Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing Lozenges, "Drops," and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Manufacturing Lozenges, "Drops,"
and the like.
A communication from THOMAS ROBERTSON, of the City of Toronto, County of
York, Province of Ontario, Canada, Confectioner.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I. Mech. E. and Chartered Patent Agent 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 :-
"
The object of the invention is to make a simply constructed machine which
will automatically make, arrange in rows and deliver "drops made from fine
sugar and gum, and it consists, essentially, of a reservoir containing a glutinous
liquid and having a series of rubber tubes extending from its interior, means
for expelling the glutinous liquid from the reservoir through the tubes, means
for cutting off the "drops" and means for manipulating the "drops" after they
have been formed.
Figure 1 is an outside perspective view from one side of the machine.
Figure 2 is a similar view from the opposite side of the machine, the reservoir
being removed and a portion of the frame cut away to expose the interior con-
struction.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal side section of the machine.
Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view partially in section of the endless apron
rollers and parts connected therewith.
Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective detail of the bottom of the reservoir and
means for forming the "drops."
Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective detail of the tripp increasing the movement
of the apron.
Figure 7 is a view of a "drop."
The fine class of. goods which my correspondent has termed "drops" and which
are known by various titles by different manufacturers are made of fine sugar
and gum and have. hitherto been manufactured by hand tools of different kinds
well known to manufacturers of confectionery and which in this Specification it
is not necessary to describe.
The fact that these goods had to be manufactured by hand has made this
particular class very, expensive to produce, as the operation was not only a tedious
one; but required considerable skill on the part of the manipulator.
In designing this machine the fact has been kept in view that the commercial
value of the "drop" requires that every "drop" should be uniform in size and
appearance, and the machine has been constructed so that large quantities of the
drops" can be made very quickly without any skill on the part of the operator
and practically. without manual labour.
It will be understood that various changes in the structure of the machine and
in the arrangement of the mechanical parts may be made without altering the
principles involved in the invention, but for the purpose of this Specification
I shall describe in detail the exact construction of the machine illustrated in the
drawings and following the usual practice will sum up the points of construction
which are involved in the invention.
A represents a hopper-shaped reservoir suitably supported as indicated upon the
main frame B of the machine.
The interior of the reservoir A is smooth and designed to contain the

page_text: composition or sugar and gum-or-other-material-from-which the "drops-are-to-
be made.
The reservoir A is provided with a cover C constructed so that it can be
hermetically sealed to the top of the reservoir A hinged screw bolts D being
provided as indicated so that the cover C may be readily secured in position and
easily removed when required.
E represents a pipe leading from the interior of the reservoir A to an air pump F
which may be made of any ordinary construction and operated by power or
otherwise. This pump is provided for the purpose of creating a heavy pneumatic
pressure within the reservoir A, the safety valve G, being provided so that the
atmospheric pressure within the reservoir may be regulated to suit the character
of the composition and the speed at which it is designed that the composition
should be expelled from the said reservoir.
Through the bottom H of the reservoir A is made a series of holes from each of
which projects a tube I made of rubber or similar material and through which
tube I the composition is forced by the atmospheric pressure before referred to and
which is manipulated substantially in the manner and in connection with the
devices hereinafter more particularly explained, so that the material being forced
through the tubes shall be formed into "drops" of the desired shape, the said
"drops" being automatically arranged upon paper which is cut into proper lengths
and put on trays and deposited in the drying room.
J represents the main driving shaft from which the various working parts of the
machine derive their motion as hereinafter explained.
K is an endless apron made of felt, rubber or other suitable material and
supported at one end by a large roller or drum L. This drum is fixed to the
shaft M.
A spur wheel N is fixed to the shaft M and meshes with a pinion O (Fig. 2)
which pinion is carried in a suitable bearing supported on the frame B and is
adapted to communicate motion from the spur wheel N to the pinions marked P
which pinions are fixed to the spindles of the rollers Q between which the paper b¹
passes and is fed onto and with the endless apron K.
A ratchet wheel R is fixed to the shaft M and an arm S is loosely journalled on
the said shaft and provided with a ratchet pawl T arranged to engage with the
teeth on the ratchet wheel R.
An eccentric U is fixed to the driving shaft J and is provided with an eccentric
rod V adjustably connected to the arm S as indicated so that the length of the
stroke of the arm S may be readily adjusted for the purpose of causing the pawl T
to take one or more teeth in the ratchet wheel R at each revolution of the
eccentric U.
The lower part of the apron K passes from the drum L below the roller W
thence up around the roller X and back along the top of the machine. The
roller X is carried on adjustable bearings so that the endless apron K may be
tightened or loosened as required.
