Improvements in Favossing and Cutting to Size Sheeted Wax for Honey-comb Foundation.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Favossing and Cutting to Size Sheeted Wax for
Honey-comb Foundation.
I, JOHN HENRY HOWARD, Builder and Manufacturer of Bee Appliances, Holme,
Nr. Peterborough, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In making artificial comb-foundation, sheets of wax are passed between die-rolls,
to give to the wax sheets, a favosed or honey-combed surface; and the favosed sheets
are then cut to a required size. Great difficulty has been experienced in feeding the
wax sheets evenly and, continuously to the die-rolls, and in pulling the sheets off
evenly as they come from the die-rolls; and in keeping the honey-combed surfaces
of the sheets in perfect condition while pulling the sheets from the die-rolls, and in
cutting them.
The objects of my invention are,
1. to provide for feeding sheets of wax continuously and evenly to the die-rolls.
2. to remove from the sheet wax all particles adhering to its surfaces before the
wax passes between the die-rolls.
3. to take the wax from the die-rolls evenly and continuously without marring or
disturbing the honey-combed surfaces; and 4. to cut the favosed wax sheets to
required sizes accurately without injuring the comb-foundation.
In the drawing, Fig. 1., illustrates a longitudinal vertical section of a machine
embodying my invention; Fig. 2, is a plan of the same; Fig. 3, is an enlarged axial
section of the trimming knives and their heating pipe., and Fig. 4 is an enlarged
view of the cutting knife with its heating pipe in section.
In the different figures of the drawing like reference characters refer to like parts.
1. is the machine frame, 2. 2 are standards in which are journaled the axles 3, 3
of the die-rolls 4, 4a.
.
The die-rolls have their faces so formed as to make the surface of the wax sheets
passing between them favosed or honey-combed.
Immediately in front of the die-rolls is a guide consisting of the floor 5, having a
top 5a hinged thereto by means of hinges 6, 6u leaving a space, 56, between the
floor and the top through which sheets of wax may pass freely. The guide conducts
the wax sheets to the die-rolls.
To the machine frame is secured a brush, 7, with its bristle side up, and a brush, 8,
with its bristles projecting downwardly, is held above the lower brush by means of a
holder, 9, that is hinged to the top 5a of the guide, by means of the hinges 10, 10a.
The function of the brushes is to clean the surfaces of the wax sheets passing
between them, of all foreign particles before reaching the die-rolls.
The upper brush is hinged so that it may be thrown back out of the way in case
of accident, and to facilitate cleaning both brushes when desired.

page_text: Back of the die-rolls are two rollers, 11, 11a, having their axles, 12, 12a, journaled
upon the machine frame.
An endless carrier web or belt, 13, passes around the rollers, 11, and 11a, and is
driven through the roller 11. The endless carrier is made of canvas belting, rubber
belting, or any other suitable material.
The favosed sheet of wax is drawn away from the die-rolls by the endless carrier.
Standards, 14, 14a, at the back end of the machine support the cut-off device and
the hinged frame that carries a floating gripping roller, 15. Said cut-off device con-
sists of a knife, 16, that is fixed to the off-set pipe, 17, and rotates with said pipe
around its axis. For the purpose of giving strength and rigidity to the cut-off device,
the off-set pipe is provided with an axial brace, 18.
The off-set pipe to which the knife, 16, is attached, is connected with a steam or
hot water pipe, 19, for keeping the knife heated to a degree that will prevent wax
from adhering to it.
The knife rotates in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1). Upon the end of the
gripping roller, 15, is a gear, 20; a gear, 21, is fixed upon the pipe, 17, of the cut-off
knife; and an intermediate gear, 22, meshes with the gears, 20, and 21. The
roller, 15, is driven by frictional contact with the endless carrier 13, or by a wax
sheet that travels with the endless carrier between it and the gripping roller.
The cut-off knife is operated by the roller, 15, through the gears 20, 22 and 21.
Said roller, 15, and the gears 20 and 22 are carried by the hinged frame. The
hinged-frame consists of two side-bars, 22, 23a, connected at the free end by the
cross-bar or tie, 236. The ends of the pipe, 17, project through bearings in the ends
of the bars, 23, 23a, upon which the frame is adapted to swing.
The size of the roller, 15, controls the rapidity of the revolution of the cut-off
knife, 16, and so determines the length of foundation strips cut by the machine.
