Patent GB-1078980-A (GB)
Title: An apparatus for molding a shaped article and for applying a flexible sheet thereto
IPC: B65B61/20
Filed: 1965-10-19
Abstract: 1,078,980. Moulding edible material. HOLLYMATIC CORPORATION. Oct. 19, 1965 [Dec. 31, 1964], No. 44191/65. Heading B5A. [Also in Division B8] In a moulding apparatus, plastics material, e.g. minced meat &c., is fed from the bottom of a hopper 34, Figs. 1, 9 (latter not shown), through a slot (52) in a fixed plate 48 to an aperture (46) in a reciprocating mould plate 47, the moulding aperture being closed during filling by the lower fixed plate 48 and an upper fixed plate 49. The mould plate is then reciprocated from between the two fixed plates and the moulded article, e.g. an edible patty, is expelled downwards from the aperture on to a conveyer or support, by a reciprocating knockout ring 158. As it falls, the patty picks up an insert sheet 160, fed from a magazine 163, and held in the path of the patty, so that a stack of patties is formed on the conveyer, the patties being separated by the sheets 160. Plastics material is fed to the mould plate from the hopper along a channel (45), Fig. 8 (not shown), by a reciprocating base plate (36) which, in combination with fixed ribs (39), forms the base of the hopper, and which cooperates with reciprocating pins 81, extending through it. A bar (85), fixed to the forward end of a plate 84 to which the pins 81 are attached, forces the material into the mould plate aperture. The pins and feed bar are retracted below the plate (36) at the end of each forward feed movement for the duration of their return travel, Fig. 6 (not shown). The extent of the horizontal reciprocation of the feeding mechanism is variable to allow various sizes of patties to be made. After a charge of material has been fed into the mould aperture, the feeding mechanism is moved downwards and backwards while the mould plate is moved forward so that the patty can be removed by the vertically reciprocating knock-out ring 158. Scrapers 61, Figs. 1, 2 (latter not shown), attached to rods 57, guided in sliding contact with the sides 35 of the hopper, are reciprocated with the mould plate to remove material adhering to the sides of the hopper. The insert sheets 160 are fed from the magazine 163, Figs. 17, 18 (not shown), in which they are located on a rod 169 extending through perforations in the sheets, by a platform (172). The platform is first raised into contact with lowermost sheet, Fig. 18 (not shown), the entire stack (168) being thus raised with the result that the leading edges of the lowermost sheets are squeezed between the platform and the bottom edge of the wall 167 of the magazine. This provides a firm friction grip by the platform on the lowermost sheet to pull it away from the retaining rod 169 as the platform is reciprocated horizontally. The platform may be provided with a layer (184) of roughened rubber or the like. During the feeding movement, the sheet 160 is led beneath a cross-bar (192), which keeps it pressed into friction engagement with the platform and beneath guides (179) into a supporting frame (166), Fig. 19 (not shown), comprising side supports (193), rear support (194) and front support (195), and rear and front supports being adjustable so that the sheets can be aligned with the path of the moulded patty. The mould plate 47 and platform (172) are reciprocated together, so that as a sheet 160 is being positioned in the supporting frame (166) the mould aperture 46 is being filled. A lostmotion device is included in the drive of the mould plate, so that it is stationary at both ends of its path of travel while the mould aperture is being filled and the patty is being removed from it.