Patent GB-736249-A (GB)
Title: Biscuit-sandwich making machine
IPC: A21C15/00
Filed: 1953-05-04
Abstract: 736,249. Hoppers; endless conveyers. ALLIED BAKERIES, Ltd. (Fowler, F. E. and Minder, R. J.). May 4, 1953, No. 12316/53. Class 78 (1). [Also in Groups V and VI] In a machine in which biscuits are fed from a stack to a position where each receives a charge of filler material and then a biscuit from a second stack is fed along and deposited on top forming a biscuit sandwich which is discharged from the machine, the filler material is discharged from a device comprising a container having a rotatable bottom plate with spaced openings each having a nozzle through which a predetermined amount of filler material is forced at least once during each rotation of said plate. The machine comprises a frame and cabinet 36 having a heavy top plate 72 supporting a pusher mechanism 38 formed by an endless chain 87 with vertical posts 88 on spaced sprockets 85, 86. Mounted above chain 87 is a split trough 95, made up of members 96 spaced to accommodate the upper ends of posts 88, Fig. 21, which engage biscuits in trough 95 to push them along. Sprocket 86 is secured to the upper end of a shaft 105 which extends through plate 72 its lower end carrying a bevel gear meshing with the gears of a gear-reduction unit 56. The latter is driven by a motor 52 through a speed change unit 54 controlled by lever 277. Sprocket 85 is freely rotatable on a fixed vertical shaft 110 and is driven by chain 87. A filler material mixing mechanism 48 is secured on sprocket 85 and discharges the filler material through nozzles 132 spaced so as to correspond with the biscuits as they are pushed along by posts 88. A " no biscuit " device prevents the discharge of filler material when there is no biscuit 100 beneath a nozzle 132. Biscuits 100 are delivered through a shoot with a closed end 206 resting on members 96, the bottom biscuit resting on the bottom of trough 95 so that biscuits can be removed successively by posts 88. Biscuit release unit 44 comprises a pivoted bell crank lever 210 with an end extending into an opening 216, Fig. 5, in a wall of portion 206 to engage biscuits 100 so that only one biscuit is released at a time by a post 88 the other end of the lever being held by an adjustable screw 218. Runners 220 are mounted on brackets 221 adjustably secured to a shaft 222 whose end is engaged by a pivoted lever 224, Fig. 21, supporting a rod 226 carrying a counterweight 225. In the absence of a biscuit 100 between posts 88, runners 220 move down turning a lever 224 to engage a micro switch 228 which breaks the power circuit of motor 52 and applies brakes. Alternatively, or in addition, an audible warning may be given. A similar feed arrangement is provided for the top biscuits which has the lower end of trough portion 206a secured to platform segments 232 above trough 95, Fig. 20. At this point trough 95 is sufficiently close to chain 87 to allow the posts 88 to project through trough 95 and between segments 232 to engage and move the lowest biscuit in the stack. On leaving the device 46a, the completed sandwich is centred by gate members 248 and is pressed to the desired thickness by a freely rotatable adjustable roller 240 having a channel to receive the upper ends of posts 88. In operation, when the machine is switched on, biscuits are fed to the filling position, the " no biscuit " device preventing filling from being extruded until a biscuit reaches the filling position. Biscuits are fed on to the top of the biscuits carrying the filling and the sandwiches are pressed by roller 240 and delivered to a conveyer. In a modification, Fig. 25, bottom and top biscuit shootes 300, 301 are secured together by a member 302 and are closed at their lower ends by a plate 303, side openings 306, 307 allowing the bottom biscuit in either stack to be pushed laterally, to the left or right as shown in Fig. 25, on to trough 95 and segments 232 respectively. The biscuits are held in position by L-shaped levers 310, 310a bearing against the biscuits so as to hold all except the bottom one. Rams 320, 320a are oscillated in channels in plate 303 by arms 330 into which telescope members 328 having ball heads which engage the rams 320, 320a. Arms 330 are biased towards one another and are spread to eject biscuits by a cam 341 driven from the main motor.