IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MOLDING SUGAR
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Lafitte, Paris, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR MOLDING SUGAR." A communication from abroad by Charles
Henry Hersey, Francis Coney Hersey, and Dudley Pray, all of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February 1880.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MOLDING SUGAR." [A communi-
cation from abroad by Charles Henry Hersey, Francis Concy Hersey, and Dudley
Pray, all of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to mechanism for molding sugar, and, as herein shown, the
sugar will be formed into cubes.
The Invention consists in the combination of a rotary drum and series of molds
with a hopper and distributors, and an inclined packer to fill the molds with moist
sugar to be molded.
Also, in the combination with a drum carrying a series of transverse rows of
molds open at both ends, and plungers to move in said molds, the said plungers
having shanks provided with eyes or loops of bars or carriages, each one to enter
all the said eyes or loops of one transverse row, and of cams to operate each bar to
move all the plungers of one transverse row simultaneously.
Also, in the combination with the molds, plungers, and an endless apron to
receive the molded sugar, of a rake to move the material shaped in the molds into
a line upon the apron, and means to automatically move it forward as each line of
molds comes in position to deposit its molded sugar.
Also, in a drum carrying a series of rows of molds and plungers, and carrying
bars to operate all the plungers of a row simultaneously, and ratchet toothed
adjusting devices to adjust the amount of movement of all the carrying bars.
In the manufacture of cube-sugar, as now most commonly practiced, the sugar

page_text: in me form of a slab 18 cut into cubes, but in suen process it is not possible to
make perfect cubes.
In this Invention moist sugar is placed in a hopper from which it is packed into
molds, which, in connection with plungers, shape the sugar into cubes and
discharge the cubes from the molds upon, preferably, an endless apron which carries
then away.
The cubes discharged upon the apron are pushed into line by a rake, provided
any are dropped out of line, and should any of the cubes adhere to the molds the
rake will detach them.
The frame work is of proper shape to sustain the working parts.
The mold carrying drum, having its journals supported in suitable bearings in
the side frames, is rotated through toothed gear and a pinion on a shaft set in
motion in any desired way.
The gear engages an intermediate, which in engagement with another gear drives
a cam shaft.
The gear also engages and drives gear on the shafts of the rotary distributors
located in the hopper, in which the moist sugar is placed.
The drum has about its periphery a series of transverse guiding slots, between
the walls of which are placed a series of moulds, into which the moist sugar is
crowded by the distributors.
Each mold bas for its bottom a plunger fitted to slide radially with relation to
the drum.
Each plunger is composed of a steel block for a face, and a stem or shank having
au eye or passage to embrace a movable bar or carriage about which all the plungers
in any one row are strung, so that when the ends of the said bars in the rotation
of the drum strike the cam fixed to the framework within one or both of its sides,
the said bar and all its plungers are drawn down leaving the series of molds to be
filled, and when the ends of the said bars in the further rotation of the drum strike
certain rollers (one being fixed to each side frame) the said bars are moved out-
wardly, causing the plungers to advance into the moulds and compress the sugar
therein into perfect cubes, the sugar being held in place at the opposite ends of the
mold by the then stationary but adjustable presser-plate extended across the frame
close to the surface of the drum, the face of said presser covering all the molds of
each series or row of molds opposite it.
Screws adjust the presser bar.
After pressing the sugar into cubes the rear ends of the bars pass beyond the
high parts of the rollers, permitting the plungers to recede a little so as not to
force the sugar cubes out of the plungers as the outer faces of the molds move
beyond the presser.
In the further rotation of the drum the ends of the bars strike upon cams and
force the plungers so far out as to discharge the sugar cubes therefrom upon
removable plates or trays, placed on an endless travelling apron or belt kept in
position and moved in any usual way.
To place the cubes all in a row a rake has been added.
This rake is composed of a bar having a stem surrounded by a spiral spring and
guided in a suitable bracket, and a flat plate at the outer end of the rod which is
provided with a lug.
This lug is action upon after each row or series of molds has been emptied by
one of the toes of a tappet, and is thrown forward to place all the cubes in a line
upon the apron, or to detach any cubes which may adhere to the molds, or which
may not be properly formed.
The plungers remain with their outer faces flush with the outer ends of the
molds until after they pass the washer roller, which may be either a roller covered
with cloth or a brush roller to clean the plungers, after which the plungers are
again drawn back or in by the cams.
