Improvements in or relating to Machines for Moulding or Printing Starch and similar Materials.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1895-Accepted, 20th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Moulding or Printing
Starch and similar Materials.
I, DANIEL MOREY HOLMES of 34 Watt Street, New York, United States of
America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the production in starch flour or other material of
"such as is
moulds or prints to subsequently receive each a quantity of cream
used in the manufacture of chocolate creams, fondants and other confections,
though it may be used for other purposes, and the invention embraces a machine
for carrying this work out expeditiously and with the greatest accuracy.
The machine comprises a frame supporting a fixed horizontal table and having
bearings and guides for the various shafts and working parts. Above the fixed
table I arrange a die-carrying platen capable of being raised and lowered in
suitable guides the upward movement being effected preferably by springs and
the downward movement by two cams operating one on each end of the platen
through an anti-friction roller; if desired however other cams may be employed.
The cams are secured on a horizontal shaft to which 1otary motion may be
imparted by any suitable means (I have found chain gear gives very good results)
and on this sbaft I also secure a mutilated toothed or tappet wheel which operates
an arm mounted on a spring controlled shaft supported in bearings projecting
upwards from the platen. On the spring-controlled shaft there is further secured a
hammer adapted to strike upon the upper surface of the platen, the teeth of the
tappet wheel through the before mentioned arm effecting the raising of the hammer,
and the spring, acting on the shaft, the downward blow on to the platen each time
the arm is released from one of the teeth. If desired the spring inay be attached
directly to the hammer instead of to the spring-controlled or hammer shaft.
The before mentioned anti-friction rollers may be adjustable as to height so that
the pressure exerted by the dies upon the starch can be varied to suit the various
depths of the starch trays inserted in the machine.
The cams, besides being arranged so as to depress and allow of the raising of the
platen at respectively the commencement and termination of the moulding or
printing operation are also preferably formed with flattened surfaces which admit
of the slight rise and fall of the platen between these times.
The table is provided with stops or gauges to ensure the trays being inserted in
proper position beneath the platen.
The dies, (of which there may be a considerable number) are preferably
arranged in parallel rows and secured to a frame which, is secured to the under-
side of the platen between dovetail bars thereon, conveniently by thumb-screws or
equivalent fastenings admitting of the ready release and removal of the frame, so
as to enable other dies to be quickly substituted for those removed.
The operation of the machine is as follows;-
A tray filled with starch is placed in position beneath the dies when the machine
is at rest. The machine is started and through the cams the platen is depressed
and the dies forced into the starch, and by means of the flats on the cams allowed
to intermittently ascend and descend to a slight extent. During this time the

page_text: tappet wheel repeatedly raises and releases the hammer so that it strikes on the
back of the platen and thereby knocks the dies into the starch and causes any
starch which may adhere to the dies to fall from them. More than one hammer
may be used.
When the cams have arrived at the position in which the platen is allowed to
ascend the mutilated part of the tappet wheel is presented to the arm and the
hammering consequently ceases at which juncture the machine can be stopped, the
then-moulded starch tray removed and a fresh tray of unmoulded starch inserted
ready for the next operation.
Dated this 29th day of August 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Moulding or Printing
Starch and similar Materials.
I, DANIEL MOREY HOLMES of No. 34 Watts Street, New York City, N.Y.,
U.S.A., Inventor, 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 :--
My invention relates especially to means and mechanism employed for preparing
moulds for confectionery, and has for its object the provision of an effective
machine whereby forms are prepared in starch, or the equivalent, in a cheap and
effective manner, said moulds being firmer, and the lines cleaner than has heretofore
been attained by hand work.
To attain the desired end, my invention consists essentially in certain novel and
useful combinations or arrangements of parts, and peculiarities of construction and
operation, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed
out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.
Fig. 3 is a plan view.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof.
Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view at line -a of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view at line a--a of Fig. 2 looking towards the
right, and Fig. 6 is a similar view looking towards the left, at line b-b of Fig. 4.
Similar numerals of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
1 is the main frame of the machine, and 2 the bed. Extending upward at each
side of the main frame are side bearing frames, 3, wherein is journaled a shaft, 4.
