A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Beck, of 139 Cannon Street, in the
City of London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent for an Invention
of "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING
communicated to him from abroad by La Société anonyme des Machines à
Bougies et chandelles système Royau, of Paris in the Republic of France
CANDLES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Beck at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1883.
"
WILLIAM HENRY BECK of 139 Cannon Street, in the City of London, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING
CANDLES [communicated to him from abroad by La Société anonyme des
Machines à Bougies et chandelles système Royau, of Paris in the Republic of
France]
The new or improved machine forming the subject of this invention is more
especially applicable to the manufacture of candles from fatty acids, palm oil and
so forth, which offer the greatest difficulty in the manufacture and the production
of which is restricted with the apparatus at present in use, but it is also applicable
to the manufacture of paraffin and ordinary candles which require to be cast at as
low a temperature as possible, and to be promptly cooled.
The construction of the machine is of the following character.
The box comprising the part of the machine where the moulding is effected, is
formed of three horizontal plates and of four vertical sides all of galvanized or
tinned iron, constituting a watertight chamber.
This box is carried by small brackets fixed to or formed with the two end frames
of the machine. The sheets forming the top and bottom receive the tin moulds
arranged in longitudinal rows or series of twenty-five each and in transverse rows
or series of eight each, say in all two hundred moulds. But this number may be
increased or diminished without altering the principle of the construction of the
other parts of the machine.

page_text: The heads of the moulds are let into countersinks in the top of the box, and the
lower joint is made by screwing up a nut.
These moulds pass easily through the second plate of the box but from the said
plate to within about two or three centimètres of the bottom they are surrounded
by sheathes between which and the said moulds there are left annular hollow
spaces by which the upper and lower divisions of the box communicate with each
other, such upper and lower divisions being determined by the second or intermediate
sheet iron plate.
The top of the box forms the casting table; it is furnished in front with a flango
or lip connected by hinges with the vertical face of the box, in such manner that it
can be lowered down after the casting in order to facilitate the cleaning of the
table and the cutting of the wicks
At the bottom of each of the moulds is the head of a pusher which is of a
length suitable for effecting the pushing out by lifting of the largest size of candle
to be made. All the pushers, ranged in longitudinal and transverse series
corresponding to the moulds are placed in transverse bars the ends of which are
fixed on two longitudinal bars which extend from one side frame to the other and
are connected beyond to four vertical toothed racks. These latter slide outside the
frames, gearing with pinions carried, two and two, by two shafts which turn in
bearings bolted to the side frames. One of these shafts is furnished with a ratchet
wheel and retaining pawl.
At the back of the machine is arranged a shaft which connects the two abovo
mentioned pinion shafts by bevil gearing so as to cause them both to turn with
the same speed and in the same direction. A crank handle fixed on one end of the
above back shaft works all this mechanism, which produces the elevation or
lowering of the pushers.
The side frames are connected below the box by the stretcher rods and at tho
bottom by other stretcher. rods which at the same time serve as seats for the wick
boxes.
The wick boxes are divided into three storied cells which receive tho balls of
wick and have an arched cover of sheet or tinned iron pierced with holes for tho
guidance of the wicks.
The lower compartment of the box is placed in communication by four branches
(more or less) with a cold water pipe which is at the back of the machine and is
furnished with a stop cock.
In the upper compartment of the box is placed between each of the series of
moulds, a tube pierced with holes which open opposite the rows of moulds to right
and left. Each of these tubes at its outlet from the box enters the bottom of a
reservoir open at the top and placed higher than the box. A general valve, formed
of a metal bar covered below with a good thickness of indiarubber, extends from
one end to the other of this reservoir over the ends of the said tubes and is
raised by means of a shaft with a crank handle which acts by eccentrics on pieces
fixed to the bar. This valve is lowered by the pressure of springs placed here and
there round-stems fixed to the bottom of the reservoir and passing through the
bar upon which the springs act. One of the tubes branches to an air pipe which
rises vertically and opens freely into the upper part of the reservoir. In the
bottom of this reservoir is a steam pipe pierced with holes or fitted with small
adjutages. Another pipe with a cock forins the overflow.
