Machine for Moulding Confections and other Plastic Substances.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES H.-GREBENSTEIN, City, County and
State of New York, Citizen.]
Machine for Moulding Confections and other Plastic Substances.
I JOSEPH ALLEN BAKER of 58 City Road London in the County of
Middlesex Engineer 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 improvements relate to the class of apparatus in which the prepared confection,
in a more or less fluid or semi-fluid condition, is dropped intermittently from a
hopper into a series of moulds which are caused to pass underneath and are
stopped intermittently to present fresh moulds to receive the material as discharged
from the hopper.
Heretofore much difficulty has been experienced in getting these machines to
run continuously and smoothly owing to the delicacy of the apparatus resorted to,
the stickiness of the material under treatment, and the rapidity with which it cools
or sets.
The object of my invention is to overcome these difficulties by the construction
of a comparatively simple, inexpensive and offective apparatus which is not liable
to become deranged or clogged, and in which the quantity of the confection to be
detached and dropped into the moulds may be varied and regulated with accuracy,
either by adjusting the separators collectively or separately.
The invention relates mainly to the means employed for soparating or cutting off
and discharging the material from the hoppor, the essential feature of novelty being
the use of a rotating valve chamber or pocket which takes up a quantity of the
confection, and presents it to a reciprocating scraper by which a prescribed quantity
of the material is positively removed from the rotating valve chamber or pocket
and discharged through a suitable drop tube.
Incidentally my invention includes means for adjusting the thrust of the recipro-
cating scraper with relation to the rotating valve chamber or pocket in such
manner as to regulate with accuracy the amount of material discharged; and in
the means employed to effect a circulation of the semi-fluid material under treatment
through the parts within the hopper for the purpose of preventing the chilling of
the said parts and the "caking" of the material.
"
It is to be understood that the word "valve" is.used herein in a broad sense as a
means for controlling the flow of the semi-fluid material; and that the term "rotary.
valve covers any device formned and revolving in such manner as to alternately.
open and close the discharge or drop passage while admitting the action of the
scraper in positively deflecting into said drop passage any portion of the material
contained in the valve chamber or pocket.
In the accompanying drawings I illustrate the practical embodiment of my.
invention in a machine suitable for use in the manufacture of confectionery,
although I do not wish to confine myself to the identical form and construction of
parts shown since various modifications may be made in the details of construction
without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention.
$6
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a machine designed for use in the manufacture of
or moulded candies; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a central
set
wowinal longitudinal scation thavanf
.

page_text: removed.
Fig. 5, is a sectional view of a part of the hopper, &c., upon plane of live x, x,
Fig. 4, showing the rotating valve cylinder and the agitator, &c., in elevation.
Fig. 6, is a sectional view of the lower part of the hopper, upon plane of line y, y,
Fig. 5.
Fig. 7, is a detail section similar to Fig. 6, showing the scraper in the valve
chamber or pocket ;
Fig. 8, a sectional detail showing means for adjusting the scrapers individually;
Fig. 9, an elevation of the upper end of one of the guide rods and the end of the
cross head, showing means for adjusting the scrapers collectively.
Fig. 10, is an isometrical view of the rotating cylinder and adjoining parts in
vertical cross section, illustrating the use of a rotating cylinder formed with a
single longitudinal pocket in conjunction with a single broad scraper.
A, is the frame-work of the apparatus. An endless chain or belt 13, is supported
between sprocket wheels a, a, mounted at opposite ends of the frame, and
constitutes an intermittently moving table for the support of the moulds M, which
are placed loosely thereon at one side of the hopper and removed therefrom after
passing thereunder. The intermittent forward movement of the endless chain or
belt. B, may be effected in any well known or suitable manner, the means shown in
the drawings consisting of ratchet wheels a, a, upon opposite ends of the same
shaft as the sprocket wheels a, a', which are rotated by pawls d, d, upon the crank
levers D, D, said crank levers D, D, being rocked upon the shaft a³, of the sprocket
and ratchet wheels a, a', by the connection rods dd', the opposite ends of which
are pivoted to the wheels e, in such positions that at each rotation of the said
wheels the pawls d, d, move the ratchot wheels a², a³, around a distance equivalent
to the distance between the centers of the matrices m, in the mat or mould M, thus
bringing a fresh set of matrices m, under the drop tubes t, depending from the
lower side of the hopper H. There are two wheels e, e, situated upon opposite
ends of the power shaft E, and they mesh into intermediate idler gears F, F, on
either side of the machine which transmit motion to the spur gears G, G, secured
to the opposite ends of the rotating valve cylinder K. The gears e, F and G are
all of the same diameter.
