IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING AND COM- PRESSING GRANULAR SUGAR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN A
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Neale, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING AND COM-
PRESSING GRANULAR SUGAR, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN A communication from abroad by August Friedrich Wilhelm Partz,
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
"
*Sealed the 15th February 1878, and dated the 21st December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Neale at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1877.
JOHN NEALE, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MOULDING AND COMPRESSING GRANULAR SUGAR, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by August
Friedrich Wilhelm Partz, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States of
America.
This Invention relates to the transformation of loose granular sugar into small
cubes or blocks of similar shape by means of a machine which contains a mould
representing a series of rectangular compartments, into which fits a series of pistons
attached to a common head; and the leading feature of the Invention consists in
the mode, herein-after fully described, of supplying the mould with sugar, com-
pressing the latter, and disengaging it from the mould by giving to both the mould
and the pistons such reciprocating motions that after the mould has been pressed
into a layer of granular sugar spread upon a plate, and the sugar has been compacted
by the descent of the pistons, the mould is raised so as to leave the lateral faces of
the blocks of sugar free while the pistons retain their position, holding the sugar
between them and the underlying plate, whereupon they are also raised.
The Invention also comprises other features, as herein-after described.
In carrying out this Invention an iron frame is employed, to upper rims of which
are fastened two flat rails, and plates of iron are also provided, each formed under-
neath with, say, five ribs, and intended to pass with short intermissions upon the
rails from left to right. This action is obtained in the following manner:-An

page_text: eccentric placed upon the driving shaft, and turning in a yoke, transmits motion
through a link to a horizontal rod. To the ends of this rod are secured two cross
heads, arranged so as to slide in slots in the frame below the rails, and to each of
them are attached two catch levers.
When the horizontal rod is at its full stroke the catch levers are in such a
position that they are ready at either end of the rod to seize one of the ribs under
the plates, so that by the return stroke of the rod fiom left to right the plates thus
caught are moved forward one-fourth of their length, pushing the other plates before
them.
The granular sugar to be transformed into blocks is introduced from an upper
floor into a wooden box or trunk open at both ends, and secured by iron flanges to
the frame. The sugar should be moist and warin, fresli froin à centrifugal machine.
Plates of the description herein-before referred to are placed in succession by a
workman upon the rails to the left of the box, and in passing under it they are
supplied with a layer of the sugar.
The height of the layer is regulated, and its surface is bevilled by a rotating
cylinder, receiving its motion from a pulley upon the driving shaft. A sheet of
metal fastened to the side of the box, so that its lower edge nearly touches the
cylinder, keeps the same free from adhering sugar. To the shaft of this cylinder is
geared a shaft provided with, say, four rows of pins, which are to serve the purpose
of breaking any lumps which may happen to be mixed with the granular sugar.
The mechanism by which the sugar deposited upon the plates becomes trans-
formed into blocks is arranged and operated in the following manner, the shape
of blocks selected as my example being that of three-quarter inch cubes :-A mould
is employed composed of blades of metal, intersecting each other so as to form a
series of square compartments, and rivetted to an iron frame. This is fastened to
another frame, from which project two blocks, movable in guides, bolted to the
frame. The lower edges of the blades composing the mould are slightly sharpened.
In the compartments of the mould fit square pistons, which are secured to a plate
screwed to a frame, from which also project two blocks, movable in the guides
lici ein-after referred to.. Upon the driving shaft are placed at each end, outside of
the frame, two twin cams, revolving in yokes which are connected by rods with the
-moveable blocks, whilst other rods attached to them are arranged to slide in loop
guides below the shaft so as to insure rectilineal.motion
Assuming the mould to have just been raised to its highest position by one set of
lifting cams (the corresponding pressing cams being disengaged) whilst the pistons
are at their lowest position, still held down by the other set of pressing cams, but
are presently to be raised by the corresponding lifting cains, a layer of sugar upon
the third quarter of the plate which had just come from underneath the box will
bave been pressed into cubes, the mould will have already been withdrawn, leaving
the lateral faces of the cubes exposed, while these will be still held by the pistons,
from which they are in a moment also to be disengaged. A strong iron plate
resting upon projections on the frame is provided below the mould for the purpose
of imparting sufficient support to the plates while the sugar upon them is being
pressed, the plate being so made and adjusted that its upper face is even with that
of the rails.
It will be readily understood that at each first half turn of the driving shaft the
plates are pushed along one-fourth of their length upon the rails, and that during the
second half turn of the shaft the layer of sugar upon the quarter of a plate that has
come under the moulding and pressing mechanism is formed into cubes.
In order to avoid unnecessary handling the machine should be so placed that by
extending the rails upon suitable supports the plates with sugar cubes may be
directly transferred to a drying chamber, where they are to be deposited on shelves
or racks, and to move them along the required distance is the function of the catch
levels; they may however also be transported on a belt or upon chains. In a well
heated and ventilated chamber the sugar will harden in a few hours, so as to be
ready for packing.

