Inserting sticks into confections

A stick inserter for inserting flat sticks into partially frozen confections in the molds of a confection machine forms a packed column of sticks in face to face engagement above a row of molds, a row of spaced thin blades is lowered and each blade forces a stick out of the column and into a confection. Upon retraction of the blades, pivotally mounted lower guide rails for the column, which have been lowered to accommodate stick insertion, are raised to restore displaced sticks back to their original positions in the column. In order to insure stick singulation, a jogging mechanism partially lowers the blades ad then retracts them slightly and a blade deflection plate releases previously deflected blades so that they spring against the faces of sticks adjacent to those to be inserted. A packer is provided between a stick feeder and the stick insertion zone of the inserter for exerting a selected constant pressure on the sticks during ejection in a manner that isolates the portion column sticks in the stick insertion zone from pressure exerted on the column by the feeder.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to frozen confection machines and more particularly 
to the insertion of sticks into partially frozen confections therein. 
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
The U.S. Pat. No. to Rasmusson 3,031,978, May 1, 1962, discloses a frozen 
confection machine of a type sold by the FMC Corporation, assignee of the 
present invention. 
Briefly, the Rasmusson machine includes a freezing brine tank in which runs 
the upper reach of an indexed mold conveyor carrying a bed of transverse 
mold plates each having a row of generally rectangular section mold 
cavities with their long dimensions parallel to the row axis. The machine 
also includes a filler for the mold cavities and a stick inserter, which 
can be positioned at the optimum point along the brine tank, for inserting 
sticks into the confections when they are in a partially frozen condition. 
The machine further includes a defroster for freeing the frozen 
confections from their molds and an extractor for gripping the sticks and 
withdrawing the released confections from their mold cavities for 
subsequent packaging. Other machines on the market perform the same 
operations, but the mold plates are mounted on a rotary carrier instead of 
on a conveyor chain. 
The U.S. Pat. No. to Peppler et al 3,487,703, Nov. 18, 1969, discloses a 
stick inserter for a confection machine wherein the sticks are inserted in 
a row of rectangular section mold cavities arranged longitudinally of the 
axis of the row, as in the aforesaid Rasmusson machine. Also, the flat 
faces of the inserted sticks are parallel to the row axis, as in 
Rasmusson. In the Peppler et al patent, a surge system 16 feeds a column 
of packed sticks around a flanged wheel 96 and up channels 56 to the 
inserting mechanism. A feeding force is developed on the flanged wheel 96 
by a weight 82 and a belt arrangement 88. A column of sticks is formed and 
a row of sticks is picked up from the end 116 of the column by downwardly 
facing grooves formed in a belt section 124 as it advances across the 
column. The belt delivers the sticks to vertically reciprocating stick 
inserters with the sticks disposed horizontally and in edge to edge spaced 
relation. The row of sticks is swung 90.degree. from the belt 124 into 
clamping engagement with a row of vertically reciprocating abutment 
elements 188. The latter now descend and insert the edgewise row of sticks 
into their respective mold cavities. 
The U.S. Pat. No. to Morch 4,105,384, Aug. 8, 1978, employs screws (not 
shown) to form a U-shaped column of sticks gravity packed by a weight. At 
the end of the column the sticks are picked up horizontally and in spaced, 
edge to edge relation and by notches in a reciprocating conveyor slide 6. 
The slide advances into alignment with stick inserter grippers 17 
whereupon the sticks are picked up from the slide by transfer pivot arms 
16 and turned 90.degree. to a vertical position, to be received by the 
stick insertion grippers 17. As in the Peppler et al patent, the sticks 
are inserted into the mold cavities in spaced edge to edge relationship. 
The use of slat belts for receiving sticks from a hopper and feeding them 
between a pair of feed screws that receive the ends of the sticks, for 
forming a packed column like that shown in the aforesaid Morch patent is 
mentioned in a "Hoyer--Product Information" leaflet of four pages printed 
by O. G. Hoyer A/S, 13 Soren Nymarksvej, Aarhus-Hojbjerg, Denmark. The 
Hoyer machine is sold in the trade. 
The U.S. Pat. Nos. to Rasmusson 2,953,105, Sept. 20, 1960 and 3,038,635, 
June 12, 1962, disclose stick inserters wherein the rectangular section 
mold cavities are oriented with their long dimensions parallel to the axis 
of a row of cavities and wherein the flat sticks have their faces parallel 
to the axis of the row. Rasmusson 2,953,105 discloses the use of a cleated 
belt for picking up sticks from a hopper. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The stick inserter of the present invention inserts a row of flat sticks 
into confections in a row of mold cavities wherein the longer dimensions 
of the cavities are disposed transversely of instead of parallel to the 
row axis. By disposing a row of generally rectangular section molds 
transversely of the row axis, instead of parallel thereto as in prior 
machines, the number of mold cavities per row (row density) can be 
increased without lengthening the row. As a corollary, a given number of 
molds can be placed in a shorter row, thereby reducing the width of the 
machine. 
In order to insert the sticks in a high density row of mold cavities, such 
as that just described, wherein the centers of the cavities are relatively 
close together, a stick inserter must be compact in the longitudinal 
direction of a row of molds, and this is a characteristic of the inserter 
of the present invention. 
Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a stick 
inserter wherein the introduction of sticks from a stick feeding apparatus 
to the actual inserting apparatus above a row of mold cavities requires no 
transfer operation from a stack of sticks to reciprocating belts or slides 
and the positioning of sticks to their positions above the mold cavities 
requires no stick transfer elements at the inserters, such as those of the 
aforesaid Peppler et al and Morch patents. 
In the present invention, the sticks are fed to the inserters as a closed 
column which is merely a terminal portion of a previously formed stack of 
sticks. Thus the sticks are supplied directly from stick guiding channels 
of a feeder to the actual reciprocating stick inserting units without 
requiring the use of intermediate mechanism such as notched belts, pick 
off rollers, reciprocating slides or stick turners, all of which involve 
stick transfer operations. Since every stick transfer operation presents a 
possible zone of jamming, stick misalignment and breakage, the simple 
column feed stick inserter of the present invention is substantially 
jam-free. 
Since there are no mechanical stick orienting operations at the inserters, 
the stick inserter of the present invention lends itself to the insertion 
of sticks in a relatively large number of mold cavities in a row of a 
given length (high density mold cavity array) with the insertion motion 
being one of simple linear reciprocation of the actual inserters. The 
stick inserter of the present invention is compatible with a variety of 
stick magazines and stick feeder units and can be employed on prior 
confection machines, provided longer dimensions of their mold cavities are 
arranged transversely of the row axis, as previously described. 
Briefly, the stick inserter of the present invention unidirectionally feeds 
and positions a column of closed sticks directly from a supply stack so 
that ends of the sticks in the column are adjacent to a row of 
confections. The inserter pushes spaced individual sticks endwise directly 
out of the packed column and inserts them without change in orientation 
into adjacent confections, leaving gaps that form intermediate groups of 
sticks in the column. These gaps are quickly closed. 
In the preferred arrangement, the sticks are displaced from the packed 
column and inserted into the confections by a row of thin, flat blades 
which are simultaneously advanced or lowered to push spaced individual 
sticks endwise from the packed column and into adjacent confections. After 
the blades have been withdrawn from the column, the gaps in the column 
formed by the removal of inserted sticks are closed by force exerted on 
the stick-receiving end of the packed column. 
In case some sticks in the packed column which are disposed adjacent to the 
inserted sticks happen to be partially displaced during insertion (because 
of frictional engagement with inserted sticks) such partially displaced 
sticks may be restored to their original positions in the column of sticks 
after each insertion operation, so that they do not inhibit subsequent 
re-packing and advance of the column. In the preferred embodiment, this 
stick restoring action is provided by supporting the free ends of a column 
of sticks on a moveable guide rail which rail is swung clear of the 
supported ends of the sticks to accommodate stick insertion and which is 
brought back to its original position after the insertion operation, to 
thereby restore partially displaced sticks to their original positions in 
the column. 
In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to insure that 
each stick inserting blade pushes only a single stick entirely clear of 
the packed column of sticks and into the adjacent confection. This is 
preferably accomplished by a "jogging" apparatus which partially lowers 
the blades into the column of sticks and then slightly retracts the blades 
so their free ends are clear of the previous engaged ends of the sticks. 
Each blade is now permitted to spring laterally against the flat face of a 
stick adjacent to a single stick to be inserted, whereupon the final 
advance of the blades is completed with the assurance that only one stick 
is pushed out of the packed column and into an associated confection by 
each blade. 
The aforesaid stick singulation is assured by operation of a blade 
deflecting plate which initially deflects the blades before they are 
partially lowered by the jogging operation and then frees the blades after 
they have been raised slightly so that each blade can spring against the 
face of a stick adjacent to that to be inserted. 
