Patent GB-723013-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to biscuit cutting machines and the like
Inventor: TUNLEY ALLAN ASHMEAD
IPC: A21C11/10
Filed: 1952-01-15
Abstract: 723,013. Biscuit-cutting machines. BAKER PERKINS, Ltd. Jan. 14, 1953 [Jan. 15, 1952], No. 1111/52. Class 87 (2). A cutter head construction for a biscuit-cutting or like machine comprises a cutter shell assembly, and an ejector assembly operatively associated therewith, both assemblies being readily demountable from a cutter supporting member, spring backing means for the ejector assembly permanently secured with respect to the cutter supporting member to be operable on any ejector assembly affixed thereon and means for limiting the downward extension on deflection of and spring means relative to the cutter supporting member at all times whereby the spring means do not effectively bear upon the ejector assembly when the cutter head is in a raised position. The cutter supporting member 2, in the form of a channel-shaped housing with its opening facing downwards, is bolted to the reciprocating cutter bar 1 and has outside flanges 7 to which the cutter assembly is fixed by bolts 12. The cutter assembly comprises a back plate 11 to which are fixed cutters 10, shaped according to the shape of biscuit required, downward movement pressing the cutters through the dough sheet in known manner. The ejector assembly comprises ejectors 14, fitting inside the cutter shells and secured to a floating plate 13 by studs 16, and a scrap plate 15 is secured to the plate 13 by studs 17. The floating plate 13 has bosses 20 which are opposite ejector spring assembles. Each spring assembly comprises a spring 19 with one end against an abutment member 22, screwed to the cutter box 2; and the other end in a cup-like housing 24 which carries lugs 25 which are received in slots in stirrups 27 depending from the member 22, the closed bottom end of the slots thus limiting the downward extension of the spring at all times. As the cutter head moves downwards, the floating ejector back plate 13 meets stops 31 on the machine and the ejectors 14 are therefore arrested while the cutters continue through the scrap plate 15 and cut the dough. The stopping of the plate 13 means that the spring housings 14 press on the bosses 20 and the springs 19 are compressed as the cutter head continues to move downwards. On the upward stroke the cutters 10 are withdrawn from the dough sheet which is held down by the scrap plate 15 and ejectors 14, which are still held against the stops 31 by the pressure of the springs 19 until the cutter back plate 11 engages the plate 13, after which the cutter and ejector assemblies ascend together. The cutter and ejector assemblies can be replaced by new ones merely by removing the bolts 12, no interference with the backing springs 19 being necessary. Instead of the cutter supporting member 2 being separate from the cutter bar 1, the two may be combined as in 2b, Fig. 8, and provided with flanges 7 for bolting on the cutter and ejector assemblies as before. Fig. 8 also shows means by which the pressures of the springs 19 may be simultaneously adjusted. The upper abutments 22a of the springs are each modified to' receive a post 45 which is screw-threaded through a sleeve 46 fixed to the cutter bar or box 2b. A collar 47, slidable but non-rotatable on the post 45, is rotated by a shaft 50, through a worm 49 on the shaft-engaging teeth 48 on the collar, so screwing the post 45 in or out of the sleeve 46 and moving the abutment 22a. The shaft 50 has worm drive to all the backing spring adjusting means, and may be rotated by a tommy bar in holes 51. To adapt the construction to changes of cutter/ejector assemblies, the stops 31 may be adjusted by making them in two parts 32, 33 in the form of co-operating wedges.