Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Icing Biscuits and Manufacturing Drop Biscuits and Sweets.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Icing Biscuits and
Manufacturing Drop Biscuits and Sweets.
I JOHN GASCOIGNE SQUIRE 19 Grosvenor Place Newcastle on Tyne Biscuit
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A machine to automatically form and fix upon the upper surface of biscuits,
ornaments of sugar, known as icing sugar, and to place the iced biscuits on trays,
the duties of the attendants being confined to refilling the cylinders, guiding the
biscuits into the proper channels, placing the trays in position, and removing the
full trays of iced biscuits. .
;
Or for forming similar designs in sugar or other sweetmeat on paper or cake pans
for subsequent baking, the attendants being required to place the empty cake pans
or paper on the chains, and remove the full ones.
The machine consists of,-
1. Two sets of icing apparatus, one set at each side of the machine, to be used
either separately or together, or they may be used in combination, an icing mixture
of different colours being used in each apparatus. Each apparatus consists of a
forcing cylinder, flexible tube, valve, expansion box, with three icing pipes, and
the necessary driving gear. On one side of each cylinder is a strong hinge, by
which they are attached perpendicularly to the framework of the machine, and upon
which they swing clear of the pistons, when in this position they present the whole
area of the opening of the cylinders for filling, the pistons are actuated by screws
driven by gearing, the speed is capable of being regulated as required, by adjustable
levers at each side of the machine, all driven from one crank disc.. The flexible
tubes convey the icing material from the cylinders into the spaces between rubber
diaphragms and the valves. To the valves, which open downward are fixed the
valve-rods, projecting up and through the axes of the valve seats, and through the
centres of the diaphragms, and are fixed thereto with screw nuts above and below.
The valves close owing to the upward pressure being greater on the diaphragm
than the downward pressure on the valves, because of the larger area of the
diaphragms, to the area of the valves, the relative diameters found to give the best
results being valve one inch to diaphragm three inches. The valves open into the
expansion boxes immediately beneath the valve seats, furnished at bottom with
rubber diaphragms, similar to these on valve seats, from the front side of each of
the expansion boxes branch out the icing nozzles, these are pieces open at the
top, and fitted with internal screws to admit either screw stoppers or adjusting
screws holding internal icing tubes passing through the nozzles, the bottom end of
the nozzles are screwed internally to receive adjusting tubes, to adjust the length
of the nozzles, these tubes have an external screw, at bottom to receive the icing
pipes, the ordinary icing pipes in general use may be used with this machine. The
internal tubes are required when it is necessary to form a particular design, such as
for icing rings with a centre coloured differently from the outer portion, these
internal tubes are connected by flexible tubes with, and receive their supply of
icing mixture from the expansion box of the opposite valve. They extend down
the nozzles, as far as, and through to, the end of the icing pipes, and are adjustable
with regard to length by the screws at the top of the nozzles.
The valve seats carrying expansion boxes and icing pipes, are attached by
adjustable slide flange tubes to a cross-bar fixed to perpendicular guide rods, which
slide through guiding sockets, fixed at top and bottom of each side of the machine
frame, these rods are actuated by cams upon the driving shaft, the cams give the
guide rods, valves, and icing pipes a perpendicular upward and downward stroke

page_text: through a space of two inches, the guide rods, valves &c. remain stationary when
down for a space of time equal to one third of a revolution of the driving shaft,
one third of the circumference of the cams being a segment of a circle having
the centre of the shaft for its centre. The valves open when near the bottom on
the down stroke, and remain open until they commence the upward stroke,
through the action of levers carried by crossheads fixed to the slide flange tubes,
one end of each of these levers in descending comes in contact with the end of the
adjustable slot in which it is. held, these slots. are in the ends of screwed rods,
capable. of being raised or lowered, so as to regulate the amount of opening the
valves are to be allowed, this causes these ends of the levers to be elevated and
the other ends to be depressed upon the valve rods, thus opening the valves,
allowing the icing mixture to flow into the expansion boxes, at the same time, a
knob presses upward upon the diaphragm of each expansion box, forcing the icing
mixture through the icing pipes, which flows and forms upon. the biscuits, through
the design cut in the ends of the pipes during the interval of rest corresponding to
the segment of circle on the cams before referred to. On the commencement
of the upward stroke, the levers release their pressure upon the valve rods, the
valves close, the knobs fall back and cease to press upon the diaphragms of the
expansion boxes, which resume their normal shape, providing space, fomany excess
that may pass the valves when closing, and exerting a slight-suction action upon
the icing pipes, thus stopping the flow until the next stroke.