Since wooden confection sticks are not perfectly flat, when a column of 
wooden sticks is assembled, the slight deviations of individual sticks 
from flatness are cumulative and the column has properties analogous to an 
assemblage of belleville spring washers, that is, the column acts like a 
long compression spring. If the column at the stick insertion zone is not 
closely packed along its entire length, some sticks will be somewhat loose 
in the column and the desired precise orientation of such sticks is lost, 
particularly when the portion of the entire column of sticks at the 
insertion zone is remote from the stick feeder. 
Also, as mentioned hereinbefore, re-packing of the column of sticks at the 
insertion zone is required when the blades of the stick inserting 
apparatus are withdrawn from the column. The gaps in the column of sticks 
left after blade withdrawal must be closed to maintain or secure proper 
stick orientation and to prevent turning or flipping of one or more 
individual stick about their longitudinal axes before the next stick 
insertion cycle. 
To insure that the sticks at the insertion zone are all oriented 
substantially normal to the axis of the column, that none of the sticks 
flip upon removal of the pusher blades, that minimum blade interference is 
created during stick insertion and that the column is properly re-packed 
after each insertion step, the present invention preferably provides an 
apparatus for packing the portion of the column of sticks at the stick 
insertion zone with a controlled pressure. The packing apparatus is 
adapted to provide an adequate packing and orienting force on a long 
column of sticks between the feeder and stick insertion zone in a manner 
that could not be provided by the feeder itself without stick breakage at 
the feeder. The packing apparatus of the present invention pushes against 
a portion of the column which is adjacent the upstream end of the stick 
insertion zone and which is remote from a column stop member downstream of 
the stick insertion zone. The packing force is selected so that enough 
force is applied to firmly pack and properly orient the sticks in the 
packed column portion within the insertion zone and to prevent "flipping" 
of the sticks in that zone. 
In a preferred embodiment, the packing apparatus includes a pushing device 
which is first moved laterally of the column to engage opposite sides of 
several sticks. The pushing device is then shifted longitudinally of the 
column toward a stop member at the downstream end of the insertion zone to 
compress or pack that portion of the column that extends along the stick 
insertion zone. Preferably, the pusher device includes opposed stick 
gripping or clamping shoes which are rotatably mounted on clamping arms to 
accommodate any slight angular misorientation of the sticks that occurs 
during the packing operation as a result of cumulative curvatures or 
warpedness of the sticks at the stick insertion zone.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, a stick inserter I is shown mounted on a frozen 
confection machine C. Except for the orientation of the mold cavities, the 
details of the confection machine are not critical to the present 
invention. In FIG. 1, the confection machine C is formed in accordance 
with the co-pending application of R. C. Billett et al, entitled, 
Apparatus For Producing Frozen Confections, and assigned to the FMC 
Corporation, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
The stick inserter I could be employed in connection with a conventional 
linear conveyor "Vitaline" machine such as that in the aforesaid Rasmusson 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,978, (with the molds rearranged) and marked by FMC 
Corporation, or with a rotary conveyor machine, which is also on the 
market. 
The confection machine C, illustrated at the bottom of FIG. 1 includes a 
plurality of elongate mold plates 10 each of which has two rows R of 
depending molds M forming mold cavities for the confections. Mold plates 
10 are intermittently advanced from a filler along a brine tank (not 
shown) for freezing the confections and are momentarily arrested under the 
stick inserter before the confections have solidified. After stick 
insertion, the molds are advanced along other stations, as described in 
detail in the aforesaid Billett et al application. Rotating lead screws 
14,14a engage drive buttons 15 mounted on side bracket assemblies 16 which 
support the mold plates 10. The side brackets 16 are guided in slots 
formed in side rails 17 mounted on vertical side frame plates 18. Tracks 
19 are mounted along the upper portions of the side plates 18 for 
supporting wheels 20 (one wheel only being shown at the left of FIG. 1) 
that facilitate selective positioning of the stick inserter I along a 
freezing reach of the confection machine. 
As described in detail in the aforesaid pending application of Billett et 
al, means are provided for laterally shifting the conveyor brackets 16 
from one longitudinal reach of the confection machine to a return reach. 
This shifting action includes transverse screws (not shown) one of which 
engages a drive detent member 21 for shifting the brackets 16 and 
associated mold plates to the right in the drawings and another screw for 
engaging the drive detent 22 for shifting the mold plates back to the 
position illustrated in FIG. 1. 
FIG. 1A is a fragmentary plan view showing one type of mold arrangement 
which can be employed. In this form, each mold plate 10 has two rows R of 
rectangular section molds M, with the major dimensions of the molds and 
the cavities formed thereby being disposed perpendicular to the axis a--a 
of the row. This mold disposition maximizes the number of molds that can 
be provided in a given length row, or shortens the row for a given number 
of molds. When the stick inserter of the present invention operates to 
insert sticks S into the mold cavities arranged as in FIG. 1A, a row of 
sticks is inserted into the molds of each row with the flat faces of the 
sticks normal to the row axis "a--a". 
FIG. 1B shows an arrangement wherein the confections are of smaller size as 
in the case of popsicles. Here the molds Ma, although generally 
rectangular in section and disposed normal to the axis "a--a" of a row R1 
of molds, are formed to provide two cavities which are preferably joined 
by a necked down section to facilitate filling of the two cavities 
simultaneously. When inserting sticks into molds such as those shown in 
FIG. 1B, the stick inserter I of the present invention is operated as a 
dual lane machine, inserting two sticks into each mold cavity during one 
indexing operation of the mold plate conveyor. 
In the interest of brevity, the stick inserter of the present invention 
will be primarily described as functioning to insert only a single row of 
sticks into the confections, as would be the case in cases of the mold 
array shown in FIG. 1A. 
Major Inserter Components 
The major components of the stick inserter I are as follows: 
A stick inserter frame assembly indicated generally at 30 which mounts the 
support wheels 20, two sets of guide rails 32,32a for receiving packed 
columns K of sticks S in position above the rows of molds and other 
elements to be described. 
A crosshead or yoke 34 which mounts two rows of thin, flat flexible blades 
B for pushing individual sticks out of a packed column K of sticks S below 
and into the confections in the cavities of underlying molds. 
The yoke 34 is operated by a main double acting air cylinder unit 36 and by 
a jogging toggle linkage mechanism 38 operated by a jogging air cylinder 
unit 40. In order to guide the lower ends of sticks in the column K and to 
restore partially displaced sticks to their original positions, a moveable 
guide rail and stick control mechanism 42 is provided which is operated by 
a double acting air cylinder unit 44. 
Disposed at the lower ends of the blades B when the latter are in their 
raised or retracted position is a reciprocating blade deflecting plate 
assembly 46 operated by a double acting deflection air cylinder unit 48. 
Frame Assembly 
The frame assembly, indicated generally at 30, includes side brackets 50 
(FIGS. 1 and 2), each of which is supported by a longitudinal bar 52 that 
mounts pairs of the wheels 20, previously mentioned. The stick inserter, 
after having been rolled along the rails 19 of the confection machine in a 
selected position is clamped at that position by a clamp 54 (FIG. 2) in 
accordance with conventional practice. 
As seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, a transverse stick column guide beam 56 
extends across a row of molds and the outer faces of the beam have secured 
thereto thin slide plates 58. A back stop 59 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is fitted to 
beam 56 to stop advance of the stick column K and a companion stop 59a for 
a column K1 is disposed on the other side of beam 56. The ends of the beam 
56 are supported on end frame brackets 50 by throughbolts 60 (FIG. 1) 
which extend through vertical rack rods or posts 62 and into the ends of 
the beam 56. 
The upper ends of rods 62 are bolted to a cross channel 63 by nuts 64 
(FIGS. 1 and 4) and the rods have rack teeth 65 machined along one side 
thereof (FIGS. 1 and 2). 
In order to support the guide rails 32 for the column K of sticks on one 
side of the machine (FIGS. 1, 3 and 6) and guide rails 32a for a column K1 
on the opposite side, the structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 is provided. 
This includes a pair of cross brackets 66 centrally secured to the lower 
edge of the beam 56 by screws 68 which extend through the cross brackets 
and shim washers 69 and are threaded into the beam 56. As seen in FIGS. 3 
and 6, at opposite ends of the cross brackets 66, sleeve and bolt 
assemblies 72 mount guide rod mounting angles 74 to which the guide rods 
32 and 32a are welded. 
Yoke Assembly 
The yoke assembly 34 includes a square section transverse beam 70 (FIGS. 1 
and 3), the ends of which are recessed into recesses formed in slide 
blocks 73 (FIG. 1) and secured to the blocks by bolts 75. A slide block 73 
also appears in the end view of FIG. 2. 
In order to insure that both ends of the crosshead slide along the rack 
posts 62 without canting or binding, the ends of a shaft 76 are rotatably 
mounted in the slide blocks 73 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and are keyed to pinions 78 
that engage with the rack teeth 65 on the post 62. 
Sticks S are pushed from columns K and K1 by the blades B. As seen in FIGS. 
1, 3, 6, two rows of blades B are releasably secured to the yoke beam 70 
at their upper ends and project down from the beam with their lower ends 
disposed just above the upper ends of a column of sticks when the yoke is 
in its raised or retracted position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Although it is 
not clear in a view having the small scale of FIG. 1, the blades B are 
preferably tapered, being thicker at their upper ends than at their lower 
ends and are dimensioned so that the portion of each blade that is forced 
down through a column of sticks is thinner than the narrowest stick 
normally encountered in service. 
