Patent GB-629982-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to tray-stacking devices for use in confectionery manufacture
IPC: A23G7/00
Filed: 1947-07-25
Abstract: 629,982. Conveyers. CURRIE, H. A. July 25, 1947, No. 20161. Convention date, Sept. 7, 1939. [Class 78 (i)], A tray stacking device for removing trays from apparatus such as a candy making machine where they have been charged with candy and stacking them for delivery to cooling rooms comprises a conveyer provided with means for conveying trays from a receiving station to a stack and means for transferring the tray from the candy making machine to the receiving station operated by the trays during their passage, the moving means being prevented from operating during the conveyance of a tray from the receiving station through a predetermined distance beyond the station. The conveying means comprises endless chains 84, Figs. 3 and 4, which are driven continuously through sprockets 105 by a suitable motor, not shown, and travel in guideways defined by strips 83 secured to the framework, certain of its pintles at spaced intervals being replaced by stub shafts 85 the outer ends of which are guided in the strips 82, the inner ends supporting opposed pairs of carriers each of which comprises a freely mounted sleeve 86 having a depending inverted T-shaped frame 87 which has rollers 88 mounted on its arms for engaging guides 165, 166, 167, 170, 171 in order to prevent swinging. Further guides 168, 169, 172 are provided for guiding the trays themselves while on the carriers. Frame 87 is connected by upper and lower pairs of links 89 and 90 respectively to an inner frame 91, the forked end 94 of which has pivoted to it at 93 an angle member 92 faced with rubber 95 extending up the fork, the fork being such that the member 92 cannot turn beyond a horizontal position and is resiliently held in that position by the rubber facing 95. A pawl 96, pivoted centrally at 97 in frame 91, is connected at its outer end to a link 98 the other end of which is connected to the sleeve and a light spring 99 holds the assembly in the position of the lower carrier in Fig. 4. On engaging the end of a tray the carrier assumes the position of the upper carrier in Fig. 4, the pawl 96 gripping the top of the tray. The transferring means comprises three shafts 125 - 127 rotated in unison. Sprockets 128, 129 are eccentrically mounted on shafts 125, 126 and joined by chain 130 of non- whip construction. Shaft 127 carries a mutilated eccentric 131 connected by chain 132 to shaft 126. Sprocket 128 is driven by electric motor 133 operated by switches 137, 138. The trays, urged by chains 117, are fed from the candy making machine against arm 139 of switch 137 moving this into the chain-line position which closes the switch and stretches spring 140 coupled to arm 141 of a bell crank. Provided that switch 138 is also closed the system makes exactly one revolution from that shown in Fig. 5 to finish in the same position to await the next tray, going through the following operations : stop 144 on sprocket 128 releases arm 143 of the bell crank which comes to rest in the chain-line position against stop 150, thus allowing switch 137 to remain open. As the tray is delivered to the receiving station to be received by the carriers peg 144 has moved clockwise to the chain-line position where it again engages arm 143 resetting the crank, spring 140, and arm 139 to their fullline positions. At the same time the tray presses back plate 147, Fig. 3, connected by cranks and lever 146 balanced by weight 148 to switch 138, which is thereby opened. Switch 138 remains open while the tray is lifted by the carriers and moved a predetermined distance when plate 147 is released, thus preventing the next tray which abuts arm 139 of switch 137 from being delivered to the receiving station too soon. The stacking is effected on the downward movement of the trays, a stack being formed on conveyer 155, the trays having spacing pieces on their undersides. When the tray rests on the top of the stack as indicated in Fig. 4 spring 99 causes the trays to be released and angle members 92 tip upwards as they contact the second tray down and remain in this position until they clear the bottom of the stack. As each tray passes down to the stack it temporarily closes switches 160, 159 in sequence by contacting the levers 162, 161. The distance apart of the levers is such that the switches are not normally closed together but on the stack reaching arm 161, switch 159 remains closed and on the next tray closing switch 160 motor 156 is operated driving conveyer 155 until the stack has cleared switch arm 161 and hence the succeeding trays, which form a new stack.