When the endless apron K leaves the roller X it is extended in a horizontal
position on the top of the machine until it reaches the roller Y (see Figure 4). It
is then carried down to and around the roller Z and then up around the roller Z¹
and finally to the drum L. This detour of the apron K is made for the purpose of
leaving a space into which the metal plate a may be inserted. This metal plate is
made as shown in Figure 4 with a groove 6 in it for the purpose hereinafter
explained.
To support the endless apron K and the paper 61 in a horizontal position there is
provided on top of the machine and below the apron K a stationary table f between
the rollers X and Y, and on the opposite side of the rollers Z₁ is pivotted at e a
table d which extends below the reservoir A, and is carried by a vertical rod y.
This rod is connected at its lower end to the rocking beam / the opposite end of
the said beam / being provided with a roller which fits into a cam groovej made
in the cam i fixed to and revolving with the main driving shaft J.

page_text: A bail m is pivotted at each side of the machine on a bracket n (see Figure 1)
and each end of it is pivotted to a block p adjustably held to a vertical plunger q.
An eccentric rod 2 is pivotally connected to the middle of the bail m and is
operated by the eccentric 3 fast on the main shaft J of the machine.
The lower end of each plunger q is journalled in a bracket held to the frame B
of the machine. The upper end of each plunger 7 is also held in a suitable
brackets held in the frame B and the said upper end of the plunger is squared or
otherwise formed so that while it may move freely vertically it will not revolve in
its bearings.
A cross-head t is secured to the upper end of each plunger 9 and from each
cross-head a pair of horns u project.
On reference to Figures 13 and 5 a pair of jaws will be observed. These
jaws extend across the bottom of the reservoir A one on each side of the tubes I
and each end of each jaw is supported by an arm w which is pivotel on a plate.
vertically adjustable upon the end of the reservoir A. The bracket y is fixed to
the end of the reservoir A and extends between the arms w and from each arm w
a spring projects and butts against the bracket y so that normally the jaws v are
held apart by the action of the springs .
2
From each. end of each jaw a pin a¹ projects and is in the path of the
horns น.
is a roll of paper carried over the endless apron K and moves with the said
apron.
A clamping bar d' extends across the machine and holds the paper b¹ against the
endless apron K keeping the paper straight and preventing it being lifted by the
adhesion of the "drop."
The clamping bar d' is secured to the arms e which are pivoted to the frame B
of the machine as indicated so that the bar d' may move freely vertically when the
table d comes in contact with the bottom of the apron K.
f¹ is a cutter, preferably with a serrated edge, as indicated. This cutter is
journalled in the brackets g' and is set so that it will be immediately over the
groove in the metal plate a.
A crank-arm is fixed to the spindle of the cutter and is held by the
spring so that in its normal position the cutter f' shall be held clear of the paper bl
as indicated in the drawing.
An arm ¹ is pivoted on the frame B and is held in the position indicated in the
drawing by the pivoted dog m¹.
A long arm n¹ is pivotted on the shatt M and is held in the position indicated
by the drawing by projecting below the block o¹, (see Figure 6) formed on the
pivotted dog p which is held in the path of the end of the long arm n² by the
action of the spring 9'.
A crank-arm extends from the arm n' and a pawl is pivotted on it.
This pawl rests as indicated in Figure 1 on the periphery of the disc t¹ fixed
to the shaft M.
A projection ul is formed on the periphery of the disc t' as shown and a finger v¹
projects beyond the said periphery as indicated so that in revolving with the said
disc the finger will come in contact with the curved end w¹, (see Figure 6) of
the dog pl. A pin al projects from the long arm n' above the dog m' and from the
weight of the said long arm n', a pin y', projects and from the arm k¹ a spring
pin ¹ projects.
Immediately below the apron K at the point indicated in Figure 3 is placed
what my correspondent calls an agitator 5. This is composed preferably of two or
more wings supported in suitable journals located in the frame of the machine, the
spindle of the agitator being provided with a pulley 4 connected to the chief
pulley 6 geared or otherwise fastened to the shaft J. The revolving of the main
shaft J will thus impart a rotary movement to the agitator 5, the wings of which
strike the apron K agitating the paper 6' resting on the said apron. This agitation

page_text: is for the purpose of causing the glutinous liquids out of which the "drops" are
made to settle in proper shaped "drops" after it leaves the tubes.
I have now referred to all the mechanical parts involved in this machine, but I
have not explained yet the entire operation of the various motions, but shall now
proceed to explain them briefly.
"
I have already explained that the reservoir A, contains the composition out of
which the "drops are to be made and that the atmospheric pressure forces the
said composition through the tubes I.
