Improvements in Apparatus for Stamping Bars or Cakes of Soap and other Materials and Wrapping them in Paper Wrappers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL DI MULTICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stamping Bars or Cakes of Soap
and other Materials and Wrapping them in Paper Wrappers.
We, ALEXANDER COOK, of 165 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London,
and THOMAS DEWHIRST, of 31 Glinster Road, East Greenwich, in the County of
Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The apparatus is constructed in such manner that bars of soap are fed forwards
endwise and cut into lengths of the size of the cakes or tablets required. The
foremost length comes on to a plate by which it is lifted and brought between a
plunger and mould-the plunger advances and presses the length into the mould
and stamps and moulds it.
There are four such moulds formed equidistantly in a cylinder to which a step
by step rotating motion can be given. The bottom of each mould is movable and
connected by rods to the bottom of the mould which is on the opposite side of the
cylinder so that when one is pushed in the other is pushed out.
After the plunger has pressed a length of soap into one mould and the plunger
has been drawn back, a quarter turn is given to the cylinder-this brings another
mould into position for a length of soap to be pressed into it and so on and each
time a length of soap is pressed into a mould and the movable bottom of that
mould is thereby pressed inwards a compressed and stamped cake is ejected from
the mould on the opposite side of the cylinder by reason of the moveable bottom
of that mould being forced outwards. The moulded cake so ejected from the mould
is received onto a plate. A pair of fingers then take hold of the cake at its ends
and carry it forwards against the centre of paper wrapper which is then held
across the mouth of a recess in the circumference of a second cylinder and the
fingers continuing their movement carry the cake forward into the recess.
In this way three sides of the cake get surrounded by the wrapper whilst portions
of the wrapper on the two opposite sides of the cake project outwards radially
from the cylinder.
A roller is then caused to move forward up to the circumference of the cylinder
near to one side of the recess, then to move a distance around the cylinder passing
over the recess and bending down one of the projecting side portions of the
Another roller is also brought up
wrapper on to the cake of soap in the recess.
to the circumference of the cylinder near to the other side of the recess and when
the cylinder makes its next quarter turn the other projecting side portion of the
wrapper is carried past this roller and by it pressed down over the cake of soap.
The portions of the wrapper which are so bent down over the soap are made long
enough to overlap and to adhere to one another by a line of paste previously
applied to them. In this way the wrapper is formed into a rectangular tube of
greater length than the soap itself.
When the cylinder has made a quarter turn and has been brought to rest the
outer sides of the end portions of the wrapper which extend beyond the ends of
the cake of soap are pressed inwards and made to fit closely against the ends of the
cake. This is done by two plates moved inwards towards the axis of the cylinder
and pressed towards the two ends of the cake. As the outer side of the projecting
ends of the tubular wrapper are pressed inwards the two sides of the ends of the
tube become doubled into triangular form. After the plates have been pressed

page_text: towards the ends of the cake they are made to expand sidewise and moved away
from the ends, this movement completes the creasing of the two doubled over sides
of the ends of the tubular wrapper. The cylinder now has another quarter turn
given to it and when again brought to rest two flaps hinged to the opposite sides of
the recess at each end are by the action of fingers rotating in opposite directions
turned inwards against these triangular sides an made to bend them inwards
against the ends of the cakes of soap-the flaps then spring back or are turned
back by the action of the rotating fingers leaving now only a triangular folded
portion projecting at the bottom of the recess from each end of the wrapper.
When the cylinder has had another quarter turn given to it a flap hinged to the
bottom of each end of the recess is made to turn outwards and bend these triangular
folded portions against the ends of the cake and the cake now enclosed in its wrapper
is ejected from the recess. The flaps hinged to the bottom of the recess may be
turned outwards by a continuation of a slide which carries the flaps for making
the first inward bends into the ends of the tubular wrapper. The portions of the
wrapper which are folded one over the other adhere together by reason of paste
applied to the wrappers at the proper parts as they are brought into position for
the cakes of soap to be wrapped up in them.
The paper wrappers may be in one continuous length and drawn off from a
roll, lines of perforations being formed across the paper band at distances apart
equal to the width of wrapper required.
