IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MANU- FACTURING LOZENGES.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MANU-
FACTURING LOZENGES.". -A communication from. abroad by William
-
Hessin, of Toronto, Canada.
Sealed the 20th June 1871, and dated the 2nd February 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on
2nd February 1871.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR
MANUFACTURING LOZENGES," to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to a new machine for cutting the flat pieces of
confectionery known in the trade as lozenges, and which are usually of
circular, but often also of other form.

page_text: The main object of the Invention is to so construct the machine that
it will operate by continuous action on endless or uninterrupted sheets of
paste, and cut the lozenges therefrom with exactness and rapidity.
The Invention consists mainly in the use of a hinged feed table, which
carries an endless feed apron and a perforated platform which embraces
a, set of stationary annular cutters. The platform is flush with the
cutters when the machine is at rest or not cutting, but it is moved down
to carry the paste (which is fed thereto by the endless apron) against the
cutting edgés during the desired operation.
The Invention consists also in the connection with said table, platform,
and fixed cutters of a vertically reciprocating frame which carries an
endless apron against the cutting edges to ensure the clean cutting of
the paste. Between this frame and the moveable platform are interposed
elastic blocks or pieces which press down the said platform during the
descent of the frame. A second hinged table carrying an endless apron
is provided for receiving the waste paste (after the lozenges have been
punched out from the sheet), and conveying the same out of the
machine. An intermittent rotary motion is given to the aprons of the
two tables by means of pawls and ratchet wheels actuated from a central
driving shaft. Below these tables is an endless apron which is intended
to receive the lozenges as they are discharged from the cutters and
deliver them from the machine. The apron of the vertically reciprocating
frame receives at cach descent of the frame (by means of a pawl and
ratchet wheel) a traverse motion to bring up a fresh portion of its
surface in line with the cutters.
Finally, the Invention consists in the use and arrangement of an
apparatus for rolling the paste or dough into sheets or strips of desired
thickness and consistency. For this object a series of endless aprons are
arranged on rollers and combined with fixed inclined tables, in such
manner that the paste after having passed over one apron and under
another is brought by means of a fixed inclined table upon an apron,
where it is acted upon by another from above, the latter pair of aprons
being nearer together than the first, and the third pair nearer than the
second, so that the paste is between these several pairs of aprons
gradually reduced in thickness until it forms sheets or strips of the
desired kind for cutting the lozenges therefrom.

page_text: I
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 2nd August 1871. ·
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
}
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, hearing date the Second day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and, successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special licence
that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my
executors, administrators, and asssigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY
FOR MANUFACTURING LOZENGES," being a communication to me from abroad
by William Hessin, of Toronto, Canada, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
'
NOW KNOW YE, that I; the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :-
This Invention relates to a new arrangement of machinery for cutting
lozenges," the main object being to render the operation continuous.
The Invention consists, mainly, in the use of a hinged feed table,
which carries an endless feed apron and a perforated platform which
:

page_text: .
t
:
embraces a set of stationary annular cutters. The platform is flush
with the cutters when the machine is at rest or not cutting, but it is
moved down to carry the paste (which is fed thereto by the endless
apron) against the cutting edges during the desired operation.
The Invention consists also in the connection with said table, platform,
and fixed cutters of a vertically reciprocating frame which carries an
endless apron against the cutting edges, to insure the entire piercing of
the paste. Between this frame and the moveable platform are interposed
elastic blocks or pieces, which press down the said platform during the
descent of the frame.
The Invention also consists in a new arrangement of mechanism for
imparting the required motion to the several aprons of the feed table,
reciprocating frame, and lozenge and waste conveyers, as herein-after
more fully described.
Finally, the Invention consists in the use and arrangement of an
apparatus for rolling the paste or dough into sheets or strips of the
desired thickness and consistency. For this object a series of endless
aprons is arranged on rollers, and combined with fixed inclined tables,
in such a manner that the paste after having passed over one apron and
under another is brought by means of a fixed inclined table upon an
apron, where it is acted upon by another from above, the latter pair of
aprons being set nearer together than the first, and the third pair
nearer than the second, so that the paste is between these several pairs
of aprons gradually reduced in thickness, until it forms sheets or strips
of the desired kind for cutting the lozenges therefrom.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents in side elevation the
improved machine for cutting lozenges; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse
section of the same taken on the plane of the line x, x, Fig. 1; Fig. 3
is a vertical longitudinal section of the same taken on the plane of the
line y, y, Fig. 4, and showing also an attachment for rolling the paste;
and Fig. 4 is a plan or top view of the machine. Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
1
A represents the frame of my improved lozenge-cutting machine. It
is made of metal or wood, or both, of suitable shape and size to be best
adapted to the several devices and mechanisms attached to it. In about
the middle of the frame A below the top of the same is mounted the
transverse driving shaft B, which receives rotary motion by suitable
means. The two ends of the frame A carry transverse drums C, C;