The distributors keep the moist sugar agitated, and assist at loading it into the
molds when under them; but on arriving at the packer the sugar is by the rotation

page_text: of the drum under it crowded down into the molds, the plungers then being held
against reciprocation, and the surplus sugar is scraped from the tops of the molds
and caused to travel back over the packer.
In order to regulate the density or amount of sugar to be contained in each cube
there is adjustably attached to each end of the drum by suitable screws a ratchet
toothed adjusting device, the inclined face of each tooth acting as a wedge-shaped
support for one end of one of the bars or carriages, permitting the said bars and
plungers to descend for a certain defined distance more or less remote from the
lower end of the molds.
This machine is easily operated and rapidly forms the moist sugar into perfect
cubes, with sides and ends at right angles; and if desired the plungers may be
made to brand the cubes with a letter or trade mark.
The trays will preferably be made of metal, and be perforated to permit air to
come against the undersides of the cubes, as the trays removed from the apron by
hand are set away for the sugar to dry.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th August 1880.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MOLDING SUGAR" (A communi-
cation from abroad by Charles Henry Hersey, Francis Coney Hersey, and Dudley
Pray, all of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.)
This Invention relates to mechanism for molding sugar, and, as herein shown,
the
sugar will be formed into cubes.
The Invention consists in the combination of a rotatory drum and series of
molds, with a hopper and distributors and an inclined packer to fill the molds
with moist sugar to be molded.
Also, in the combination with a drum carrying a series of transverse rows of
molds open at both ends, and plungers to move in said molds; the said plungers
having shanks provided with eyes or loops of bars or carriages, each one to enter
all the said eyes or loops of one transverse row, and of cams to operate each bar to
move all the plungers of one transverse row simultaneously.
Also, in the combination with the molds, plungers, and an endless apron to
receive the molded sugar, of a rake to move the material shaped in the molds
into a line upon the apron, and means to automatically move it forward as each
line of molds comes in position to deposit its molded sugar.
Also, in a drum carrying a series of rows of molds and plungers, and carrying
bars to operate all the plungers of a row simultaneously, and ratchet toothed
adjusting dovices to adjust the amount of movement of all the carrying bars.
In the manufacture of cube-sugar, as most commonly practiced, the sugar in
the form of a slab is cut into cubes, but in such process it is not possible to make
perfect cubes.
In this Invention moist sugar is placed in a hopper from which it is packed into
molds, which, in connection with plungers, shape the sugar into cubes and
discharge the cubes from the molds upon, preferably, an endless apron which
carries them away.
The cubes discharged upon the apron are pushed into line by a rake, provided
any are dropped out of line, and should any of the cubes adhere to the molds tho
ruke will detach them.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a sugar molding machine provided with
this Invention.
Figure 2, an inside view of one of the end frame-plates of the machine, showing
the actuating cams attached thereto.
Figure 3, an elevation, showing the side opposite to that shown in Figure 1,
parts being broken away and in section; the Drawing showing the full compliment
of molds.
Figure 4, an end elevation of Figure 3.
Figure 5, a detail showing one of the plungers and its mold enlarged, and
Figure 6, a top view of the rake and connecting parts attached.
The frame work a is of proper shape to sustain the working parts.
The mould-carrying drum b, having its journals supported in suitable bearings
in the side-frames, is rotated through the toothed gear c, and the pinion & on the
shaft e set in motion in any desired way.
The gear c engages an intermediate f, which in engagement with gear g on
drives the cam shaft h.
The gear c also engages and drives the gear i, and in turn drives the gears j, k,
'

page_text: on the shafts 2, 3, 4, of the rotary distributors l, m, n, located in the hopper o in
which the moist sugar is placed.
The drum b has about its periphery a series of transverse guiding slots, between
the walls of which are placed a series of molds 7, some of which are shown in
section, into which the moist sugar is crowded by the distributors l, n.
Each mold has for its bottom a plunger s, fitted to slido radially with relation
to the drum.
