Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding or Delivering Biscuits for Packing.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding or Delivering Biscuits for
Packing.
I, GEORGE HERBERT, Junior, of the Firm of George Herbert, Limited, Kingston
Biscuit Factory, Kinning Street, Kingston, in the City of Glasgow, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: ---
In packing biscuits as ordinarily practised the biscuits as they are removed
from the baking ovens are deposited on to a table or in trays or boxes in loose
heaps from which they are removed and sorted or arranged by hand in rows in
which the biscuits all face one way.
My invention has for its object to economise time and labour in packing
biscuits by providing mechanically operated apparatus which feeds forward the
biscuits from a table on which they are laid flat and delivers them into a trough-
like receptacle resting on edge but all facing one way so that any number may
be lifted out ready for packing.
Under the invention an endless travelling band is employed to convey the
biscuits from the table on which they are laid to one or a series of shallow
inclined shoots down which the biscuits slide one after another on their bottom
faces, the said shoot having side rails or edges which are preferably adjustable
so that the width of shoot may correspond approximately to the diameter of
biscuit fed over it. In the side rails or sides of each shoot movable catches are
fitted and are preferably located on or in the side rails, one catch being fitted
in each rail and the pair moved in unison so as to bring them across or partly
across the shoot to intercept the biscuits and to withdraw them flush with the
side rails to permit of the passage of one biscuit at a time. At a lower point a
like pair of catches or an upwardly projecting pin or pins, also adjustable in
respect to the upper catches are fitted in the shoot, the catches when they are
employed being similar in form and action to the upper catches but acting
alternately with them, and the pin or pins when such is or are employed being
adapted to move upwards and downwards through the bottom of the shoot into
the path of the biscuits. As the upper and lower catches or pin or pins are
moved alternately into the path of the descending biscuits the lowest biscuit is
retained by the lower catch or pin whilst those above rest each one against the
edge of that below it, but when the lower catch or pin is withdrawn and the
upper catches projected inwards from the side rails the lowest biscuit is free to
drop and those above are retained. In this way one biscuit at a time is allowed
to drop from each shoot and it falls on edge into a shallow trough along which
it is pushed while still on edge by a plunger fitted to reciprocate in the rear of
the trough. The biscuits as they fall are thus pushed along the trough on edge

page_text: and they are delivered or lifted out at the further end properly sorted for
packing.
Dated this 13th day of December 1899.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents, 62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding or Delivering Biscuits for
Packing.
I, GEORGE HERBERT, Junior, of the Firm of George Herbert, Limited, Kingston
Biscuit Factory, Kinning Street, Kingston, in the City of Glasgow, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
In packing biscuits as ordinarily practised the biscuits as they are removed
from the baking ovens are deposited on to a table or in trays or boxes in loose
heaps from which they are removed and sorted or arranged by hand in rows in
which the biscuits all face one way.
My invention has for its object to economise time and labour in packing
biscuits by providing mechanically operated apparatus which feeds forward the
biscuits from a table on which they are laid flat and delivers them into a trough-
like receptacle resting on edge but all facing one way so that any number may
be lifted out ready for packing.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 being a
vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a plan of the improved apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the device for preventing the passage of more than
one biscuit or series of superposed biscuits at a time and shewing this device in
a position different from that in which it is shewn at Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a part
plan of this device to a larger scale and Fig. 5 is a plan of a modified form of
The same.