In the outer faces of the gears G, G, is formed the cam groove 9, 9, in which
rest the cam pins k, k, projecting from the inner sides of the guide rods K, K.
These rods K, K, are beld and guided by the boxes or straps k', ', and are
connected at top by a cross bar or head L, carrying a gang of scrapers S.
The hopper H, is supported above the endless chain B, by standards aª, a'. It
is provided with hot water or steam jackets J, J, supplied through the pipes jj,
for the purpose of keeping the contents of the hopper at the right consistency for
working.
The rotating valves may be made in various ways, the essential feature being
one or more valve chambers or pockets », formed in a rotating part preferably of
circular form in cross section, so as to receive, confine and carry around to the
reciprocating scraper or scrapers a suitable quantity of the material. The width
of a valve chamber or pocket r, r, and of the entering ends,, of the scrapers S,
may be varied to suit the requirements of the work to be done, or instead of a
series of valve chambers or pockets r, a single one may be used extending in front
of the series of drop conduits t, and a single broad scraper S¹, may be used in
conjunction therewith as indicated in Figure 10.
While as above indicated the actual construction of the rotating valve or valves
is of secondary importance and one or a series of separately constructed valves
may be used combined, I prefer for simplicity of construction to use the long
cylindrical bar or shaft R, formed with a series of pockets or valve chambers 7, as
shown in the drawings, more especially in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7. The valve cylinder K,
is rotated by reason of the meshing of its end gears G, G, outside of the stuffing
boxes g, g, with the intermediate gears F. Inside the hopper, and adjoining the

page_text: boxes g', g', the cylinder is provided with gears g., g', which engage with pinions i, i,
upon the agitator shaft I, which latter is simply formed with blades or pro-
jections, which stir up the material in a direction opposite to that of the
rotation of the valve cylinder R. The agitator 1, is situated at the receiving side
of the valve cylinder R, and between the latter and an auxiliary steam or hot
water jacket N, supplied by a pipe n,-the agitator I, and the heating jacket N,
acting in conjunction with each other to insure a proper consistency in the semi-
fluid material as received by the valve cylinder. More or less of the circumference
of the valve cylinder R, is enclosed as will be seen by reference to Figs. 4, 6 and 7,
so that the material received into each valve chamber or pocket, is confined
therein until the discharge conduit t, is reached and the ends, of the scraper S,
enters & forces more or less of the material out. This it does by simply protruding
into the valve chamber or pocket, and acting as an abutment against which the
material is forced by the continued rotation of the valve cylinder R, the result
being that an amount of material is deflected into the drop conduits t, corresponding
to the extent of the projection of the scraper ends , into the valve chamber or
pocket r.
In Fig. 6, the scraper S, is shown as upon the point of entering the pocket r; in
Fig. 7, it is shown as having entered to the fullest extent possible and at a point of
the revolution of the valve cylindor just prior to its retractile movement.
It is obvious that by regulating the extent to which the ends, of the scraper
projects into the valve chamber or pocket r, the quantity removed from the said
chamber or pocket can be controlled. When the scraper does not penetrate to the
full depth of the valve chamber or pocket a portion of the material remains and is
carried around with the cylinder.
When more than one valve chamber or pocket and scraper are employed, the
scrapers are suspended adjustably upon the cross head I, secured to the guide
rods K, K.
