Improvements in Biscuit Cutting Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Biscuit Cutting Machines.
I, DAVID ESPLIN THOMSON, of Gillespie Street Works, Gilmore Place,
Edinburgh, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in biscuit cutting machines.
In carrying my invention into practice I place a travelling web before the
gauging rolls and each set of reducing rolls on the cutting machine arranged in
such manner that the gauging rolls and each set of reducing rolls in front thereof
may have variable speeds which are set in motion by suitable gearing. These
motions are obtained from the gauging roll motion, and all the adjustments made
by tapered cones, chain and sprocket wheels, or other suitable gearing.
In order to procure exactitude in the traverse of the webs in each stroke,
particularly the cutting web, these webs are passed between prepared rolls properly
geared together; the larger roll on which the web moves, being the driver, it is
made of any hard substance and true, but the smaller roll is made of rubber or
other suitable substance being elastic and compressing the web between them, the
soft roll having a slight lead, i.e. if 7" be the exact true diameter of soft roll to gear
and run accurately, then about 7,3" would be the size of roll, the object of this
being to get web to run correctly whether slack or tight.
The cutting table of the machine is balanced upon a trunion at each end, which
is self adjustable to suit any discrepancy in the frame of the cutters.
The table is
also made adjustable lengthwise by suitably arranged screws and wedges working
separately or conjointly.
also provide an arrangement for the proper dusting of the sheets. This is
effected by feeding a suitable quantity of Hour into a receiver and propelling it
along with a gentle current of air in such manner as to cause it to dust the flour
on under and top side of sheets when necessary before they pass between the
gauging rolls.
Dated this 17th day of March 1893.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Biscuit Cutting Machines.
I, DAVID ESPLIN THOMSON, of Gillespie Street Works, Gilmore Place,
Edinburgh, North Britain, 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 invention relates to improvements in biscuit cutting machines.
In carrying my invention into practice I place a travelling web before the
gauging rolls and each set of reducing rolls on the cutting machine arranged in
such manner that the gauging rolls and each set of reducing rolls in front thereof
may have variable speeds which are set in motion by suitable gearing. These
notions are obtained from the gauging roll moticu and all the adjustments made
by tapered cones, chain and sprocket wheels or other suitable gearing.

page_text: In order to procure exactitude in the traverse of the webs in each stroke,
particularly the cutting web, these webs are passed between prepared rolls properly
geared together, the larger roll in which the web moves being the driver, it is
made of any hard substance and true, but the smaller roll is made of rubber or
other suitable substance being elastic and compressing the web between them, the
soft roll having a slight lead, that is if 7" be the exact true diameter of soft roll to
gear and run theoretically accurate, then about 7" would be the size of roll in
practice; the object of this being to get the web to run correctly whether slack or
tight.
The lower part of the cutting table of the machine is balanced upon a trunion,
and the upper part being independently adjustable in the direction of its length,
provides the table with a universal self adjustment, in order that it may auto-
matically take a plane parallel to the face of the cutters. The table is also made
adjustable vertically by suitably arranged screws and wedges working separately
or conjointly.
I also provide an arrangement for the proper dusting of the sheets. This is
effected by feeding a suitable quantity of Hour into a receiver and propelling it
along with a gentle current of air in such manner as to cause it to dust the flour
on under and top side of sheets when necessary before they pass between the
gauging rolls.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect have hereunto appended five explanatory sheets of drawings, in the
several figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1 is a general view of the machine.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the driving gear of the gauging and reducing
rolls.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are enlarged views of details of the machine
hereinafter referred to.
This invention relates to improvements in details in the biscuit cutting machine
shown in Figure 1. Before describing the improvements, a general explanation of
the working of the machine may be desirable. When the dough has been prepared
and run down to a comparatively thick sheet it is cut in the usual way and placed
at A on a travelling web. This web is regulated to the desired speed, and the sheet
passing through the rolls a, a is reduced to a suitable thickness preparatory to
entering the gauge rolls b, b. On coming through the reducing rolls it is delivered
to the second travelling web at B, which carries it up to the gauge rolls b, b.
After passing through these gauge rolls it is carried by a third travelling web C
on to a fourth web which brings it past the cutters at D, where the biscuits are
cut out. These are carried by the fourth travelling web and deposited over the
knife bar at a¹ on to the trays, while the scrap is removed by another travelling
web and delivered over the rollers E into a receptacle.
The improved details will now be described.
Figure 2 shows the arrangement by which the motion of the reducing rolls is
obtained from that of the gauging rolls by chains, chain wheels and toothed gearing.
F is the driving pulley having a chain wheel G on its shaft. Motion is communi-
cated by chain B to the shaft I, and from shaft to shaft J by toothed wheel K
and pinion L. On the shaft J there is a taper cone M. The motion of shaft J is
communicated to shaft N by belt O, driving taper cone M', and from shaft N to
shaft P by pinion Q, intermediate toothed wheel R and toothed wheel S on shaft
of the gauging roll b. On the shaft N there is a chain wheel, and the motion of
this shaft is communicated to the shaft T of reducing roll a by chain U, pinion V,
intermediate tooth wheel W, and toothed wheel X.
In order to obtain exactitude in the traverse of the cutting web in each stroke
this web is passed between prepared rolls c and d, Figures 1 and 2, properly geared
together. The larger roll c on which the web moves is the driver, self evident, and
is made of any hard substance and true, but the smaller roll d is made of rubber or