As best seen in FIGS. 11-14, the lower ends 80 of the blades B are kerfed 
in the direction of their flat faces to form two sharp edges. This 
provides a biting engagement with the upper ends of the sticks and does 
not facilitate wedging of the lower ends of the blades between sticks, as 
would be the case if the lower ends were formed with a single knife edge. 
The blades B are releasably attached (FIGS. 3 and 6) to the crosshead beam 
70 so that in case of a jam during the insertion operation the blade 
attachment will accommodate upward sliding of the blades in the beam and 
avoid blade breakage. Elongate blade retaining strips 82 (see also FIG. 1) 
are notched to slidably receive blades B and are bolted to opposite sides 
of the beam 70 by bolts 84. The upper end of each blade has an outwardly 
facing detent notch 86 for receiving a ball detent 88 urged into the blade 
detent by a spring 90 which is retained in the strip 82 by set screw 92. 
Principal Yoke Lowering Apparatus 
The yoke assembly 34, along with its blades B, is lowered to displace 
sticks from the stick column K or from columns K and K1 by a principal 
lowering apparatus indicated generally at 36 and is partially by a jogging 
apparatus 38 with both units being shown in their initial or retracted 
position in FIGS. 1 and 3. 
The principal lowering apparatus includes the main air cylinder unit 36 
having a cylinder 96 with a threaded nipple 98 at its lower end (FIG. 3) 
that secures the cylinder to a slide block 100. The cylinder 96 has air 
lines 36a, 36b (FIG. 1) for connection to a conventional solenoid operated 
double acting air valve (not shown). Sliding within the cylinder 96 is a 
piston 102, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, for operating a piston rod 
104, the lower end of which is threaded at 106 (FIG. 3) to a clevis 108 
and made fast with a locknut 110. The clevis 108 is attached to the beam 
70 by a shouldered screw 112. Surrounding the piston rod 104 and 
interposed between the locknut 110 and the lower side of the slideblock 
100 (FIG. 3) are a washer 114, a compression spring 116 and a sleeve 118, 
the latter two parts being moveable through a bore formed in the frame 
channel 63. As can be seen from FIG. 3, if the piston rod 104 is lowered, 
the blade mounting beam 70 and the blades B are lowered directly by the 
rod, this representing the action of the main or principal blade lowering 
mechanism 36. However, if the slide block 100 is lowered, the block 
presses on the sleeve 118, the spring 116, the washer 114, the locknut 110 
and the clevis 108 to also lower the blade mounting beam 70. The latter 
motion represents the action of the blade jogging apparatus 38. 
Blade Jogging Apparatus 
The function of the blade jogging apparatus is to initially partially lower 
the beam 70 and the blades to start the ejection of sticks from the stick 
column K (for example) and then to slightly retract the lower ends of each 
blade from the upper end of a stick or sticks previously engaged thereby, 
to free the lower ends of the blades from their stick. The blades can now 
freely spring to an optimum position against sticks adjacent to those 
being inserted for assuring that only a single stick will be ultimately 
ejected by each blade when its descent is resumed. 
The jogging apparatus appears in FIGS. 1-4, 9 and 10 with FIGS. 1-4 showing 
the position at the start of a cycle and FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrating two 
subsequent stages in the operation. 
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, upstanding plates 120 are bolted to the mid portion 
of the frame channel 63 by bolts 122 and the lower portion of each plate 
120 has a vertically extending slot 124 for accommodating actuation of the 
slide block 100. In the preferred embodiment disclosed, the initial 
lowering and slight retraction of the blades, previously mentioned, is 
accomplished by a toggle link assembly actuated by the advance stroke of 
the double acting air cylinder unit 40. 
The toggle link assembly has a symmetrical set of links. Each set includes 
a downwardly projecting toggle link 130 pivoted to the upper end of each 
plate 120 by a shouldered screw 132 (FIG. 3) and a spacer sleeve 134. 
The lower end of each toggle link 130 is pivotally connected to an 
actuating yoke 136 (see also FIG. 4) by a shouldered set screw 138 (FIG. 
3) and each set screw 138 is screwed into the upper end of a lower toggle 
link 140. The lower end of each toggle link 140 is pivoted to the slide 
block 100 by a shouldered screw 142 with an intervening spacer 143 that 
slides in a side plate slot 124. 
The yoke 136 is advanced from its extreme right position, as viewed in FIG. 
1, through an intermediate centered position shown in FIG. 9 and on to an 
extreme left or slightly overcenter position shown in FIG. 10 by the 
jogging air cylinder unit 40. The air cylinder unit 40 (FIGS. 1 and 4) has 
a cylinder 144 with a rearwardly projecting ear portion 146 pivoted at 148 
to upstanding brackets 150 bolted to the upper surface of the channel beam 
63. Sliding within the cylinder 144 is a piston 154 mounting a piston rod 
156, the free end of which is fastened to the yoke 136. The double acting 
air cylinder 40 has advance and retract air lines 40a, 40b, for connection 
to another double acting solenoid operated air valve (not shown). 
Retraction of the piston 154 is stopped by engagement of the piston with 
the rear wall of the cylinder 144, as seen in partial section in FIG. 1. 
Advance of the piston rod and yoke 136 to the slightly overcenter position 
of the toggle link shown in FIG. 10 is controlled by adjustment of a stop 
screw 158 (FIG. 4). As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the main piston 102 of 
air cylinder unit 36 is in its uppermost position and when the jogging 
cylinder piston 154 of air cylinder unit 40, which operates the jogging 
assembly 38, is in its fully retracted position, the piston rod 104 is 
fully withdrawn and the sliding block 100 and crosshead beam 70 are fully 
raised so that the blades B are in their fully raised or retracted 
position with their lower ends free of the upper ends of the column K. The 
function of the jogging assembly 38 will be explained in detail in 
connection with the operational views of FIGS. 11-14 and 11A-14A. 
Stick Control Assembly 
The stick control assembly, indicated generally at 42, functions to support 
a packed column (K or K1 or both) of sticks above the molds; to 
accommodate insertion of spaced sticks into confections by the blades B; 
to restrain partially advanced sticks from following the sticks to be 
inserted and to restore partially advanced sticks back to their original 
positions in their column for subsequent insertion operations. 
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, although the stick control system 42 is 
designed to control a column K of sticks on one side of the beam 56 and a 
column K1 (shown in phantom) on the other side of the beam, the operation 
of the system will be illustrated controlling only a column K in the 
interest of brevity. As previously mentioned, a single column of sticks is 
supplied in situations wherein wide or single molds are employed as shown 
in FIG. 1A. 
As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, each column K, K1 of sticks is normally 
supported and guided on a retractable rail 150 with the rail 150 for the 
column K mounted on an oscillating shaft 152 and the rail 150 for the 
column K1 mounted on a companion shaft 152a. The shafts 152, 152a are 
pivotally mounted in side plates 50 (FIG. 1). The guide rails 150 can be 
oscillated from their stick supporting and guiding positions of FIGS. 3 
and 6 to their retracted positions shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6 and in 
solid lines in FIG. 7. When retracted (FIG. 7) the rails 150 accommodate 
the projection of sticks from their packed column. 
The aforesaid oscillation of the guide rail shafts 152, 152a is provided by 
the double acting air cylinder unit 44 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which has a 
cylinder 153 and a piston 154 connected to a piston rod 156. The cylinder 
153 has air line connections 44a, 44b (FIG. 2) for connection to a double 
acting solenoid operated air valve (not shown). The lower end of the 
piston rod 156 mounts a clevis 158 which is pivotally connected at 159 to 
the upper ends of rod oscillating links 160,160a as best seen in FIG. 2. 
The lower end of the link 160 is pivotally connected to an ear 162 on a 
collar 163 keyed to the oscillating shaft 152. The link 160a is connected 
to the shaft 152a by an ear 162a and a collar 163a in the same manner. In 
FIG. 2, the piston 154 is retracted and in this position the support rails 
150,150a are in their raised or stick supporting and guiding positions 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. 
When air is supplied above the piston 154, the piston rod and clevis 158 
are lowered to swing the guide rails 150 out from under the lower ends of 
the stick columns, as shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 6 and in solid lines 
in FIG. 7. The blades B can now descend to displace a row of spaced sticks 
from the column. However, since each column of sticks is packed, 
frictional forces between sticks may displace one or more sticks adjacent 
to that being ejected by a blade. Also, in some cases, the initial 
longitudinal position of blades in their row may be such that one or more 
blades engage the ends of two sticks and hence positively displaces both 
from the column. The function of the auxiliary blade control mechanism 38 
is to insure that each blade completely ejects a single stick from the 
column. 
Auxiliary fixed guide rails are provided at each side of the sticks to be 
ejected from the column in order to maintain the intervening groups of 
sticks in substantially their original position in the column. These 
auxiliary rails are shown at 156,156a in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 and are 
preferably formed by bending out the lower ends of slide plates 58, 58a 
that are attached to the frame crossbeam 56, as previously described. 
