IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING SOAP
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Shaw, of the Calder Soap Works,
Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING SOAP."
Sealed the 6th May 1870, and dated the 12th November 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Shaw at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on, the
12th November 1869.
I, BENJAMIN SHAW, of the Calder Soap Works, Wakefield, in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING SOAP," to be as
follows:-
The improvements have reference to soap-cutting machines,, and have
for their object the facilitating and the correct cutting of the soap and.
thus avoiding all "end bars," and the rendering all the bars the same
weight or nearly so, and also the leaving the soap much easier to pile, as
one bar does not stick to the other as is the case. in the ordinary methods
of soap cutting.
The improvements consist in furnishing soap-cutting machines generally
with any number of endless flat linked chains, leather or other straps
for supporting and carrying the soap, cach chain or strap revolving

page_text: round suitable wheels, with a cutting wire placed between each chain
or strap for the purpose of cutting the soap.
The improvements also consist in furnishing the machine with a
creeper," which after the soap has passed through the machine carries
it along or forward so as to allow room for a sufficient number of
"pilers" to take the soap away as it is cut, and thus make room for
a fresh supply, and further in supplying the machine with an apparatus
whereby the soap may if desired be stamped at the same time that it
is cut.
The improvements may conveniently be carried into effect by making
the chains or straps with flanges cast or fixed on at the required distance
for carrying along the soap. The joints of the chains or straps may be
formed on the under side so as to serve as guides and run between
parallel guide bars, and thus always keep the chains or straps in two
parallel lines. Each chain or strap may pass over two suitable wheels,
each wheel being made with projections and recesses to receive the
joints of the chains or straps and so carry them forward. The wheels may
be keyed or otherwise fastened on to the shafts, which may be fixed into
a frame made for the purpose; the said wheels may be driven by hand
or other power. The "slabs" may be brought to the machine on trucks
carrying one frame of soap at a time or by hand one slab at a time. After
being slabbed in the ordinary manner each slab is placed upon the
machine when it is in motion or at rest, one revolution of the machine
being sufficient to cut one slab. The machine may be made of metal or
of metal and wood combined.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Shaw in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th May 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
SHAW, of the Calder Soap Works, Wakefield, in the County of York,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Shaw, Her special licenco
that I, the said Benjamin Shaw, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin Shaw, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term.
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and.
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING SOAP," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Benjamin Shaw, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
I six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said.
Letters Patent.
'
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Shaw, do hereby declaro
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :-
The improvements have reference to soap-cutting machines, and have
for their object the facilitating and the correct cutting of the soap, and
thus avoiding all "end bars," and the rendering all the bars the same
weight or nearly so, and also the leaving the soap much easier to pile,
as one bar does not stick to the other as is the case in the ordinary.
methods of soap cutting.
The improvements consist in furnishing soap-cutting machines
generally with any number of endless flat linked chains, leather or
other straps for supporting and carrying the soap, cach chain or strap
revolving round suitable-wheels, with a cutting wire placed between each
chain or strap for the purpose of cutting the soap.
"
The improvements also consist in furnishing the machine with a
'creeper," which after the soap has passed through the machine carries
it along or forward, so as to allow room for a sufficient number of
'pilers" to take the soap away as it is cut, and thus make room for a
fresh supply, and further in supplying the machine with an apparatus
whereby the soap may if desired be stamped at the same time it is
"6
cut

page_text: The improvements may conveniently be carried into effect by making
the chains or straps with flanges cast or fixed on at the required distance
for carrying along the soap. The joints of the chains or straps may be
formed on the under side so as to serve as guides and run between
parallel guide bars, and thus always keep the chains or straps in two
parallel lines. Each chain or strap may pass over two suitable wheels,
cach wheel being made with projections and recesses to receive the
joints of the chains or straps, and so carry them forward. The wheels
may be keyed or otherwise fastened on to the shafts, which may be fixed
into a frame mado for the purpose; the said wheels may be driven by
hand or other power. The "slabs" may be brought to the machine on
trucks carrying one frame of soap at a time or by hand one slab at a
time. After being slabbed in the ordinary manner each slab is placed
upon the machine when it is in motion or at rest, one revolution of the
machine being sufficient to cut one slab. The machine may be made of
metal or of metal and wood combined.
The accompanying Drawing is intended only as an illustration of a
convenient manner of performing the Invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2a front view of the machine,
in which a is wood framing; a', wood supports to which are screwed
the parallel iron guide bars c, c; b, flat linked endless chains having
flanges. or stops for pushing along the soap; c, parallel iron bars for
guiding chains and keeping them clear of the cutting wires; d, chain
rollers or wheels slid separately on a square shaft, and driven by crank
handle f; e, shaft on which chain wheels are carried; f, driving handle
for driving by hand; g, cutting wires held tight in position by screws h;
i, strong piece of wood to which bottom ends of cutting wires and guide
bars are screwed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Shaw, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
BENJAMIN SHAW. (L.S.)