The paper when led off from the roll may be passed around a roller and on to
the cylinder having paste applied to it wherever required as it passes around this
roller rows of short pins projecting from the cylinder pass through the paper one
row on one side of the line of perforations in the paper and the other along- the
other side of the row of perforations-or unperforated paper might be used and
the perforations be formed through it by the rows of pins. The paper held in
this way to the cylinder is carried around with it and laid across the mouth of one
of the recesses in it. When the recess has been brought into position for a cake
of soap to be carried forward into it the soap pressed against the paper causes it
to be torn away from the pins and severed from the paper coming from the roll.
The two cylinders may have their step by step turning movements given to
them by a rocking lever and ratchet arrangement or in other suitable ways and a
flat bar pressed by a spring against a rectangular block on the axis of one or both
of the cylinders may be used to ensure that exactly a quarter turn shall be given
to the cylinders at each movement.
Dated this 18th day of March 1895.
ALEXANDER COOK.
THOMAS DEWHIRST.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stamping Bars or Cakes of Soap
and other Materials and Wrapping them in Paper Wrappers.
We, ALEXANDER COOK, of 165 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London,
and THOMAS DEWHIRST, of 31 Glinster Road, East Greenwich, in the County of
Kent, 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 :-
The apparatus is constructed in such manner that bars of soap cut into lengths
of the size of the cakes or tablets required are placed either by hand or auto-
matically on to a plate by which it is lifted and brought between a plunger and
mould; the plunger advances and presses the length into the mould and stamps
and moulds it.

page_text: There are four such moulds formed equidistantly in a cylinder to which a step
by step rotating motion can be given. The bottom of each mould is movable and
connected by rods to the bottom of the mould which is on the opposite side of the
cylinder so that when one is pushed in the other is pushed out.
After the plunger has pressed a length of soap into one mould and the plunger
has been drawn back, a quarter turn is given to the cylinder-this brings another
mould into position for a length of soap to be pressed into it and so on and each
time a length of soap is pressed into a mould and the moveable bottom of that
mould is thereby pressed inwards a compressed and stamped cake is ejected from
the mould on the opposite side of the cylinder by reason of the moveable bottom
of that mould being forced outwards. The moulded cake so ejected from the mould
is received onto a plate. A pair of fingers or palms then take hold of the cake
at its ends and carry it forwards against the centre of a paper wrapper which is
then held across the mouth of a recess in the circumference of a second cylinder
and the fingers continuing their movement carry the cake forward into the recess.
In this way three sides of the cake get surrounded by the wrapper whilst
portions of the wrapper on the two opposite sides of the cake project outwards
radially from the cylinder.
A roller is then caused to move forward up to the circumference of the cylinder
near to one side of the recess, then to move a distance around the cylinder passing
over the recess and bending down one of the projecting side portions of the
wrapper on to the cake of soap in the recess. Another roller is also brought up
to the circumference of the cylinder near to the other side of the recess and when
the cylinder makes its next quarter turn the other projecting side portion of the
wrapper is carried past this roller and by it pressed down over the cake of
soap. The portions of the wrapper which are so bent down over the soap are
made long enough to overlap and to adhere to one another by a line of paste
previously applied to them. In this way the wrapper is formed into a rectangular
tube of greater length than the soap itself.
When the cylinder has made a quarter turn and has been brought to rest the
outer sides of the end portions of the wrapper which extend beyond the ends of
the cake of soap are pressed inwards and made to fit closely against the ends of
the cake. This is done by two plates moved inwards towards the axis of the
cylinder and pressed towards the two ends of the cake. As the outer side of the
projecting ends of the tubular wrapper are pressed inwards the two sides of the ends
of the tube become doubled into triangular form. The cylinder now has another
quarter turn given to it and when again brought to rest two flaps hinged to the
opposite sides of the recess at each end are by the action of fingers rotating in
opposite directions turned inwards against these triangular sides and made to bend
them inwards against the ends of the cakes of soap-the flaps then spring back or
are turned back by the action of the rotating fingers leaving now only a triangular
folded portion projecting at the bottom of the recess from each end of the wrapper.
When the cylinder has had another quarter turn given to it a flap hinged to the
bottom of each end of the recess is made to turn outwards and bend these
triangular folded portions against the ends of the cake and the cake now enclosed
in its wrapper is ejected from the recess. The flaps hinged to the bottom of the
recess may be turned outwards by a continuation of a slide which carries the flaps
for making the first inward bends into the ends of the tubular wrapper.
portions of the wrapper which are folded one over the other adhere together by
reason of paste applied to the wrappers at the proper parts as they are brought into
position for the cakes of soap to be wrapped up in them.