As seen in FIG. 8, the auxiliary rails 156 are notched at 160 to 
accommodate the ejection of one or more sticks S, such as sticks "y" and 
"z" in that figure. The stick "y" in FIGS. 7 and 8 is assumed to be the 
stick that is ultimately inserted into an underlying confection by the air 
cylinder 36, whereas stick "z" has been partially displaced by frictional 
engagement with the stick "y" or by the initial lowering of the blades by 
the jogging mechanism 38. It is a function of the rail 150 and the 
oscillating shaft 152 to restore partially displaced sticks, such as stick 
"z" shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, back to their initial position in the column 
K. 
In order to prevent sticks disposed at the notches 160 in the rail 156 from 
dropping out of their respective columns, a set of double acting U-shaped 
springs 164 (FIGS. 3, 7 and 8) is provided and as seen in FIG. 8, six 
springs are mounted at each rail notch 160 and these springs rest in deep 
notches 168 formed in the beam 56 (FIG. 7 and 8). Each spring 164 is 
clipped over a rod 166 that extends lengthwise through the beam 56. The 
lower ends of each spring 164 are re-curved to form opposed stick engaging 
fingers 170 that normally project partially under the lower ends of the 
sticks in the column when displaced sticks, such as sticks "y" and "z" in 
FIGS. 7 and 8 are pushed through the slots 160 in the rails 156 or 156a, 
the sticks "z" are restrained by the spring fingers 170, which urge the 
sticks against the outer guide rails 32 or 32a, depending upon which 
column of sticks is being acted upon. That is to say, the springs are 
disposed adjacent the lower ends of the sticks to retain those sticks z 
adjacent the sticks y from being pushed entirely out of the column with 
the sticks y that are engaged by the pusher blades. Rods. 172, 172a (FIGS. 
7 and 8) bridge the notches 168 in the beam 156 and act as backup members 
for one side of each spring when its finger on the other side is pressing 
against a stick and only one column K is present, as illustrated in FIG. 
7. 
Blade Deflector Assembly 
The blade deflector assembly 46 works in conjunction with the stick jogging 
assembly 38 to insure that extension of the piston rod 104 in the main 
cylinder unit 36 and the consequent complete lowering of the crosshead and 
the attached blades B will cause each blade to fully eject but a single 
stick from the packed column of sticks and into an underlying confection. 
The principle element of the deflector assembly is a reciprocable blade 
deflecting plate 180 which has formed therein two rows of notches or 
apertures 182 to loosely receive the two rows of blades B. The notches 182 
are seen in plan in FIGS. 5 and 6A and also appear in section in the 
diagrammatic operational views of FIGS. 11-14. 
Deflecting plate 180 is slidably mounted on the beam 56 in a manner best 
seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 6A. The plate 180 also has formed therein a row of 
longitudinal slots 184 (FIGS. 5 and 6A) each slot receiving a sleeve 188 
surrounding a plate mounting screw 186. The screws 186 pass through 
apertures in an elongate retaining strip 190 (FIGS. 5-7) and anti-friction 
strips 192,194 are disposed adjacent upper and lower surfaces of the 
deflector plate 180, the strips being made of a material such as Teflon or 
the like. 
The double acting deflecting air cylinder unit 48 has air line connections 
48a, 48b (FIG. 1) for a double acting valve and can be actuated to shift 
the blade deflector plate 180 in either of two positions, as will be 
explained in conjunction with the operational views of FIGS. 11-14. In 
order to position plate 180, a piston rod 196 is connected to a piston 197 
which slides in cylinder 198 of the air cylinder unit 48 (FIGS. 1 and 5) 
and the piston rod 196 is slidably mounted through an aperture formed in 
the upright rack rod 62 which mounts the cylinder 198. The free end of the 
piston rod is secured to an upstanding ear 200 secured to the left end of 
the deflector plate 180 as it appears in FIGS. 1 and 5. 
As seen at the right of FIGS. 1 and 5, a double acting adjustable stop 
construction is provided for controlling the positions of the slots in the 
deflector plate 180 at each limit of its reciprocation. The stop 
construction includes an upstanding post 204 projecting from the right end 
of the deflector plate 180. Fixed stops are provided by an ear 206 bent up 
from the right end of the retaining strip 190 and by an opposed surface of 
the right hand rack rod 62. An adjustable stop bolt 208 connected to the 
post 204 provides a stop element for engagement with the ear 206 and a 
similar stop bolt 210 provides an adjustable stop element for engagement 
with the rack rod 62. 
As seen in FIGS. 11-14 the deflector plate 180 mounts a blade biasing 
plunger at each blade receiving slot 182. A recess 220 is formed at the 
left of each slot as viewed in FIGS. 11-14 which recess mounts a coil 
spring 222 that urges a plunger 224 against the adjacent blade. This 
construction augments the natural spring action of the blades. 
This completes a description of the major elements of the stick inserter of 
the present invention. 
Feeder 
Details of the stick feeders employed to supply the two lanes of packed 
sticks K and K1 to the stick inserter of the present invention are not 
critical to the invention, the principle requirement being that they 
supply packed columns of sticks to the inserter with the ends of each 
column pressed lightly against their respective backstops, such as the 
backstop 59 for the column K, shown in FIG. 1, and that gaps in the 
columns created by stick insertion are closed. 
FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic perspective of a feeder F which can be employed 
to feed a column of packed sticks S to the guide rails 32 and the slide 
plate 58 on one side of the stick inserter. A similar feeder would be 
employed to feed a column K1 of sticks to the other side of the stick 
inserter for dual lane operation. As will be described hereinafter, a 
packer P is provided for compressing the end portions K of the columns of 
sticks within the stick insertion zone of the inserter. 
The feeder F includes a special slat conveyor 230 for picking up sticks 
from a hopper in the manner shown in FIG. 1 of Rasmusson U.S. Pat. No. 
2,953,105, Sept. 20, 1960, or in the manner employed in the aforesaid 
Hoyer "Stickin" machine described in the previously mentioned leaflet and 
known to the trade. 
As best seen in FIG. 16A, the conveyor 230 has sprocket chain 232 for 
driving and guiding the conveyor through the hopper and around a loop (not 
shown). The chain links have ears 234 for slat attachment. Connected 
across the chain ears 234 are flat angled slats 236, each of which has a 
trailing edge flange 237 that picks up a stick S from the hopper and the 
conveyor 230 thereafter forms a row of sticks oriented in transverse, edge 
to edge relationship. The ends of the sticks project past the confines of 
the slats 236 and as seen in FIG. 16, the chain is directed to bring the 
ends of the sticks between helical flanges formed on right and left hand 
drive screws 240,242. A plate 243 supports the lower edges of the sticks 
as they are carried through the screws. The screw 240 is driven by a shaft 
244 connected to an air clutch 246 which is driven by a sprocket 248, a 
chain 250, a motor pinion sprocket 252 and a motor 254. 
The drive shaft 244 drives a gear 256 meshed with an equal diameter gear 
258 on a second shaft 260 for driving the left hand screw 242. With the 
construction shown, the sticks are picked off one by one from the conveyor 
230 and formed into a horizontally disposed column of sticks which column 
is received by guide channels 261, 262. As also seen in FIG. 15, the guide 
channels are given a gradual 90.degree. twist at 264 whereupon a column K 
of sticks is provided with sticks arranged vertically for receipt between 
the guide rails 32 and the backing plate 58 of the stick inserter, 
previously described. The stick delivery ends of guide rails 261, 261a 
also appear in the plan view of FIG. 5. As the column of sticks reaches 
its backstop 59 (FIG. 1) the clutch 246 slips and maintains the column K 
of sticks in face to face packed engagement after sticks have been 
inserted and the blades withdrawn. Stick delivery rail 261a for a 
companion feeder F1 (not shown) is also shown in FIG. 5. If the confection 
machine is set up for single lane inserter operation, only one feeder is 
utilized. 
Operation 
In the brief summary of operation that follows it will be assumed that a 
single packed column K has been fed against back stop 59 (FIG. 1) of the 
stick inserter I for sticks to be inserted into one of the row of molds of 
the type shown in FIG. 1A. Under these conditions, no column K1 of sticks 
is fed to the inserter, both columns K and k1 being employed only for use 
with molds of the type shown in FIG. 1B. It will be assumed that the 
positions of the parts in FIG. 1 represent the start of a cycle. The steps 
of an insertion cycle are as follows: 
1. Inserter awaiting a "cycle start" signal: 
(a) The yoke 34 and the blades B are fully raised (FIGS. 1, 3, 11 and 11a). 
This is accomplished both by raising (retracting) the piston rod 104 in 
cylinder 96 of the main air cylinder unit 36, and by raising the slide 
block 100 (FIG. 3) and the attached main cylinder 96 by retraction of 
piston 154 in the jog air cylinder unit 40 (FIG. 1), to pull the toggle 
link assembly 38 to its right over-center position shown in FIGS. 1 and 
11A. 
