Patent GB-379885-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for decorating confections
IPC: A23G3/28
Filed: 1931-09-29
Abstract: 379,885. Decorating confectionery- NATIONAL EQUIPMENT CO., 3640, Main Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Sept. 29, 1931, No. 27156. Convention date, Oct. 21, 1930. [Class 28 (i).] In a machine for decorating freshly coated confections, the decoration is effected by a chain or chains running loosely over spaced rollers, the loose bight contacting with the surfaces of the confections. The confections are supported on the usual coating conveyer 15 and the chains 45 are driven by rollers 40, 44, the roller 44 having a fixed axis, whilst the roller 40 has an axis carried by a bell-crank lever which is swung, between limits, by a hand-wheel 34 and a screwed shaft which engages a nut 29 on anarm extending from the bell crank. The chainsare positioned laterally on the rollers by plates- 70 engaging the sides of the chains. The platesengaging the chains on one side are carried by one bar 72 whilst the plates engaging the chainson the other side are carried by another bar 72,. both bars 72 being carried by an arm of the bell crank. The plates are adjustable on the bars and are clamped thereon by set-screws, whilst the bars themselves are longitudinally adjustable to vary the positions of all the chains simultaneously by the engagement of pinions with rack teeth on the bars 72. Milled operating knobs 76 are provided. The swinging of the bell crank permits the adjustment of the height of the contact surfaces of the chains, and also, when the roller 40 is swung as much as possible towards the roller 44, the plates 70 rise and substantially disengage the chains which may be then slipped from the rollers for replacement &c. In order to prevent the collection of solid coating material on the chains, the roller and chain assembly is enclosed in a casing 91 communicating through an aperture 93 with an auxiliary casing 94 containing an electric heating element 95 which is controlled thermostatically by heat sensitive elements in the chamber 91. The rollers are driven at the same rate as the coating conveyer 15 which is itself driven by a gear wheel 67 connected to the roller 44 by gearing 61, 62 and sprocket and chain mechanism 55, 56, the sprocket 55 being geared to a spur-wheel on the shaft of the roller 44. The roller 40 is connected by a sprocket and chain drive 50 to the roller 44, and a spring- pressed jockey 48 maintains the tension of the chain. The decorating unit is carried by a standard 17 and is vertically adjustable bodily by a hand-wheel 24 carried by a sleeve 18 slidable on the standard 17 and secured to a screwed shaft threaded into the standard. The telescopic connection 63, 64 in the sprocket drive 55, 56 maintains the tension of the chain 56 in all positions of vertical adjustment of the decorating unit, a coiled spring 65 being interposed. The decorating chain consists of flat links 98, Fig. 10, each having a slot 99 at one. end and a tongue 100 at the other which is threaded through and bent over the slotted end of the adjacent link. This construction ensures a substantially flat surface for the decorating chain without sharp edges at the hinge points. The plates 98 may be apertured to produce a different decorating effect. In a modification, Fig. 6, each chain 45 is engaged at one side by lugs 89 bent up from a plate 87 extending beneath the chain for half its width and having downturned ends 88. The lugs 89 have ears 90 integral therewith which are secured by screws 86 to a U-shaped member 81 adjustable vertically against the tension of a spring 84, relative to the bar 72 by a milled nut 83. The set-screw 82 clamps the blocks 80 carrying the U-shaped member 81 on the bar 72. As before, two bars 72 are used, and the other side of the chain is positioned by a complementary support comprising similar lugs 89 and a bottom plate 87. This construction permits individual adjustment of the height of the decorating chains.