Patent GB-852007-A (GB)
Title: A method of and apparatus for making moulded cubes of sugar crystals
IPC: C13B50/02
Filed: 1958-10-27
Abstract: 852,007. Moulding sugar. SVENSKA SOCKERFABRIKS A.B. Oct. 27, 1958 [Nov. 1, 1957 ; Jan. 17, 1958], No. 34341/58. Class 87(2). [Also in Group XXX] Cubes are moulded from a moist composition of sugar crystals in moulds having open-ended cavities and the cubes, while still moist, are removed through the downwardly-facing open ends of the mould cavities by vibrating the moulds, the cubes being supported during their removal from the moulds by supporting means by which they are conveyed away from the moulds. Sugar solution is boiled to form crystals in a boiling pan 106, the crystals are mixed in a crystallizer 107, separated from syrup in a centrifuger 108, and supplied to a hopper 17. The hopper 17 has a sensing means 117, comprising spaced electrodes connected to a measuring bridge from which unbalanced signals are transmitted to a converter 118, which in turn signals a regulator 119 governing the motor of the centrifuge 108 ; thus the moisture content of the crystals is kept constant. A succession of moulds 10, each comprising a rectangularsectioned bar with a series of square holes along it, forming moulding cavities open at top and bottom, is driven under the hopper 17 and a cover plate 19, and along the upper surface of a base plate 14, by toothed wheels 16 which engage pins 13 projecting from the ends of the moulds. The holes may be lined with polytetrafluoroethylene, or the moulds themselves made of that material. Moist sugar crystals 17, which may be agitated in the hopper, fill the cavities, the transfer from the hopper being facilitated by the vibration of guide bars 15<SP>1</SP> which impart a series of shocks to the moulds. The cover 19, which may be weighted or acted on by springs, compacts the sugar crystals in conjunction with the action of vibrated guide bars 15<SP>11</SP>, in the moulds, so that they are formed into cubes. The cubes are transferred to a conveyer belt 21, e.g. of steel, by gravity, the moulds 10 being raised for the purpose, during their travel, by being caused to ride up inclined bars 24, vibrated to enable the brittle cubes to drop out without deformation, and they are conveyed to drying apparatus. The moulds are moved around a drum 26, freely rotatable, by belts 27 arranged as shown over three pulleys, and return along their upper run on supporting bars 30, passing through a cleaner 31 where they are washed and dried. The character of the cube e.g. the porosity is controlled by the degree of vibration imparted by the bars 15<SP>1</SP>, 15<SP>11</SP>. The degree of vibration may be adjusted by shifting one guide bar to and from the other, e.g. by an eccentric on a shaft driven by a servo-motor governed by a regulator 116, for the bars 15<SP>1</SP>, or 113, for the bars 15<SP>11</SP> ; or the vibrator itself may be adjusted. In a modification, the pulley 22 of the belt 21 may be in advance of the hopper. The rate of feeding of the sugar to the moulds may be regulated by a motor-operated shutter 104. The conveyer 21 carries the moulded cubes through a drier 110, thence to means 111 for measuring their width, thence to a weigher 114, and thence to means 141 which arrange them in layers for packaging. The means 111 send a signal corresponding to the width of the cubes to a converter 112 which signals the regulator 113. The weigher 114 sends a signal to a converter 115 which signals the regulator 116. Alternatively the regulator 116 may control the shutter 104, or it may change the head of sugar crystals in the hopper. Ahead of the packaging means 141 is a synchronism detector 144. The packaging means 141 are driven from the same motor as the moulding apparatus but, to allow for operational differences, such as may be caused by belt slip, planetary gearing 142 is interposed. The synchronism detector, Fig. 12, comprises a disc 150 driven from the planetary gearing so that, when there is synchronism, projections 151 from the disc periphery cover the gaps between adjacent rows of moulded cubes ; if the packaging means slips out of phase an opening is left through which light can pass which energises a photo-electric cell which unbalances a measuring bridge and so signals a converter 145 which causes a regulator 143 to alter the speed of the output shaft of the planetary gearing. Instead of light rays, air jets could be used, operating pressure gauges.