2. An automatic feed- and delivery, for placing the biscuits in the proper
position for being iced, and delivering or placing them upon the drying trays ready
for the attendant to remove. This' consists of six pairs of carrying chains, furnished
at equal and regular: intervals with verticle projections or studs, for holding and
pushing the biscuits forward. The chains are driven by: and work in toothed
pulleys, actuated by a ratchet wheel and pal, driven from the crank disc on the
driving shaft. by a connecting rod. At the feeding end of the machine is a curved
inclined plate, upon which are six pairs of adjustable curved guides or channels of
the same curvature as the plate; each pair of guides forms a channel by means of
which the biscuits decend to the carrying chains. The biscuits in decending these
channels, from a horisontal gradually assume a more upright position, and when
they reach the bottom, the lowest biscuits rest edgewise upon the chains, and support
the columns of biscuits in the channels each resting edgewise upon the next beneath,
when in this position: the second biscuits from the bottom in each channel are held
by automatic stops: decending upon them, the lowest or first biscuits resting
upon the chains are thus set free; and are carried along when, the chains move
on one space forward, as the machine revolves the stops release. the biscuits thus
held in each channel; which drop edgewise on to the chains, always supporting a
column of biscuits on their edges, the stops decending again upon the second from
the bottom, and so on with each revolution of the machine. The biscuits..are
carried by the chains and are regulated to stop with their centres beneath the icing
pipès by means of an adjusting link to which the pal working the ratchet wheel is
attached. The biscuits are held beneath the icing pipes while being iced by side
gripps, which keep them in position. "The chains then carry the iced biscuits
forward, and transfer them to a curved sloping shoot, down which they slide
and arrange themselves upon the drying trays, which are being carried at the
same speed as the biscuits are travelling; upon an endless canvas web. beneath
the shoot.
For manufacturing similar designs in sugar or other sweetmeat, such as drop
sweets or ice cream biscuits; the curved inclined plate with guiding channels at the
feeding end of the machine, are removed. The cake pans with or without paper
are laid
upon the chains; and have the drops formed upon them as they pass under
the icing .pipes.
Dated this Twenty-second day of September 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Icing Biscuits and
Manufacturing Drop Biscuits and Sweets.
I, JOHN GASCOIGNE SQUIRE of 19 Grosvenor Place, Jesmond, Newcastle on
Tyne, Biscuit Manufacturer 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:-
This invention consists of a machine to automatically form and fix upon the
surface of biscuits, ornaments or drops in various designs of sugar known as icing
sugar (being loaf sugar ground to a fine powder and made into a paste of the
proper consistency with whites of eggs in the usual manner) hereinafter called the
❝icing mixture
"and to place the iced biscuits on the drying trays. The machine
being automatic in all its movements, after being properly adjusted and set in
motion, the duties of the attendants may be confined to feeding in the biscuits,
charging the cylinders with the icing mixture, placing the empty drying trays in
position and removing the full trays of iced biscuits. Or for forming similar
designs in sugar or other material, either for drying as drop sweets, or on paper or
cake pans for subsequent baking, such as ice cream biscuits. The attendants in
this case are required to place the cake pans or paper on the carrying chains and
remove them when filled with biscuits, or drop sweets.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The biscuits after being placed in the
feeding end of the machine by the attendant, pass automatically into their places
on the endless carrying chains, and lie between projections on the chains, which
define the exact position which they are required to occupy beneath the icing pipes.
The chains have an intermittent motion imparted to them, by the action of a
ratchet wheel and pawl which at each revolution of the driving shaft moves them
forward one space, or the distance between one projection and the next, and at
each revolution the chains stop with the centres of the biscuits beneath: the icing
pipes during half a revolution of the shaft. At the beginning of that portion of
the revolution of the driving shaft at which the chains become stationary the icing
pipes decend vertically, their movements being governed by cams upon the driving
shaft, and during the space of time equal to one third of a revolution of the shaft,
they remain down during which time the icing mixture flows through the icing
pipes, forming the design upon the biscuits. The icing pipes then rise quickly up
and the chains pass forward with the iced biscuits, bringing other biscuits into
position under the icing pipes and so on with each stroke of the machine.. At the
delivery end of the machine the iced biscuits are transferred to a curved shoot
down which they slide in close compact order on to the drying trays, which travel
upon an endless canvass web, beneath the shoot, regulated at the same speed as the
biscuits are delivered and having an intermittent motion imparted to it by a ratchet
wheel and pawl.
