Patent GB-821348-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for handling biscuits or similar thin articles
Inventor: EDIS JOHN NEVILLE
IPC: A21C15/00
Filed: 1956-11-19
Abstract: 821,348. Feeding biscuits to wrapping machines. FORGROVE MACHINERY CO. Ltd. Oct. 23, 1957 [Nov. 19, 1956], No. 35286/56. Class 94(1) [Also in Group XXX] In apparatus for feeding to a wrapping machine or similar thin articles arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows on an endless feeding conveyer 11 the biscuits are transferred to one or more narrow endless band conveyers 30 to form a single row each of these conveyers by first causing them to fall down on polished shoot 14 having an upturned end 15 and guides 10 to separate the rows so that the biscuits in each row are accelerated and delivered to a separate compartment 17 of a hopper 16 extending transversely of the shoot, and then feeding the lowermost biscuit from each of the compartments 17 so that they are delivered in a single row on each of the conveyers 30. In one embodiment, Fig. 1, the lowermost biscuits in the compartments 17 are delivered alternatively to two conveyers 30 by a pusher 23 reciprocated from one side of hopper 16 to the other by a crank 28 and linkage 27, the pusher being guided by rollers 25 engaging a guideway 26. In a second embodiment, Fig. 3, also feeding two conveyers 30 alternately, each compartment 17 has a separate pusher 123 mounted on a pivoted arm 38 which has a resilient connection with a crank gear and includes a hook 39 engageable with a pivoted catch 35 so as to prevent reciprocation of the pusher when the catch and hook are engaged. If the compartment 17 is filled beyond a certain level with biscuits a feeler 50 periodically reciprocated through a crank 41 and two armed levers 32 cannot enter the compartment and the lever 32 is then oscillated about its upper end to move a link 34 which releases the catch 35 so that the pusher can be moved to deliver a biscuit. If the level of biscuits in the compartment falls below the level mentioned the feeler 50 is free to enter the compartment and the catch 35 is not released, so that the pusher is unable to follow its crank mechanism and deliver a biscuit. In a further modification, Fig. 4, a pusher 223 of forklike construction is actuated by two linkages, one comprising a bell-crank 43, 46 and link 46 being driven by a crank 47 on a shaft, 48 and the other comprising a link 49 and two-armed lever 51, 53 being driven by a cam 55 on shaft 48 which engages a roller 54 on the lever 55. When both linkages are operating, the pusher 223 follows the path AC and no biscuit is delivered. This corresponds to the biscuits in compartment 17 being below the level of a feeler 50 which is oscillated into and out of the compartment by a two-armed lever 61 pivoted on a bell crank 63 having a roller 66 engaging a second cam 67 on shaft 48. When the biscuits in compartment 17 are above this level the feeler 50 is prevented from entering the compartment and as a result the lever 61 is swung against the action of a spring 65 so that its lower end 69 engages below a finger 70 on the lever 51, 53 preventing the latter from following the cam 55. The pusher 223 then follows the line AB and delivers a biscuit from the compartment. 17.