IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING SOFT SOAPS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN PROUDFOOT HUMBLE, of Birstall, near Leeds, in the County of York,
Soap Manufacturer, trading under the style of The Oakwell Soap Company, do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING SOFT
SOAPS to be as follows:-
A shell with a moveable bottom is filled with soft soap. A mould is bolted onto
the mouth of the shell, and a screw press is applied to the moveable bottom which
forces the soap through the mould to the dimensions required. The soap runs into
a sheet of paper as it leaves the mould, and is taken to a cutting table and the
soap, and paper are cut as required.
The soap is now easily handled, and is packed into paper, and afterwards
repacked, in tin foil, tin foil paper a cardboard box, or shell.

page_text: I, JOHN PROUDFOOT HUMBLE of Birstall, near Leeds, in the County of York,
Soap Manufacturer trading under the style of the Oakwell Soap Company do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING SOFT
SOAPS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement.
This Invention has for its object "Improvements in Packing Soft Soaps" and
relates to a process of packing the same whereby the soap can be more readily
handled, or stored for sale.
In carrying out my Invention I arrange a cylinder, case, or shell, with a
moveable end or bottom, which can be filled with soft soap. A mould is fitted
or bolted over the mouth of the cylinder, case, or shell, and a screw press is applied
to the moveable bottom or end which forces the soap from the mould to the
dimensions required.
The soap runs out on to a sheet of paper as it leaves the mould and is taken to
a cutting table and the soap and paper are together cut as required. The soap
is now easily handled and can be packed into paper and afterwards re-packed in
tin foil, tin-foil paper, a cardboard box or shell or in other suitable material.
And in order that my Invention can be understood and carried into practical
effect, I have caused to be annexed to this Specification the accompanying Sheets
of Drawings illustrative of the method of packing soft soaps.
The machinery herein shewn, though not claimed, is shewn as advantageous in
the carrying out of my process.
Sheet I Fig. 1 shews a block of soap with its paper on which it is cut wrapped
round it. Fig. shews a sectional elevation of the cylinder, shell or case. Fig. 3
a front view of the same. Fig. 4 a front plan view.
Sheet II Fig. 5 shews an elevation of a screw press for operating the mould.
Fig. 6 a plan of same.
Sheet III Fig. 7 shews a front elevation of a knife-frame for cutting the soap
and paper together. Fig. 8 an end elevation of same. Fig. 9 a plan of same.
Fig. 10 an enlarged sectional elevation through the knife-frame.
Referring to these Figures on Sbeet I A shews a cylinder, case, or shell which
may be of suitable section or shape, B a bottom or end capable of longitudinal
movement and packed like a piston: C is the fixed end of the cylinder, case, or
shell having an opening D therein, at the lower part of this opening is shewn a
bevelled piece E forming the lower mouth of the die or mould. F is a slide having
a bevelled lower edge and moving up and down in front of the orifice D, it carries
a knife G adjustable in its height according to the thickness of the blocks of soap
required. This slide F can be raised and lowered to cut off the stream of soap by
means of a lever and slot H or by other suitable arrangement.
The knife G as shewn has been lowered and now closes the orifice D, when
raised its edge in conjunction with the bevelled piece E fixed to the cylinder, case,
or shell forms a die or mould through which the stream of soap issues when the
cylinder, case, or shell is placed upon the table 1 of the press Figs. 5 and 6
Sheet II and the screw J driven by the pulleys K K mounted on a screwed
bush L operates to force in the moveable end or bottom B.
When the stream of soap received on a sheet of paper which slides, with the
soap, down the inclined glass or smooth table M (Sheet II Figs. 5 and 6) is of
sufficient length the slide F is lowered and its knife G cuts off the stream to the
proper length and at the same time closes the orifice D in the cylinder box or
case A. The stream of soap now lying on the table M on its paper base must at

page_text: this point be cut and for this purpose I prefer to arrange my cutting apparatus as
on Sheet III, 7 to 10.
I arrange a table N on which the sheet of paper carrying the soap is laid: O is
a frame carrying a series of knives P P P and moving on a spindle or pivot Q.
These knives are preferably formed of a steel or like blade having pins or needle
points cut in its edge and placed very close to each other. The adjusting screws
shewn are used to tighten the knives as is usual in apparatus using flexible knives
or cutting wires.
On laying the paper carrying the soap on the table N the knife frame O is
lowered or brought down as shewn in Fig. 7. This causes the knife to cut the
soap and perforate the paper in such a manner as to divide it to the exact breadth
of the required block of soap, the close proximity of the needle points on the
knives really forming a cutting edge and so dividing the paper. Insertions are
made in the table for allowing the knives to enter after dividing the soap and
paper.
The sheet of paper is of course wider than the stream of soap cast on it and
when divided the ends thus left or formed are folded over the ends of the block of
soap, as in Fig. 1.
The slabs or blocks of soap are now placed on a sheet of paper sufficiently large
to cover it in every way and repacked in tin-foil, tinfoil paper, a cardboard box or
shell or in other suitable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
The process of packing soft soaps consisting in forcing the soap through a mould
on to paper sheets, cutting the soap and paper together into slabs or blocks in such
manner as to leave ends of the paper to fold over the ends of the slab or block of
soap, the same being capable of again being packed in paper, tin-foil, tin-foil paper,
cardboard, or the like, substantially as described.