Provision is made throughout to adapt the machine to suit biscuits of different
sizes as well as to regulate the amount and size of the iced designs or drops..
In the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 Sheet 1 is a plan of the machine.
Figure 2. Sheet 2 is a side elevation.
Figure 3. Sheet 3. is a longitudinal section, taken through the line A. B, Figure 1
Sheet 1.
Figures 4. 5. 6. 7. are parts of the machine hereinafter described....
In each figure the letters refer to the same parts of the machine..
The machine comprises two sets of icing. apparatus, identical in every respect;
one set at each side of the machine, six pairs of carrying chains P P P, Figs. 1. 2.
3. 6. 7. with automatic feed Figs. 1. 2. 3. for placing the biscuits on the chains
and automatic delivery consisting of a curved shoot Q to transfer them from the
chains to the drying trays travelling upon the endless canvas web Q. The icing

page_text: apparatus may be used either together, each icing the same or different designs or
colours; or separately, or they may be used in combination by conducting part of
the icing mixture of one set into the icing pipes of the other Fig. 5. through
flexible tubes O internal tubes 03 and suitable icing pipes O forming designs in
two colours, an icing mixture of a different colour being used in each cylinder.
Each icing apparatus consists of a forcing cylinder A flexible tube B and valve N¹
the cylinders are secured by and swing upon strong hinges A¹ cast upon the
machine frames D' and cylinders respectively, by means of which they swing clear
of the pistons and present the whole opening of the cylinders for filling. When
filled and in position for working they rest perpendicularily upon the brackets A²
cast on the machine frame D' and are held by the catches A³. The pistons A are
forced into the cylinders by the right and left handed screws E being acted upon
by the screwed bosses of the toothed wheels E', the screws E are prevented from
turning with the wheels by the projecting guide-stops E2 sliding in the vertical
slot. These stops also throw the pawls out of gear and arrest the progress of
the pistons when down, by pressing upon the levers E³ thereby lifting the
guards F Fig. 1. these in turn lifting the pawls F1 out of the teeth of the ratchet
wheels F. The toothed wheels E' are driven by the pinions E Figs. 1 and 3. on
the vertical shafts E5 which through the medium of the mitre wheels F³ are
driven by the horizontal shafts and the ratchet wheels F. The hand wheels F³ are
used for working the pistons up again when the cylinders require refilling by
throwing the pawls F' back and working the handles in the reverse direction.
The arrangement and use of the adjustable levers for driving at any necessary
speed, the mechanism just described for forcing the material through the cylinders,
flexible tubes and valves is as follows:-
G Figures 2. and 3. is an oscillating or rocking shaft communicating with and
driving the apparatus at each side of the machine through the connecting
rods G G. This shaft forms the fulcrum of the levers G₁ G' G³; motion is
communicated from the crank disc H₁ to the moveable pin G4 on the adjustable
lever G' through the connecting rod H2. When the pin G₁ is fixed on the lever G¹
at the end nearest the shaft, thereby forming a short lever, the oscillations of the
shaft and the stroke of the levers G2 G3 are lengthened, but when the pin G4 is
fixed at the opposite end of the lever G¹ thereby lengthening the lever, the
oscillations of the shaft and the stroke of the levers are shortened. The
levers G G³ have also moveable pins from which motion is transmitted to
the moveable pins in the bellcranks through the connecting rods G³ G. This
combination of levers affords a wide range of speed adjustments. The short limbs
of these bellcranks F" carry the pawls F¹ which engage into the teeth of the
ratchet wheels F before described, thus imparting motion to the horizontal spindles
and through the mitre wheels 13 vertical shafts E' and cog wheels E¹ to the
screws E causing the pistons A to decend with an intermittent motion, forcing
the icing mixture through the flexible tubes B. to and through the valves N' and
the icing pipes at each downward stroke.
The icing pipes, valves, and their appendages have an upward and downward
stroke of two inches, remaining at rest when down for a space of time equal to one
third of a revolution of the driving shaft H. this is effected through the action of the
cams H2 upon the friction wheels H³ one side of these cams being a segment equal
to one third of a circle having the centre of the driving shaft H for its centre.
