An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Producing and Packing for Transport Blocks of Ice, Subdivided or Subdivisible into Cubes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr.. 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
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Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr.. 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Producing and Packing
for Transport Blocks of Ice, Subdivided or Subdivisible into
Cubes.
I, HENRY VANDER WEYDE, of 182, Regent Street, London, W. Artist and
Electric Light Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus for, producing and
packing for transport blocks of ice which are already sub-divided or are easily
sub-divisible into small cubes of a size suited for use at table.
The invention comprises means of effecting a series of cutting operations in three
sets of parallel planes, each set intersecting the others at right angles, without
necessarily re-uniting, by regelation, the slabs of ice into which the block is divided
at each cutting operation. It also comprises the sequence of operations hereafter
described whereby the cutting up, branding, and packing of the ice is effected.
The cutting of the block into slabs is performed by means of a gang of circular
saws mounted upon a common shaft rotating in a trough-like guide way of a width
corresponding to the dimension of a cage within which the ice block is held and
presented to the saws.
The block of ice having been squared and placed in the guide trough, the first
operation is to enclose it in a box-like holder open at bottom and whose sides are
vertically slitted to give passage to the saws when by sliding it along the trough
the contained block is presented to the saws and is by them cut up into slabs.
This cage-like holder may be weighted and may run on the edges of the guide
trough, or beneath inwardly projecting flanges thereon. A counting mechanism may
be so applied as to be operated by the block of ice in its passage through the cutting
trough in order to register the number of blocks operated on.
Assuming that it is intended that each of the cubes into which the block is
ultimately to be divided is to be branded on at least one face with the impression
of a trade mark or ornamental device, the cage-like holder may now be remove i
and the slabs be simultaneously applied upon warmed dies whereby imprints are
produced by slightly melting the ice, this operation being performed in the manner
and by means of the apparatus hereafter described. The means whereby the slabs
are brought into such position as to enable the broad faces of the whole of the
slabs to be presented at once to the branding dies consists of a tipping guide and
holder, of L-section, the side fence of which has a step-wise surface, the steps
corresponding to the thickness of the slabs so that by first sliding the slabs in the
collective or block form on to this holder and then tipping the holder so far as to
bring the stepped fence to such an angle as to cause the slabs to rest flat-wise against
it by their own weight and then sliding the whole of the slabs along the holder
the one which is undermost or next the fence meets the shoulder of the first step
and is arrested while the others pass on farther, and so on for the remainder,
until by successively meeting the shoulders of successive steps the slabs are
brought into a row, each resting upon a separate part of the fence or holder. Each
part upon which the slabs thus rest is a narrow marginal frame or holder through
which the under face of the slab is exposed, and opposite to these frames or holders
are mounted as many die plates as there are slabs, each bearing dies corresponding

page_text: in number and position to the cubes into which the slab is to be ultimately divided,
these die plates being arranged in step-wise planes to correspond to the step-wise
arrangement of the slabs and being carried by a steam or water heated chamber
or otherwise maintained at a temperature proper for performing the branding
operation, so that by further tilting the slab holder the whole of the slabs may be
applied against the dies at once. The slabs having been thus branded are succes-
sively slid off the step-wise holder by the reverse motion to that by which they
were placed thereon until they are again brought together in their original positions,
bat the holder is still further inclined so that instead of leaving the holder on edge
as they entered it they are superposed in the flat and in this position are returned
to the cutting apparatus.
The block so re-formed is again enclosed in the cage-like holder and presented to
the saws, as before after which the block thus divided in planes intersecting each
other at right angles is, whilst still enclosed in the cage-like holder, turned a
quarter round and again presented to the saws whereby the cutting of the block in
planes in a third direction intersecting the other two at right angles is effected.
The block thus cut up into an assemblage of cubes is now packed as follows:-
The weight is removed from the cage and a sheet metal box is introduced within the
cage so as to enclose the assemblage of cubes. The cage having been lifted off
and a cover. plate having been temporarily slipped beneath the open end of the box
the latter is turned over, the cover removed, and a wooden box just fitting around
the metal box is to be dropped over the latter and then inverted. The metal box is
then withdrawn and the wooden cover applied, the cubes of ice into which the block
has been divided being thus neatly packed and in the positions which they originally
occupied before the block was cut up. Thus enclosed the divide block may be
transported as though whole, at the same time that it is protected from heat by the
enclosing box, or it may be placed in the cold storage room whereby the cubes are
re-united by regelation to re-form a block sufficiently solid to be handled but
easily divisible into cubes.
Instead of re-uniting the cubes by regelation in a cold chamber they may be
re-united by pressure applied in the direction of the diameter of the whole mass of
which the constituent parts are held in position and supported angle-wise in a holder
in the form of three sides of a cube whilst a similarly shaped presser is brought
down upon the mass.
