Improvements in Machines for Moulding Wax-coated Candles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
Improvements in Machines for Moulding Wax-coated Candles.
I, LOUIS JEAN BAPTISTE FOURNIER, of 44 Boulevard Longchamp, Marseilles,
France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in machines for moulding wax-coated
candles, and is designed to provide means whereby such candles can be moulded
mechanically, and in a perfectly regular manner.
The manufacture of wax-coated candles, that is to say candles composed of a
thin envelope or coating of fine quality stearine, and of a core in a material of an
inferior quality, has long been known, but notwithstanding the great advantages
offered by this manufacture, the coated candle has not, heretofore, been produced
in a rapid manner owing to the difficulty of obtaining an accurate and regular
product economically.
The principal process, heretofore employed, consisted in filling the moulds with
the material to form the envelope or coating, and, after a certain time, inverting the
moulds so as to cause the material still remaining liquid in the centre of them,
to run out. The fat acid to form the core was then run into the hollow
thus left.
It will be readily understood that this process could not but give a defective
product, and one of variable composition, on account of the inequality of thickness
of the envelope or coating obtained by means of the partial cooling of the first
running in.
When
Now, according to my invention, the moulds are provided with tubular pusher-
mandrels arranged concentrically therein, and of an external diameter less than
the internal diameter of the moulds, an annular space being left between the
pushers and the moulds corresponding to the thickness of the envelope or coating
to be obtained. Into this space, the material, to form the coating, is run.
the envelope or coating has set or hardened, the pusher-mandrels are caused to
descend till their upper ends, which are provided with plugs suitably recessed to
form or mould the tip or point of the candle, remain at the bottom of the moulds.
The material, or fat acid, for the core of the candle is then run in, and as soon as
it has hardened the pusher-mandrels are caused to ascend and push the candles out
of the moulds.
These pusher-mandrels are secured upon vertical rods arranged on suitable
tables or plates which, in turn, are carried by vertical spindles working in guides
and caused to rise and fall at the proper times by the combined actions of weights,
secured at their lower ends, and of a cylindrical edge cam acting against rollors
on the said spindles, and which cam is mounted on a toothed ring or crown
actuated by a pinion, or otherwise.
The rods carrying the pusher-mandrels have axial and lateral perforations for
the passage of the wicks, and are surrounded by spiral springs which maintain a
pressure on the said wicks and keep them stretched during the descent of the
pusher-mandrels. The wicks pass up through the hollow pusher-mandrels and
through central perforations in their plugs.
The descent of the pusher-mandrels can be regulated, as required, by adjustable

page_text: stops, which may conveniently consist of a collar provided with a tightening screw
and secured on the spindles.
The moulds are arranged in sets or groups disposed around the cylindrical cam,
and each set or group is surrounded with a box or casing for hot and cold water;
rests being provided at the upper part of the boxes to receive the candles when
ejected from the moulds and prior to the cutting of the wicks.
Dated thin. 7th Jan of Anuit 100%
improvements in machines for Moulding wax-coated Candies:
I, LOUIS JEAN BAPTISTE FOURNIER, of 44 Boulevard Longchamp, Marseilles,
France, 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, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
My invention relates to improvements in machines for moulding wax-coated
candles, and is designed to provide means whereby such candles can be moulded
mechanically and in a perfectly regular manner.
The manufacture of wax-coated candles, that is to say candles composed of an
envelope or coating of fine quality stearine, and of a core in material of an
inferior quality, has long been known, but, notwithstanding the great advantages
they offer, coated candles have not, heretofore, been produced in a rapid manner,
owing to the difficulty of obtaining an accurate and regular product economically.
The principle process heretofore employed was as follows:-
The moulds were filled with a material intended to form an envelope or coating,
and, after a certain time, the machine was inverted so as to cause the material in
the centre of the mould, which still remained liquid, to run out. After this the fat
acid constituting the core was run into the hollow thus left.
It will be readily understood that a process of manufacture carried out upon
these lines could not but give a defective product, and one of very variable
composition, on account of the inequality of thickness of the envelope or coating
obtained by means of the partial cooling of the first running-in.
Now, according to my invention, the envelope or coating is run upon a metallic
spindle or mandrel, which is withdrawn upon the cooling taking place, and leaves
a perfectly regular hollow for the running-in of the core.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood, I will proceed
to describe the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which :-
Fig. 1 is a general view, in vertical axial section, showing the arrangement of
my improved candle-making machine, and the outline of the cam employed.
Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are vertical axial sections, to a larger scale, of one of the
moulds, and of its pusher-mandrel, in the positions the latter would occupy
respectively during the running in of the envelope or coating, the running-in of the
central core of the candle, and after the ejection of the candle from the mould.
Within each of the moulds 1, and concentrically therewith, the pusher mandrel 2
is capable of rising and descending, This latter consists of a metallic tube having
an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the mould by an amount
equal to twice the thickness to be given to the envelope or coating of the candle,