To adapt the machine to cutting foundation strips of various lengths, the gripping
roller, 15, is interchangeable with like rollers of other sizes. To make the rollers, 15,
interchangeable, the upper side of the boxes 24,, 24a are made removable.
In front of the hinged-frame are standards, 25, 25a, having journal boxes at their
upper ends in which turns the hollow shaft, 26. Fixed upon this hollow shaft, are
circular trimming knives, 27, 27a, whose edges rest on the endles web or carrier, and
are revolved by frictional contact with the carrier or the sheet wax, to trim the edges
of the sheet wax.
The hollow shaft has a steam or hot-water connection, 28, to keep the trimming
knives warm to facilitate their cutting and to prevent the sticking of wax thereto.
The machine is driven by power applied through the drive gear, 29, that is fixed
upon the shaft 3a of the die-roll 4a. The endless carrier is driven from the shaft, 3a,
through the gear 30 fixed upon said shaft, the intermediate gear 31 and the gear 32
that is fixed upon the shaft 12 of the roller or drum 11.
The intermediate gear, 31, is interposed between the gears 30 and 32 to cause the
endless carrier to travel in the direction of the turn of the die-rolls.
At the front of the frame is a tank or vat, 33, containing warm water in which a
roll of wax, 34, is immersed. The purpose of the warm water is to temper the wax
to be operated upon by the die-rolls. The wax sheets to be favosed are rolled upon
a roller, 35, or a suitable reel, having spindles, 35a, 35b, that drops into slots, 33a, 336,
formed in the sides of the vat to receive the spindles.
At the inner end of the tank is a roller, 36, and a like roller, 37, in front of the
brushes, that are idlers and serve to prevent the sheet of wax from dragging over the
edge of the tank and from unduly sagging.
The operation of my improvements will be understood readily from the description
given.
A roll of sheet wax is held in the vat containing warm water to temper the wax,
as described. The end of the roll is pulled out, the upper hinged side of the guide
is thrown back to allow the introduction of the end of the roll to the die-rolls. The
hinged side of the guide is then closed over the wax sheet and the cleaning brushes
placed in contact with the sheet of wax in front of the guide. The machine will

page_text: then be turned until the end of the wax sheet shall have passed far enough through
the die-rolls to be laid on the carrier belt and reach under the gripping roller. As
the machine is driven, the gripping of the die-rolls upon the sheet of wax will pull
it from the tank, and the favosed sheet will be gripped between the carrier belt
and the gripping roller, and pulled from the die-rolls. Each revolution of the cutting
knife cuts off a foundation sheet to a required size, while the width of the sheets will
be made even by the trimming knives.
The sheet of wax as drawn from the roll, 34, in the vat is shown as having a
smooth surface with uneven edges, as at 34a, before reaching the die-rolls. After
passing between the die-rolls, the surfaces are favosed, or honey-combed, as illustrated
at 346 and 34c; while from the trimming knives the edges are even, as illustrated
at 34 c.
My invention may take on various modifications in details of construction, and I
do not, therefore, limit myself to the construction and arrangement described.
2011
1 1007
Improvements in Favossing and Cutting to Size Sheeted Wax for
Honey Comb Foundation.
(A communication from E. B. Weed, U.S.A.)
JOHN HENRY HOWARD, Builder & Bee Appliance Manufacturer, Holme, Hunts,
near Peterborough, 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:—
In making artificial comb-foundation, sheets of wax are passed between die-rolls
to give to the wax sheets a favosed or honey-combed surface, & the favosed sheets
are then cut to a required size. Great difficulty has been experienced in feeding the
wax sheets evenly & continuously to the die-rolls, & in pulling the sheets off
evenly as they come from the die-rolls, & in keeping the honey combed surfaces of
the sheets in perfect condition while pulling the sheets from the die-rolls & in cutting
them.
The objects of my invention are, (1.) To provide for feeding sheets of wax con-
tinuously & evenly to the die-rolls. (2.) To remove from the sheet wax, all particles
adhering to its surfaces before the wax passes between the die-rolls; (3) to take the
wax from the die rolls evenly & continuously, without marring or disturbing the
honey-combed surfaces, & (4) to cut the favosed wax sheets to required sizes
accurately without injuring the comb-foundation.
