Improvements in Biscuit Cutting Machines
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1887.
Specification Accepted. 9th Aug., 1887.
SAMUEL BAKER, trading as Joseph Baker & Sons 58 City Road London Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Our Invention relates to Improvements in Biscuit Cutting Machines; and
consists of:
1st, Improved mechanism for adjusting the plate, platten, or slab, upon which the
dough, paste or equivalent material is cut.
2nd, Improved mechanism for cushioning the blow, or shock, caused by the descent
of the cutting mechanism.
3rd, Improved mechanism for detaching, or separating the biscuits from the dough,
or paste after cutting.
We carry our improvements into effect in the following manner; which will be
readily understood by reference to the drawings annexed hereto; in which
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of that part of a biscuit cutting machine to which the
adjusting mechanism referred to under the first head is attached, shewing the position
occupied by same.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8, (Sheet 2,) shew in detail the construction of said
adjusting and cushioning mechanism as generally described under heads 1 and 2.
Figs. 9 and 10 (Sheet 3,) and 11, 12 (Sheet 4,) shew respectively a side elevation
of cutting device, & a side elevation shewing the detaching mechanism in position,
with scrap and biscuit delivery webs. A side elevation shewing the relative position
of cutting mechanism and detaching gear; and a plan of the same shewing scrap and
biscuit delivery webs.
Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, (Sheet 5) enlarged detail of the improved mechanism embraced
in Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and more particularly referred to under head 3.
In Fig. 1, the box A, carrying the plate, slab, or platten, upon which the biscuits
are cut is shewn in position upon the biscuit cutting machine; The cutting mechanism
being operated by the connecting rod B, and lever C. Adjusting nuts a a, are fitted to
the bolts bb, supporting box A, so that its position with regard to the cutting
mechanism may be roughly adjusted and a level surface obtained.

page_text: Upon the right hand side of box A Figs. 2, 3, 7 (Sheet 2,) will be seen a hoss D,
which is suitably bored for receiving spindle d, fitted with hand wheel E, the other
end of spindle d, having a screw e, cut upon it which engages with nut h, forming
part of adjustable slide F, (see Fig. 4, & 5). Resting or abutting upon three or any
suitable number of inclined planes or surfaces G, (see Figs. 4 & 5,) is another plate H,
(see Fig. 7) which extends the full width of box A. This plate is furnished upon its
underside with a similar series of inclined surfaces to those in the travelling or bottom
plate F, and upon its upper side with a series of pockets I, into which are fitted buffers
or cushions 9, (see Figs. 6 and 8) constructed of India-rubber, or other suitable
substance capable of absorbing the shock or blow of the cutting device referred to.
Mounted upon plate H, but separated thereform by buffers or cushions g, is the
plate J, this plate being furnished upon its underside with similar pockets to those
in plate H, the buffers being recessed into half the pocket contained in each plate.
The walls of box A, surround this upper plate, and prevent all movement except in a
vertical direction. The operation of this part of our invention is as follows. The
biscuit cutting machine being put in motion, the web or thin layer of paste is
conducted to the cutting mechanism operated as already described. The box A
having been levelled by the adjusting screws bb, and nuts a a, is brought to the exact
height required by the hand wheel E, operating screwed spindle d, and nut /, in the
travelling slide F. Upon turning this hand wheel the slide F, is drawn forward, or
backward; the inclined surfaces G, G, in the slide F, and H, being thereby forced
against each other in opposite directions; & the plate J, being thereby raised or
lowered to the required height, and the requisite adjustment made. The spindle d, is
now clamped by turning the set screw f. Any shock or blow caused by the descent
of the knives or equivalent cutting device being cushioned or absorbed by the
buffers g; the operation of cutting being rendered thereby noiseless, and wear and
tear avoided.
We will now describe our Improved Mechanism for detaching, or separating the
biscuits from the dough or paste after cutting, as generally described under the
third head.
The dough or paste is delivered by suitable mechanism to the cutting device shewn
in Fig. 9, which may if desired be fitted with our improved adjusting and cushioning
mechanism as just described; but this can be dispensed with if preferred.
After being cut the dough or paste is drawn forward by any suitable mechanism to
the point K, see Figs. 10, 11, 12, 14, (Sheets 3, 4. & 5) when each biscuit which is now
divided from the dough, is brought under the action of the finger i i, mounted upon
the bar, see also enlarged detail (Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16 Sheet 5). The bar ), is
pivoted as shewn in Figs. 12, 13, 14, 16, in bearings M, on either side of the cutting
machine, and we prefer to make it of rectangular section (See Fig. 15, 16); upon the
upper side of this bar we form a groove m; a brass or gunmetal clip L, embraces the
bar j, and is fitted on its upper side with a set screw n, for the purpose of clamping
the clip in any desired position upon the bar. The bearings M, are furnished with a
radial slot O, and within this slot slides a block p, carrying two springs rr, which clip
the bar, and while holding it firmly permit of slight flexibility; the amount of
tension upon the bar being regulated by sliding the block p, to any desired position in
slot O, when it is clamped by the fly nut q, which is run upon a thread formed by
inserting a pin S, in the block p. Upon the underside of clip L, is fastened a spring
with a roller.which forms the finger i, this roller is preferably made of rubber, which
is fastened upon a metal disc or pulley. Upon the end of bar j, we mount a lever x,
by turning which the bar j, and with it any fingers mounted upon it, may be raised
or lowered as required. The operation of this part of our improvements is as
follows:-
Upon the paste reaching the point K, the separated biscuits come under the
pressure of the fingers mounted upon barj; At this point the biscuits are forced by
the fingers from the scrap and deposited upon the lower web y, (see Figs. 11, 12.)
The scrap being carried forward by the upper web 10, is deposited in the box ”, while
the separated biscuits are carried by the lower web to the trays. When large biscuits

page_text: are being cut several fingers may be made to force out each biscuit, and any nicety of
pressure can be obtained by means of the adjustments described.
We have now described our invention and explained the manner in which the same
is to be performed; we declare that what we claim is :-
1st, In a machine for cutting biscuits, the combination of a suspended box
containing a regulating screw fitted with opposed inclined surfaces, or wedges so
arranged as that a perfectly level rising and falling motion can be imparted to the
plate, platten or slab, upon which the biscuits are cut, by the operation of said screw,
as described and shewn.
2nd, In combination with a biscuit cutting machine, the particular construction and
arrangement of adjustable plates fitted with pockets containing rubber or equivalent
buffers; for the purpose of absorbing the shock, or blow caused by the descent of the
cutting device, obtaining a sharper impression on biscuits, and noiseless action as set
forth.
3rd, In a biscuit cutting machine, the particular construction, arrangement, and
method of suspending the box containing the adjustable plates and buffers, and the
means employed for obtaining rough adjustment of same.
4th, In a biscuit cutting machine the particular construction of mechanical fingers
for separating the biscuits from the scrap after cutting, consisting of clip L, mounted
on bar ;, having groove m, the adjustable spring device r, for imparting flexibility to
said bar, and method of clamping the same, all operating together for the purpose, and
in the way and manner described.