Fig. 2 represents a rendering and refining kettle for making small batches of fancy toilet soap ; rendering, re fining, cooling, and mixing lard ; boiling and mixing oils, varnishes, etc. It consists of a steam-jacketed kettle, provided with an agitator so constructed that it can easily be removed from the kettle and swung out of the way when no agitator is required, for or cleaning the machine.
An upright provided with a rack is screwed into a bracket, which is cast on the kettle. A pinion, operated by a hand wheel, engages with the rack, and thus the agi tator can readily he raised out of the kettle. On reaching the top it can be swung to one side out of the way, and the kettle can be used for boiling and all purposes to which a steam-jacketed kettle can be put. The agitator is a con veyor screw, surrounded by a cylindrical casing. By loosening a set-screw, the conveyor screw can be withdrawn, and the machine cleaned.
An improved form of soap frame, Fig, 3, is made of No. 10 sheet-iron, heavily braced with angle irons to prevent bulging or buckling of the sides. The ends are attached to the bottom in such manner as to be easily detached. The whole is firmly bound together by hinged rods provided with fly nuts as illustrated. The frames can be set up or knocked down in a few moments. Two bottoms are supplied with each set of sides and ends, so that the soap can remain on one bottom for cutting, while the other bottom and frame are ready to receive a fresh charge of soap.
Fig. 4 represents a novel form of soap press, capable of pressing a bar of soap 14 in. long, weighing from 3 to 4 lbs. It has a single-acting steam cylinder placed underneath the bed in such position that its piston, by imams of a roller attached to the end of the piston rod, acts upon a cam surface of the swing or pendulum lever, as indicated. A honk, attached to the piston rod, engages with a stud on the swing or pendujum lever and prevents the latter from recoiling after having returned from giving the blow, as it can not fly back without pulling out the piston. Thus, vibration of the upper die block is prevented. The steam supply pipe
enters a governor or regulator, which can be set by hand wheel, so that the press gives a blow of required force. When this has once been set, the press cannot give a stronger blow than that for which it is set, no matter how much steam pressure the boiler may supply. To the right of this governor is shown a balanced valve steam trap which drains off all condensed water and insures the admission of dry steam only to the cylinder. The admission of steam is controlled by a foot treadle shown at the right of the cut. The handle serves to control the exhaust in such man ner that the pendulum lever returns with just enough force to eject the pressed soap and no more. The ejection of the soap is accomplished by a cam, which is pivoted at one end to the pendulum lever, and clamped to the latter by a jam nut and arcs. Against this cam works, by means of a roller, a lever which, with its other end, actuates the center lifting bolt. By unclarnping this cam, shifting it up and down, and reclamping, the height to which the soap is lifted is regulated. This ar rangement lifts the soap so gradually that there is no danger of throwing the cake of soap out against the upper die block and defacing the impression, no matter how fast the press is worked. By throw ing back hook, and raising the foot-rest, the press is at once transformed into an orninary foot press.
TWO of the most useful works on soap making are : Brannt's Manufacturing of Soap and Candles, H. C. Baird & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. ; and Gardner and Cameron's Soap and Candles. P. Blakiston, Son & Co., Philadelphia, Pa, . .
Journals containing items of general interest to the soap trade : American soap Journal, Chicago, ills., and Oil. Paint, and Drug Reporter. New York, N. Y. We are indebted to Messrs. H. W. Dopp & Son, of Buffalo. N. Y., for the foregoing information.
Speeder, Spindle, Spinning• Frame, and Spooler : see Cotton-spinning Machines. Spreader : see Rope-making Machines.
Stacker : see Threshing Machines.
Staking. Machines : see Leather-working Machines.