page_text: so that there remains between the wall of the mandrel' 2, and that of the mould 1,
an annular space of uniform width and exactly equal to the thickness of the
envelope or coating.
The upper part of the pusher mandrel 2 is closed by a metallic plug 3 (Figs. 2
and 3) presenting in section the form of the tip or point of the candle, and having
an axial perforation 4, for allowing the free passage of the wick. The pusher
mandrel 2 is secured, at its lower end, upon a rod 5, which has a perforation 6
(Fig. 2) for the passage of the wick. This latter is clipped between the said rod
and the spiral spring 7, with just sufficient pressure to compel it to remain stretched
during the descending movement of the pusher mandrel 2.
The working of this arrangement is as follows:-
The pusher-mandrel 2, being placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, the running-in
or filling with stearine, of the anualar space between the mould 1 and the
mandrel 2, is effected. On the stearine commencing to set, the mandrel is quickly
drawn down to its lowest extent into the position shown in Fig. 3. It is then
core,. and the
placed so as to permit the running in of the fat-acid for the central
formation of the tip or point of the candle which is moulded in the hollow of
the plug 3.
This operation being finished, and the candle having completely cooled and set,
it is then ejected from the mould by the pusher-mandrel 2 which ascends into the
position shown in Figs. 4. The candles 8, 8, then become placed and are held,
as shown on the left and in the middle of Fig. 1, in the manner explained
further on.
The necessary ascending and descending movements are imparted mechanically
to the mandrels 2, as hereinafter indicated with reference to Fig. 1 of the
drawings.
The pusher mandrels 2 are arranged vertically in groups of 24, upon horizontal
plates 9 which are carried by vertical rods 10, 10, suitably guided in the frame of
the machine, and having, at their lower parts, weights 11, 11, which tend constantly
to bring them back to the lowest limit of their travel, in which position they
are stopped and held by collars 12, 12, furnished with pressure screws, adjustable
upon each rod 10.
The rods 10 are all arranged in a circle concentrically with a toothed ring or
crown 13 which is caused to rotate continuously in the direction of the arrow.
(Fig. 1) by means of a pinion, or other suitable device. This toothed -ring or
crown 13 carries a cylindrical cam 14 having two inclined surfaces 15 and 16, and
a horizontal surface 17. Said cam in rotating engages successively under the
friction rollers 18 which are carried by each of the rods 10. When one of these
friction rollers ascends the inclined surface 15, the corresponding rod 10 is gradually
raised, and remains at the upper end of its travel the whole time that its friction
roller is rolling upon the horizontal surface 17. As soon, however, as this roller
descends the inclined surface 16, the rod 10 descends under the influence of the
weight 11. Each group of pusher-mandrels 2 follows the movement of the rod 10
to which it is connected, and the surfaces of the cam 14 are so determined that the
said pusher mandrels 2 of one group shall be raised, or lowered, simultaneously in
their respective moulds 1, 1, at the required moment, to the desired extent, and
for a time sufficient to permit the three successive operations, above described,
of running in of the envelope or coating; of running in of the central core;
and of driving the hardened candle out of the mould, to be effected.
The length of travel of the rods 10, and hence of that of the candles manufactured
by this machine, may be varied, as desired, by fixing the collars 12 higher up, or
lower down, on the said rods 10.
The boxes 19, 19, which surround each group of moulds, are filled alternately
with hot-water during the running-in, and with cold water after the running-in, so
as to facilitate the moulding and hasten the cooling of the stearine.
The devices 20, 20, which are shown at Fig. 1, at the upper part of the
machine, are the clips or rocking rest-pieces which are operated by means of

page_text: lovers 21, and hold the candles 8, 8, after they leave the moulds, and while the
workman cuts the wicks, and removes them for packing or bundling.
The arrangements previously described for producing (a) the raising of the
pusher-mandrels 2, 2, viz.: the toothed ring or crown 13 with rotating cam 14;
(b) the alternate heating and cooling of the moulds, viz.: the hot and cold water
boxes 19; and (c) the supporting of the candles after removal from the
moulds, viz. the rocking rest pieces 20, form no part of this invention, they
being covered by my prior Patent, No. 22,378 the essential feature of this
invention being the pusher mandrels arranged concentrically with the moulds
and being of smaller exterior diameter than the interior diameter of such moulds.
These pusher-mandrels may, however, be employed in all kinds of candle-
making machines in which the candles are ejected from the moulds by pushers,
but I now desire to reserve to myself the exclusive right to the employment of
the same for the purpose of manufacturing wax-coated candles.
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:
1. In machines for moulding wax-coated candles, the means for effecting the
moulding of the envelope or coating, consisting of pusher-mandrels whose
external diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the moulds, and to
which mandrels an ascending and descending movement, within the said moulds, is
imparted, substantially as described and as shown with reference to Figs. 2 to 4 of
the annexed drawings.
2. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improvements in
machines for moulding wax-coated candles, substantially as described and shown
with reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.
Data