MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND STAMPING SOAP
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gerard at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th March
-1854.
1.
I, JOHN GERARD, of Guernsey, Soap Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND STAMPING SOAP"
to be as follows
My: Invention consists of machinery for cútting and stamping (or marking)
soap: By this machinery a block of soap is first cut into the required number
of slabs at one cut, or at 'one operation, and then the whole of the slabs are cut
into bars at one cut, or at one operation.
The machinery consists of an upright main 'frame, which is mounted on
wheels for convenience of removal. Attached to this frame there are two cog
wheels, which are turned by a pinion geared thereto, and worked by a handle
at the side of the frame: On the shafts of the two cog wheels before mentioned
púllies are fixed; these pullies are geared by cords to other pullies attached
to the cutting frames. There are two cutting frames; one for cutting the slabs,
which has a horizontal motion; the other cutting frame, for cutting the slabs
into bars, has a vertical motion. Across these cutting frames wires are fixed;
paralel to each other; their number and distance apart is regulated

page_text: by the thickness and dimensions of the slabs. and bars of soap required to
be cut.
In the bottom part of the main frame at the side thereof two bars are
hinged, so as to rise and fall; the opposite ends of these bars rest upon a
rising at the end of the sill of the casting frame, where they can be adjusted
to the proper level, and be made paralel with the top surface of the sill on
which the block of soap stands. In the lower ends or feet of the two sides
of the slab cutting frame there are two small wheels or rollers, which rest upon
the bars last mentioned, and upon which the cutting frame travels..
In addition to the main frame above mentioned, there are two other
vertical frames (one to be placed at each end of the block of soap) fitted
with gearing and pullies, which are worked by handles at the sides, similarly
to the main frame. To the pullies in these vertical frames the pullies of
the bar-cutting frame are geared by cords, when by turning the handles the
cutting frame is drawn down, the cross wires therein pass through the slabs of
soap, and cut the whole into bars at one cut or at one operation.
1.
There is also a head frame which fits on to the two vertical frames, and from
which a stamping frame is suspended by cords and balance weights. This
stamping frame is made so as to stamp the whole of the bars in one slab at
once.
In place of the two vertical frames above mentioned for working the bar-
cutting frame, at the sides of the rising bars upon which the slab-cutting
frame travels vertical guide rods may be hinged, so as also to rise and fall,
and by having two grooves in the sides of the main frame, into which one of
the ends of the bar-cutting frame may be made to fit, so as to slide up and
down, holes being made in the opposite ends (for the guide rods) so as to
allow them also to work up and down upon the guide rods. In this case the
bar-cutting frame could be geared to the main frame, the head frame could
then be fitted on to the main frame at one end, and be attached to the ends
of the two guide rods at the other, and would thus keep the guide rods
rigid, and in a proper position for the cutting frame to work upon..
The main frame is placed at one end of the block of soap, the side bars are
let down and adjusted to the proper level, when the moveable cutting frame is
placed thereon at the opposite end of the block of soap tothe main frame, the
pullies geared with cords; then by turning the handle in the main frame the
cutting frame is drawn forward, and the wires pass through the soap, and cut
the whole block into the required number of slabs at one operation...The next
thing is to cut the slabs into bars, which is performed in a similar manner, by.
gearing the pullies in the main frame, or the two vertical frames with the

page_text: pullies in the bar-cutting frame, which works from the top of the block (as
cut into slabs) to the bottom, by turning the handle in the main frame, or
handles of the two vertical frames, as the case may be, when the whole of the
slabs will be cut into bars at one operation. These cutting frames may be
worked as above described by racks and pullies or otherwise.
The stamping or working frame is now lowered, and is so made as to be
capable of marking all the bars in one slab or lift at once; when this has been
done, the balance weight lifts the stamping frame, and the lift of bars thus
marked is removed, when the frame is again brought down and stamps or
marks the whole of the bars in the next slab or lift, and so on to the bottom
of the block, when the whole operations of cutting and stamping an entire
block are performed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Gerard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
September 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GERARD, of Guernsey, Soap Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Gerard, Her special licence that I, the said John Gerard,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Gerard, 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 "MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND
STAMPING SOAP," upon condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Gerard, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particu-
larly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Gerard, do hereby declare that the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
1