The drawing shows the mechanism set in the position it should appear during
the period that the composition is being forced out through the tubes, and as all
the moving parts of the machine are connected to and driven by the driving shaft J
all the parts will necessarily work in conjunction with each other and follow in the
proper succession necessary to accomplish the desired end which is to deposit the
drops
in rows upon the paper by squeezing them out of the tubes, holding
the said tubes closed until the paper is moved the distance of one row and then
when a sufficient number of rows of "drops" has been deposited upon the said
paper, cutting the said paper and delivering the paper carrying the "drops" onto
a tray ready to carry to the drying room.
The paper moves with the apron K and as this apron is automatically moved
by the action of the ratchet wheel R the said paper moves automatically at each
action of the pawl T.
Owing to the arrangement of the mechanism already described the stroke of the
pawl T may be altered as desired so that the paper 6' shall be moved the required
distance.
"
18
During the period that the composition is being squeezed through the tubes I
the table is held up as indicated in the diawing so as to hold the paper close to
the ends of the tubes I. Immediately that the proper quantity of composition has
been squeezed from the tubes, the cross-head is moved up so as to bring the
horns against the pins al which action forces the jaws against the tubes I thus
closing the said tubes and at the same time squeezing the composition out of the
ends of the said tubes forming a drop for cach tube, like that shown in Figure 7,
and as the tubes I are arranged in a row, a corresponding row of "drops
deposited upon the paper b'. Immediately that the deposit is made the table d
drops and carries the paper b₁ away from the tubes I and the paper is then
moved by the action of the pawl T already explained, the required distance ready
for the next row of "drops" and by that time the moving mechanism has carried
down the cross-head t so as to bring the horns u clear of the pin a' when the jaws v
will immediately be opened by the action of the springs and the tubes I left clear
to permit the composition to flow through them. These motions are continued
until the desired number of rows has been deposited upon the paper when the
paper has an extra motion imparted to it, and is simultaneously cut away from
the main web of the paper in the following manner.
said
The disc t¹ is fixed to the shaft M and revolves with the said shaft by the action
of the ratchet-wheel R as before described. In the revolving of the disc t' the
projection u¹ is carried past the pawls and is in front of the said pawl s' when the
finger o¹ comes against the curved end w¹ and pushes the dog pl so that its block ol
is carried clear of the arm n' which being released immediately drops and as the
pawls is attached to the end of the crank-arm the end of the said pawl is
brought into violent contact with the projection u thereby forcing the said shaft M
to revolve and as the drum L is connected to the said shaft M the apron K is
caused to move a distance corresponding with the revolving of the disc and as the
paper 6 moves with the apron K the said paper is moved so as to bring the last
row of "drops" clear of the cutter f¹.
When the arm n' drops as described the pin a strikes the dog m' tilting the said
dog m¹ so as to carry it clear of the end of the arm which by its own weight
drops so as to bring the pin z¹ in contact with the crank-arm and in this way

page_text: brings the cutter f' against the paper 6' thereby cutting the said paper and leaving
it free to be removed from the machine. The pin y is employed to enable the
operator to lift the arm n' after the paper has been cut.
"
I have explained the mechanism for parting the paper on which the "drops'
are deposited from the tubes and mechanism for causing the paper to recede by
causing the supporting paper to drop. The mechanism described is what my
correspondent now considers the best form, but it will of course be understood that
the same effect might be produced by providing mechanism which would raise the
hopper and in that way part the tubes from the paper which receives the "drops."
I have also described this machine as using a roll of paper but it may of course
be understood that the same effect so far as some portion of this invention is
concerned, might be effected by employing trays or using separate pieces of paper.
