Longitudinal Section of a model Cocoa Factory
For explanation of figures see text.
Zipperer, Manufacture of Chocolate etc. 3rd edition.
Verlag M. Krayn, Berlin W. 10.
1. Chocolate factory (Table I).
By means of the lift (1) all the raw materials, sugar, cacao, packing materials, etc. are carried up to the store rooms (2). In these occur the machines for cleansing and picking the raw cacao beans. The raw cacao is fed into the elevator boxes (3), above the cleansing machine (4) where it is freed from dust; it passes to the continuous band (5) where it is picked and then falls into the movable boxes (6). It is then transferred to the hoppers (7) and is fed, by opening a slide in the hoppers, into the roasting machine (8). The capacity of the hoppers is sufficiently large for holding the quantity of beans for charging the roasting machine. After the roasting is completed, the cacao is emptied into the trucks (9) and carried to the exhaust arrangement (10) where the beans are cooled down and the vapour given off is passed out into the open air. At the same time, the roasting chamber is sucked out through the funnel shaped tube fitted to the cover of the chamber. The roasted cacao is then passed to the boxes (11) to be conveyed by the elevator to the crushing and cleansing machine (12). After being cleansed, the cacao is carried in trucks (13) to the hoppers (14) by which they are fed into the mills (15) in the lower floor. The sugar mill and the sifting apparatus (27) placed near the crushing and cleansing machines are also fed by a hopper from above. The dust sugar, there produced, is carried by the lift (1) to the machine room on the first floor. Cacao and sugar are there supplied to the incorporator (16) to be worked together, before being passed to the rolling mill (17), where the final rubbing is effected. After passing once or oftener through the mill, the finished chocolate mass is then taken to the hot room (18) where it remains in boxes until further treated and it is then taken to the moulding room. In the incorporator (19) the mass acquires the consistence necessary for moulding and also the requisite temperature. The mass is then taken in lumps to the dividing machine (20) and cut into pieces of the desired size and weight. On the table (21) the moulds, lying upon boards, are filled with the pieces of chocolate and they are then taken to the shaking table (22).
From this they succeed to the cooling arrangement, which consists of an endless chain provided with travelling stages at definite and regular intervals. The latter moves slowly through the artificially cooled room and finally brings the moulds to the outlet (25) where the chocolate is removed. It is then transferred on the lift to the packing and despatching apartments specially reserved for these operations, but not distinctly noticeable on our section.
2. Cacao powder factory (Table II).
The course of manufacture of cacao powder is the same as in the manufacture of chocolate, up to the point where the cacao has passed through the crushing and cleansing machines (12). The broken beans are then taken by the elevator (27) to the machine for separating the radicles (28) and thence through the hopper (14) to the mills (15). The liquid cacao mass, passing from these mills, runs into the pans (29) from which as much required for charging the hydraulic presses as is can be drawn up by cocks. The accumulator (31) supplies all the presses with water. The pressed cakes are first put into the boxes of the frame (32). In an adjoining room is the automatic cacao pulverizing apparatus. It is fed through the preliminary crusher (34) from which the cacao is taken by the worm and elevator (35) to the pulveriser (36). The powdered cacao is then taken by a worm and elevator to the sifting machine (38).
The sifted powder falls into the tub (39) while the coarser portion is carried back again to the pulveriser (36). The arrangements for treating and the disintegrating cacao powder can be provided in the manner already described.
In both plans, the boiler and engine house are to be understood as placed in an adjoining building.