The friction wheels H³ are fixed to the upright guide rods I. at each side of the
machine, which slide in guiding sockets I' in the framework at the top and bottom
at each side, to these rods is attached by adjusting nuts the crossbar J carrying the
valves and icing pipes. The springs K through the bellcranks L support the
weight of the rods, crossbar, valves &c. and press the friction wheels H³ against
the cams H² the stroke and interval of rest being governed by these cams.
The valve seats or caseings N are attached to the crossbar J through the medium
of the adjusting slide tube M which pass through the bosses in the cross bar J and
are fixed by the set screws M2 these adjustable slides are for the purpose of

page_text: adjusting the icing pipes O to the centre of the biscuits. (An auxiliary adjustment
for bringing the centre of the biscuits under the icing pipes, is the adjustable
link Z in the lever holding the pawl Z' Figure 2.)
The valves N' Figure 3. open downward and are connected with the centre of
the rubber diaphragms N2 by the valve rods N³ which are fixed thereto with screw
nuts and washers above and below. The icing mixture is forced through the
flexible tubes into these spaces between the diaphragms and the valves. The
diaphragmns being three times the diameter of the valves, the latter close owing to
the upward pressure of the icing mixture, upon the larger area of the diaphragms,
being greater than the downward pressure upon the smaller area of the valves.
The valves N' open into the expansion chamber or boxes N situated immediately
beneath the valve seats, provided at the bottom with rubber diaphragms N³ acted
upon by the knobs Ne, these knobs are fixed to the levers N7 upon the short
shafts N and actuated by the levers N° engaging into the adjusting slide N
Figs. 1. 3 and 5. From each of these expansion boxes branch out three icing
nozzles O¹. These are pieces screwed at the upper end internally and fitted
with screw stoppers O'. These stoppers may be removed and the internal tubes 03
inserted when necessary into the lower end, the adjusting pieces O are screwed,
these carry the icing pipes O and are for the purpose of raising or lowering them
to suit the different thicknesses of the various classes of biscuits. 03 are the
internal tubes communicating with the centres of the icing pipes O by the use of
these tubes a design is produced (with suitable icing pipes) in two colours, they
are adjusted by the screws in the top of the nozzles with which, and the icing
pipes they are concentric and extend down to the sockets in the icing pipes O as
shown Figure 5. These internal tubes are connected by flexible tubes O³ with, and
receive their supply of icing mixture from, the expansion box of the opposite valve.
The opening of the valves is effected by means of the levers M³ Fig. 3. pivotted
to the crossheads M' fixed to the flanges of the slide tubes M. When the icing
pipes, valves &c. are, owing to the revolution of the cams H³, near the bottom on
the down stroke, one end of each of these levers is held in the end of the slot M*
into which it engages, these slots are in the screwed rods M6 and are adjusted by the
hand screw M', these screws regulate the extent to which the valves are to open,
the other ends of the levers are thus caused to press upon the valve rods N³ thus.
opening the valves. At the same time, the knobs No press upward upon the
diaphragm of each expansion box. These movements together with the pressure
from the cylinders, unite in forcing the icing mixture through the icing pipes,
during their interval of rest, at the required speed, to produce a clear and sharp
impression, corresponding to the design cut in the icing pipes. When the cams
have reached that portion of their revolution at which the icing pipes &c. begin
their upward stroke, the levers M³ release their pressure upon the valve rods N³
the valves close, the knobs N' fall back and cease to press upon the diaphragms No
of the expansion boxes, thus stopping the flow until the next stroke.
The carrying chains P P shown enlarged Figs. 6. 7 may be of any convenient
form, provided they allow of a projection Q¹ from the curved shoot or delivery
plate between the chains forming each pair, for receiving the biscuits, and have
studs P² on each chain, forming pairs with the studs upon the adjoining chain, at
intervals apart, corresponding to the notches on the ratchet wheel P' driving the
shaft upon which are the toothed pulleys P³ engaging into the carrying chains, at
the opposite end, the chains work over plain grooved pulleys P. The chains travel
in the guides P5, upon the sides of these the spring grips Pe are placed for holding
the biscuits while being iced. The mechanism by means of which the biscuits fall
automatically into their places upon the travelling chains P P is shown at Figs. 1.
