Improvements in Flexible Moulds for Candies and other like Confections.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flexible Moulds for Candies and other like
Confections.
I, WALTER ELSWOOD COLEMAN, of New Dorp, in the County of Richmond,
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention is an improvement upon the flexible candy or confectionery mould
described in the Specification of the prior Patent No. 13764 of 1887 granted to
J. C. Mewburn which discloses a solid mould or mat of flexible material in which
the matrices are formed.
While the said mould has proved of practical utility and answers the purpose
designed, I have discovered certain objections to the solid mould or mat which it is
the object of my present invention to overcome.
For instance, owing to the fact that comparatively pure, expensive india-rubber
is requisite in the manufacture of good, serviceable quality of such mats, the mass
of solid material between the matrices and forming the side walls thereof, adds
materially to the cost of production, without compensating advantage. On the
contrary, owing to this thickness and solidity of the mat between the matrices,
although the mat be made of the best of elastic or semi-elastic material, it is not
as flexible between the matrices as is desirable, and hence the side walls of the
matrices are split transversely as set forth in said Patent, to facilitate the discharge
of the candy castings. But the most serious objection to the old form of solid
mouid arises from the fact that the mass of material between the matrices impedes
the cooling and "setting" of the candy casts, not only causing delay, but also
rendering the cooling process uneven, since the exposed surface of the candy will
part with its excess of heat more rapidly than the surfaces enclosed by the thick
parts of the mould.
I obviate all these difficulties by my present invention, which consists, primarily,
in a permanent flexible skeleton candy-mould formed with air spaces between the
exterior side walls of the matrices, the side walls of the matrices being com-
paratively thin and preferably conforming approximately in convex configuration
to the inner concave surfaces thereof.
In practice these skeleton moulds or mats, after the matrices have been filled
with warm candy stock by the use of suitable apparatus, are placed upon cooling
tables or slabs, the exterior bottom portions of the moulds coming in contact with
the upper surface of the cooling slab which thus encloses the space beneath the
under side of the web which connects the upper edges of the matrices and the
exterior sides of the said matrices. The consequence is that the air heated by
the side walls of the matrices can only escape gradually and comparatively slowly
at the edges of the mat,- to be replaced by cooler air entering around said edges,
and as these mats are usually of several square feet in size, the circulation of air is
apt to be slow and imperfect. Hence the object of the second feature of my present
invention is to effect and maintain a rapid circulation or change of air around the
exterior side walls of the matrices; and this secondary feature of invention
consists essentially in a skeleton mould or mat formed with a series of matrices
having side walls of less thickness than the depth of the matrices and having the
web which connects the side walls of the matrices formed with openings for the
escape of the heated air from between the exterior side walls of the matrices.

page_text: By this means I insure a rapid displacement and change of air, the air naturally
rising and escaping from between the exterior side walls of the matrices as it
absorbs heat therefrom, while cooler air passes in at the edges of the mat.
As these moulds are properly made only from the purest and more expensive
grades of rubber I also effect a saving in the weight and cost of the mat as an
article of manufacture.
The practical advantages attained by the skeleton mould are numerous. A mould
of a given size or capacity can be made from one half to one third lighter in weight
than the old form of solid mould, thus materially decreasing the cost while
facilitating the handling and manipulation of the mat.
My improved construction also obviates all need of splitting the side walls of the
matrices transversely, since the side walls are thin and elastic and free to yield
laterally so that the candy castings are easily discharged from the mould when the
latter is bent slightly.
My invention also insures a more rapid and uniform cooling of the castings than
heretofore, the heat escaping readily through the side walls of the matrices and
being taken up and conveyed away by the air, which is free to circulate around
and between the exterior walls of the matrices.
It is to be observed in this connection, that I do not confine myself to a skeleton
mould in which the exterior surfaces of the side walls of the matrices conform in
general shape to the concave surfaces of the matrices, since the formation of any
space or spaces in or between the side walls of the matrices would come within the
spirit and intent of my invention, I having been the first to make the back of the
mould open, or with air spaces between the side walls of the matrices.
In the accompanying drawings for convenience of illustration I show a mat
formed with only a few matrices of different shapes, although in practice the mats
are larger and contain a greater number of moulds.