Dated this 27th day of Julv 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Producing and Packing
for Transport Blocks of Ice, Subdivided or Subdivisible into
Cubes.
1. HENRY VANDER WEYDE of 182, Regent Street, London, W. Artist and
Electric Light Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
-
1
This invention has for its object to produce and pack for transport blocks of ice
which are easily subdivisible into small cubes of a size suitable for use at table; and
the invention comprises an improved method of and apparatus for performing the
various steps in the process. The process comprises a series of cutting operations
performed in three sets of planes, each set intersecting the others at right angles,
whereby the block is either divided into slabs which are imperfectly reunited by

page_text: regelation after each cutting operation or successively into slabs prisms and cubes
which are reunited after completion of the entire series of cutting operations to form
a block capable of being handled. It also comprises the method of and apparatus for
branding the cubes and packing the blocks of ice.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification wherein
Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 is a side elevation, and Figure 3 an end elevation,
each partly sectional, illustrating the process of dividing a block of ice (understood
in all the examples shewn to measure six inches cube) into six parallel slabs by means
of a gang of five circular saws.
Figures 4 and 5 shew in perspective, viewed from beneath, the cage and its top
used to hold the blocks during the operation of sawing.
Figure 6 is a front elevation partly sectional, Figure 7 a transverse section, and
Figure 8 a plan (portions being broken away to shew the construction) of a form
of apparatus employed for branding the slabs of ice.
Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating a means of re-uniting the slabs by
pressure after branding when it is desired to afterwards braud them again upon the
second or third planes of subdivision.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the means of bringing the slabs to the superposed
horizontal position preparatory to the operation of branding.
Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the means of transferring the subdivided and branded
block to the consolidating press shewn in Figure 14 preparatory to packing.
Figures 15 and 16 illustrate the packing of the block of ice for transport.
All the figures are drawn to one scale with the exception of Figures 12 and 3
which are drawn to about double the scale of the rest.
Similar letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the cutting of the block A first into slabs 1 2 3 4 5 6 ;
then into prisms; and finally into cubes; is performed by means of a gang of
circular saws B mounted on a common shaft b the saws rotating through slots in the
bottom of a trough-like guide-way C and projecting up therein a height rather
greater than that of the block to be cut. The trough or guide way C is made of a
width to just receive a cage-like holder D within which the ice block A is held
whilst being presented to the saws. This cage-like holder D is of square form in
plan, is open at bottom, and of a size internally to just receive the ice block A
within it. It has a square top frame which projects beyond the four sides so as
to be adapted to run on the edges of the guide trough C and beneath inwardly
projecting flanges c fixed thereon. The opposite sides of the holder are vertically
slitted as at d at distances apart corresponding to the saws so as to give passage
to the saws when the holder is slid along the guide trough, the square form of the
holder and the fact that all four sides are slitted enabling the holder and the contained
slabs into which the block is cut to be presented to the saws a second time in a
direction at right angles to the first without removal from the holder. The holder
may, however, be slitted on two opposite sides only. The bolder is provided with
a weighted top D' which fits removably in the top frame of the holder for a purpose.
hereafter referred to and which rests upon the top of the ice block A. The underside
of this top piece is grooved as at d¹ in register with the side slits d of the holder
to give passage to the saw-teeth which rise above the block A.
The cutting of the block A into slabs is performed by sliding the holder with the
contained block along the trough until the saws have passed completely through.
the block, any tendency of the saws to tilt the block and holder being resisted by the
engagement of the projecting top frame of the holder beneath the guide flanges c of
the trough. A counting mechanism such as that shewn at E may be mounted in'
the side of the trough C so as to be operated by the holder in its passage along the
trough striking a friction roller carried by a lever e in order to register the number.
of blecks operated on.
After the first passage of the saws through the block, the slabs into which it is'
thereby divided may be subjected to a branding operation whereby a trade mark or
.

page_text: a
ornamental device is impressed on one face of each of the cubes into which the
block is to be ultimately divided. For this purpose the slabs whilst still contained
in the cage-like holder D are slid along the table to branding apparatus such as
that illustrated in Figures 67 and 8 whereby the impressions on the face of each
slab are made to correspond in number and situation to the cubes into which the
slab is to be ultimately divided so that each cube will bear an imprint on one at
least of its faces. The branding is performed by bringing the ice slab into contact
with warmed dies and as it is essential to the ultimate object in view that the
operation should be performed as quickly as possible the apparatus hereinafter
described is designed specially for the purpose of enabling all the slabs into which the
ice block is sawn to be applied quickly and simultaneously to as many sets of
branding dies and as quickly withdrawn therefrom and returned to the cutting
bench.