My invention consists in the construction & combination of parts described
herein & defined in the claim. Reference is here made to the claim for a definition
of my invention.
DRAWINGS; AS SENT IN WITH THE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
In the drawing, Fig. 1, illustrates a longitudinal vertical section of a machine
embodying my invention;
Fig. 2, is a plan of the same;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged axial section of the trimming knives & their heating pipe ;
& Fig. 4. is an enlarged view of the cutting knife with its heating pipe in section.
In the different figures of the drawing like reference characters refer to like
parts.
1 is the machine frame, 2, 2a, are standards, in which are journaled the
axles 3, 3, of the die rolls 4, 4a. The die-rolls have their faces so formed as to make
the surface of the wax sheets passing between them favosed or honey-combed.

page_text: Immediately in front of the die-rolls is a guide consisting of the floor 5, having a
top 5a, hinged thereto, by means of hinges 6, 6a, leaving a space, 56, between the
floor & the top through which sheets of wax may pass freely-The guide conducts
the wax sheets to the die-rolls. To the machine frame is. secured a brush, 7,
with its bristle side up, & a brush, 8, with its bristles projecting downwardly, is held
above the lower brush by means of a holder, 9, that is hinged to the top 5a, of the
guide by means of the hinges 10, 10a. The function of the brushes is to clean the
surfaces of the wax sheets, passing between them & of all foreign particles before
reaching the die-rolls. The upper brush is hinged so that it may be thrown back
out of the way in case of accident, & to facillitate cleaning both brushes when
desired.
Back of the die-rollers are two rollers, 11, 11a, having their axles, 12, 12a
journaled up on the machine frame. An endless carrier, web or belt, 13, passes around
the rollers 11, & 11a & is driven through the roller 11.
The endless carrier is made of canvas belting, rubber belting, or any other suitable
material. The favosed sheet of wax is drawn away from the die-rolls by the endless
carrier.
Standards, 14, 14a, at the back end of the machine support the cut off device &
the hinged frame that, carries a floating gripping roller 15. Said cut off device
consists of a knife 16, that is fixed to the off set pipe 17, & rotates with said pipe
around its axis, for the purpose of giving strength & rigidity to the cut off device,
the off set pipe is provided with an axial brace, 18. The off set pipe to which the
knife 16 is attached is connected with a steam or hot water pipe, 19, for keeping the
knife heated to a degree that will prevent wax from adhering to it. The knife rotates
in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1). Upon the end of the gripping roller 15, is
a gear 20: a gear 21, is fixed upon the pipe, 17, of the cut off knife & an inter-
mediate gear 22, meshes with the gears 20, & 21. The roller 15, is driven by
frictional contact with the endless carrier 13, or by a wax sheet that travels with the
endless carrier, between it & the gripping roller. The cut-off knife is operated by
the roller 15, through the gears, 20, 22 & 21.
The
Said roller 15, & the gears 20 & 22, are carried, by the hinged frame.
hinged frame consists of two side bars 23, 23a connected at the free end by the cross
bar or tie 236. The ends of the pipe 17 project through bearings, in the ends of the
bars 23, 23a upon which pipe the frame is adapted to swing.
The size of the roller 15, controls the rapidity of revolution of the cut off knife 16,
& so determines the length of foundation strips cut by the machine. To adapt the
machine to cutting foundation strips of various lengths, the gripping roller 15, is
interchangeable with like rollers of other sizes. To make the rollers 15, interchange-
able the upper side of the boxes 24, 24a are made removeable.
In front of the hinged frame are standards, 25, 25a having journal boxes at their
upper ends in which turns the hollow shaft 26. Fixed upon this hollow shaft are
circular trimming knives 27, 27a, whose edges rest on the endless web or carrier, and
are revolved by frictional contact with the carrier or the sheet wax, to trim the
edges of the sheet wax. The hollow shaft has a steam or hot water connection 28,
to keep the trimming knives warm, to facilitate their cutting & to prevent the
sticking of wax thereto.
The machine is driven by power applied through the drive gear 29, that is fixed
upon the shaft 3a, of the die-roll 4a. The endless carrier is driven from the shaft 3a
through the gear 30 fixed upon the said shaft. The intermediate gear 31, & the
gear 32, that is fixed upon the shaft 12, of the roller or drum 11. The intermediate
gear 31, is interposed between the gears 30 & 32 to cause the endless carrier to
travel in the direction of the turn of the dié rolls.
