Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of Confectionery.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Confectionery.
L
I, DANIEL MOREY HOLMES of Bellgrove Drive, Arlington, New Jersey, United
States of America, at present residing at Gaspereau, Acton, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery, its
object being the construction of a machine which will enable semi-liquid orna-
mentation to be deposited on fondants or the like in any desired pattern which
may be determined mechanically or traced out by the hand of the operator.
One construction of apparatus according to this invention comprises a vessel, in
which melted chocolate, for example is contained, and a plate upon which fon-
dants for treatment are placed in the recesses of a sliding bar. Opposite this slid-
ing bar, is a wire-work support.
.
To the main driving shaft of the machine, is connected gearing by which, at
suitable intervals a series of fondants placed before the bar are pushed forward on
to the wire-work support or grid.
Above this grid is a rising and falling frame also geared to the driving shaft, so
as to be operated at intervals. From this frame depend a series of rods; the upper
ends of these rods are connected to the frame by ball and socket joints, or by some
other equivalent device which will permit them to swing in any direction. The
lower ends of these rods are of special construction for a purpose hereinafter
explained.
The grid by which the fondants are supported, descends with them into the reser-
voir of semi-liquid chocolate and is followed in its descent by the rods. The rods
and the fondants rise out of the chocolate together, the fondants having become
coated, and the lower ends of the rods having also taken up a charge of chocolate.
The chocolate taken by the rods is required to drip or drain from each on to the
fondant immediately below it, so as to deposit an ornamental design upon it in
imitation of a similar finish usually imparted by hand.
It has been found difficult to retain the chocolate on the lower ends of the rods
in such a manner that it shall not all drip off more or less instantaneously but be
capable of giving a flow sufficiently slow to enable regulation of size and shape
of the ornament to be effected.
According to this invention the lower end of each rod is tubular, and the upper
portion of each tube has an opening in it. In each tube a small central core ex-
tending out at the bottom of the tube and having at its lower end a bulb prefer-
ably somewhat pointed.

page_text: "
1
When the rods dip into the chocolate, each of the tubes acquires an external
coating, and in addition its interior is fully charged with the required chocolate,
which enters by both the under and upper opening aforesaid. It is found that
with this peculiar construction, the chocolate occupies in draining away from the
rods a period sufficiently long to enable the pattern to be formed in the manner
desired.
Preferably a coil of heating pipes is placed in proximity to the lower ends of the
rods to prevent any risk of the chocolate cooling or setting upon them.
The rods are supported by a bar, which is vertically adjustable upon the part to
which it is attached, so as to enable the necessary slight adjustment of the lower
ends of the rods to be obtained.
:
The lower ends of all the rods are linked together, and motion is imparted to the
link to cause them all to have a similar movement, whereby the form of the
ornamentation in plan is determined.
An important feature of this invention is a copying apparatus by which the
movement of one part of the machine in a given path is transmitted to the rods ir
such a manner that the lower end of each rod traverses a similar path, thereby
producing upon each fondant a pattern determined by the control apparatus.
One form of control apparatus comprises a slide upon which is journalled a
wheel which is linked by connecting rods and links to a duplicate system of
levers, coupled to the link by which the lower ends of the rods are controlled.
By rotary movement of the wheel on the slide, combined with the reciprocation
of the slide, curves or other patterns can be produced and the link work is so con-
structed that the lower ends of the rods reproduce such patterns.
The rotation of the wheel on the slide is preferably controlled by a shaft, which
is always geared by means of a belt with the driving-mechanism of the apparatus,
but it is locked against rotation except at such times as it is released automatically
by a sliding cam, the driving band being allowed to slip at such times as the gear
is locked.
The crank pin is adjustable in the wheel on the slide so that its throw may be
varied, as desired. Conveniently the slide carries a similar but auxiliary wheel,
the teeth of which are a fraction of those in the first wheel, so that the speed of
rotation of the crank pin may be varied.
One example of mechanism by which the motion of translation as well as the
motion of rotation can be transmitted from the crank pin of the wheel on the slide
to the frame to which the link at the lower ends of the drip rods is connected, will
now be be described
A rocking lever extends from this crank pin to a pin upon the said frame, and an
intermediate pin or pivot is carried by a rocking arm, slide or the like so that the
motion of the frame will be similar although in reverse sense to that of the
crank pin.
"
33
As the connecting rod is connected only to one end of this frame it is necessary to
employ copying device to ensure that the opposite side of the frame shall move in
precisely similar fashion. For this purpose two links conveniently pivotted in the
same plane and more or less in line with each other have their adjacent ends
linked together and their outer ends linked respectively to the outer ends of the
frame..
The reciprocation of the slide can be effected by a lever controlled by a sliding
cam having removable cam surfaces.
Instead of operating the crank pin by the combined movements of the slide and
the wheel carried upon it, a suitable pattern cam may be fixed to the machine, so
that an attendant can cause the crank pin or an equivalent part of the driving
mechanism to traverse such pattern manually.
Dated this 12th day of January 1807