The slabs being juxtaposed and standing on edge as they leave the saws, it is first
necessary to bring them to the horizontal position and for this purpose the
slabs 1 2 3 4 5 6 are first slid on to the tipper F, Figure 10, which is merely an
L-shaped plate having projecting ends f forming handles by means of which it
may be rocked about its corner so as to bring the slabs from the vertical juxtaposed
position Figure 10 to the horizontal superposed position Figure 11. G is a box-like
holder open at bottom which is placed over the slabs so as to enclose them (but not
the tipper F) for the purpose of sliding the slabs collectively off the tipper and
distributing them on the branding apparatus by a horizontal sliding movement. The
branding table comprises a step-like series of supporting surfaces H¹ to H
(Figures 6 and 7) the first H' being flush with the table on which the tipper F
is used and the others being arranged in a series of steps corresponding to or
slightly exceeding in height the thickness of the ice slabs 1 2 3 4 5 6. The
holder G is provided with lateral flanges a corresponding to the inclination of
the sides H of the branding table between which the holder G is received and on the
inclined edges of which the flanges g are adapted to rest and slide. The holder G
is closed at top, its sides being less in depth than the total height of the collective
slabs by nearly, but not quite, the thickness of a slab so that whilst the whole of
the slabs may be slid together as one the holder will be raised so as to clear the
steps as its runners 9 slide upon the inclined sides of the table. That side of the
holder G which is rearmost in descending is furnished with a downwardly projecting
finger g and a notch is formed in the rounded edge of each step to give passage
to said finger, the object of which is to enable the holder G to remove the ice
slabs as it descends the guides H.
The supporting surfaces H' to H are preferably perforated or made grid-like
to protect the ice block from radiation whilst allowing the passage of the branding
dies i of which in the example shewn there are thirty-six in each step. These dies
correspond in number and position to the cubes into which the slab is to be ultimately
divided and they are preferably formed by stamping up in sheet metal and plated
to prevent rust. They have embossed upon their upper faces the trade mark or
other device which it is desired to impress upon the ice and they stand_ up from a
box-like heater I whose top is stepped to correspond to the surfaces H₁ to H of
the branding table. The faces of the dies are normally below the level of the ice
supporting surfaces H' to H and the heater 1 is mounted to slide in vertical guides
and is adapted to be lifted by a treadle motion J and connections as shewn. The
heater I may be a water or steam beated box preferably divided by cross partitions i
into compartments corresponding to the steps and separately supplied by circulation
pipes. Or the heater I may be warmed by gas flames burning in each compart
ment, the division of the heater into compartments serving to prevent unequal
heating. As it is important that the temperature of the working apartment should
not exceed 0 degrees C. the heater should be lagged with some non-conducting and
non-absorbent material to prevent radiation of heat and the flames should be carefully
regulated and kept under control. Transversely sloping gutter grooves between the
rows of dies lead to inclined gutters by which the water resulting from the melting

page_text: of the ice in branding is carried to a drain pipe 3 so that the production of vapour
in the apartment and condensation of moisture on the ice is avoided as far as
practicable. The temperature of the heater need not in general exceed 15 degrees C.
or thereabouts.
The operation of distributing the slabs on the branding table, branding them
simultaneously, and re-collecting them in superposed order, is performed as follows:
The superposed slabs contained in the box-like holder G, as shewn in Figure 10,
being slid in their collective form from the lower towards the upper end of the
branding table, the runners 9 resting on the sides H, the holder G is thereby
raised and allows the slabs to be successively arrested by the risers of the steps and
deposited on the surfaces H' to H the lowermost slab being first arrested and so
on successively. Figure 6 shews the position when three of the slabs have been so
deposited. The whole of the slabs having been thus placed in position the heater I
is raised by the treadle or other means so as to cause the dies to project through
the branding table and bring them into contact with the lower faces of the whole
of the ice slabs. The purpose of performing the operation in the upward direction
is to allow the resulting water to drain away from the ice and leave clear impressions
of the dies.
It will be obvious that the dies may be fixed and the branding table mounted to
rise and fall so as to enable the slabs to be brought down on to the dies instead
of raising the dies to the slabs, the table and its load being counterweighted and
drawn down at the required moment, by a treadle or lever handle.
After thus branding the slabs on their lower faces the holder G is replaced over
the uppermost slab and slid down the inclined sides H whereby the slabs are
collected from the table into the holder G in their original position and order,
Figure 6 representing also the position after four slabs have been thus collected.