The water pipe is provided beyond its stop cock with a discharge pipe and stop
cock for withdrawing the water from the box.
Over the table or top of the box at a suitable distance are cross pieces or bearers
of wood equal in number and corresponding to the transverse series of moulds.
These bearers have their ends supported and fixed on two flat iron parallel bars
fixed to end pieces so as to form a perfectly solid and rigid frame capable of turning
on centres in the side frames of the machine and capable also of being fixed
firmly to the frame of the machine when placed in its lowered. position,

page_text: being held by keys or bolts which can be removed when it is required to pivot
the frame.
Each of the aforesaid wooden bearers is perforated vertically with as many
holes as there are moulds in a row; these holes are furnished with metal tubes of
a funnel shape at the bottom and at their straight part are of a diameter
corresponding to the largest candles that can be made in the machine.
These bearers are hollowed out on one side for their whole length which produces
an intersection of each of tho metal tubes contained in them, opposite to this
hollow, which is curvilinear are arranged indiarubber rollers the axes of which,
suitably guided at the ends, and in the middle, are subjected to the pressure of
springs of definite power.
Finally a rod which passes through all the bearers, and which is screwed at one
of its ends, can be turned by a handle or a flywheel so as to be moved longi-
tudinally from right to left and vice versa in order to push back at one stroke all
the aforesaid indiarubber rollers, or to render them dependent on the springs with
which each is provided.
The axis of the elastic rollers carries a projection which a shoulder of the rod
encounters, when, by turning the handle or flywheel the said rod is screwed into
the cross piece of the frame, that is to say when it is moved from right to left.
By returning the rod to its original position, the springs push the rollers into the
cavity in the bearers and against any candles which may be at that moment in
Supposing that the machine is new, or that it is not in regular use, the wicks
are stretched in the moulds by tying them to rods or otherwise, above the
bearers.
Before casting in the moulds, it is necessary to warm them. For that purpose
the cock of the cold water pipe is opened to fill the box and the reservoir, then the
cold water cock is closed and the valve in the reservoir is lowered so as to
cover the ends of the tubes in its bottom. Steam is then injected by the steam
pipe until the water in the reservoir attains the temperature required by the
material to be cast, which temperature varies from 25° to 45° Centigrade. The
discharge cock is then opened and all the water contained in the box and the pipes
between the reservoir and the said discharge cock is drawn off.
By raising the valve in the reservoir the hot water passes immediately into the
box in a direction opposite to that by which the cold water entored and
communicates the required heat to the moulds.
The casting is now effected in the usual way, the pushers being of course lowered
to the bottom of the moulds,
The warm water is drawn off from the box in the same way as the cold water
previously. And, immediately afterwards cold water is admitted to the box
through the cold water cock and allowed to flow through the overflow pipe of the
revervoir until the water issues therefrom at the same temperature as it enters at
the cold water cock and the cast candles are sufficiently cooled for removal from
the moulds.
The flange or lip of the table is then lowered for cleaning the table and for
enabling the wicks to be cut close and even with the bottoms of the candles.
The ends of the wicks rendered useless for future use are removed from the
bearers. The water in the reservoir is now heated by steam and the box emptied
as before.
Then the cold water and discharge cocks are closed, and the valvo in the
reservoir raised to allow of the descent of the hot water into the box. The crank
handle is then operated to raise the pushers in the moulds and thereby to push
out therefrom at one stroke, and beyond the moulds, all the candles contained-in
them so as to thread them into the tubes of the bearers above from which the

page_text: pressure
rollers are at that time removed, and to raise them sufficiently above the
moulds to allow of the next casting, and to hold the wicks.
This first operation is more complicated than the following ones for which in
fact it will be sufficient to empty from the box the hot water which has prepared
the moulds for the removal of the candles, to effect the casting, and to admit the.
cold water instantaneously afterwards for as long a time as the cooling of the
candles may require.
When the candles can be removed from the moulds the flange or lip of the
table is turned down for clearing the table and cutting the wicks at the same
operation.
