IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING AND MOULDING OR TREATING DOUGH TO FORM
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Melvin, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
26
North Britain, Engineer. for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING AND MOULDING OR TREATING DOUGH TO FORM
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Melvin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th November 1882.
JOHN MELVIN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING AND MOULDING OR
TREATING DOUGH TO FORM LOAVES
"
This Invention has for its object the forming of dough into loaves in an
economical expeditious and cleanly manner avoiding a large portion of the handling
ordinarily required.
One modification of the improved machinery or apparatus is designed for
dividing one mass of dough to form two loaves and for rolling, working, or
moulding the same; but the construction is capable of being modified so as to
divide and form a mass of dough into more than two loaves. A rotating drum
with a concave circumference is employed, being fixed on a horizontal shaft and
working in concert with a fixed or adjustable casing or channel piece which
extends round the drum to the extent of about two thirds of its circumference. A
channel of oval section is as it were formed between the drum and the channel
piece, and the channel piece is fixed or adjusted so that this channel becomes
gradually a little narrower from the entering part towards the other end. The
dough is entered at the wider end of the channel and is gradually carried round by
the drum which works and rolls it along. At the narrow end of the channel the
dough passes over a rotating disk knife which divides it, and next the pieces enter
a pair of second channels formed between a second drum or pair of drums and
two fixed or adjustable casing or channel pieces and is finally delivered in a rounded
oblong form suitable for baking.

page_text: A second modification of the machinery or apparatus is designed for rolling
working or moulding a piece of dough into a single loaf; and comprises a rotating
drum ou a vertical shaft. This drum rotates within a stationary casing and the
dough being put at one point into the annular space between the drum and casing
is rolled and worked and carried round by the drum to a point where it drops
through an opening into a lower channel formed between the drum and the casing.
Having passed this second stage the piece of dough drops through an opening
down upon a rotating drum fixed on a horizontal axis and working in connection
with a fixed casing so as to give the dough the final working rolling and shaping.
Instead of the operating surfaces being approximately cylindrical or conical they
may be flat or nearly so. Thus two disks may be used one of which rotates the
other being stationary; or there may be two plates to one of which a rectilinear or
other suitable motion is given.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Melvin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th May
1883.
JOHN MELVIN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DIVIDING AND MOULDING OR
TREATING DOUGH TO FORM LOAVES."
My said Invention has for its object the forming of dough into loaves in an
economical, expeditious and cleanly manner, avoiding a large portion of the handling
ordinarily required.
One modification of my improved machinery or apparatus is designed for
dividing one mass of dough to form two loaves, and for rolling, working, or
moulding the same; but the construction is capable of being modified so as to
divide and form a mass of dough into more than two loaves; or on the other hand
the dividing operation may be effected previously or by a separate machine, the
portion of dough for each loaf being, in some modifications of my present improved
machinery, subjected only to the operation of rolling, working, or moulding.
In some modifications the operating surfaces of the apparatus are approximately
cylindrical or conical the dough being placed between two such surfaces one of
which moves whilst the other is at rest or is moved with a different velocity, so
that the dough is rolled and at the same time moved progressively through the
apparatus. In other modifications instead of the operating surfaces being
approximately cylindrical or conical they may be flat or nearly so. Thus two
disks may be used one of which rotates whilst the other is stationary or rotates at
a different velocity; or there may be two plates or two surfaces or combinations of
surfaces of any suitable kind to one of which a rectilinear or other suitable motion
is given the other being stationary or moving at a different velocity.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing various modifications of apparatus
for carrying out my Invention.
Figures 1 and 2, on sheet 1, of the accompanying drawings are a plan and a
side elevation of a modification of my improved apparatus arranged for treating
mass of dough and dividing it to form two loaves. Figures 3, and 4, are a
vertical section and a part plan of a second modification which is arranged for
Creating the dough without dividing it. Figure, 5, is a side elevation of a third
nodification and figures, 6, and 7, are a plan and a vertical section of the same
nachine. Figures, 8, and 9, on sheet, 2, are a side elevation and a plan of a fourthi
nodification and figure, 10, is a corresponding transverse vertical section.
Figures 11 and 12, are vertical sections of a fifth and sixth modification
espectively. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark
he same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In the first modification, shown in figures 1 and 2, a rotating drum, 13, having
concave or pulley-like circumference and carried on a horizontal shaft, 14, in
earings in a pair of side frames, 15, works in concert with a fixed or adjustablo
asing or channel piece, 16, which extends round the drum, 13, to the extent of
bout half to two thirds of its circumference. A channel of oval section is as it
ere formed between the drum, 13, and the channel piece, 16, and the channel
ece is fixed or adjusted so that this channel becomes gradually a little narrower
on the entering end or part, 17, towards the other end. The dough is entered
the wider end 17 of the channel and is gradually carried round by the drum, 13,