(b) When the yoke is fully up, the control circuit is conditioned to 
receive a "cycle start" signal from the confection machine. 
(c) The deflector air cylinder unit 48 (left of FIG. 1) for the blade 
deflecting assembly 46 has shifted the deflector plate 180 to its left 
position as determined by stop 208, so that the right wall of each slot 
182 (FIG. 11) deflects the lower end of the associated blade B to the 
left. As seen in the schematic diagram of FIG. 11, the lower end of a 
blade is deflected by a small distance "b" (about 0.040" to 0.060") to the 
left of a face of stick "x" the plane of the stick face being indicated by 
the line f--f. In the relative position of the column K of sticks and the 
blades shown in FIG. 11, this action of the deflecting plate brings the 
kerfed lower end 80 of the blade shown to a position wherein it happens to 
straddle the upper ends of two sticks "y" and "z". 
(d) The rails 150 have been raised to their upper, stick supporting 
position by the air cylinder unit 44 (seen at the right of FIG. 1 and in 
FIG. 2). This rotates the shafts 152,152a by the links 160,160a seen in 
FIG. 2 to bring rails 150 to their raised positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 
6. 
A stick inserting cycle proceeds as follows: 
2. (a) A "cycle start" signal is received from the confection machine. 
(b) The moveable stick support rails 150 (FIG. 6) are shifted to their 
dotted line positions to clear the bottom of the sticks, which shifting 
motion is accomplished by lowering of piston 154 in the air cylinder unit 
44 (FIGS. 1 and 2) with the attendant rotation of the rail shafts 
152,152a. 
(c) The stick restraining springs 164 (FIGS. 7 and 8) will prevent sticks 
from falling out through the notches 160 in the fixed guide rails 58, as 
can be seen at the left side of FIG. 7. 
3. (a) The jogging air cylinder unit 40 (FIGS. 9 12 and 12A) is actuated to 
move the toggle link jog assembly 38 to a position where the link pivots 
are in a straight line (on center) position. This action lowers the slide 
block 100 and the attached main cylinder 96 by a distance "d" (FIG. 12) of 
about 3/8 inches in the present example. Lowering of block 100 lowers the 
clevis 108 (FIG. 3) by pushing down the sleeve 118, the spring 116 and the 
washer 114, whereupon the yoke beam 70 and the blades B attached thereto 
are lowered or "jogged", as previously described in connection with FIG. 
12. This initial lowering of the blades, in the example given, partially 
displaces two sticks "z" and "y" but since the blade is held clear of an 
adjacent stick "x" by the small distance "b" created by positioning the 
deflector plate 180 to the left, the blade exerts no force on the stick 
"x". Even if blades to each side of the sticks "z" and "y" are partially 
lowered due to frictional engagement with the latter sticks, the lowering 
thereof is frictionally restrained by the action of the springs 164 (FIGS. 
7 and 8). Only those sticks disposed above the notches 160 in the fixed 
rails 156 can be lowered to any significant extent, the intermediate 
groups of sticks being restrained by the fixed rails 156,156a. 
(b) The jog air cylinder unit 40 continues to full advance (FIGS. 10, 15 
and 10A). This pushes the toggle links 38 slightly over-center and raises 
the slide block 100, the attached main cylinder 96 and the cylinder piston 
rod 104 by the small distance "g" shown in FIG. 13. This distance, in the 
present example is about 1/16 inches. The lower end 80 of the blade shown 
is now clear of the upper ends of the previously engaged sticks "z" and 
"y". 
4. (a) The deflector cylinder unit 48 (left of FIG. 1) is now actuated to 
push the deflector plate 180 to the right (FIG. 13) so that the blades are 
not restrained by a right wall of the notches or slots 182 formed in the 
deflector plate. 
(c) Each blade can now spring back until it engages the face "f" of an 
adjacent stick "x". This action is augmented by the spring loaded plungers 
224. The lower edge 80 of each blade is now aligned with the upper end of 
stick "y" only. 
5. Motion of the deflector plate to the right actuates the yoke cylinder 
unit 36 in a manner to be described with reference to the circuit 
diagrams. 
6. The yoke cylinder unit lowers the piston 102 (FIG. 1), the piston rod 
104, clevis 108 (FIG. 3), yoke 70 and the row of blades B to bring the 
yoke to the dotted line position of FIG. 3. The row of blades B is now 
lowered, providing ejection of the stick "y" (FIG. 14) and its companion 
sticks (not seen) along the column K into the underlying confections. In 
FIG. 14, the ejection of stick "y" is in progress while the partially 
displaced stick "z" is being held in place by the springs 164 (FIGS. 7 and 
8). 
7. When the yoke is fully down, circuits are energized to raise the yoke, 
after which other operations are performed. First the piston of the main 
cylinder unit 36 is actuated to raise the yoke 70 and to withdraw the row 
of blades B from the column K of sticks. 
8. (a) When the yoke is fully up; the deflector cylinder 48 resets the 
deflector plate to the left as shown in FIG. 11. 
(b) The jog cylinder unit 40 is actuated to pull the toggle links 38 back 
to their initial right overcenter of FIGS. 1 and 11A, thereby resetting 
the blades to their initial fully raised position shown in FIG. 1. 
(c) The rail cylinder unit 44 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is actuated to raise the 
piston 154 and the attached piston rod 156 to rotate shafts 152,152a, 
thereby bringing guide rails 150 from their dotted line positions in FIG. 
6 back to their solid line positions in that Figure, which positions are 
also shown in FIG. 3. This action pushes up any partially displaced sticks 
(such as stick "z", FIGS. 7 and 13) back into alignment with the remaining 
sticks in the column K. 
9. When the rails 150 are reset, the circuit is partially conditioned for 
another cycle on signal from the confection machine. 
10. Feeding pressure on the column K by the packer P (as described 
hereinafter) closes the gaps between groups of sticks formed by withdrawal 
of the blades after ejection of inserted sticks from the column and the 
apparatus is completely armed for a new stick insertion cycle. 
Packer 
Referring to FIG. 15, the packer P (only part of which is shown) is mounted 
between the feeder F and the stick insertion zone of the stick inserter I. 
The packer positively closes gaps in the end portion K of the column of 
sticks in the stick insertion zone after the inserter blades have been 
retracted therefrom and packs or compresses the end portion of column of 
sticks so that all of the sticks are properly oriented for an insertion 
cycle. Referring to FIG. 19, the packer P includes a pusher device 271 
that is mounted on a frame structure 270 that is, in turn secured to one 
side plate 50 of the inserter. Mounted on the frame 270 is a U-shaped 
bracket 272 having projecting arms 274 and 276. Connected between these 
arms is a longitudinal rail 277 along which the pusher device 271 can 
reciprocate. The arms 274,276 can also mount the stick guide channels 261, 
previously described. The pusher device 271 includes a carriage 280 that 
is reciprocable upon the rail 277. The carriage is formed of opposed 
U-shaped plates 282,284 which are open at the top, as best seen in FIG. 
20. Four shouldered bolts 286 (FIGS. 20 and 22) mount two rollers 290 
disposed at the upper edge of the rail 277 and two rollers along its lower 
edge. With this construction, the carriage 280 is firmly guided for 
reciprocation along the rail. 
The end portion K of the column of sticks is frictionally gripped by the 
pusher device 271 from opposite sides and the pusher device 271 is then 
extended or advanced to pack the sticks in such end portion within the 
stick insertion zone. On one side of the stick column, a gripper 294 is 
mounted on a clamp arm 298 and on the opposite side a gripper 300 is 
mounted on a clamp arm 302. Both grippers are rotatably mounted on their 
respective arms to accommodate re-orientation of the sticks as the packing 
operation takes place. For example, the grippers 294 and 300 each comprise 
a stick engaging pad 304 formed of rubber or other friction material 
mounted on a disc 306, the disc being integral with a shaft 308. The shaft 
308 is retained in the associated clamp arm 298 by a snap ring 310. 
The grippers 294,300 are clamped against the column adjacent the upstream 
end of the column portion K by a self-centering air cylinder arrangement. 
In order to mount the opposed clamp arms 298,302 on the pusher carriage 
280, pivot pin brackets 312 and 314 (FIGS. 19 and 22) are mounted on the 
carriage by bolts 286. The aforesaid brackets have inwardly projecting 
legs which extend into the carriage and mount a clamp-arm pivot-pin 316 
(FIGS. 21 and 22), the axis of which lies in the midplane of the rail 277. 
The lower end of clamp arm 298 mounts spaced laterally extending levers 
318,320 (FIG. 22), and the intermediate portions of levers are pivoted on 
the pivot pin 316. The opposed clamp arm 302 has an oppositely extending 
lever 322 (FIGS. 21 and 22) which is also pivotally mounted on the pivot 
pin 316. 