2. 3. and in cross section Fig. 4. R R is a curved inclined plate, having two curves
of the same radius R and R' the lower end of the curve R' is set back a space,
equal to the half of the distance between the studs upon the carrying chains. The
studs upon the chains beneath these curves being set back the same distance, causes
the biscuits to be placed upon them diagonally with regard to the biscuits in the

page_text: are fixed
adjoining chains S. S' are six pairs of guides shown in section Fig. 4. baving
the same curvature as the plate R. R' two of these guides form a channel T capable
of lateral adjustment to suit the size of biscuits, each channel leads down to, and
is directly above, one pair of carrying chains, the guides S, in each pair,
by screw nuts to the rod S2 and remain stationary, the opposite guides S¹ in each
pair; fixed-in like manner, to the rod S³, sliding in the brackets S* have a lateral
motion imparted to them by the short limb of the bellcrank U pressing through
the rod Sagainst the spiral spring on the opposite end Fig. 4. the long limb
being actuated by the lever W2 on the rocking shaft W, the brackets S4 supporting
the rods S2 S3 and guides are adjustable along the curved edge of the frame D³,
this is for the purpose of enlarging or diminishing the distance between the lower
ends of the guides S. S¹ and the chains P P to suit the size of the biscuits. The
guide rod V sliding in the sockets on the adjusting standards V2 support the
crossbar V carrying the spring stops V³ the adjusting standards V2 alter the positions
of the stops V³ as required for different sizes of biscuits. The levers W on the
rocking shaft W press upon the ends of the guide rods V' at each revolution of
the driving shaft H lifting the stops. At the same time the short levers W2 on the
rocking shaft W through the bellcrank U gives the guides S' a short latéral motion
causing the channels I to widen, preventing the biscuits clogging the said channels.
The rocking shaft W receives its motion through the bellcrank W³ connecting
rod W and cam with one projection W on the driving shaft.
Upon the inclined portion of the plate R the guide plate X slides with a lateral
shaking motion, imparted to it through the levers X' the bellcrank X2 and the
rod X³ from the cam with four projections X on the driving shaft H there may be
several interchangeable guide plates X with groves adapted to suit biscuits of
different diameters. When the biscuits are placed upon this plate X either by
hand-scoop or by spout from some convenient source, they arrange themselves in
lines along the grooves T' where such as overlap or require turning right side up
are set right by the attendant, they then slide down into the channels T upon the
curved portion of the plate R R when they reach the bottom of the channels T
the lowest biscuit in each rest edgewise upon the carrying chains, and support a
column of biscuits in each channel, each resting edgewise upon the next beneath,
when in this position the second biscuit from the bottom in each channel are held
by the stops V³ descending upon them, the lowest, or first biscuits are then at
liberty, and are carried along when the chains move on one space forward. As the
machine performs its successive functions the stops V³ release the biscuits thus held
in each channel, which drop edgewise on to the carrying chains P P, always
supporting a column of biscuits on their edges, the stops descending again upon
the second biscuits from the bottom and so on each biscuit dropping in succession
into its alloted place in front of the studs P2 with each revolution performed by
the machine. The biscuits are carried along with an intermittent motion, upon the
chains, and stop in succession beneath the icing pipes O. O. where they are held
by the spring grips P which at the same time draw them against the studs P²
which determine their exact position beneath the icing pipes O O. The chains then
carry the iced biscuits forward, and transfer them to the curved shoot Q and on to
the drying trays as described above.
For manufacturing similar designs in sugar or other material such as drop sweets
or ice cream biscuits. The mechanism at the feeding of the machine, consisting of
guiding channels &c. is removed. The cake pans, with or without paper, are laid
upon the chains P P on which they travel, and have the drops formed upon them
as they pass under the icing pipes.
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 :-
1st. The combination of parts forming the complete machine for icing biscuits
and other like purposes, all constructed and operated substantially as set forth,

page_text: 2nd. In a machine for icing biscuits and other like purposes, the combination
with the valves N' of diaphragms N', expansion boxes N', diaphragms N³ and
knobs N° for alternately stopping and accelerating the flow of the icing mixture,
substantially as set forth.
3rd. In a machine for icing biscuits and other like purposes, the combination with
the carrying chains P P of the parts R R¹, S S¹, T T', S², S³, S¹, S³, U,
V, V1, V2, V3, W, W', W2, W³, X, X, X2, X³, X, for placing the biscuits upon
the said chains at regular intervals, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of June 1891.
JOHN GASCOIGNE SQUIRE.