Under the invention an endless travelling band A is employed to convey the
biscuits B. from the table B, which may also consist of a travelling band, on
which they are laid, to a series of shallow inclined shoots C³ formed side by side
preferably on an oscillating table C actuated by an eccentric C or otherwise,
down which shoot the biscuits slide one after another on their bottom faces, the
said shoot having side rails or edges C which are preferably adjustable towards
or from each other by securing them in either of the holes C in said table so
that the width of shoot may correspond approximately to the diameter of biscuit
fed over it. In the side rails or sides C of each shoot movable catches D are
fitted and are preferably pivoted, as shewn at Figs. 1, 2 and 3, on or in the side
rails C, one catch being fitted in each rail and the pair moved in unison so as
to bring them across or partly across the shoot to intercept the biscuits and to
withdraw them flush with the side rails to permit of the passage of one biscuit
at a time, or of the passage of a number superposed on the bottom biscuit. The
opening of the catches D for the above purpose is effected by the action upon

page_text: cranked arms D1, (shewn particularly at Fig. 4) on the pivots D2 of the catches D,
of a bar E extending between the bell-crank levers F pivoted on the oscillating
table C and brought against stops & secured on the frame H of the machine by
the rising of the oscillating table. The catches D) are closed to retain the other
biscuits in the shoot by the action upon them of tension springs 13 secured to
the arms D and the sides of the rails C. At a lower point a like pair of catches
are fitted in the shoot, or an upwardly projecting pin or pins I adjustable in
respect to the upper catches, the adjustment of the latter being effected, as
shewn, by moving the blocks I', in which the spindle I carrying the pins I is
centred, towards or from the catches D by means of a screw-threaded spindle I³
or otherwise passing through said block and carried in a frame I attached to
the oscillating table C. The catches when they are employed instead of pins
are similar in form and action to the upper catches but act alternately with
them, and the pin or pins when such is or are employed being adapted to move
upwards through the table C under the action of springs J into the path of the
biscuit just issued from the catches D), as shewn at Fig. 3, and downwards
through the bottom of the shoot or table out of the path of the biscuits, by the
action upon a lever arm I keyed on the spindle 15 of an adjustable inclined
block I, as shewn at Fig. 1, the pins being so moved to allow the lowest biscuit
to slide on to stationary trough-like receptacles K. Instead of a curvilinear
motion being imparted to the pins these may have a perpendicular movement
in respect to the table C, the pins in each case being projected upwards and
downwards through their slots for the purpose already described. As the upper
catches D and lower catches or pins I are moved alternately into the path of
the descending biscuits the lowest biscuit is retained by the lower catches or pins
while those above rest each one against the edge of that below it, but when the
lower catch or pin is withdrawn and the upper catches projected inwards from
the side rails, the lowest biscuit or superposed biscuits is or are free to drop, as
shewn at Figs. 1 and 2, and those above are retained. In this way one biscuit
at a time or series of superposed biscuits is allowed to drop from each shoot and
they fall on edge into the shallow trough K along which they are pushed while
still on edge by plungers L fitted to reciprocate in the rear of the troughs K.
these plungers being reciprocated from cranks M' on the power shaft M through
connecting rods N, levers O and short rods P, or otherwise. The biscuits as they
fall are thus pushed along the troughs on edge and they are delivered or lifted
out at the further end properly sorted for packing.
In order to allow of a pause at the upper end of the stroke to permit of the
proper feeding of the biscuit from the travelling band A on to the oscillating
table C, and of the proper discharge of the biscuit from the catches D), the
eccentric C, when such is used, is made in two parts having a spring C³ inter-
posed between them, so that when the table C is prevented by the stops G from
further upward movement, the continued upward movement of the eccentric may
be taken up by compression of the spring. Instead of employing an eccentric
for raising and lowering the table C, a cam may be employed.
A brush Q may be employed to assist the transference of the biscuits from
the travelling band A to the table C.
The catches D, instead of being fitted to turn upon pivots for the purpose of
retaining and freeing the biscuits, may be arranged, as shewn at Fig. 5, to slide
in slots De towards and from the centre of the shoots C¹ for the same purpose, or
any other means for obtaining the same result may be employed so long as the
edge of the biscuit rests merely against the catches and no pressure is brought
to bear upon the top of the biscuit, which in all cases would be detrimental to
the delivery of the same in a whole condition.
Instead of the table being adapted to oscillate, a stationary inclined table may
be employed, the catches and pins being formed and arranged as already
described, but mechanism, such as cams or wypers, being arranged to act on the
bell crank levers F and on the lever arm I' at the proper times.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. Apparatus for delivering biscuits for packing, the several parts of which
are constructed and arranged to operate, substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for feeding or delivering biscuits for packing, consisting of the
combination with a travelling band on to which the biscuits are laid, of an
inclined table, a series of shoots on said table formed by adjustable side rails
down which the biscuits travel, movable catches in said rails adapted to alter-
nately retain and release the biscuits in the shoot, movable pins or catches adapted
to catch the released biscuits and afterwards to allow them to pass, stationary
troughs for receiving the delivered biscuits, and pistons normally situated
behind the table and moving forward to push the delivered biscuits in an approxi-
mately upright position along said trough, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for feeding or delivering biscuits for packing, the combination
with an inclined table having a series of shoots formed by side rails on it, of
movable catches in the side rails, bell crank levers carrying between them a bar
for opening these catches, cams or stops for operating the bell crank levers, pins
for retaining the biscuits released from the shoots by the catches, said pins being
actuated by inclined blocks or cams, and a movable piston for raising the biscuits
into an approximately upright position, said piston being operated by a crank
through connecting rods and levers, substantially as described.
Dated this 001 day of Tu 1000
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents, 62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agent for the Applicant.