page_text: It is obvious that the reciprocating vertical motions of the mould and the pistons
may be produced by contrivances different from the one herein described, and that
by altering the dimensions of the mould and pistons, as also the length of their
motions, and adjusting the cylinder accordingly, the granular sugar may be trans-
formed into blocks of various shapes
For the iron plates similar plates composed of slats of hard and well-seasoned
wood, say, about three-fourths of an inch thick, fastened by screws upon iron cross
bars, may be substituted.
Another part of my Invention consists of a peculiar construction of pistons, the
object of which is to prevent gumming, which is apt to take place with ordinary
straight pistons in consequence of particles of sugar penetrating between them and
the mould, and becoming through continued friction changed into a sticky mass.
This object is accomplished by reducing the diameter or width of the piston near its
head, and making the latter in the form of a truncated cone, the face of the piston
at the part where it joins the reduced portion being made of a recessed or concave
form.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Neale in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th June
1878.
JOHN NEALE, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MOULDING AND COMPRESSING GRANULAR SUGAR, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by August
Friedrich Wilhelm Partz, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
The said Invention relates to the transformation of loose granular sugar into
small cubes or blocks of similar shape, by means of a machine which contains a
mould, representing a series of rectangular compartments into which fits a series of
pistons attached to a common head, and the leading feature of the Invention
consists in the mode, herein-after fully described, of supplying the mould with sugar,
compressing the latter, and disengaging it from the mould by giving to both the
mould and the pistons such reciprocating motions, that after the mould has been
pressed into a layer of granular sugar spread upon a plate, and the sugar has been
compacted by the descent of the pistons, the mould is raised so as to leave the
lateral faces of the blocks of sugar free, while the pistons retain their position,
holding the sugar between them and the underlying plate whereupon they
are also raised. The Invention also comprises other features as herein-after
described.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the saine letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.

page_text: Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the Drawings represents a side elevation, partly in section;
Figure 2 (Sheet 2), a plan, also partly in section; and Figure 3 (Sheet 3), an end
elevation of a machine embodying the said Invention, Figures 4 and 5, on Sheet 1,
and Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, on Sheet 3, represent special parts thereof
The machine is shewn as being in operation, and the moment chosen is that at
which a layer of granular sugar upon a plate has just been formed into cubes, which
are yet held between the pistons; and the plate F is an iron frame, to the upper
rims of which are fastened two flat rails r, r; a, a, are plates. of iron, each provided
underneath with five ribs. One of these plates is shewn in isometrical projection in
Figure 8 They are intended to pass with short intermissions upon the rails from
left to right, and this action is obtained in the following manner:-An eccentric d
placed upon the driving shaft D, and turning in a yoke d', transmits motion
through the link, to the horizontal rod . To the ends of this rod are secured two
cross heads e, e¹, arranged to slide in slots in the frame F below the rails r, and to
each of them are attached two catch levers c, c'. The rod is shewn as having
completed three-fourths of its stroke fiom right to left. At its full stroke tho catch
levers will be in the positions indicated by dotted lines. In these positions they are
cady at either end of the rod to seize one of the ribs under the plates a, so that by
the return stroke of the rod fiom left to right, the plates thus caught are moved
forward one-fourth of their length, pushing the other plate before them.
The
eccontric d, and part of the mechanism which it actuates, are shewn separately in
Figure 4. The shaft D is intended to perform about forty revolutions per
minute
B is a wooden box or trunk, open at both ends, and secured by iron flanges b, b,
to the fame F Into this box is introduced from an upper floor the granular
sugar to be transformed into blocks. The sugar should be moist and warm, fresh
from a centrifugal machine.
Plates of the description herein-before referred to, marked a, are placed by a
workman, at the rate of about ten per minute, upon the rails 7, to the left of the
box B, and in passing under it they are supplied with a layer of the sugar. The
height of the layer is regulated, and its surface is evened by a cylinder s, which
rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow receiving its notion from a pulley q;.
upon the driving shaft D, a sheet of metal i, fastened to the side of the box B, so
that its lower edge is nearly in contact with the cylinder, maintains the same free
froin adhering sugar To the shaft of this cylinder is geared a shaft provided with,
say, four rows of pins s¹, which are to serve the purpose of breaking any lumps
which may happen to be mixed with the granular sugar.
The mode of depositing sugar upon the plates a by causing them to pass upon
the rails under the box B, is similar to that which has been employed heretofore
by the communicator of the present Invention for supplying moulds with granular
sugar, and which as also the device 8', is described in the Specification to Letters
Patent granted to him, dated the 7th October 1874, No 3435.
The mechanism by which the sugar deposited upon the plates a becomes trans-
formed into blocks, is arranged and operated in the following manner, its principle
portion being shewn in a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale in Figure
5:-The shape of blocks here chosen is that of three quarter inch cubes; mis a
mould composed of blades of metal intersecting each other so as to form a series of
square compartments, and rivetted to an iron frame. This is fastened to another
frame h, from which project two blocks h¹, h¹, guides g, g, bolted to the frame F.
The lower edges of the blades composing the mould are slightly sharpened;
P. P, are square pistons which fit in the compartments of the mould and are
secured to a plate p' screwed to a frame k, from which also project two blocks
,, movable in the same guides g, g. Upon the driving shaft D are placed at
cach end outside of the frame F two twin cams n, n', and v, v¹. They revolve in
yokes u and o, which are connected by rods with the blocks h¹ and ¹, while other
iods attached to them are arranged to slide in loop guides z and z¹, below the

