Patent GB-439727-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the panning of articles
IPC: A21C9/08
Filed: 1935-01-18
Abstract: 439,727. Endless belt conveyers. STEVENS, A. H., 5, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London.-(National Biscuit Co.; 449, West 14th Street, New York, U.S.A.) Jan. 18, 1935, No. 1741. [Class 78 (i)] [See also Group V] A machine for panning biscuits and the like, which provides means for receiving the biscuits from a cutting or moulding machine on an endless belt in regular sequence, and means for transferring them in spaced batches to a second oven-traversing conveyer, comprises a reciprocating panner blade which works in conjunction with means for deflecting the panning belt laterally of its run. In some instances the first conveyer may travel at less speed than the oven conveyer and the transferring means may operate to effect delivery of the batches therefrom at the speed of the oven conveyer. In the form shown the biscuits or the like are delivered from the cutting or moulding machine by the belt 30, which delivers in turn over the forward nose 31 to the endless belt 32, which feeds the pans 37 on the endless chains 38 passing through the ovens. To effect the delivery in batches, so that the biscuits shall not fall into the spaces between adjacent pans, the belt 32 passes over the adjustable blade 33 mounted on a reciprocating carriage 57 which is moved in timed relation with the chains 38 so as to lengthen the upper carrying run at times when delivery is not desired; the tensioning roller 35 on the carriage being correspondingly moved during the process. The blade 33 is adjustable longitudinally by nuts 45 and angularly by the handwheel 46. To supplement the action of the reciprocating carriage in lengthening and shortening the belt 32, there is pivoted on the carriage at 47 a V-shaped lateral-take-up member, one arm 48 of which engages the belt 32 while the other arm 49 carries a roller 50 which runs on an inclined track 51 on the frame. The ends of this track are adjusted by screw mechanisms 52 and 55 respectively. The arm 48 takes up the slack in the belt at certain times and temporarily prevents the latter from moving forward over the edge of the panner blade. The carriage is reciprocated by rack-and-pinion gearing 63 driven from the change-speed gear box 87 through the cam 74, link 70, and toothed sector 66. The racks are adjustable longitudinally on the carriage by screw-and-nut mechanism to vary the setting of the carriage on the framing. The setting of the screw adjustment 69 for the link 70, which permits variation of the length of the stroke of the carriage and panner blade, is facilitated by gearing the screw to a parallel screw at the outside of the machine, this second screw operating a block 691, Fig. 5, moving over a graduated scale. The tensioning-roller 35 is mounted on a shaft 102, Fig. 9, carried by arms 103 on a second shaft 105 fitted with torsion springs, the tension of which can be adjusted by pawl-and-ratchet mechanism 110. In operation, during the interval between successive pans 37 being presented to the panner blade for receiving its charge, the latter makes one complete reciprocation and the upper run of the belt 32 is raised and lowered again by the arm 48. The forward and return strokes of the carriage may occupy equal or unequal times. By adjusting the speeds of the belt 32 and pans 37 the products can be packed closer in the pans than on the belt or vice versa. Specification 274,923, [Class 87 (ii)], is referred to.