will be
repeated.
This motion of the lower plate may be effected by bell crank levers, of which
one end runs in a suitably shaped serpentine slot on drums rotating with the main
shaft, or by the direct lift of a pin separated by two suitably shaped grooves in two
channel plates.
.
As however there is in the successive operations less and less confection or
material in the box than during the first operation, it is necessary that the upper
pressing plate shall be gradually fed forward, before pressing, at a corresponding
and suitable rate of advance. This is effected by means of the rack on the spindle
of the pressing plate before referred to.. This rack is held in position. by gearing
into a pinion wheel carried in the jaw of the pressing lever. The pinion wheel
has fastened to it a ratchet wheel. and pawl feed which, operated by an inter-
mittent cam action from the main shaft, feeds forward the pinion wheel, the rack,
and thus the pressing plate, at the time when it is rising before its forward
pressure upon the confection, or when it is resting before commencing its descent..
The rack and upper pressing plate may be raised and disengaged from the box
when required, so that it is kept free for refilling when emptied.

page_text: The box is attached to the frame in such a way that it can be easily reversed, so
as to offer the lower form plate for thorough cleaning, which may be occasionally
desirable.
And in order that the said Invention may be the better understood, the Drawings
hereunto annexed are now described, reference being had to the figures and letters
marked thereon.
Fig. 1 shows a front sectional elevation of the complete machine.
Fig. 2, a transverse sectional elevation of the complete machine.
Fig. 3, a plan of the complete machine.
Fig. 4, an outside end elevation of the complete machine.
Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the cam actuating curves.
Figs. 6 and 7 show views of the perforated mould or form plate.
Fig. 8 is a detail of the finished sweetmeat.
Figs. 9 and 10 show in longitudinal and transverse sectional elevations an
alternative arrangement of the box and lifting apparatus.
Like letters refer to similar parts in the different figures.
The box A is provided to receive the mass of confection or sweetmeat, and is
closed below by a pattern or form plate a, and above by the pressing plate b. The
latter is fastened to the rack E, which is guided in the forked shaped head of
the pressing lever B. The pressing lever receives its downward motion from the
eccentric d and lever l. After one pressure having been effected the plate must
again move upwards to prevent the further dropping of the mass.
This motion is effected by a spring f previously put in tension by the said
downward travel of.the pressing lever. As the mass in the box has been reduced
by the first downward squeeze of the pressing plate, the latter must start for the
next squeeze from the point at which it was standing at the termination of the last
squeeze. To provide for this, a feed apparatus is arranged which is moved by the
eccentric g; upon this slides a tension rod pressed on it by a spring. In the
fork of the pressing lever is situated a cog wheel k which gears into the rack E of
the pressing plate. On the same axis as the cog wheel is fixed a ratchet wheel l
into which the pawl on the slotted lever m engages. This pawl lever is connected
by the rod n to the rocking lever o, which is caused to oscillate by the eccentric g.
When the pressing cam d has finished its action and the pressing lever has
been moved upwards by the spring f, the eccentric g begins its action and moves
the rack as far downwards as is required for it to be in position for the next squeeze.
When the box has been emptied the detent spring q may be released by the lever p,
and the pressing plate may be then lifted by the crank arm V on the cog wheel
axis, sufficiently high that it may be removed from the rack to which it is attached
by a link. The box may then be conveniently filled again.
The box may be made of four sides screwed together, carrying the mould or
form plate upon ledges or bearers cast with or forming part of the box and be
firmly bolted to the frame by four bolts, or, as shown in Fig. 9 and 10, the side
of the box may be of one piece, the bearers being screwed to it. In this case the
box is fixed so as to revolve on a pivot towards the back, so that after the removal
of the pressing plate the mould or form plate can be easily cleaned. This is of
importance, as with small holes the moulds may be easily filled up.
To give the sweetmeat the form or contour shown in Fig. 8, a further apparatus
is required to give the under sheet a motion similar to that given to the form
plate in the older process by hand.
The principal parts of this apparatus are the lift cams t, t¹, the right angled
levers and u', and the lifting pins v, v', with their guides. The lifting pins
bear a frame, one side of which is open. In this frame is inserted the undersheet
to receive the sweetmeats.
Figs. 9 and 10 show a simplified arrangement of the lifting apparatus. Instead
of the frame for the under sheet is arranged a cast iron plate with two channels or
rabbet plates. on it, into which the under sheet can be inserted. The plate is
guided so as to travel_vertically true by the pins w, w¹. In the centre of the

page_text: plate is screwed a pin z rounded at the lower end and sliding on the eccentric a.
The plate may be of rather heavy construction to ensure it keeping down on the
eccentric.
This arrangement is simpler than that first described, as the under sheet falls
immediately after the pressing has been effected, and the sweetmeats may be more
rapidly removed.
Fig. 5 shows a diagrammatic view of the simultaneous movement of the under
lift board with the two eccentrics for pressing and for the ratchet feed. In the
position No. 1 the bell crank levers begin to work and the under sheet begins
to lift, whilst the pressing apparatus is still resting. In No. 2 the under sheet
has reached its bighest position, and the pressing plate begins to press the mass of
confection through the moulds or form plates. During the continual action of the
pressing plate the under sheet goes slowly back into the position No. 3, and lifts
from this position a little, so that the mass which has been pressed out is flattened
to a certain extent. In this way is formed the first ridge or step of the finished
sweetmeat.
The under sheet then goes back to the position at No. 4. Between this
position and that at No. 5 the second step is effected in the same manner.
In the position at No. 5 the eccentric has accomplished its lift, and the
pressing lever with the pressing plate is then driven upwards by the spring f
whilst the eccentric g begins to work for the feeding apparatus.
Between the positions Nos. 5 and 6 the under sheet lifts again and effects
the third ridge or step, and at No. 6 it has gone back to its first position. At
position No. 7 the advance or feed for the new squeeze is finished and the ratchet
apparatus returns to its original position.
The under sheet with the completed sweetmeats may now be taken out and
another sheet inserted, and the process repeated.
All the eccentrics and cams are on the same shaft, which is rotated by a crank
handle and gearing.
And having now fully ascertained and described the nature of the said Invention
and the manner in which the same is performed, be it known that what is
considered novel and useful and is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is,-
1st. In a sweetmeat machine the apparatus consisting of the under sheet or
frame s operated by grooved cams t, t¹, bell cranks u and u!, and lifting pins v, v',
or alternatively by an eccentric a, pin z, and sliding plate s', to effect successive
falls and rises for producing successive ridges or steps in the sweetmeat, substantially
as described.
2nd. In a sweetmeat machine the pressing apparatus consisting of the cam d,
lever 1, and bent arm B in combination with the feeding apparatus of the rack E,
cog wheel , and ratchet feed m for effecting the forward successive squeezes of the
table b, substantially as described.
3rd. The combination in a sweetmeat machine 'of an under sheet and frame
and upper pressing plate and feed motion as individually claimed in Nos. 1 & 2,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Pearce Wilding, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
In the presence of
JOHN C. FELL,
23, Rood Lane, E.C.,
Patent Agent.
S. P. WILDING. (LS.)