At the front end of the frame is a.tank or vat 33, containing warm water in which
a roll of wax 34, is immersed. The purpose of the warm water is to temper the
wax to be operated upon by the die-rolls. The wax sheets to be favosed-are rolled
upon a roller 35, or a suitable reel, having spindles, 35a, 356, that drops into
slots, 33a, 336, formed in the sides of the vat to receive the spindles.

page_text: At the inner end of the tank is a roller 36, & a like roller 37, in front of the
brushes, that are idlers, & serve to prevent the sheet of wax from dragging over
the edge of the tank & from unduly sagging. The operation of my improvements
will be readily understood from the description here given. A roll of sheet wax is
held in the vat containing water to temper the wax as described. The end of the roll
is pulled out the upper hinged side of the guide is thrown back to allow the introduc-
tion of the end of the roll in the die-rolls. The hinged side of the guide is then closed
over the wax sheet & the cleaning brushes placed in contact with the sheet of wax
in front of the guide. The machine will then be turned until the end of the wax
sheet shall have passed far enough through the die rolls, to be laid
carrier belt & reach under the gripping roller. As the machine is driven the
gripping of the die rolls upon the sheet of wax will pull it through & from the tank &
the favosed sheet will be gripped between the carrier belt & the gripping roller &
pulled from the die-rolls. Each revolution of the cutting knife cuts off a founda-
tion sheet to a required size while the width of the sheets will be made even by the
trimming knives.
on the
The sheet of wax as drawn from the roll 34, in the vat is, shewn as having a smooth
surface with uneven edges as at 34a before reaching the die-rolls, after
passing the die rolls the surfaces are favosed or honey-combed as illustrated at 34b,
& 34c. While from the trimming knives the edges are even as illustrated at
34c.
My invention may take on various modifications in details of construction, & I
do not, therefore limit myself to the construction & arrangement described.
"Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is " :-
1. In a combination with the die-rolls of a comb foundation machine, a gripping
device consisting of rollers, an endless carrier that travels over rollers & a
roller above the endless carrier, between which roller & the endless carrier favosed
sheets of wax may be gripped & pulled from the die-rolls substantially as
described.
2. In combination with the die rolls of a comb-foundation machine a gripping
device consisting of an endless carrier & a floating gripping roller, between
which & the endless carrier favosed sheets of wax may be gripped by frictional
contact & pulled away from the die rolls substantially as described.
3. In combination with the die-rolls of a comb foundation machine rollers &
endless carrier, that is driven by the rollers, a frame hinged at one end, above
the endless carrier, & having a roller journaled at its free end substantially as
described.
4. In combination with the die-rolls of a comb foundation machine an endless
carrier, a gripping roller above the endless carrier, between which & the endless
carrier favosed sheets may be gripped & pulled from the die-rolls, & a knife
above the endless carrier adapted to cut the favosed sheets into comb foundation
of a required size, substantially as described.
5. In combination with the die-rolls of a comb-foundation machine an endless
carrier, & a roller in frictional contact therewith, between which & the endless
carrier, favosed sheets may be gripped & pulled from the die-rolls, a knife to cut
the favosed sheets into comb foundation of a required size & means for heating the
knife substantially as described.
6. In combination with the die rolls of a comb-foundation machine an endless
carrier with a roller above it to grip the favosed sheets & pull them away from the
dies, knives for trimming the edges of the favosed sheets, a knife to cut the favosed
sheet into comb-foundation of a required size & means for heating said knives,
substantially as described.
7. The combination, in a comb foundation machine, of die-rolls & a guide

page_text: leading to the die-rolls with an endless carrier, & gripping roller to 'take the
favosed sheets of wax from the die-rolls, substantially as described.
8. The combination, in a comb-foundation machine, of die-rolls, a guide to the
die-rolls & endless carrier & a roller to take the favosed sheets of wax from the
die rolls, & an automatically operated knife for cutting the favosed sheet into foundations
of uniforın size substantially as described.
9. The combination, in a comb-foundation machine, of die-rolls a guide leading to
the guide rolls a brush located before the die-rolls means for pulling the wax sheets
from the die-rolls, & a knife to cut the wax sheet to foundations of uniform sizes,
substantially as described.
A
1
1001