Mounted upon this shaft 4 are cams 5, having each depressions, 6 and 7 therein,
particularly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. 8 is a ratchet-segment, also mounted
upon the shaft 4. 9 is a sprocket wheel, fixed upon the shaft 4. 10 is a
corresponding sprocket wheel, fixed upon a shaft 11 journaled in cross-bars 12 of
the main frame of the machine, and 13 is a chain connecting said sprocket wheels.
14 is a gear wheel secured to the shaft 11, and meshing with a gear wheel 15, upon
a shaft 16, also journaled in the cross-pieces 12, the said shaft 16 carrying a
driving pulley 17, and a clutch 18, to which a manipulating handle 19, is
connected.
20 is a frame, provided with side pieces 21 which carry at their upper ends
studs 22, whereon are mounted, friction rollers 23 adapted and arranged to coine
in contact with the
cams, 5.
The arms 21 connected to the frame 20 extend

page_text: downward beneath the bed 2, and terminate in horizontal eyes, 24, arranged to
play upon vertical rods, 25, fixed to the main frame. 26 are coiled springs,
encircling the rods 25, and having their upper extremities bearing against eyes 24.
The tension of these springs is regulated by means of movable collars, 27.
Mounted upon the frame 20 are bearings 28, wherein is mounted a rod, 29,
bearing a hammer, 30. 31 is a pawl arm fixed to the rod 29, and arranged to come
in contact with the ratchet segment 8, as hereinafter explained. 32 is a spring for
regulating the stroke of the hammer, 30.
Secured to the under side of the frame 20, is a board 33, whereto are fixed
forms, 34, from which it is desired to produce moulds. 35 are perforations between
the forms 34. 36 is a starch box or tray in which the forms are to be impressed.
When constructed and arranged in accordance with the foregoing description,
the operation of my confectioner's mould forming machine is as follows: The
starch box being placed in the proper location, and the machine started, the parts
being in the position shown in Fig. 5, the cams 5 force the frame 20 downward
overcoming the springs 26, which tend at all times to hold the rollers 23 in contact
with the said cams. As the frame 20 descends, the forms 34 first enter the starch,
and the board to which they are secured firmly packs the starch around them, the
confined air escaping through the perforations 35. As soon as the board begins to
compress the starch, the segmental ratchet 8 is brought in contact with the ratchet
arm 31, causing the hammer 30 to strike upon the frame 20, thus firmly settling
the starch around the forms and preventing inequalities in the compression around
them. As the shaft 4 continues to carry the cams 5 round, the depressions 6 in
their peripheries permit the springs 26 to force the frame 20, the board 33 and
attached forms upward a slight distance, the hammer continuing its action, and
then the forms are forced completely downward again to their full length; this
operation loosens the forms from the starch, and if any particles thereof fall into
the moulds during the slight elevation of the forms, it is completely depressed by
the return movement, and when the forms return to their initial position, the tray
of moulds is removed, said moulds being firm and solid, and the lines of each
depression clean and sharp, thus insuring perfectly formed confections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a confectioner's mould forming machine, a main frame and bed, a vertically
movable form-supporting frame mounted above said bed, means for depressing the
form-frame, and for jarring the same when depressed, the whole combined and
arranged substantially as shown and described.
2. In a machine of the character herein specified, a vertically movable form-
carrying frame, in combination with means for depressing the same, raising the
same slightly, and then again depressing before elevating to its initial position,
substantially as shown and described.
3. In a machine of the character herein specified, the combination with a
depressable form-carrying frame, of means for jarring the same, when depressed,
substantially as shown and described.
4. In a machine of the character herein specified, the combination with a form-
carrying frame, normally held elevated by springs, as set forth, of bearings upon
said frame, and cams arranged to come in contact with said bearings, substantially
as shown and described.
5. In a machine of the character herein specified, the combination with a
depressable form-carrying frame bearing friction rolls, as set forth, of cams shaped
as described, and arranged to depress a form-carrying frame.
6. The combination with the depressable form-carrying frame, of a hammer
mounted thereon, a pawl arm connected with said hammer, and a segmental ratchet,
arranged substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a complete machine
for moulding and printing starch and similar material substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of May 1905
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.