The
The paper wrappers may be in one continuous length and drawn off from a
roll, lines of perforations being formed across the paper band at distances apart
equal to the width of wrapper required.
The paper when led off from the roll may be passed around a roller and on to
the cylinder having paste applied to it wherever required as it passes around this
roller—rows of short pins projecting from the cylinder pass through the paper one

page_text: De torn away from the pins anu
paper o
The two cylinders may have their step by step turning movements given to them
by a rocking lever and ratchet arrangement or in other suitable ways and a flat
bar pressed by a spring against a rectangular block on the axis of one or both of
the cylinders may be used to ensure that exactly a quarter turn shall be given to
the cylinders at each movement.
In order that our said invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the drawings annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine in accordance with our invention.
Figure 2 is a plan, and Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same.
Figure 4 shows the mechanism for rotating and locking the two cylinders.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show full size the folding or wrapping appliances. Figure 5
is a plan, Figure 6 is a side view, and Figure 7 is an end view.
1 is the main shaft from which all the other parts of the machine receive their
movements; it has upon it cams 2, 3 and 4, and a crank 5. 6 is a lever, its
iulcrum is at 6, in its lower end is a slot 6" in which travels a die carried upon the
crank. The lever 6 imparts a reciprocating movement to a slide 7 the head 7* of
which serves as a pusher or plunger, it thrusts the soap into the mould and exerts
such pressure as may be needful to stamp it. 8 is a support upon which rectangular
bars of soap suitable to be operated on are placed in succession by hand or
otherwise; 8ª is the bar or piece so placed. 9 is a cylinder in which are four
moulding cavities 9ª. The moulding cavities are approximately of rectangular
form and of a size to receive the bar or piece to be operated on. The bottom of
the mould carries the device which is to be stamped on one side of the bar or piece
whilst the pusher carries the device which is to be stamped on the other side. The
mould as shown in the drawings is also adapted to nick the bar or piece in the
middle to indicate where it may be divided prior to use and to facilitate the
division.
At each advance of the plunger 7ª it drives a piece of soap into one or other of
the cavities and stamps the devices upon it.
The moulding cavities have moveable bottoms 9" which are connected in pairs
cach with that on the opposite side of the cylinder by rods 9° so that the entrance
of the piece into one cavity causes another piece to be ejected from the cavity on
the other side of the cylinder.
When the plunger 7* advances and drives forward the piece in front of it the
support 8 descends out of the way; its stem 8ª which imparts this movement can
slide vertically in guides; it has a pin upon it which lies in a cam groove 11
formed in a piece fixed upon the link 11. The link connects the lever 6 with the
rocking arm 12".
In the intervals between the successive advances of the pusher the barrel 9 is
caused to make a quarter revolution by means hereinafter described.
As each piece is ejected from the moulding cavity it is received upon a supporting
surface 10 from which it is taken and held by two palms 13, 13 and by these it is
carried forward for the paper to be wrapped around it. The palms 13 are carried
by levers turning on pins 13" fixed on slides moveable horizontally along guides 13
upon the frame. The palms receive their movement from arms 14, 14 fixed upon a
shaft 14. Upon one of the arms 14 there is a horn 14 and this is connected by a
link 14° to a lever 14ª which has its fulcrum on the frame at 14°; at its lower end

page_text: is a bowl 14 which is contained in the cam groove 2. Thus the arms 14 are caused
to move at the proper times; there are holes in these arms at their upper ends,
and studs 13° on the levers which carry the palms 13 are held loosely in these holes.
