Abstract:
A confectionery moulding device for making confectionery pieces from a source of flowing confectionery includes a number of trays supported by the frame and positioned one above another, each tray has a number of mould cavities interconnected by flow tracks. At least some of the trays include a drain via which the flowing confectionery material can pass to a tray underneath.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a device to mould confectionery pieces such as candy or chocolate pieces. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a confectionery maker that can be used in the home to make moulded candy or chocolate pieces for example. 
         [0002]    Confectionery factories mass-produce candy and chocolate pieces in large-scale moulds. 
         [0003]    It is also known to make homemade confectionery using a mould tray in which a number of mould cavities are provided. These cavities are individually filled with soft (sometimes preheated) confectionery material and allowed to set for later removal. This is a time-consuming process. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved confectionery moulding device for use in the home and in which increased throughput and efficiency are achieved. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    There is disclosed herein a confectionery moulding device for making confectionery pieces from a source of flowing confectionery, comprising:
       a frame, and   a plurality of trays supported by the frame and positioned one above another, each tray comprising at least one mould cavity, at least some of the trays including a drain via which the flowing confectionery material can pass to a tray therebeneath.       
 
         [0008]    Preferably, each tray comprises a plurality of said cavities interconnected by flow tracks. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the device further comprises a vessel supported upon the frame for containing said source of flowing confectionery. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the vessel includes a tap via which will be flowing confectionery can pass en route to an uppermost one of the trays. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the device further comprises a delivery chute situated under the tap and along which the flowing confectionery material flows en route to the uppermost one of the trays. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the vessel includes a motor-driven internal agitator for mixing the flowing confectionery. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the device further comprises a lid hinged to the vessel and a motor is mounted upon the lid for driving the agitator. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the motor comprises an output sprocket and the agitator comprises an input coupling aligned with the output sprocket. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the agitator comprises a pair of wheels interconnected by a plurality of paddles. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the device further comprises a heating element in heat-transfer relationship with the vessel to heat the source of flowing confectionery. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective illustration of a confectionery moulding device, 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic parts-exploded perspective illustration of the delivery chute and moulding trays of the device of  FIG. 1 , 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic parts-exploded perspective illustration of the mixing vessel forming part of the device of  FIG. 1 , 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic elevation of the mixing vessel, tap and chute, 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is another schematic elevation of the mixing vessel, tap and chute, and 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a schematic parts-exploded perspective illustration of the mixing vessel, agitator and lid etc, showing the electric motor and the heating element. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    In  FIG. 1  there is depicted schematically a confectionery moulding device  10 . The device  10  comprises a frame  16  somewhat in the form of a cabinet. Set upon the cabinet  16  is a mixing vessel  11  having a lid  12  hinged at  13  thereto. The vessel  11  includes a tap  14  that is manually activated by hand. 
         [0025]    Situated upon the frame  16  is a chute  15  having its upper end beneath the tap  14 . The delivery chute includes a slot  30  at its bottom end through which material having passed along the chute from the tap falls. 
         [0026]    Within the cabinet  16  are three trays  17 ,  18  and  19 . These slide in and out of the cabinet like drawers and to this end are provided with handles  20 ,  21  and  22  respectively. 
         [0027]    The top tray  17  comprises a plurality of mould cavities  23  which are interconnected by flow tracks  24 . Flowing confectionery material having passed through the slot  30  enters one of the mould cavities  23  from which it migrates to the other mould cavities  23  via the various flow tracks  24 . At the back of the top tray, there is provided a pair of drain holes  25  through which excess flowing confectionery material falls to the middle tray therebeneath. 
         [0028]    The middle tray  18  comprises a plurality of mould cavities  23 ′ which are interconnected by flow tracks  24 ′. Flowing confectionery material having passed through the holes  25  of the top tray enters two of the mould cavities  23 ′ from which it migrates to the other mould cavities  23 ′ via the various flow tracks  24 ′. At the front of the middle tray  18 , there is provided a pair of drain holes  25 ′ through which excess flowing confectionery material falls to the bottom tray  19  therebeneath. 
         [0029]    The bottom tray  19  comprises a plurality of mould cavities  23 ″ which are interconnected by flow tracks  24 ″. Flowing confectionery material having passed through the holes  25 ′ of the middle tray enters two of the mould cavities  23 ″ from which it migrates to the other mould cavities  23 ″ via the various flow tracks  24 ″. 
         [0030]    The mixing vessel  11  as shown in  FIG. 3  has an internal agitator  26  comprising upper and lower wheels  31  interconnected by three perforated paddles  32 . The agitator  28  is sized to fit snugly within a cylindrical lining  33  of the vessel. There may be provided between the floor of this lining  33  and the outer wall of the vessel  11  a heating element  35  to apply heat through the lining  33  to the confectionery material to keep it soft and flowing. At the top of the agitator  26 , there is provided an input coupling  28 . The lid  12  comprises a motor housing  29  within which there is located an electric/magnetic motor  34  having an output sprocket  27 . Where the input coupling  28  is square in cross-section, the sprocket  27  would have a mating square hollow to receive the coupling to transmit torque thereto. The sprocket  27  is appropriately spaced from the hinge  13  so that when the lid  12  is closed, the sprocket  27  aligns properly with and engages direct upon the input coupling  28 . Upon activation of the motor  34 , the agitator spins whilst being constrained laterally by the lining  33  to mix the flowing confectionery material within the vessel. 
         [0031]    In use, preheated confectionery material is poured into the vessel  11  either before or after insertion of the agitator  26  therein. Where a heater is provided within the vessel  11 , the confectionery material may be added to the vessel in granular form for example. The heater would then be switch-activated to melt the granular confectionery material and/or maintain the flowing state of the confectionery material within the vessel  11 . The same switch (not shown) or an additional switch (not shown) is activated to start the motor  34  which in turn causes motion of the agitator  26 . When desired, the tap  14  is turned as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  so that flowing material passes along the chute  15  and along the flow path described above. After a certain cooling time, the trays can be opened like drawers using handles  21 ,  22  and  23  and set confectionery can be removed. As an alternative, instead of waiting for the confectionery to set, the trays can be withdrawn and placed in a refrigerator for example. 
         [0032]    It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, flow tubes might be provided to deliver flowing material directly to the lower trays instead of in cascade fashion from the upper trays.