page_text: which works and rolls it along. At the narrow end of the channel the dough
passes over a rotating disk knife, 18, which divides it, and next the pieces enter a
pair of second channels formed between a second drum or pair of drums, 19, and
two fixed or adjustable casing or channel pieces, 20, and is finally delivered in a
rounded oblong form suitable for baking. The shafts 21, 22, of the disk knife, 18, 5
and second drum or drums, 19, are carried in the same side frames, 15, and may
be driven in any convenient way, the disk knife having a higher velocity than the
drums. The channel pieces, 20, of the second drums, 19, are centered at their inner
ends and a cord passing over a pulley to a weight, 23, is applied to each to make
its outer end bear with a yielding pressure against the drums, 19.
The second modification, shown in figures 3, and 4, is designed for rolling,
working or moulding a piece of dough into a single loaf, and comprises a rotating
drum, 24, on a vertical shaft, 25. This drum rotates within a stationary casing, 26,
and the dough being put at one point into the annular space between the drum
and casing, is rolled and worked and carried round by the drum, 24, to a point
where it drops through an opening into a lower channel 27, formed between the
drum, 24, and the casing, 26. Having passed this second stage the piece of dough
drops through an opening down upon a rotating drum 28, fixed on a horizontal
shaft, 29, and working in connection with a fixed casing, 30, so as to give the dough
a final working, rolling, and shaping.
The third modification, shown in figures 5, 6, and 7, is the same as the second
modification but considerably simplified. There is no horizontal drum (28) and the
vertical drum, 24, and casing, 26, are reduced in depth so as to have between them
merely a single channel, 27. A hopper-shaped inlet, 31, is formed in the top of the
casing, 26, at which to introduce the dough and an outlet, 32, is provided for the
discharge the dough making a single circuit in passing through the machine. The
drum, 24, is fitted on its shaft, 25, with a groove and feather so as to be movable
vertically and it is pressed upwards with a yielding pressure by means of a
counterweighted lever, 33.
In the fourth modification, shown in figures 8, 9 and 10 two endless belts,
34, 35, are provided for operating on the dough and are driven at different
velocities the lower belt moving faster so as to roll the dough as it is being carried
along by the belts. The belts, 34, 35, are made of combined rubber and cloth or
other suitable material and are carried upon and distended by pulleys held in a
pair of side frames, 15, The lower belt, 35, has its upper part which carries the
dough supported by pulleys, 36, and at the delivery end passes down in an inclined
direction to a stretching pulley, 37, which can be adjusted by means of screws
applied to its bearings. At the entering end the lower belt, 35,
round a
passes
pulley, 38, which drives it. The driving pulley, 39, of the upper belt, 34, is also
at the entering end, and the other end of the belt passes round a pulley, 40, held
by a pair of arms on a rocking shaft, 41, having on it a weighted lever, 42,
applied so as to keep the belt stretched. In order to prevent the dough from
spreading laterally beyond the edges of the belt, a long roller, 43, of small diameter
is placed at each side of the space between the belts. These rollers, 43, which may
be plain or formed with helical grooves or undulations are driven rapidly by means
of bevil wheels, 44, at their ends, these bevil wheels being in gear with bevil
wheels on a transverse shaft driven by means of pulleys and a belt from one of the
driving pulley shafts.
In the fifth modification shown in figure, 11, whilst the upper belt, 34, of the
fourth modification is retained there is substituted for the lower belt (35) a
stationary metal plate, 45, which is by preference adjustable. At the delivery end
(and at other parts if found necessary) one or more pulley-shaped wheels 46, are
applied to operate on the ends of the roll of dough and prevent their spreading or
extending too far.
In the sixth modification, shown in figure, 12, two sets of rollers, 47, 48, are
substituted for the endless belts. These rollers are placed in two vertical lines
(or they might be in inclined or horizontal lines) and whilst the rollers of both

page_text: sets rotate in the same angular direction the surface velocity of those on one side
is greater and the motion is downwards at their inner sides, Some of the rollers are
formed with flanges, 49, to prevent the ends of the roll of dough from spreading or
extending beyond the ends of the rollers. A hopper, 50, is provided at the top or
entering end for introducing the dough, and a delivery shoot or guide, 51, is pro-
vided at the bottom to lead it from the rollers after passing between them. The
rollers, 47, 48, may be made cylindrical or with concave surfaces or other shapes,
so as to impart different shapes to the pieces of dough. Small rollers (as in the
fourth modification) may be applied instead of the flanges, 49, for keeping in the
ends of the dough.
In any of the modifications rotating disk knives may be applied at the delivery
end to divide the rolled dough into two or more separate pieces or loaves.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of machinery for dividing and
moulding or treating dough to form loaves substantially as herein before described
with reference to figures, 1, and 2, of the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of parts forming what is hereinbefore described as the
second inodification.
3. The combination of parts forming what is herein before described as the third
modification
4. The combination of parts forming what is hereinbefore described as the fourth
modification
5. The combination of parts formning what is hereinbefore described as the fifth
modification
6. The combination of parts forming what is hereinbefore described as the sixth
modification
7. The arrangement of machinery or apparatus for treating dough wherein the
dough passes between two surfaces one of which moves whilst the other is at rest
or moves at a different velocity so as to roll the dough and carry it along, the
parts operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before
described.
In Witness whereof I, the said John Melvin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty-sixth day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand night lud
11
Witness-
EDMUND HUNT.
Patent Agent.
Glasgow.
JOHN MELVIN (L.S.)