A double-acting pneumatic cylinder 324 is provided to close the grippers 
294,300 against the sticks therebetween. The piston of cylinder 324 
magnetically operates reed switches L7 and L9 forming part of the control 
circuit to be described. An ear 326 on the lower end of cylinder 324 is 
pivoted at 328 to the levers 318,320 of the clamp arm 298 (FIGS. 21 and 
22). As seen in FIGS. 19 and 21, the piston rod 320 of the air cylinder 
mounts a clevis 332 which is pivoted at 334 to an ear 336 projecting from 
the upper end of the clamp arm 302. Thus, when air is applied to extend 
the air cylinder, oppositely acting forces are exerted on the ear 336 for 
one gripper and the levers 318,320 for the other gripper. This brings the 
grippers together, causing them to clamp against several sticks in a 
manner which permits self-centering of the grippers. 
FIG. 21 shows the grippers 294 and 300 in their open position, and FIG. 21A 
shows the grippers closed upon the column of sticks. When the grippers are 
opened, a stop bolt 340 mounted on an ear 341 projecting from the gripper 
arm 298 engages the housing of a brake cylinder 342 mounted on the 
carriage 280. Also when opened, the leg 322 of the gripper arm 302 engages 
a stop bolt 343 threaded into a flange 344 that projects from the carriage 
plate 284. A limit stop 346 (FIGS. 21 and 21A) is also threaded to the 
projection flange 344 for limiting the pivoting action of the levers 
318,320 extending from the gripper arm 298 (see FIG. 21A). The brake 
cylinder 342 is supplied with air under pressure when the packer is in its 
extended position. This isolates the end portion K of the column of sticks 
packed by the packer from the feeding force exerted thereon by a column of 
sticks being fed by the stick feeder F. 
The brake mechanism will now be described in greater detail. The brake 
cylinder 342 has a cylinder portion 350, which is externally square and 
which is secured to the carriage plate 282 by four bolts 352 (FIGS. 20 and 
23). Bolts 352 also mount a carriage reciprocating plate 354. The brake 
cylinder has an air piston 356 (FIG. 21) that can be forced into braking 
engagement with a side face of the rail 277. Braking is caused by 
supplying air under pressure to a line 358 connected to the brake 
cylinder. FIG. 20 shows the packer carriage 280 in its retracted position 
with the brake piston 356 in dashed lines, in which position the brake is 
released. The brake piston 356 is also shown in phantom lines in FIG. 20, 
in which position the carriage has been extended or advanced to pack the 
column of sticks. The brake is applied in this position of the packer to 
grip the rail 277 to thereby hold the carriage in its extended position. 
In order that the carriage 280 of the packer can be extended to pack the 
end portion K of column of sticks and thereafter retracted to its reset 
position, the plate 354 mounted on the brake cylinder is formed with an 
upwardly extending arm 360. The arm 360 is engaged by double-acting 
pneumatic cylinder 362 (FIGS. 19 and 20) which is mounted on the frame leg 
276 by a clamp nut 364. The piston rod 356 of cylinder 362 mounts a clevis 
368 which is pivoted at 370 upon the upper end of the carriage arm 360. 
When air is applied to cylinder 362 to extend the piston rod 366, the 
packer is moved from its retracted position shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 to 
its extended position, the extended position of gripper 294, being shown 
in phantom outline in FIG. 20. Of course, before the packer is thus 
extended, air cylinder 324 has been actuated to close the grippers to 
clamp several sticks, as described hereinbefore. When air is applied to 
the opposite end of the air cylinder 362, the carriage is retracted to the 
position shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. 
Reed switches L7 and L9 (FIG. 21) are magnetically operated by the piston 
of the gripper cylinder 324 in a manner to be described presently. 
Control Circuit 
The function of the control circuit is to carry out the sequence of 
inserting and packing steps in a manner wherein the operations are 
completed in the proper sequence without interference of parts, jamming or 
breakage of sticks. 
In the control circuit to be described, various relays and associated 
solenoid actuated air valves are controlled by the closing and opening of 
reed switches, each switch being closed by the positioning of a magnet 
adjacent thereto and being opened when the magnet is moved from the 
vicinity of the switch. These reed switches, which are well known in the 
art, are quite sensitive in that only a fraction of an inch movement of a 
magnet is sufficient to either open or close a switch. Since the details 
of the control circuit being described are not critical to the present 
invention, and since the required operational steps of the apparatus have 
been described in detail, the operation of the control circuit will be 
described briefly in connection with the simple schematic diagrams of 
FIGS. 17 and 18. 
Switch Arrangement 
The mounting of reed switches L1-L5 which cycle the inserter is shown in 
FIG. 1 and these reed switches are also shown in the circuit diagram of 
FIG. 17. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a yoke control reed switch L1 is mounted on the frame 
cross beam 63 and is closed by a magnet M1 mounted on a slide block 73 of 
the yoke when the yoke and blades are fully raised. As also seen in FIG. 
1, a reed switch L5 is mounted on the frame, as by mounting on the rail 
cylinder unit 44, and is closed by the magnet M1 when the yoke is fully 
lowered, as indicated in dotted lines. 
The rail cylinder unit 44 seen at the right of FIG. 1 is of a special type 
manufactured by the Bimba Manufacturing Company of Monee, Ill. The magnet 
that closes and opens a reed switch L2 on the rail cylinder unit 44 is 
mounted to move with the piston and piston rod and is not shown in the 
drawings. 
The jog cylinder unit 40 is also a Bimba unit and mounts a reed switch L3. 
The stepping cylinder unit 48 is another Bimba unit which mounts a reed 
switch L4. 
Cylinder Control Valves 
Each of the air cylinders is actuated by a double acting, solenoid operated 
air valve connected to the air lines for each cylinder which have been 
previously described. These valves are conventional in construction and 
are not illustrated. Valve solenoids are, however, shown in the circuit 
diagram of FIG. 18. The solenoids V30 and VO3 control the valve for the 
rail cylinder unit 44. Solenoids V20 and VO2 control the valve for the jog 
cylinder unit 40. Solenoids V40 and VO4 control the valve for the 
deflector cylinder unit 48 and solenoids V10 and VO1 control the valves 
for the yoke cylinder unit 36. One solenoid of each pair positions the 
associated valve for moving its air cylinder piston to one extreme 
position and vice-versa. 
Control Circuit Operation 
1. Awaiting Cycle Start Signal 
As described in the description of the operation of the inserter, the 
position of the parts when awaiting a Cycle Start signal is shown in FIG. 
1. Referring to FIG. 17 an OFF-ON switch SW is closed energizing the 12 
volt DC power supply. When the yoke 34 is raised to its up position, the 
magnet M1 closes the reed switch L1 (FIG. 1) and energizes relay coil CR1. 
As shown in FIG. 17, the other switches L2-L5 are open. Referring to line 
1 of the ladder diagram of FIG. 18, normally open contact CR1-1 is closed 
thereby conditioning the circuit for initiating a cycle upon receipt of a 
"Cycle Start" signal from the confection machine which will close normally 
open contacts CR29-1. A normally open contact CR1-2 in line 6 of the 
diagram is also closed at this time and a contact CR6-1, to be explained 
presently, is also closed. None of the valve solenoids shown in FIG. 17 
are energized. 
2. Start Cycle 
A Cycle Start signal from a confection machine sequencer closes contact 
CR29-1 in line 1 of the diagram of FIG. 18, thereby energizing relay coil 
CR22 through CR1-1 and CR6-1. This closes normally open contact CR22-1 in 
line 2 of FIG. 18 and energizes air valve solenoid V30 through normally 
closed contact CR5-1. This can only happen when the yoke is up and CR1 is 
energized. When solenoid V30 is energized, the air control valve (not 
shown) for rail cylinder unit 44 is operated to lower the rails 150 (FIG. 
6). Once the piston in cylinder unit 44 (and this applies to the other air 
cylinders as well) is shifted by energizing its valve solenoid V30, it 
remains in its shifted position until the companion solenoid VO3 for the 
control valve is energized to reset the cylinder back to its original 
position. The normally closed contact CR22-2 in line 6 of the diagram is 
opened when relay coil CR22 is energized, insuring that no power can reach 
re-set solenoids VO4 and VO3 at this time. 
3. When the piston of the rail cylinder unit 44 is fully down it closes 
switch L2 (FIG. 17), energizing relay coil CR2. Referring to FIG. 18, this 
closes contact CR2-1 in line 3 energizing the jog solenoid V20 through 
normally closed contact CR5-1 and closed contact CR22-1 for moving the 
piston of jog cylinder unit 40 to the left. Also, in line 6 of FIG. 18, 
although normally open contact CR2-2 closes, normally closed contact 
CR22-2 remains open because relay CR22 is still energized, holding 
solenoids VO4 and VO3 in line 8 de-energized. If relay CR2 is not 
energized by the rail cylinder unit 44 for closing contact CR2-1 in line 
3, operation of the stick inserter cannot proceed. 
4. When the piston of jog cylinder unit 40 moves full left (FIGS. 10, 15 
and 13A), it closes switch L3 (FIG. 17) energizing relay coil CR3. 
