Patent GB-1078979-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to molding apparatus
IPC: B65B25/08
Filed: 1965-10-19
Abstract: 1,078,979. Moulding food products. HOLLYMATIC CORPORATION. Oct. 19, 1965 [Dec. 31, 1964], No. 44190/65. Heading B5A. Ground meat, fish or other food products in a hopper 34 are urged by a reciprocating means 81 along a passage 45 and finally forced by a reciprocating feeder bar 85 through a slot 52 and into a mould cavity 46 contained in a reciprocatory mould plate 47 located between plates 48, 49. The filled plate 47 is then moved forwardly to free the moulding from between the plates 48, 49 and to locate it below a plate (158), Fig. 1, (not shown), which then moves downwardly to force the moulding (145) from the plate. In falling from the plate to a discharge conveyer (161) the moulding contacts a sheet of paper 160 in a frame (166) and carries the sheet with it to a stack of such mouldings and separator sheets. The reciprocating feeder means.-The hopper base comprises reciprocating plates 42, 36 and fixed parallel straps 39, and rows of pins 81 pass between the straps and through holes in the plate 36 and are attached to a reciprocating plate 84 which is also raised and lowered to provide a rectangular motion of the pins. The feeder bar 85 is also attached to the plate 84 and extends fully across passage 45 when in the raised position. The drive includes a driven cam 33 to which is pivotally connected a driverod 125 pivoted at 100 to a lever 96 connected at one end to a plate 94 depending from the plate 84; the other end of the lever is attached to a slide block 102 guided between strips 103, 104 and movable between stops 106, 107. The plate 84 is raised and lowered by the cam 33 engaging a follower 131 pivoted at 132 and which raises and lowers a lever 135 and rod 136 which engages the base of the plate. By varying the relative positions of the stops 106, 107 the quantity of material fed forward at each stroke may be varied. Excessive pressure on the mould material during the feeding stroke is avoided by allowing the stop 106 to act against a spring 118 which yields at a predetermined pressure; this spring tension is adjustable by rotating a knob 123 which moves a nut 117 along a rod 115. The mould plate and its drive.-The mould plate 47 has side brackets (55), Fig. 1 (not shown), from which rearwardly extend horizontal bars (57) which pass into the hopper and are guided by pins (59) in the hopper side walls which engage slots in the bars. The latter carry scrapers (61) which engage the hopper side walls. The mould plate is reciprocated by a drive mechanism including a cam (30), a linkage (62, 65, 69) connected to the cam and which pivots about a transverse shaft (67) and reciprocates bars (75, 76) having hooked ends (78) engaging pins on a carriage (54) attached to the forward end of the mould plate. The arrangement is such that when the mould plate is moved forward the feeder means is lowered and moved rearwardly, and as the mould plate returns the feeder means is raised and driven forwardly so that the mould cavity receives a fresh charge. A stack of sheets (168), Fig. 17, (not shown), perforated to receive a pin (169) is located in a holder (191), and the carriage (54), which is mounted on parallel rods (164), carries a sheet removing platform (172) which is raised by a linkage to contact the lowermost sheet and to feed it below a bar (192) on to the frame (166). The latter is located below the moulding removal plate (158) carried by a part (157) mounted on a rod (155) vertically reciprocated by the cam (30) acting on a lever (146) pivoted at (149) and connected to the rod (155).