When all the slabs have been thus superposed flatwise they are ready to be returned
to the saw-bench for cutting transversely in two directions, first into prisms and
then into cubes. For this purpose the holder G is removed and the cage-like
holder D is placed over them and the whole presented to the saws whereby the
superposed slabs are divided into prisms. By then turning the holder D and the
contained prisms a quarter round upon the table and again presenting the mass to
the saws the prisms are cut across and thereby divided into cubes.
It will be seen that the holder D serves to keep in their places the slabs, prisms,
and cubes produced by the cutting operations so that the presentation of the divided
mass of ice in compact form to the saws and the retention of the pieces in their
proper position both during and after the sawing is rendere possible.
1
If however the cubes into which the block is to be divisible are to be branded
on more than one face the slabs as superposed after the first branding and before
the second cutting operation are enclosed in another inverted box-like holder such
as K (Figure 9) and pressed upon by a lever L or other means of applying pressure
upon the superposed slabs whereby to cause partial reunion by regelation of their
contacting surfaces. Similarly if a third branding is required the slabs are pressed
before the third cutting operation and after the third branding.
If the first branding operation only be performed or if the branding be omitted
the slabs may be thus pressed after each cutting operation. If however the slabs
have been only branded once and have not been thus pressed prior to the subse-
quent cutting operations the block will have been subdivided into cubes at the
third cutting operation. These cubes are then to be imperfectly re-united by being
subjected to pressure applied in the direction of the diameter of the whole mass
the constituent cubes being held in position and supported angle-wise in a holder M
(Figure 14) having the form of three sides of a cube mounted on the bed of a
press whilst a similarly shaped presser M' attached to the platen of the press is
brought down upon the mass. In order to transfer the cubes from the cage D to
the press M M', the top D' of the cage is first removed from the cage and a box
of sheet metal N, (Figure 12) is dropped in an inverted position within the cage
and around the ice cubes which are thus completely enclosed. The cage is then

page_text: lifted off and a cover plate N¹, (Figure 13) having three upturned edges as shewn
is slipped under the ice cubes contained in the box N so as to enable the contents
to be transported to the holder M (Figure 14) and deposited therein by merely
withdrawing the cover plate N' and lifting off the box N. After the cubes have
been caused to cohere by pressure between M M' the mass is removed from the
press by means of the box N and cover N'. The box N is then stood mouth upwards,
a piece of thin flannel O is laid cornerwise over it, and the whole is then enclosed by
a wooden packing case P applied as shewn in Figure 15. The packing case P
is then turned mouth upwards, the metal box N is withdrawn, the corners of the
cloth O are folded inwards, and the lid P¹ of the packing case is affixed, the ice
block being then ready for transport and market. Thus enclosed the ice is protected
from waste by heat and the constituent cubes imperfectly united by regelation of
their dry contacting surfaces under pressure as described cohere sufficiently to allow
of being handled as a solid block and are easily separable for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. Apparatus for cutting block ice into cubes, consisting in the combination with
a gang of circular saws mounted to work in a trough-like guide, of a cage-like
holder adapted to embrace the ice block, having its sides vertically slitted from the
bottom upwards to correspond and give passage to the saws and having a solid
frame at the upper part adapted to slide on and in engagement with the sides of the
trough, substantially as specified.
2. In apparatus for cutting block ice into cubes the combination with a gang of
circular saws working in a guide trough and with a holder for the block baving
vertically slitted sides and adapted to slide on and in engagement with the sides of
the trough, of a top presser piece adapted to rest on the ice block and grooved to
give passage to the saws as described.
3. Apparatus for branding ice slabs, consisting of a stepped series of supporting
surfaces for the slabs and of corresponding sets of dies adapted to pass up through
the slab supports and to be brought into contact with the ice slabs thereon by a
relative motion of the dies and the slab supports as specified.
4. Apparatus for branding ice slabs, consisting of a stepped series of supporting
surfaces for the slabs, corresponding sets of upwardly projecting dies arranged
beneath and adapted to pass up through the slab supports and fixed upon a heater
for said dies as described.
5. Apparatus for distributing superposed ice slabs on, and collecting them in
superposed order from, a stepped series of supporting surfaces, consisting of inclined
guide rails alongside of the stepped surface in combination with a box-like holder
open at bottom adapted to enclose the superposed slabs as described and to rest and
run on the said inclined guide rails, the said holder having the side which is towards
the higher end of the stepped surface projecting downward below the opposite side
and the risers of the stepped surface being formed so as to allow such downward
projection to pass clear of them in the upward motion and to engage with the slabs
on the downward motion as described.
6. The herein described apparatus for subjecting the assembled ice cubes to pressure
in the corner-wise or diagonal direction so as to make all their contacting surfaces
cohere by regelation substantially as described with reference to Figure 14.
Dated this 27th day of April 1896
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.