Switches L1 and L2 remain closed. Referring to FIG. 18, CR3 closes 
normally opened contact CR3-1 in line 4 thereby energizing solenoid V40 
for the deflector plate cylinder 48 through previously closed normally 
open contacts CR2-1, CR22-1 and normally closed contact CR5-1. Normally 
closed rail reset contact CR3-2 in line 7 is opened. The valve controlled 
by the solenoid V40 is actuated to cause the piston in cylinder unit 48 to 
move the deflector plate to the right (FIG. 13) so that the blades are now 
free to spring against the faces of sticks adjacent to those about to be 
inserted. Switches L1 and L2 (FIG. 17) remain closed, and normally closed 
contact CR22-2 in line 6 of FIG. 18 remains open because CR22 is still 
energized. 
5. When the piston of deflector cylinder unit 48 has moved the deflector 
plate 180 fully right (blade release position) switch L4 is closed (FIG. 
17) energizing relay coil CR4. As seen in line 5 of FIG. 18, normally open 
contact CR4-1 is now closed energizing the valve solenoid V10 through 
CR5-1, CR22-1 and CR2-1 for the air cylinder unit 36 that controls the 
yoke and the cylinder unit piston now moves the yoke and associated blades 
down to eject sticks from their column. Normally closed contact CR22-2 in 
line 6 of FIG. 18 is still open because CR22 is still energized. 
6. As the yoke moves down it opens switch L1 and relay coil CR1 is 
de-energized (FIG. 17). Switches L2-L4 remain closed. 
In FIG. 18, line 1, normally open contact CR1-1 now re-opens, removing 
power for solenoids V30, V20, V40 and V10, by de-energizing relay coil 
CR22 and re-opening normally closed contact CR22-1, line 2 of the diagram. 
Also, at about this time the Cycle Start signal pulse from the confection 
machine that closed contact CR29-1 in line 1 of FIG. 18 ends and contact 
CR29-1 likewise opens, further isolating the aforesaid solenoids. In line 
6 of FIG. 18, normally closed contact CR22-2 re-closes but normally open 
contact CR1-2 in the same line, which was previously closed when the yoke 
was up, reopens and contact CR2-2 in line 6, which was previously closed, 
remains closed. However, the opening of contacts CR22-2 and CR1-2 (yoke 
moving down) isolate valve solenoids VO4 and VO3. 
7. When the yoke is fully down, the magnet M1 (as shown in dotted lines in 
FIG. 1) closes the switch L5 and energizes the relay coil CR5 (FIG. 17). 
Yoke switch L1 remains open and switches L2-L4 remain closed. Energizing 
CR5 opens the normally closed contact CR5-1 in line 2 of FIG. 18 thereby 
insuring that no power can be applied to solenoids VO4 and VO3 at this 
time. Solenoids V30, V20, V40 and V10 have been previously isolated by 
CR22-1, as described. Also, when the yoke is fully lowered, normally open 
contact CR5-2 in line 8 of FIG. 18 is closed, energizing the valve 
solenoid VO1 which shifts the air valve for the yoke air cylinder unit 36, 
and initiates raising of the yoke and its attached blades. Simultaneously, 
air solenoid VO2 (line 9) for the air valve of the jog cylinder unit 40 is 
energized, which causes its piston to move to the right to its original 
reset position shown in FIG. 1. This opens switch L3 in FIG. 17, 
de-energizes relay CR3 and re-closes contact CR3-2 in line 7 of FIG. 18. 
8. When the yoke is fully up, the magnet M1 again closes switch L1 (FIG. 
17) which re-energizes the relay coil CR1. The rail release switch L2 
remains closed. Referring to FIG. 18, line 2, normally open contact CR5-1 
recloses when the yoke reaches its fully up position but CR29-1 (Cycle 
Start signal from confection machine) remains open and relay CR22 remains 
de-energized, leaving contact CR22-1 in line 2 open and leaving contact 
CR22-2 in line 6 closed. However, when relay coil CR1 was energized by 
raising the yoke fully up, normally open contact CR1-2 in line 6 is 
closed, thereby energizing valve solenoid VO4 for the deflector plate 
cylinder unit 48 through normally closed contact CR22-2 and previously 
closed normally open contact CR2-2. Thus, the aforesaid closing of CR1-2 
shifts the deflector plate 180 to its left or reset position shown in FIG. 
11A. This opens switch L4 in FIG. 17, de-energizing CR4. Also, normally 
closed contact CR3-2 shown on line 7 of FIG. 18 has reclosed (step 7), 
energizing the rail reset solenoid VO3, which causes the valve for the 
rail cylinder unit 44 to raise the rails to their upper position shown in 
FIG. 6. 
When the yoke started to raise, switch L5 opened, de-energizing relay CR5 
and restoring its contacts to their normal conditions shown in FIG. 18. In 
lines 8 and 9 of FIG. 18, when the yoke is raised, normally open contact 
CR5-2 reopens thereby de-energizing valve solenoids VO1, VO2, and these 
valves are conditioned for receiving air on energization of solenoids V10 
and V20 in the next cycle. Normally closed contact CR5-1 in line 2 of FIG. 
18 re-closes for partially arming valve solenoids VO4 and VO3. 
9. When the piston of rail cylinder unit 44 is in its fully raised 
position, restoring the rails to their uppermost positions shown in FIG. 
6, the switch L2 (FIG. 17) is opened, thereby de-energizing relay coil 
CR2. Switches L3-L5 have been opened previously, and the yoke switch L1 
has been closed. Referring to line 3 of FIG. 18, de-energizing relay CR2 
re-opens normally open contact CR2-1 and de-energizes the valve solenoids 
V20, V40 and V10. At the same time, normally open contact CR2-2 in line 6 
of FIG. 18 is reopened, de-energizing the valve solenoids VO4 and VO3. 
Solenoids VO1 and VO2 in lines 8 and 9 of FIG. 18 were previously 
de-energized by the re-opening of normally open yoke contact CR5-2. 
Thus, all the valve solenoids are de-energized and contact CR29 in line 1 
of FIG. 18 is opened, awaiting another Cycle Start pulse from the 
confection machine. However, since the yoke is up, the contact CR1-1 is 
closed, thus arming the circuit for receipt of another Cycle Start pulse 
to close contact CR29-1. The control circuit insures that the various 
operations take place in sequence and that if a given operation is not 
completed, the inserter will not perform subsequent operations and hence 
will come to a stop. 
Loose Pack Sensing 
Circuit means are provided in order to insure that fully packed column K 
and K1 of sticks are stored in the inserter before an insertion cycle is 
initiated. For this purpose a spring plunger switch L6 (FIG. 1) is mounted 
in a recess in backstop 59 for column K and a companion switch L6A (not 
visible in FIG. 1) is fitted to the backstop 59a for column K1. 
The switches L6 and L6A are in series, as shown in FIG. 17 and when both 
are closed by columns of sticks they energize a relay coil CR6. Referring 
to FIG. 18, when relay CR6 is energized, normally open contact CR6-1 in 
line 1 of FIG. 18 is closed, thereby completely arming the power supply 
circuit. If a column of sticks is not full or is not fully packed, its 
associated switch L6 or L6A will be open, de-energizing relay CR6, thereby 
allowing normally open contact CR6-1 to open. Although a cycle in process 
will be completed, a new cycle cannot start until contact CR6-1 is 
re-closed. If the stick inserter is to operate as a single lane machine, 
the appropriate switch L6 or L6A is merely shunted out of the circuit to 
simulate its closed position. 
Packer Operation 
A detailed description of the packer operation will be provided in 
connection with the circuit diagrams of FIGS. 17 and 18, previously 
referred to in regard to operation of the inserting mechanism. These 
figures show the condition of the circuit elements when the inserter yoke 
34 is up, the brake cylinder 342 is released and the packer carriage 280 
has been retracted by cylinder 362 to its reset position. The diagrams of 
FIGS. 17 and 18 show limit switches and relays for both single and double 
lane packaging. A packer is associated with each lane but a single set of 
solenoid actuated air valves controls both packers. 
1. Extend Packer Circuit Readied 
(a) When the yoke 34 is fully raised and as previously described, switch L1 
is closed (FIG. 17) energizing relay CR1. This closes normally open 
contacts CR1-2 in line 6 of FIG. 18. The "insert complete" relay CR23 
(line 7A) is energized through normally closed contacts CR5-1 (line 2) and 
CR22-2 (line 6) as well as through normally open contact CR1-2 (now 
closed) and normally closed contact CR2-3 in line 7A. With a relay CR23 
thus energized, normally open contact CR23-1 in line 13 is also closed, 
partially arming the "extend packer" valve solenoid V6. When the relay CR1 
was energized as just described, normally open contacts CR1-1 in line 1 
and CR1-2 in line 6 of FIG. 18 are closed as described in step one of the 
aforegoing description, Inserter Control Circuit Operation. 
(b) When the packer carriage 280 was retracted by cylinder 362, in a manner 
to be described presently, a "packer retracted" switch L8 (FIG. 17) was 
closed. Since two packers are provided for dual lane operation, a 
companion switch L8A in series with L8 is also closed when the second 
packer is retracted, it being understood that both packers retract 
regardless of whether they are to pack a lane or not. Thus, when both 
switches L8 and L8A were closed the "packer retracted" relay CR27 was 
energized. 