page_text: other suitable substance, and the rubber is rather larger in diameter than it would
be if it were only to gear theoretically correctly with the larger roll. The object
of this is to make the small roll press the web firmly against the hard roll and make
the web traverse the exact distance each stroke whether slack or tight.
On Sheet 3, Figures 3, 4, and 5 the table e on which the dough is cut and the
method of supporting it is illustrated. It is important that this table should
automatically take a plane parallel to the face of the cutters. It is therefore
provided with trunions f,fat each end, and is carried on journals g, g in the
framework at each side of the machine. This allows of motion round the axis of
the journals. In order to allow of motion round an axis at right angles to line
of the journals the table itself rests on a curved surface as shown in Figure 5, and
there is a slight clearance at each end. Thus the table can automatically accom-
modate itself to the face of the cutters. The table can also be raised or lowered
by the wedges h on each side of the machine, which can be moved in or out by
the screws i.
Figure 6 represents the arrangement for dusting the sheet on both sides after
passing through the reducing rolls a, a and before it goes to the gauging rolls.
is a reservoir for flour; k is a small blower which draws the flour from the
reservoir and propels it along the pipes 1, 1 into the horizontal pipes m, m.
The
pipes m, m have a row of small holes bored in them, through which the flour is
driven on to the sheet of dough as it comes through the reducing rolls.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an arrangement for giving an exact adjustment to the
distance between the gauging rolls, and at the same time providing means to take
up wear and to keep the rolls perfectly parallel to each other. The upper roll is
pivoted to a bearing block Q' at each side of the machine. The blocks Q are
raised or lowered so as to adjust the distance between the rolls by means of worm
wheels R' which are turned by the worms u' worked by the handle v.
The worm
and worm wheels are geared to make the rollers as nearly parallel as possible. For
a finer adjustment than one tooth of the worm, I provide an adjustable bush or
socket T screwed into the framework of the machine. This bush or socket can be
raised or lowered so as to set the rollers exactly parallel.
Figure 9 represents an arrangement for automatically lifting the knife bar at the
delivery point when changing from one pan to another. a¹ is the knife bar to which
is pivoted a rod 6', which rests on a notched bar c. This bar is lifted up
periodically by a revolving cam d acting on the levers and rods e¹.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate an arrangement by means of which the knife bar can
be instantaneously folded back and again placed in position without nuts or
fastenings. Figure 10 is a plan, and Figure 11 is a cross section. a¹ is the knife
bar, which has an arm attached to it. This arm rests on a stud gl supported on
a spiral spring in the tube h. The tube is pivoted to the framework at i
When
the stud is turned round from underneath the arm the knife bar can be folded
back. On putting the bar in position again the stud is brought round to support
the arm and hold the bar in position.
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. The combination of chain wheels, chains, and toothed gearing described and
illustrated on Sheet 2 by which the motion of the reducing rolls is made to depend
on the motion of the gauging rolls.
2. The combination of a hard roll and elastic roll for driving the travelling
web, by means of which exactitude in the traverse of the web each stroke is
obtained.
3. The supporting of the cutting table on trunions resting in journals so as to make
it self adjustable to any required plane.
4. The arrangement of screws and wedges for raising or lowering the cutting
table.

page_text: 5. The arrangement for dusting the sheets after passing through the reducing
.rolls.
Dated this 12th day of January 1894.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.