It is therefore proposed to refer in some of the claims to a "drop receiver,'
meaning the paper or other receptacle by which the "drops" are formed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manuer
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A reservoir containing a glutinous liquid and having a tube of rubber or other
compressible material extending from it in combination with means for squeezing
the tube to cut off the glutinous liquid and permit the "drop" to fall from the end
of the tube substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A reservoir containing a glutinous liquid and having a tube of rubber or other
compressible material extending from it, pneumatic or other means for expelling
the glutinous liquid in combination with means for squeezing the tube to cut off
the glutinous liquid and permit the "drop to fall from the end of the tube;
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
23
3. A reservoir containing a glutinous liquid having tubes of rubber or other
compressible material extending from it and means for squeezing the tube to cut
off the glutinous liquid in combination with a "drop receiver intermittently
moved in a horizontal direction; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
"
4. A reservoir containing a glutinous liquid having tubes of rubber or other
compressible material extending from it and means for squeezing the tubes to
cut off the glutinous liquid in combination with a "drop receiver" intermittently
moved in a horizontal direction and mechanism to cause the tubes and " drop
receiver to part when the "drops" are deposited thereon substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
5. A hermetically sealed reservoir containing a glutinous liquid and having
tubes of rubber or other compressible material extending from it in combination
with an air pump connected to the reservoir and a safety valve located thereon
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. A hermetically sealed reservoir containing a glutinous liquid, subjected to
pneumatic pressure, a safety valve placed upon the reservoir from which reservoir
tubes of rubber or other compressible material project and means for squeezing the
tube to cut off the glutinous liquid in combination with intermittently moving
paper carried below the tubes; substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. A reservoir containing a glutinous liquid and having tubes of rubber or other
compressible material extending from it a web of paper carried below the tubes
and intermittently moved in a horizontal direction in combination with mechanism
by which the paper receives at regular intervals an extra horizontal movement and
mechanism for cutting the paper immediately after said extra movement; sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. A reservoir containing a glutinous fiquid and having tubes of rubber or other
compiessible material extending from it pneumatic or other means or expelling
the glutinous liquid from the tubes, means for squeezing the tubes to restrain at
given intervals the flow of glutinous liquid through them in combination with a
"drop receiver" intermittently moved in a horizontal direction, and mechanism to

page_text: "
cause the paper to recede from the tubes when the "drops are deposited thereon
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
9. A reservoir containing a glutinous liquid and having tubes of rubber or other
compressible material extending from it pneumatic er other means for expelling the
glutinous liquid from the tubes means for squeezing the tubes to restrain at given
intervals the flow of glutinous liquid through them in combination with an endless
apron carrying a "drop receiver" intermittently moved in a horizontal direction
mechanism to cause the "drop receiver" to recede from the tubes when the
drops" are deposited and mechanism to impart a vibratory motion to the "drop
receiver" after it has receded from the tubes substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
σε
10. A hopper-shaped reservoir A containing a glutinous liquid and provided with
a hermetically scaled detachable cover G, a pipe E, connecting the interior of the
reservoir A with the air pump F' a series of tubes I extending from the bottom H
of the reservoir and a pair of jaws c extending across and on each side of the tubes
in combination with means for intermittently moving the jaws to grip the tubes;
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
11. A reservoir containing a glutinous liquid a series of tubes extending from it
a pair of jaws v suspended from the arms w which are respectively pivotted on the
independent vertical plate za bracket y located between the arms w each provided
with a spring z arranged to act against the bracket y a pin a' projecting from each
jaw vin combination with a vertically moving plunger having a cross-head t with
horns u formed on it and operated so that the horns will intermittently come in
contact with the pin a' in such a manner as to force the jaws v against the tubes ;
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
12. An endless apron K supported at one end by the drum L and carrying a
web of paper b' a suitably journalled shaft M fixed to the drum L and having a
spur-wheel N fixed to it which drives the rollers Q and a ratchet wheel R fixed to the
shaft M in combination with an eccentric U fixed to the driving shaft J arranged
to operate the pawl with the ratchet wheel for the purpose of imparting an
intermittent motion to the endless apron K and paper substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
13. A hinged table f located below the endless apron K and paper ¹ which
derives an intermittent motion in combination with a cam i fixed to the shaft .J
lever operated by said cam and the rod g connecting the lever to the table and
arranged to impart at regular intervals a vertical movement to the table; sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
14. The combination with an intermittently moving apron K supporting a "drop
receiver" of a revolving agitator 5 arranged to impart a vibratory motion to the
said apron substantially as and-for the purpose specified.
15. A long arm n' pivotted on the shaft M-and-supported by the block o' formed
on the spring dog p'a crank arm ³ extending from the arm n¹ and carrying the pawl s¹
in combination with the disc t¹ fixed to the shaft M a projection u and a finger v¹
arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.
16. A cutter suitably journalled in the frame of the machine and extending
across the face of the paper 6' a crank arm h¹ fixed to the cutter f' and actuated by
a spring in combination with the arm k' and mechanism for causing the said arm
to fall and strike the crank substantially as and for the purpose specified.
17. A cutter suitably journalled in the frame of the machine and extending
across the face of the paper b¹ a crank arm fixed to the cutter fl and actuated
by a spring in combination with the dog m¹ pin pivotted arm n' and spring
dog p substantially as and for the purpose specified.
18. An endless apron intermittently moved and supporting a web of paper a
grooved metal plate held stationary on a line with the main surface of the apron
and below the paper, rollers to carry the apron below and clear of the stationary
plate in combination with a cutter extending across the surface of the paper
immediately above the grooved plate and operated by mechanism to bring it at

page_text: certain intervals in contact with the paper; substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 20th day of December 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Nottingham,
Agents for the Applicant.