page_text: to be particularly described and may be ascertained in and by the following
statement and description. thereof, together with the accompanying: Drawings
and explanation thereof herein contained (that is to say)
My Invention consists of machinery for cutting and stamping or marking
soap, by which, 1st, the entire block is cut into slabs at one operation; 2ndly,
the slabs are cut into bars or cakes at one operation; and,3rdly, the whole of
the bars or cakes in one slab are, marked or stamped at once. The said
machinery comprises a slab-cutting frame, bar, and cake, cutting, frames and
stamping frame, with, main frames, guide frames,, rods, pullies and gearing..
The slab cutter consists of a frame of wood or metal, across which a number
of wires or blades are fixed at such a distance, apart as the slabs are, to:,be.
in thickness; the frame of the cutter is made sufficiently large, to contain
as many wires or blades as will cut the entire block into slabs at one cut.
The bar cutter also consists of a frame of wood or metal, with a number of
wires or blades across the same, at the required distance apart, the frame.
being sufficiently large to contain as many blades or wires as will cut an
entire block (after it has been cut into slabs) into bars at one cut. The
cake-cutting frame is similar to the bar-cutting frame, only that the wires or
blades are fitted across, both longitudinally and transversely. The blades or
wires of the cutters are fixed to one side of the frame by a loop or eye, and
to screws on the other, so as to be tightened up when required. The-frames
of the cutters are fitted with pins, wheels, pullies, and guides to work the
same, and keep them in their proper positions. The stamper is a frame con-
taining the required number of dies to stamp or mark all the bars or cakes in
one slab at one operation. The main frames, guide and travelling rods, blocks,
pullies, and gearing, are shewn on the Drawings, and the mode of working
the machines is hereafter explained.-
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS...
The Drawings accompanying this Specification are laid down to a scale of
one inch to a foot, and are lettered "Gerard's machinery for cutting and
stamping soap," and numbered and respectively. Fig. 1 is a plan of
the 'slab-cutts frame; Fig. 2 is a plan of the bar-cutting frame; Fig. 3 is a
plan of the stamping or marking frame; Fig. 4 is a plan of the cake cutter;
Fig. 5 shows the slab-cutts frame attached to a main frame and mode of
working it, and also the bar or cake cutting frame attached to a main frame
and mode of working it, and also shows the mode in which the stamping
frame is fitted and used. In referencing or lettering the different Figs. similar
letters are used in each Fig., that is to say, wherever the same letter or

page_text: number occurs in the different Figs it still applies to the same part of the)
particular machine, which is shown in a different position, for the better?
explanation of its form and use.
1
REFERENCE, DRAWING No. 1.
I
Fig 1; a, a, side frames: of the slab cutter; b,the crossthead; c, d, the wires,
or:: blades 'fastened to the frame at d'ande, and made to tighten up at the
sides;ff, pullies; g, g, two wheels upon which the frame: runs ;;h, a guidet
wheel:on the cross head; i, i, pins. to keep the frame from rising. Fig 2,k,k,
the frames of the bar-cutting machine; 1, 1, the wires or blades;m, mthe
pins and tightening screws by which the cutters are fixed to the 'frame;
nn, sheaves; 0, 0, hooks to which the cords or chains are attached to, connect
the bar-cutting: frame with the main frame. Fig. 3; 1, 2, apertures; in the
stamping frame for fitting it to the iron upright rods on the sill; s, the stamper,
which consists of a number of dies t, t, each of which is lettered with letters
required for stamping each bar or cake. Fig. 4, the cake-cutting frame.
20
DRAWING NO. 2.
Fig. 5, a, the block of soap resting on the sill 6; c, the main frame for.
working the slab cutter d, for cutting the soap into the slabs e, e, by turning
the handle (one of which is placed on each side) and pinion g, which turn the
wheels h, h, which are fixed upon the shaft of the barrels i, i, round which
the cords k, k, are wound when using the machine; 1, 1, pullies, round which
the cords pass; m, the wheel on which the slab cutter runs along the bar n;
n', a guide rod at the top of the frame supported by the uprights o, o; m, a
pulley or wheel at the top of the frame which runs along the bar n¹; p, a catch
for holding the bar n when it is raised into a vertical position for moving the
main frame after the slabs are cut; q, a strut or block to keep the soap
from being drawn forward. Fig. 6, a is the block of soap supposed to have
been cut into slabs; b, the sill on which the soap rests; c, c, iron uprights
or vertical guide rods for the bar and and cake cutting frames; c¹, the bar-
cutting frame; d, d, the main frame for working the bar-cutting frame and
cake-cutting frame, which cuts the slabs into bars e, e, or cakes, by turning
the handles f. and pinion g, and wheel and barrel h, i, which winds the
cords k, k, by which the bar cutter is drawn down; 1, l, cords attached to the
upper side of the bar and cake cutting frames for raising the same by winding
the cords over the pullies m, m, on to the barrel p¹ of the wheel p, which is
also turned by the pinion g; is the stamper, suspended by the pullies r, r, to
the frame u, u, by the cords 8, s, by which the stamper is raised and lowered,

page_text: and stamps the whole of the bars or cakes in one slab or lift at once. The:
frame which carries the stamper is fixed to the uprights and main frame.
I have now in the best manner I am able described and ascertained the nature.
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed; I do
not confine myself to the precise form of frames, cutters, &c. shown on the
Drawings, but I claim the cutters and stampers constructed upon the principle
herein described, and fitted to frames and gearing so as to cut a block of soap
into any required number of slabs at one operation, and to cut the slabs into.
any required number of bars or cakes at one operation; and also the stamper-
for stamping or marking the whole or any given number of the bars or cakes
in one slab at one operation.
JOHN GERARD. (L.s.)