Each plunger is composed of a steel block e for a face, and a stem or shank 3,
having an eye or passage 4 to loosely embrace a movable bar or carriage t, about
which all the plungers in any one row are strung, so that when the ends 5 of the
said- bars t, see Figure 5 (which: extend out beyond the sides of the drum), in the
rotation of the drum strike the cam u, fixed to the frame-work within one or both
of its sides, the said bar and all its plungers are drawn down, leaving the series of
molds to be filled, and when the ends of the said bars in the further rotation of
the drum strike the rollers w (one being fixed to each side frame) the said bars are
moved outwardly, causing the plungers to advance into the molds and compress
the sugar therein into perfect cubes, the sugar being held in place at the opposite
ends of the mold by the then stationary but adjustable presser-plate a³ extended
across the frame close to the surface of the drum, the face of said presser covering
all the molds of each series or row of molds opposito it. The loose connection
between the shanks 3 and carriages moving them and the plungers obviates
cramping or binding of the plungers in the molds, which would be the case were
the plunger shanks rigidly attached to the carriers.
The screws badjust the presser-bar.
After pressing the sugar into cubes the rear ends of the bars pass beyond the
high parts of the rollers w, permitting the plungers to recede a little, so as not to
force the sugar cubes out of the plungers as the outer faces of the molds move
beyond the presser.
In the further rotation of the drum the ends 5 of the bars strike the cams cº, and
force the plungers so far out as to discharge the sugar cubes therefrom upon
removable plates or trays d, placed on an endless travelling apron or belt d² kept
in position and moved in any usual way.
To place the tubes all in a row the rake e has been added.
This rake is composed of a bar 8 having a
10 and guided in a suitable bracket 12, and
rod which is provided with a lug 14.
stem 9 surrounded by a spiral spring
a flat plate 13 at the outer end of the
This lug is acted upon after each row or series of molds has been emptied by
one of the toes 15 of the tappet f, and is thrown forward to place all the cubes
in a line upon the apron, or to detach any cubes which may adhere to the mold
or which may not be properly formed.
This lug 14 is made adjustable (see Figure 7) by the screw 14* in order to adjust
the extent of throw of the rake as in practice is necessary, according to the dryness
of the sugar, the more moist the sugar the greater the throw forward of the rake.
The plungers remain with their outer faces flush with the outer ends of the
molds until after they pass the washer roller g², which may be either a roller
covered with cloth (as in Figure 2) or a brush-roller (as in Figure 4) to clean the
plungers, after which the plungers are again drawn back or in by the cams u.
The distributors l, m, n, keep the inoist sugar agitated and assist in loading it
into the molds when under them, but on arriving at the packor the sugar is by
the rotation of the drum under it crowded down into the molds, the plungers then
being held against reciprocation, and the surplus sugar is scraped from the tops of
the molds and caused to travel back over the packer 2.
In order to regulate the density or amount of sugar to be contained in each cube
there is adjustably attached to each end of the drum by suitable screws 16 a ratchet
toothed adjusting device k, the inclined face of each tooth acting as a wedge-shaped
support for one end 5 of one of the bars or carriages, permitting the said bars and

page_text: plungers to descend for a certain defined distance more or less remote from the
Jower end of the molds.
This machine is easily operated and rapidly forms the moist sugar into perfect
cubes, with sides and ends at right angles, and if desired the plungers may be made
to brand the cubes with a letter or trade-mark.
A mold with a movable plunger, or a series of molds on a travelling frame
or platform are not broadly claimed, for such devices are old in other arts than
Bugar making.
The trays will preferably be made of metal, and be perforated, as shown in
Figure 8, to permit air to come against the undersides of the cubes as the trays
reinoved from the apron by hand are set away for the sugar to dry.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
First. In a sugar-molding machine the rotatory drum and series of molds
combined with the hopper and distributors, and the packer inclined toward and
adapted to fill the molds, substantially as described.
or
Second. In a sugar molding machine a drum carrying a series of transverse
rows of molds, open at both ends, and plungers to move in said molds, the said
plungers having shanks provided with eyes or loops combined with bars
carriages, each one to enter all the said eyes or loops of one transverse row, and
with cams to operate each bar to move all the plungers of one transverse row
simultaneously.
"
Third. The combination with the molds, plungers, and endless apron, of the
adjustable rake to move the material shaped in the molds into a line upon the
apron, and means to automatically move it forward as each line of molds comes in
position to deposit its molded sugar, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of the drum and its attached ratchet tooth adjusting
devices with the plungers and their carrying bars, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fifth. In a sugar molding machine the rotating drum, its series of molds,
and adjustable plungers provided with removable faces 2, substantially as
described.
Sixth. In a sugar molding machine the rotating druin, its series of molds r,
and plungers connected loosely with their actuating carriages combined with the
packer to crowd and press the sugar into the molds, as set forth, and the adjustable
presser bar a, all substantially as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
1517
RAW