The handle or flywheel is actuated to remove the pressure rollers in order to
-allow-the-candles-of-the-first-operation-to-be-removed-from-the-bearers. By raising-
the whole of this system of sleepers on its pivots the whole surface of the table can
be cleaned as may be required.
When the bearers are returned to their place; the removal from the moulds is
effected as before care having been previously taken to warm the moulds with
water which has been heated in the reservoir..
As regards the operation of the pressure rollers which grip the candles removed
from the moulds, during the next operations, the axes of these rollers may be
acted on at their ends, by arranging serowed rods which actuate them rigidly by
taking the said ends between two nuts. These latter running on the screwed
rods and afford a means of regulating as exactly as possible, and separately, each
roller in relation to its bearer in order to obtain. by one single manipulation a
uniform and mechanical pressure on all the candles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Beck in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th December 1883.
"
WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 139 Cannon Street, in the City of London, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING
CANDLES [communicated to him from abroad by La Société anonyme des
Machines à Bougies et chandelles systèmo Royau, of Paris in the Republic of
France]
The new or improved machine forming the subject of this invention is more
especially applicable to the manufacturo of candles from fatty acids, palm oil and
so forth, which offer the greatest difficulty in the manufacture, and the production
of which is restricted with the apparatus at present in use, but it is also applicable
to the manufacture of paraffin and ordinary candles which require to be cast at as
low a temperature as possible, and to be promptly cooled.
The general arrangement and details of the machine are illustrated in the
drawings hereto annexed in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the side where access
can be had to the box enclosing the moulds.
Figure 2 is a side view at the lifting crank end.
Figure 3 is a partial transverse section.
Figure 4 shows to full size the mechanism for grasping or nipping the candles.
Figure 5 is a partial plan of the general arrangement of this mechanism.
The box a comprising the part of the machine where the moulding is effected, is
formed of three horizontal plates a¹ a³ a³ and of four vertical sides all of galvanized
or tinned iron, constituting a water tight chamber.
This box a is carried by small brackets fixed to or formed with the two end
frames b b of the machine.
The plates a¹ and a³ forming the top and bottom receive the tin moulds m
arranged in longitudinal rows or series of twenty five each and in transverse rows
or series of eight each say in all two hundred moulds. But this number may be
increased or diminished without altering the principle of the construction of the
other parts of the machine.
The heads of the moulds m are let into countersinks in the top of the box a¹ and
the lower joint is made by screwing up a nut m².
These moulds pass easily through the second plate of the box but from the said
plate to within about two or three centimetres of the bottom a³ they are surrounded
by sheathes m³ between which and the said moulds there are left annular hollow
spaces by which the upper and lower divisions A and A¹ of the box communicato
with each other, such upper and lower divisions being determined by the second or
intermediate sheet iron plate a².
The top a² of the box forms the casting table; it is furnished in front with a
flange or lip c connected by hinges with the vertical face of the box, in such
manner that it can be lowered down after the casting in order to facilitate the
cleaning of the table and the cutting of the wicks.
At the bottom of each of the moulds m is the head of a pusher or plunger d
which is of a length suitable for effecting the pushing out by lifting of the largest
ize of candle to be made. All the pushers, ranged in longitudinal and transverse
series corresponding to the moulds, are placed in transverse bars & the ends of
which are fixed on two longitudinal bars ff which extend from one side frame b
to the other b¹ and are connected beyond to four vertical toothed racks
atter slide outside the frames, gearing with pinions h carried, two and two, by
These
g.
wo shafts h¹h which turn in bearings bolted to the side frames 6 6¹. One of
hese shafts his furnished with a ratchet wheel h³ and a retaining pawl.
At the back of the machine is arranged a shaft k which connects the two above

page_text: mentioned pinion shafts ¹² by bevel gearing so as to cause them both to turn
with the same speed and in the same direction. A crank handle fixed on one
end of the above back shaft works all this mechanism which produces the
elevation or lowering of the pushers or plungers d.
The side frames bb' are connected below the box a by the stretcher rods i and
at the bottom by other stretcher rods jj which at the same time serve as seats or
bearers for the wick boxes n.
The wick boxes n are divided into three storied cells which receive the balls of
wick and have an arched cover of sheet or tinned iron pierced with holes for the
guidance of the wicks.