page_text: shaft so as to ensure lineal motion. For the sake of clearness, the twin cums with
their yokes are shewn separately in Figures 6 and 7.
In the Drawings the mould m is represented as having just been raised to its
highest position by the lifting cams n (the pressing cams m' being disengaged),
while the pistons p are at their lowest position still held down by the pressing cams
v, but presently to be raised by the lifting cams v. Thus the layer of sugar upon
the third quarter of the plate which has just come from underneath the box B
having been pressed into cubes, the mould has already been withdrawn, leaving the
lateral faces of the cubes exposed while these are yet held by the pistons from
which they are in a moment also to be disengaged A strong iron plate ŕ resting
upon projections on the frame F below the mould m, is provided for the purpose of
imparting sufficient support to the plates a, while the sugar upon them is being
pressed, the plate being so made and adjusted that its upper face is even with that
of the rails r.
From the above description it will readily be understood that at each first half
turn of the driving shaft the plates a are pushed along one-fourth of their length
upon the rails r, and that during the second half turn of the shaft, the layer of
sugar upon the quarter of a plate which has come under the moulding and pressing
inechanism is formed into cubes.
In order to avoid unnecessary handling the machine should be so placed, that by
extending the rails upon suitable supports, the plates with sugar cubes may be
directly transferred to a drying chamber, where they are to be deposited on shelves
or racks, and the function of the catch levers c' is to move the plates with the
sugar cubes along the required distance. They may however be transported on a
belt or upon chains. In a well heated and ventilated chamber the sugar will
harden in a few hours so as to be ready for packing.
It is obvious that the reciprocating vertical motions of the mould m, and the
pistons p, may be produced by contrivances different from the one herein-before
described, and that by altering the dimensions of the mould and pistons, as also the
lengths of their motions and adjusting the cylinder 8, accordingly the granular
sugar may be transformed into blocks of various shapes.
For the iron plates a may be substituted similar plates composed of sluts of hard
and well seasoned wood, about three-fourths of an inch thick, fastened by screws
upon iron cross bars. This construction, although less durable than the iron plates,
has the advantage of being not only lighter, but also cheaper and more readily
procurable
Another part of the said Invention consists of a peculiar construction of pistons,
which are shewn in Figure 9 (Sheet 3), where they are represented in their highest
as well as their lowest position within the mould. The object of the device is to
prevent "gumming," which is liable to take place with ordinary straight pistons in
consequence of particles of sugar penetrating between them and the mould, and
becoming through continued friction changed into a sticky mass. In carrying out this
part of the said Invention in order to effect the object before mentioned, the piston
is reduced in size at 1 near its head 2, which is made of a taper form, gradually
diminishing until it meets the reduced portion, and the face of the piston is recessed
at the part 3 where it joins the said reduced portion 1.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
•
First. The mode of supplying a mould such as is shewn at m with granular
sugar, compacting it therein by pistons, such as are shewn at p, and disengaging the
cubes or other blocks of sugar thus formed from the mould by imparting to both
the mould and the pistons such reciprocating motions, that first the inould is pressed
into a layer of sugar spread upon a plate, then the sugar is compacted by the
descent of the pistons, then the mould is raised so as to expose the lateral faces of

page_text: the blocks of sugai, while these are still held between the pistons and the under-
lying plate, and finally the pistons are raised substantially as herein-before
described.
Second. The mechanism herein described for producing the reciprocating motions
referred to in the preceding claiming clause, consisting principally of the twin cams
n, n', and v, v³, fast upon the driving shaft D, and turning in the yokes u and o,
which are connected by rods with the guided blocks h¹ and ³, projecting from the
frames h and k, to which are secured the mould m, and the plate p¹ holding tho
pistons p, all substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
Third. The mechanism substantially as herein described for moving at intervals
the plates a along upon the rails ", consisting principally of the eccentric d, fast upon
the driving shaft D, and turning in the yoke d¹, which imparts motion through the
link to the rod 1, supported and guided by the cross heads e and e¹, to which are
.attached the catch levers c and c¹.
Fourth. In combination with the box B, the cylinder 8, for regulating the height
of the layer of sugar upon the plates a, and for levelling its surface connected and
arranged so as to operate substantially in the manner herein-before described.
Fifth. The employment in combination with a mould, such as is shewn at m, of
pistons formed substantially in the manner herein-before described, and illustrated
in Figure 9 of the accompanying Drawings, for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Neale, have to this my Specification_set
my hand and seal, the Eleventh day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight..