Patent GB-190903741-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Cutting Sheets of Dough or other Plastic Material.
Inventor: GREEN THOMAS LUTHER
IPC: A21C5/00
Filed: 1909-02-15
Granted: 1910-02-15
Abstract: 3741. Green, T. L. Feb. 15. Cutting-machines.-In biscuitcutting and like machines the intermittently-moving conveyer is positively actuated ; the cut biscuits are delivered by alternately shortening and lengthening the conveyer at the delivery point ; a continuously-moving conveyer carries the receiving pans &c., and is positively driven by variable-speed gearing provided with means for imparting skip ; means are provided for retaining the biscuits at the delivery point, and the dough sheet is surfaced by a frictional device. Dough passes from a hopper 6 through gauge rolls 8, 9 on to a conveyer 3, which carries it, in turn, beneath a dust brush 166, a surfacing-roll 176 resting lightly upon the dough sheet and rotated rapidly in a direction opposite thereto, beneath cutting-apparatus 62, and finally over a delivery edge 100, Fig. 4, on to pans carried by a continuously-moving belt 220. Movement is imparted to the belt 3 by means of a knife 30, Fig. 7, adjustably carried by a spring-retained bar 31 mounted between arms 33, which are oscillated by a rocking-member 126, Fig. 1, through the medium of a link 44, levers 41, 43, and links 40. During the upward movement of the arms 33, the knife 30 is turned against a stop-bar 37 and pins the belt to the roller 22. On the return movement the knife slips over the belt, which is prevented from moving backward by a similar knife 45. The member 126 is adjustably coupled to a swinging link 132 driven from the main shaft through an eccentric 148 and rod 147. At the delivery end, the belt 3 passes around a board 100, Fig. 34, adjustably supported by members 102 hung from sleeves 105, which are reciprocated along guides 106 by means of links 115 connected to rocking arms 117, Fig. 1, coupled by means of an adjustable rod 123 to a rocking member 124 mounted upon the same shaft 125 as the member 126 and capable of being coupled thereto. To ensure complete delivery of the biscuits, the bar 100 is given a movement greater than that of the belt 3, such movement, as well as the effective length of the belt 3, being regulated by adjusting the position and length of the rod 123. The belt 3 is kept taut during the movement of the bar 100 by means of a roller 150, Figs. 1 and 4, mounted between the rocking arms 117, and a roller 151 mounted in fixed bearings, around which it is passed. A brush 155, Fig. 34, mounted in swinging bearings 157 normally raised by a spring, is brought down on to the belt 3 at the end of the delivery movement in order to retain overhanging biscuits. During the return movement the bar 100 moves faster than the belt, causing the latter to move backward over it and support the biscuits. The pans are moved forward continuously by means of a chain conveyer 230, Fig. 1, driven by a sprocket-wheel 289 mounted upon a shaft 222, which is driven from the main shaft through variable-speed gearing 250 comprising a continuously-driven shaft 253, Fig. 21, carrying toothed wheels 257 meshing with segmental toothed wheels 258 loosely mounted upon a shaft 259 carrying a sprocket-wheel 285 coupled to the wheel 289 ; the gears 258 are coupled to the shaft 259 by spring bolts 266, 267, 268 which are successively brought into engagement by sliding the shaft longitudinally; a hand-wheel 271 mounted upon a screwed sleeve 272 operates the shaft, and is normally locked thereto by a spring detent 275. Each of the toothed wheels 257 carries a star-wheel 281, Fig. 22, one tooth of which engages with a member 283 secured to the corresponding gear 258 and imparts a skip motion to the pans. Adjustment of the pan chain is provided by securing the sprocket-wheel 289 upon a sleeve 290, Fig. 27, which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 222 and is connected thereto by means of a hand-wheel 293 fast on the shaft carrying a spring detent 296 engaging with a toothed wheel 294 carried by the sleeve. The scrap belt 190, Fig. 2, is driven intermittently by means of a rod 196 adjustabiy connected to the arms 117, and is arranged as near as possible to the delivery end of the belt 3 to prevent displacement of the cut biscuits. Adjustment of the belt 3 is obtained by means of a roller 201, Fig. 4, mounted in sliding bearings 202 attached to a sprocket chain 204 controlled by a hand-wheel 208. The machine may be used as a peeler, in which case the scrap is removed by hand, the scrap apron being moved out of the way and the members 124, 126 being disconnected. The cutter bed 70, Fig. 19, is adjustable by means of eccentrics 73 operated independently by worm gearing, and is maintained in its central position by a pin 87.