The lower compartment A¹ of the box a is placed in communication by four
-branches-pl-(more-or-less)-with-a-cold-water-pipe-p-which-is-at-the-back-of-the-
inachine and is furnished with a stop cock p².
In the upper compartment A of the box is placed between each of the series of
moulds a tube q pierced with holes which open opposite the rows of moulds to
right and left. Each of these tubes q at its outlet from the box enters the bottom
of a reservoir open at the top and placed higher than the box. A general valve
formed of a metal bar a covered below with a good thickness of indiarubber,
extends from one end to the other of this reservoir over the ends of the said tubes
and is raised by means of a shaft s¹ with a crank handle 82, which acts by
eccentrics on pieces & fixed to the bar s. This valve is lowered by the pressure
of springs s placed here and there round stems fixed to the bottom of the
reservoir r and passing through the bars upon which the springs act.
One of the tubes q branches to an air pipe q¹ which rises vertically and opens
freely into the upper part of the reservoir. In the bottom of this reservoir is a
steam pipe v pierced with holes or fitted with small adjutages. Another pipe u
with a cock u forms the overflow.
The water pipe is provided beyond its stop cock p² with a discharge pipe t and
stop cock for withdrawing the water from the box.
Over the table or top al of the box at a suitable distance are cross pieces or
bearers of wood x equal in number and corresponding to the transverse series of
noulds. These bearers have their ends supported and fixed on two flat iron
parallel bars a fixed to end pieces so as to form a perfectly solid and
rigid frame capable of turning on centres y y in the side frames of the machine
and in the back bar al, and capable also of being fixed firmly to the frame of the
machine when placed in its lowered position, being held by keys or bolts z which
can be removed when it is required to pivot the frame.
Each of the aforesaid wooden bearers is perforated vertically with as many
holes as there are moulds in a row; these holes are furnished with metal tubes l
of a funnel shape at the bottom and at their straight part are of a diameter
corresponding to the largest candles that can be made in the machine. These
bearers are hollowed out on one side for their whole length (see Figure 4) which
produces an intersection of each of the metal tubes contained in them. Opposite
to this hollow which is curvilinear are arranged indiarubber rollers w the axes of
which, suitably guided at the ends, and in the middle, are subjected to the pressure
of springs w¹ of definite power.
20
Finally a rod T which passes through all the bearers and which is screwed at
one of its ends, can be turned by a handle or a fly-wheel T¹ so as to be moved
longitudinally from right to left and vice versa in order to push back at one stroke
all the aforesaid indiarubber rollers w, or to render them dependent on the springs
with which each is provided.
The axis o of the elastic rollers w (see Figure 4) carries a projection o¹ which a
shoulder of the rod T encounters, when by turning the handle or flywheel the said
rod is screwed into the cross piece a¹ of the frame that is to say when it is moved
from right to left. By returning the rod T to its original position, the springs w
push the rollers w into the cavity in the bearers x and against any candles which
may be at that moment in their tubes 7.

page_text: Action of the machine. Supposing that the machine is now, or that it is not in
regular use, the wicks are stretched in the moulds by tying them to rods or other-
wise, above the bearers x.
Before casting in the moulds, it is necessary to warm them. For that purpose
the cock p¹ of the cold water pipe is opened to fill the box a and the reservoir 7;
then the cold water cock p² is closed and the valvo 8 in the reservoir is lowered so
as to cover the ends of the tubes in its bottom. Steam is then injected by the
steam pipe v until the water in the reservoir r attains the temperature required by
the material to be cast, which temperature varies from 25° to 45° Centigrade. The
discharge cock is then opened and all the water contained in the box and the
pipes between the reservoir r and the said discharge cock t¹ is drawn off.
By raising the valves in the reservoir the hot water passes immediately into
the box in a direction opposite to that by which the cold water entered and
communicates the required heat to the moulds.
The casting is now effected in the usual way, the pushers or plungers d being of
course lowered to the bottom of the moulds.