page_text: which are about on a level with each other, and serve to hold an endless
apron D, as shown.
Continuous or intermittent rotation is imparted to
one of the drums C for moving the apron D in the desired manner.
One drum C is mounted in bearings, which are adjustable to permit
proper tension to be applied to the apron. Above one drum C is
mounted in projecting ears a, a, of the frame A a transverse roller E.
The cars a are in front of the roller E, connected by a cross piece b, to
which is hinged at c a table F extending about to the middle of the
frame A. Springs d, d, on the under side of the table F serve to sustain
the same in a horizontal position, but do not prevent it from being
swung down when pressure is applied from above. The free end of the
table F carries a transverse roller c. An endless apron G is placed
around the rollers E, e, and passes under and over the table F, as shown,
its upper part being about flat on said table. When the table is moved
on its hinges the apron will be carried up or down with it without
having its rotary motion interfered with. The roller E carries at one
end a ratchet wheel f and a loose arm g, which has a spring pawl h for
the ratchet wheel, and is by a pitman or crank rod i connected with a
crank pin on the shaft B. By this connection intermittent rotary
motion will be imparted to the roller E and apron G. This motion can
be regulated by having the crank pin j adjustable on the shaft, and the
pitman adjustable on the arm g, so that the strokes of the arm may be
lengthened or shortened at will. The other end of the frame A carries
above the other drum C a roller E² mounted in ears a², which are con-
nected by a cross piece in a manner very similar to that described for
the roller E. To the cross piece b² is hinged at c² a table F2 extending
to within a short distance from the end of the table F, and held up by
springs d². A roller is mounted in the free end of the table Fr to
receive an apron G that is laid over on E² and e². The two tables F
and F are in their positions of rest nearly on a level with one another.
The roller E carries a ratchet wheel F and loose arm g, which has a
pawl, and is by a pitman connected with the crank pin j. The
motions of the aprons G, G³, will thus be obtained by a similar means,
and should be, alike in degree. The rollers E, E, are adjustable in their
bearings to provide for a proper tension of their respective aprons. To
the free ends of the table F is secured so as to be clear of the apron G
a perforated platform H, which reaches nearly to the table F, occupying
the space between the tables F and F2, as shown. I, I, are the annular
cutters. They are in a straight or curved row or rows affixed to a

page_text: plate, which is with its ends fitted between dovetailed or grooved
supports 7, 1, that project from the frame A. The plate k can be with-
drawn from between the supports when it is desired to sharpen or
change the cutters. The cutters are placed vertically, so that they
project through apertures in the platform H, the said apertures being of
such size and form as to nicely fit the outer sides of the cutters. The
upper sharpened edges of the cutters are flush with the surface of the
platform H as long as the table F is held horizontally by the springs d;
but as the cutters are stationary they will project through the platform
whenever the same is moved down with its table. At the sides of the
frame A about in line with the cutter holder K are arranged vertical
posts m, m, (see Figures 1 and 2,) which are slotted, to constitute guides
for a vertically reciprocating frame J. This frame is by rods n, n, con-
nected with excentrics o on the shaft B to receive the desired up-and-|
down motion from the same. The upper end of the frame J carries a
drum L, and its lower end a pair of rollers p (see Fig. 3). An endless
apron M passes over the drum L and under the rollers p, its lower part
being above the cutters, as shown. The drum L carries a ratchet wheel q
and loose arm, which has a spring pawls for said ratchet wheel. The
arm is pivotted to a standard t. The vertical movement of the frame J
causes the pawl to turn the apron M at every other stroke. u, u, Fig. 2,
are rubber blocks or picces interposed between the frame J and plat-
form H.
7'
The operation is as follows:-The paste to be cut is from the rolling
apparatus deposited upon the apron G and fed by the same to the
platform H. When the paste covers the platform and cutters the
frame J moves down and forces by means of the blocks u, u, the platform
down over the cutters. The apron M holds the paste on the platform
and causes it to be pierced by the cutters so that pieces of the desired
shape will be within the latter. When the apron M reaches the cutters
the paste. must have been completely cut through.. The frame J is then
clevated, the table F following until the platform is again flush with or
rather slightly above the cutters. The paste is then moved ahead, the
waste arriving on the apron G³, while a new portion is placed over the
cutters by the action of the feed. The lozenges cut out fall through
the cutters upon the apron D, and are by the same conveyed to a
suitable receptacle. The rotation of the apron M is provided to prevent
the same from being cut by frequent contact in the same place with the

page_text: may
knives. The cutters are annular, as stated for circular lozenges, but
be of other form if desired, having, however, in every case continuous
cutting edges.
"
It will be noticed that the swinging of the table F is of great value
and importance, as it provides for the cutting of the paste without
requiring the cutters to move. This gives a cleaner cut and smoother
edge of lozenge than the moving of the cutters towards the paste and
requires less power besides. The hinging of the table F is, however, not
so necessary, and may be dispensed with.
The machine for rolling or spreading the paste consists preferably of
three pairs of endless aprons N, N, O, O, and P, P, carried by suitable
tension rollers, which are mounted in a stationary frame R, as shown in
Fig. 3. The upper pair of aprons is vertically further apart from each
other than the second, and this further than the lower. The dough or
paste is deposited from a suitable mixing mill on the lower apron N, and
is by the same carried under the upper apron N, whereby it is laid
smooth and somewhat compressed. Leaving the lower apron N the paste
passes over a fixed incline S to the lower apron O, and is thereby still
more compressed and flattened out. Thence the paste passes over
another fixed incline S to the lower apron P, and is on the same still
more compressed by the upper apron P and passes off to the feed apron G
on a third incline S. Above each of the aprons N, N, O, O, and P, P,
is supported by the frame Ra box T containing a sieve or perforated
bottom. By these boxes starch or other matter is distributed over the
surfaces of the several aprons to prevent the paste from adhering to
them.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of improved
machinery for manufacturing lozenges, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part
recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First. The hinged feed table carrying the apron G and platform H
to operate in conjunction with the stationary cutters, substantially as
herein shown and described.
Second. The reciprocating frame J combined with the stationary
cutters and swinging perforated platformi H, substantially as herein
shown and described.

page_text: Third. The elastic blocks u, u, interposed between the reciprocating
frame J and swinging platform H, substantially as herein shewn and
described.
Fourth. The arrangement for carrying the paste to and from the
cutters and delivering the lozenges from the machine.
Fifth. The arrangement of parts above described for rolling the paste
and delivering it to the lozenge-cutting machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
onc.