2. Grippers Engaged 
(a) With the "packer retracted" relay CR27 energized, as in step 1(b), 
normally open contact CR27-1 in line 12 of FIG. 18 closes and energizes 
the "engage grippers" valve solenoid VO7 for air cylinder 324 causing the 
latter to engage several sticks between the grippers, 294 and 300. 
(b) When the grippers of both packers are moved together for engaging the 
side edges of several sticks therebetween, the limit switches L9 and L9A 
(FIG. 17) close, energizing the "grippers engaged" relay CR28, for arming 
an "extend packer" solenoid, as will be described. The packer system is 
now ready for packer extension. In single lane operation wherein no sticks 
are fed to one lane, the grippers of the packer at an empty lane close as 
described above, even though no sticks are in their lane and this is true 
for succeeding operations. 
3. Extend Packer 
(a) With the yoke 34 up, the blades B are withdrawn from the column of 
sticks and the resultant gaps loosen the column whereupon the "pack tight" 
switches L6 and L6A (one for each lane) FIG. 17 open. In single lane 
operation, one of these switches is always open and must be shunted by a 
circuit (not shown) to shift control to the utilized lane. Opening of 
either switch L6 or L6A de-energizes relay CR6 (FIG. 17) and opens 
normally open brake relay contact CR6-2 in line 15 of FIG. 18. This 
de-energizes brake relay CR25 in order to release the packer brake 
cylinder 342 and free the respective packer carriage. With relay CR25 
de-energized, normally open contact CR25-2 in line 16 of FIG. 18 opens, 
brake valve solenoid V8 is de-energized and the associated air valve (not 
shown) releases the brake cylinder by releasing air pressure therefrom. 
(c) When the grippers 294 and 300 engage the side edges of the several 
sticks therebetween, relay CR28 was energized (step 2b) and normally open 
contact CR28-1 in line 13 of FIG. 18 was closed. This energizes the 
"extend packer" valve solenoid V6 through previously closed contact CR23-1 
(step 1a) and normally closed contact CR25-1 (line 13 of FIG. 18). 
Energization of valve solenoid V6 causes the cylinder 362 to advance the 
closed grippers 294 and 300 toward the stick inserter backstop figure 59 
(FIG. 1) to thereby pack the portion stick column within the stick 
insertion zone of the inserting apparatus. Both packers are extended, even 
in single lane operation. 
(d) When the pusher devices 271 of both packers are extended and the end 
portions of one or both columns are firmly packed with a pressure 
corresponding to the air pressure supplied to cylinder 362, the brake 
cylinder 342 is extended to hold the carriage 280 in such position, 
thereby controlling the pressure exerted on the sticks during insertion. 
When the pusher devices are so extended, left and right lane "packer 
extended" switches L10, L11 (FIG. 17) are closed, energizing relay CR9. 
This arms the control circuit for a packer reset operation by closing 
normally open contact CR9-1 in line 14 of FIG. 18. 
4. Apply Packer Brake 
(a) When the extension of the pusher device 271 and its grippers 294 and 
300 packs both columns of sticks against their respective back stops 59, 
the "pack tight" switches L6 and L6A (FIG. 17) reclose and energize relay 
CR6. These switches are in series so that in dual lane operation, both 
lanes must be packed. In single lane operation the empty lane switch is 
shunted out by means not shown. Energization of relay CR6 closes normally 
open contact CR6-2 in line 15 of FIG. 18 and energizes brake relay CR25 
through normally closed contact CR26-2. 
(b) With relay CR25 energized, the normally open contact CR25-2 in line 16 
of FIG. 18 closes, energizing brake valve solenoid V8 and causing air 
under pressure to apply the brake cylinder 342. Also, normally closed 
contact CR25-1 in line 13 of FIG. 18 opens, de-energizing the "extend 
packer" valve solenoid V6, so that air is released from the extension end 
of cylinder 362, readying the cylinder for a reset operation. However, the 
brake cylinder holds the carriage of the pusher device in its extended 
(packing) position and isolates the packed column portion that is upstream 
from the engaged sticks from force exerted by the feeder F on the incoming 
column of sticks. 
(c) The energization of relay CR6 (step 4a) also closed contact CR6-1 in 
line 1 of FIG. 18 and armed the control circuit for acting upon a new 
"cycle start" signal from the confection machine, when such signal is 
received. 
At this point it is noted that only one valve solenoid V7O, V5, VO7, V6 and 
V8 is shown for the various packer functions in FIG. 18. However, it is to 
be understood that for each packer valve solenoid there is an air valve 
connected to a source of air under pressure, and the pressure output or 
outputs of these valves are connected in parallel to the cylinders or the 
like for two packers for dual lane operation of the inserter. The porting 
of solenoid controlled air valves for performing the simple "pressure on" 
and "pressure relieved" operations required is a mere matter of 
conventional engineering, and thus the air valve details are omitted as 
being unnecessary. 
5. Packer Reset 
(a) Yoke Position 
After every stick column packing operation, the cylinder 362 of each packer 
is extended and must be retracted or reset to initiate a new packing 
operation. The packer reset cycle is initiated when the yoke 34 reaches 
its fully down position and closes the "yoke down" switch L5 (FIG. 17) to 
energize relay CR5. Relay CR5 closes normally open contact CR5-2 in line 8 
of FIG. 18 and energizes the "yoke up" valve solenoid VO1 for cylinder 36 
to bring the yoke up and withdraw the blades from the column. 
(b) Release Grippers 
When the normally open contact CR28-2 in line 14 of FIG. 18 was closed by 
the "grippers engaged" relay CR28 (step 2b) and normally open contact 
CR9-1 was closed by the "packer extended" relay CR9 (step 3c), the "packer 
reset" relay CR24 in line 14 of FIG. 18 is energized. This closes normally 
open contact CR24-1 in line 10 of FIG. 18 for energizing the "release 
grippers" valve solenoid 70 so that the gripper cylinder 324 receive air 
under pressure at its gripper release end to release the grippers, 
providing relay CR5 is energized by switch L5 when the yoke was in its 
down position. As seen in line 14 of FIG. 18, when the "packer reset" 
relay CR24 was energized, as just described, normally open contact CR24-2 
which shunts contact CR9-1, thereby latching relay CR24 regardless of the 
condition of the "packer extended" switches L10 and L11 (FIG. 17), the 
relay CR9 and its contact CR9-1. 
6. Retract Packer 
When the cylinders 324 disengage their respective grippers 294 and 300, 
"grippers disengaged" switches L7 and L7A (FIG. 17) are closed by their 
respective packers, thereby energizing the relay CR26. Both switches are 
closed in single lane as well as in two lane operation. Relay CR26 closes 
normally open contact CR26-1 in line 11 of FIG. 18 and energizes the 
"retract packer" valve solenoid V5. The cylinders 362 now retract or reset 
their respective packers. 
7. Close Grippers 
(a) When the yoke 34 is fully elevated (step 5a), the "yoke down" switch L5 
(FIG. 17) is opened, thus de-energizing relay CR5 and opening normally 
contact CR5-2 in line 8 of FIG. 18. This de-energized the "release 
grippers" valve solenoid V7O in line 10 of FIG. 18. The aforesaid action 
readied the control circuit for re-engaging the grippers upon retraction 
of the pusher devices. 
(b) When both cylinders 50 for both pusher devices are fully retracted, the 
"packer retracted" switches L8 and L8a (FIG. 17) close, energizing relay 
CR27. This closes normally open contact CR27-1 in line 12 of FIG. 18 and 
energizes the "engage grippers" valve solenoid VO7, causing cylinders 324 
to force the grippers to clamp upon their respective columns of sticks. 
(c) When the grippers 294, 300 are engaged upon their respective columns, 
the "grippers engaged" switches L9 and L10 (FIG. 17) are closed, 
energizing relay CR28 in preparation for a new packing cycle, as in steps 
1 and 2 previously described. 
Referring to switches in FIG. 17 it will be seen that the "grippers 
disengaged" switches L7, L7A, the "packer retracted switches" L8, L8A and 
the "grippers engaged" switches L9, L9A for the two packers are wired in 
series. Accordingly, the operations of both packers must be completed 
before the associated relays are energized and a cycle can continue. In 
single lane operation, the idle packer will close these switches even 
though no column of sticks is present. However, it will be seen that the 
"packer extended" relay CR9 (FIG. 17) can be energized by the closing of 
either switch L10 or switch L11 because these switches are connected in 
parallel. This action is provided because in dual lane operation, the 
amount of extension of the respective pusher devices 271 against the 
columns of sticks, depends upon the elasticity of the respective end 
portions of the columns being packed: one packer might not reach its full 
extent when the other is fully extended even though both columns of sticks 
are packed. 
Although various relays are employed in the control circuit just described, 
in accordance with current electrical practice a programmed logic circuit 
can be substituted for the relays, employing the same control limit 
switches or their equivalent. 
Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention 
has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification 
and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be 
the subject matter of the invention as defined in the appended claims.