The warm water is drawn off from the box in the same way as the cold water
previously. And immediately afterwards cold water is admitted to the box'
through the cold water cock p² and allowed to flow through the overflow pipe u
of the reservoir r until the water issues therefrom at u¹ at the same temperaturo
as it enters at the cold water cock p² and the cast candles are sufficiently cooled
for removal from the moulds.
The flange cor lip of the table is then lowered for cleaning the table a¹ and for
enabling the wicks to be cut close and even with the bottoms of the candles. The
ends of the wicks rendered useless for future use are removed from the bearers a.
The water in the reservoir r is now heated by steam and. the box a emptied as
before.
8
Then the cold water and discharge cocks p² and t¹ are closed, and the valve s in
the reservoir raised to allow of the descent of the hot water into the box. The
crank handle is then operated to raise the pushers in the moulds d and thereby
to push out therefrom at one stroke, and beyond the moulds, all the candles
contained in them so as to thread them into the tubes of the bearers above from
which the pressure rollers ware at that time removed, and to raise them sufficiently
above the moulds to allow of the next casting, and to hold the wicks.
This first operation is more complicated than the following ones for which in
fact it will be sufficient to empty from the box a the hot water which has prepared
the moulds for the removal of the candles, to effect the casting, and to admit tho
cold water instantaneously afterwards for as long a time as the cooling of the,
candles may require.
When the caudlos can be removed from the moulds the flange or lip c of the
table is turned down for clearing the table and cutting the wicks at the samo
operation.
The handle or flywheel T is actuated to remove the pressure rollers w in order
to allow the candles of the first operation to be removed from the bearers. By
raising the whole of this system of sleepers on its pivots the whole surface of tho
table a' can be cleaned as may be required.
When the bearers are returned to their place, the removal from the moulds is
effected as before, care having been previously taken to warm the moulds with
water which has been heated in the reservoir r.
As regards the operation of the pressure rollers w which grip the candles
removed from the moulds, during the next operation, the axes of these rollers w
may be acted on at their ends, by arranging screwed rods w² w³ near these ends
(see Figure 6) which repel them in the manner shown in Figures 4 and 5 or which
actuate them rigidly by taking the said ends between two nuts w. These latter
running on the screwed rods w³ ³ afford a means of regulating as exactly as
possible, and separately, each roller in relation to its bearor in order to obtain by
one single manipulation a uniform and mechanical pressure on all the candles.

page_text: The arrangements of apparatus above described and shown in the drawings
onduce to a manufacture much superior to that of the machines heretofore known,
ot only as regards the number, but also as regards the quality and beauty of the
andles produced.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner in
which the same is to or may be performed I would bave it understood that
what I claim as the invention to be secured by the within in part recited letters
atent is
First. The box a with the moulds m connected therewith by water-tight joints, the
said box a being divided into an upper and a lower compartment A and A¹
by a division plate a³, the said compartments communicating with each other
-by-annular-spaces-which-surround-the-moulds-at-a-part of their length
situated between the division plate a² and the bottom of the box a, and
which annular spaces serve to conduct the currents of cold water from tho
lower-to the upper compartment, and inversely the currents of hot water
from the upper space to the lower, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated
in Figure 3 of the drawings.
econd. The reservoir r placed at a higher level than the box a for the purpose of
delivering thereto the cold water for moulding and the hot water for the
preparation of the moulds for the subsequent removal of the candles and for
the next casting operation, as herein before described, and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
hird. The arrangement of pivotting bearers with pressure or gripping rollers to
receive the candles after their removal from the moulds, and to hold them
during the subsequent casting, as horoin before described, and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.
ourth. The general arrangements and adaptations of devices composing the new
or improved machine, especially the arrangement of the box a betwoon the
refrigerating and heating sources whereby an uniform and instantaneous
distribution of cold or heat around the moulds is assured, the arrangements
for effecting the economical heating of the water in the reservoir outside
the box a, the devices for opening and intercepting the communications
between the box a and the hot water resorvoir r, and finally, the devices
for enabling the pushors or plungers & to be easily manipulated, substantially
as herein before described, and illustrated in the drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Beck have hereunto set my hand
ud seal this twenty-second day of December in the year of our Lord One
housand eight hundred and eighty threo.
WRECK