The arrangement is such that the first part of the forward movement of the
arms 14 causes the palms to turn on the pins 13ª and so to take hold of the piece of
soap which is at this instant expelled from the mould; then as the forward
movement of the arms 14 continues the slides advance and the piece between the
palms is carried to the wrapping mechanism. In the return movement of the
arms 14 the piece of soap is first released by the palms turning about the pins 13ª
and the slides are then drawn back. 13 13 are stops which limit the movement of
the studs around the pins 13ª. 15 is the wrapping cylinder; four sets of wrapping
instruments are fixed upon and form part of it. One of the wrapping instruments
is shown by the Figures 5, 6 and 7. The plate 15ª is fixed by screws to the central
block or core of the cylinder, and at right angles to this plate are two other
plates 15 and 15°. These three plates form a rectangular trough and this is the
recess within which the wrapping operations are performed; it is open in front
and at the ends and it corresponds in size with the pieces or bars which have to be
enclosed in paper. The plate 15 is fixed to the plate 15ª but 15 is hinged to 15*
and can yield slightly to accommodate slight variations in the sizes of the pieces or
bars. 15 15 are enil flaps jointed to the plate 15 and 15° 15° are end flapson the
plates 15 and 15. There are light knife blade springs at the joints which are
not shown in the drawing and these hold the parts in the positions in which they
are placed. 15' 15' are curved arms on the flaps by means of which the flaps are
caused to close when required as will be presently described. When the wrapping
instrument is in the first or receiving position the palms 13 carry the piece of soap
up to and against the surface of the plate 15ª and there they release it leaving it
lying on the surface 15°. As the piece or bar is thus carried forward, it meets the
wrapping paper. The paper in which the soap is to be enclosed and which has
already had paste printed or dabbed upon it by appropriate instruments at the
parts where it is required is passed up from below through the guide 16. The
paper which is continuous is of suitable width and preferably is partially divided
transversely into suitable lengths, is led up in contact with the cylinder 15 and
there are pins on the cylinder which catch the ends of each wrapper as it passes.
A pad 17 carried by arms on an axis 18 dabs the paper on to the pins. The pad
is thrust forward at the proper time by a spring pusher 19 which connects it with
the horn 14 on the arm 14. The piece of soap brought forward by the palms 13
comes against the paper which is thus held distended in front of the folding recess
and the paper yields tearing away from the pins. In entering between the
plates 15 and 15 the paper gets lapped around the soap on three sides. The
folding in and closing the paper around the soap on the fourth side is effected by
the rollers 19 and 21 the former descending from above and the latter rising from
below.
The roller 19 is carried by an arm which turns freely on the axis of the
cylinder 9 and is connected by a link 22 with a cranked lever 23 having its
fulcrum at 23 and carying a bowl 23 which runs in the groove of the cam 3.
The roller 21 is carried by two arms 21° which at their lower ends are jointed to
two other arms 21 which are free to turn about the axis 14. The arms 21° are
also connected by a cross bar 21° and this passes through a slot in the lever 24.
The lever 24 is fulcrumed at 24ª and connected by a link 25 with a lever 26
rocking about the centre 26* and at its lower end carrying a bowl 26' which runs
in the cam course 4. The roller 21 rises first and lays over the lower flap of the
paper wrapper, whilst it retains it the roller 19 descends and turns down the upper
flap; then both rollers return. When the paper is thus wrapped around the piece
of soap the cylinder makes a quarter turn and brings the piece to the second or
uppermost station. At 20 there is a jockey roller riding on the cylinder 15, as the
cylinder revolves the newly folded flaps pass beneath it and by the pressure they
receive the adhesion of the one to the other and of both to the soap is rendered

page_text: more secure.
When the piece or bar of soap has been carried to the second or
upper station, the plates or plungers 27 are brought down on the paper projecting
beyond the ends of the bar or piece; they close in the paper against the end
flaps 15 of the folding apparatus.
27 is a spring plunger wbich descends with the plungers 27, it presses upon
the piece or bar of soap with a yielding pressure and holds it firmly in place.
The plungers 27 are fixed to a cross head 28 which is raised and lowered by
levers 28ª. The lever 28" has its fulcrum at 28b and it receives motion from a
crank 29 which at every action makes a complete revolution. A pinion in
connection with the crank engages with an intermediate wheel 31 which in turn
33 is a
gears with a wheel on the same axis with the three toothed ratchet 32.
pawl or driver carried by an arm movable around the axis of the ratchet. The
arm is connected by a link 34 with the lever arm 35 on the axis 12 which receives
anotion by means already described.
The next motion of the cylinder 15 brings the piece of soap to the third station
where the closing of the wrapper is proceeded with.