Fig. 1, is a top view of the mat or mould looking into the matrices;
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of the mat through the centres of one series of
matrices;
Fig. 3, is a view of the under side of the mat or mould;
Fig. 4, is an edge view of my improved skeleton mat or mould provided with a
reinforcing strip or backing;
Fig. 5, is a view of the under side of the mat shown in Fig. 4, with a portion of
the backing broken away.
Fig. 6, is a plan of a mat formed with vents;
Fig. 7, a sectional view thereof upon plane of line, a, Fig. 6, the mat being
shown as resting upon a cooling slab which is indicated in part only;
Fig. 8, is a view similar to Fig. 7, taken upon plane of line y, y, Fig. 6.
A mould or mat A, is formed of india-rubber or other suitable material or
composition, the matrices being formed by pressing the material while in a plastic
state over a series of suitable dies, and then permanently setting the material to
the desired consistency by vulcanizing it; or the mat of matrices may be formed
in any other suitable manner.
When the plastic material is applied to the dies, of which there is one for
each matrix u, it is forced closely around the dies in such manner as to leave
spaces b, b, between the exterior side walls of the matrices, the said side walls being
regulated in thickness according to the character of the material employed and with
relation to the character of the designs, work to be performed, &c.
The air spaces b, b, may be of greater or less extent or depth as may be required;
and though the side walls of the matrices are preferably made to conform in
general shape to the configuration of the designs impressed therein by the
dies, this is not indispensable since the air spaces b, b, may be made in the
form of grooves running longitudinally and transversely across the hack of
the mat or mould and between the several matrices; or the air spaces b, b, may
be formed or shaped in any other desired or convenient manner, the essential
feature being the formation of open air spaces in the back of the mat and

page_text: between the exterior side walls of the matrices, for the purpose of lightening
the mould, rendering it flexible, and facilitating the cooling of the castings.
The skeleton mat A, may be advantageously used alone, as shown in the first
three figures, the bottoms a', a', of the matrices resting against the table. In
some cases I sustain and protect the side walls of the matrices by a reinforcing
strip or backing C. which may consist of any elastic or semi-elastic material, or
even of a strip of canvas or cloth. Only the extreme lower exterior edges or
surfaces of the bottoms a', of the matrices are attached to the backing C, and
this is effected during vulcanization, or by resort to any other suitable means.
By the use of the backing C, the side walls of the matrices may be made
thinner than would otherwise be practicable so that the backing does not necessarily
add to the weight of the mat as a whole.
It will be noticed that by my improved construction the front edges of the
matrices a, a, are connected by a comparatively thin web or sheet a², a², of
elastic material, so that the skeleton moulds thus produced can be bent
backward until the exterior side walls of adjoining matrices nearly touch without
distorting the matrices materially themselves.
While the side walls a,, are thus connected preferably by a comparatively
thin web a³, at their upper edges, the shape and quantity of the material connecting
the matrices is of secondary importance and may be varied. A distinguishing
feature of my invention in this connection consists in forming the material ²,
hetween the matrices a, with perforations or openings a³, through which the air
can pass from the under side of the mould. These openings may be formed in auy
suitable or convenient manner, either before or after the vulcanization of the mould;
aud may be of any desired size and shape.
S, represents a slab or cooling table upon which the mat, after its matrices have
been charged with hot candy stock, is placed. It will be seen that when thus
placed the air spaces, b, are closed below by the upper surface of the slab S,
while they are open above to a greater or lesser extent, according to the size of the
apertures a, formed in the web of connecting material a². Under these conditions
the cooler air naturally flows in under the edges of the mat and around the
exterior side walls of the matrices, is heated by the latter, and rises through the
apertures a³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. A. permanent flexible mould for the manufacture of confectionery, formed
with suitable matrices and with air spaces between the exterior side walls of said
matrices for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.
Second. A permanent flexible mould for the manufacture of confectionery,
formed with matrices of suitable design in its face, with air spaces between the
exterior side walls of said matrices, and with openings in the connecting material
between the matrices, said openings extending into and forming continuations of
the said air spaces between the exterior side walls of the matrices substantially in
the manner and for the purpose described.
Dated this 25th day of February 1895.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.