Suitable means are provided for effecting the adjustment of the scrapers with
relation to the rotary valve cylinder R, and I do not confine myself to any special
construction in this respect. As shown in the drawings, the gang of scrapers S,
may be adjusted simultaneously by regulating the position of the cross head L,
upon the upper ends of the guide bars K, by means of the nuts, &, upon the
inale screws ³, k, cut upon said upper ends of the guide rods. The adjustment of
the scrapers individually is effected by means of set screws 1, 11, 12, by which, the
upper end of each scraper S, is clamped to the cross bar L. The cam groove g,
so formed and timed with relation to the valve chambers or pockets r, as to project
the points, of the scrapers S, into the said chambers or pockets and to withdraw
them therefrom at the proper time; and the forwarding action of the pawl d, is
timed to take place after the valve chambers or pockets have passed beyond the
drop conduits and scrapers.
is
In order to enable the semi-fluid material to circulate through the internal parts
of the apparatus, I form in the hood h, when used, passages 4', beyond the
bearings, in which latter the lower ends s, of the scrapers S, play and are
supported. These passages ', admit the semi-fluid material from above into the
valve chambers or pockets to roplace in whole or in part that removed by the
scraper, thereby causing a circulation of the semi-fluid material through tho parts
which tends to provent the chilling of the parts and_the_caking or "settling" of
the material, the agitator I, with the heating jacket N, insuring the proper
admixture and reduction of the material before it is carried to the drop conduits
and scrapers.
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
my claim is:
1. In confection moulding apparatus, the combination with the hopper and
mould, of a rotating cylinder in the hopper formed with one or more valve

page_text: chambers; one or more reciprocating scrapers acting in conjunction with said
valve chamber or chambers; and one or more conduits arranged to receive the
material removed from the said valve chamber or chambers by the scraper or
scrapers and to drop the said material into the mould below substantially in the
manner and for the purpose described.
2. In confection moulding apparatus, the combination with the hopper and
mould, of a rotating valve in the hopper, a reciprocating scraper noting in con-
junction therewith, a conduit for receiving the material removed from the rotating
valve by the scraper and dropping it into the mould, and means for adjusting the
thrust of the said reciprocating scraper with relation to the rotating valve
substantially in the manuer described.
3. In confection moulding apparatus, the combination with the hopper and
mould, of a rotating valve in the hopper, a reciprocating scraper acting in
conjunction therewith, a conduit for receiving the material removed from the
rotating valve by the scraper and dropping it into the mould, and a rotating
agitator situated in the hopper adjoining the receiving side of the rotating valve
for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.
4. In confection moulding apparatus, the combination with the hopper and
mould, of a rotating valve in the hopper, a reciprocating scraper acting in
conjunction therewith, a conduit for receiving the material removed from the
rotating valve by the scraper and dropping it into the mould, and an auxiliary
steam or hot water jacket situated opposite the receiving side of the rotating valve
for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.
5. In confection moulding apparatus, the combination with the hopper and
mould, of a rotating valve in the hopper, a reciprocating scraper acting in
conjunction therewith, a conduit for receiving the material removed from the
rotating valve by the scraper and dropping it into the mould, a rotary agitator,
and au auxiliary steam or hot water jacket situated opposite the receiving side of
the rotating valve for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.
6. In confection moulding apparatus, the combination with the hopper and
mould, of a rotating valvo in the hopper a reciprocating scraper acting in
conjunction therewith, a conduit for receiving the material removed from the
rotating valve by the scraper and dropping it into the mould, aud a conduit for
admitting material to the valve chamber beyond the scraper for the purpose and
substantially in the manner described.
7. In confection moulding apparatus, the combination with the hopper and
mould, of a rotating cylinder in the hopper formed with a series of valve chambers
or pockets, a series of reciprocating scrapers acting in conjunction with said valve
chambers, a series of conduits arranged to receive the material removed from the
valve chambers by the scrapers and drop the same into the mould below, and means
for adjusting the thrust of the scrapers both individually and collectively with
relation to the said valve chambers in the rotating cylinder substantially in the
manner and for the purpose described.
Dated this First day of November 1894.