In order that the bottom corners of the packet may be sharply formed, the
needles 36 are provided; they are made to slide forward through guides 37, they
advance along the surfaces of the flaps 15ª which are slightly notched at their
extremities to guide the needles to their places. Studs 36 on the needles enter
slots in the slides 38, and the slides are moved to and fro along a guide course 39,
by slotted arms 41° on axes 41. The axes 41 have bevelled pinions 41 upon them
these gear with other bevelled pinions on a cross shaft 42 which has upon it a
slotted arm 42ª. 43 is a stud entering the slot in the arm, it is carried by a
lever 43, which has its fulcrum at 43b and is connected with the crosshead 28, by
a link 44.
The lever 43 also carries a counterweight 43°.
As soon as the needles 36 have entered and whilst they are holding in place the
folds already formed by the plungers 27, the flaps 15 of the folding apparatus
close and in doing so produce the second or mitre folds. The requisite movement
is given to the side flaps 15 by rollers at the ends of the arms or fingers 45. The
two arms which form a pair are on separate but concentric axes, one is fast on the
same axis with the bevelled pinion 46, and the other is upon a sleeve 47 surrounding
the axis.
The sleeve carries a bevelled pinion 48 and both pinions 46 and 48, engage with
a wheel 49. On the same axis with the wheel 49 there is another bevelled wheel,
and this gears with a wheel 51, on the shaft 32" on which is the ratchet 32, and
this as already described, makes one third of a revolution at each movement.
The gearing is such that the arms or fingers 45, in each movement, complete a
revolution, and in doing so each finger closes one of the flaps 15 by pressing
against the back of the flap and then proceeds to open the other, by operating
against the horn 15. This is done whilst the needles 36 are forward, and when
they have been withdrawn, the cylinder again makes a quarter of a revolution,
bringing the parts to the fourth station into position for making the final fold
which closes the packet. The end flaps 15d are here caused to close downwards
and press against the ends of the packet. Movement is imparted to the end
flaps 15d by the pushers 52, which are jointed to the cross head 28. In the descent
of the pushers, the flaps are closed, and the packet is completed. The ascent of
the pushers again opens the flaps by operating against the horns at their backs.
The cylinder 15 now completes its revolution, and as it does so the finished
packet falls away, and is delivered out of the machine. There are light guards of
wire which prevent the packets escaping from the folding instruments at too early
period.
a
The way in which the cylinders 9 and 15, are controlled still remains to
be described. On the rock shaft 12, there is a lever 52, with one end of which
the claw 53 is connected, whilst the other end actuates a pusher 54. These
operate upon pins 55 at the ends of the cylinders; each cylinder being furnished

page_text: with four pins which are engaged in succession. In connection with each cylinder
also there is a star wheel 56, with four rays, and a surface 57, is pressed up to the
star wheel by a stem 57 which is moveable vertically in guides, and is forced
upwards by a strong spring. 57b is a rim surrounding the surface 57 to retain oil
thereon. This arrangement ensures the cylinders coming truly to the positions.
required, and not moving until the parts 53 and 54 again operate.
At 58 there is another similar locking arrangement on the axis 32", but this is
adapted to permit steps, each of one third of a revolution.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A machine substantially as described for stamping and wrapping soap and
similar materials, such machine having a stamping cylinder with a series of moulds
around it a plunger, which presses the material into the moulds, a wrapping
cylinder with recesses to receive the material, instruments for conveying the
material from cylinder to cylinder, and for presenting the wrappers in front of the
recesses as the material enters them, and also instruments in connection with.
the folding recesses by which the sides of the wrapper are brought together, and
the ends are folded.
2. The stamping mechanism substantially as described, consisting of a cylinder
with moulding recesses around it, a plunger thrusting the material into the
recesses, and stamping or moulding it as required, a support on which the material
is presented to the plunger, and which then moves out of the way and moveable.
bottoms to the moulding recesses, each connected with that diametrically opposite.
and so arranged that the entrance of a piece into one moulding cavity, causes a
piece to be ejected from a cavity on the opposite side of the moulding or stamping
cylinder.
3. The wrapping mechanism substantially as described, consisting of a cylinder
with several wrapping recesses arranged around it and sets of folding flaps in
connection with these recesses, and means for rotating the cylinder step by step, so.
that the folding recesses are brought in succession to several stations, at the first of
which the material with the wrapping paper is placed in the recess and the sides of
the wrapper are brought together, at the second the ends of the wrapper are
pressed down, at the third side flaps are turned and at the fourth the folding of:
the packet is completed.
Dated the fith day of January 1898.
ALEXANDER COOK.
THOMAS DEWHIRST..