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Confectionery.
:
1, DANIEL MOREY HOLMES of Bellgrove Drive, Arlington, New Jersey, United
States of America at present residing at Gaspereau, Acton, 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: -
This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery, its
object being the construction of a machine which will enable semi-liquid orna-
mentation to be deposited on fondants or the like in any desired pattern which
may be determined mechanically or traced out by the hand of the operator:
.
One construction of apparatus according to this invention comprises a vessel, in
which melted chocolate, for example is contained, and a plate upon which fon-
dants for treatment are placed in the recesses of a sliding bar. Opposite this slid-
ing bar, is a wire-work support.
To the main driving shaft of the machine, is connected gearing by which; at
suitable intervals a series of fondants placed before the bar are pushed forward on
to the wire-work support or grid.
וי
Above this grid is a rising and falling frame also geared to the driving shaft, so
as to be operated at intervals. From this frame depends a series of rods; the upper
ends of these rods are connected to the frame by ball and socket joints, or by some
other equivalent device which will permit them to swing in any direction. The:
lower ends of these rods are of special construction for a purpose hereinafter
explained.
The grid by which the fondants are supported, descends with them into the reser-
voir of semi-liquid chocolate and is followed in its descent by the rods. The rods
and the fondants rise out of the chocolate together, the fondants having become
coated, and the lower ends of the rods having also taken up a charge of chocolate:
The chocolate taken by the rods is required to drip or drain from each on to the
fondant immediately. below it, so as to deposit an ornamental design upon it in
imitation of a similar finish usually imparted by hand.
It has been found difficult to retain the chocolate on the lower ends of the rods
in such a manner that it shall not all drip off more or less instantaneously but be
capable of giving a flow sufficiently slow to enable regulation of size and shape
of the ornament to be effected.
According to this invention the lower end of each rod is tubular, and the upper.
portion of each tube has an opening in it. In each tube is a small central core ex-
tending out at the bottom of the tube and having at its lower end a bulb prefér-
ably somewhat pointed.
When the rods dip into the chocolate, each of the tubes acquires an external
coating, and in addition its interior is fully charged with the required chocolate,
which enters by both the under and upper opening aforesaid. It is found that
with this peculiar construction, the chocolate occupies in draining away from the
rods a period sufficiently long to enable the pattern to be formed in the manner
desired.
Preferably a coil of heating pipes is placed in proximity to the lower ends of the
rods to prevent any risk of the chocolate cooling or setting upon them.
The rods are supported by a bar, which is vertically adjustable upon the part to
which it is attached, so as to enable the necessary slight adjustment of the lower
ends of the rods to be obtained.
The lower ends of all the rods are linked together, and motion is imparted to the

page_text: link to cause them all to have similar movement, whereby the form of the
ornamentation in plan is determined.
An important feature of this invention is a copying apparatus by which the
movement of one part of the machine in a given path is transmitted to the rods in
such a manner that the lower end of each rod traverses a similar path, thereby
producing upon each fondant a pattern determined by the control apparatus.
One form of control apparatus comprises a slide upon which is journalled a
wheel which is linked by connecting rods and links to a duplicate system of
levers, coupled to the link by which the lower ends of the rods are controlled.
By rotary movement of the wheel on the slide, combined with the reciprocation
of the slide, curves or other patterns can be produced and the link work is so con-
structed that the lower ends of the rods reproduce such patterns.
The rotation of the wheel on the slide is preferably controlled by a shaft, which
is always geared by means of a belt with the driving mechanism of the apparatus,
but it is locked against rotation except at such times as it is released automatically
by a sliding cam, the driving band being allowed to slip at such times as the gear
is locked.
The crank pin is adjustable in the wheel on the slide so that its throw may be
varied, as desired. Conveniently the slide carries a similar but auxiliary wheel,
the teeth of which are a fraction of those in the first wheel, so that the speed of:
rotation of the crank pin may be varied.
One example of mechanism by which the motion of translation as well as the
motion of rotation can be transmitted from the crank pin of the wheel on the slide
to the frame to which the link at the lower ends of the drip rods is connected, will
now be described.
A rocking lever extends from this crank pin to a pin upon the said frame, and an
intermediate pin or pivot is carried by a rocking arm, slide or the like so that the
motion of the frame will be similar although in reverse sense to that of the
crank pin.
<
"
As the connecting rod is connected only to one end of this frame it is necessary to a
employ a copying device to ensure that the opposite side of the frame shall move in
precisely similar fashion. For this purpose two links conveniently pivotted in the
same plane and more or less in line with each other have their adjacent ends
linked together and their outer ends linked respectively to the outer ends of the
frame.
The reciprocation of the slide can be effected by a lever controlled by a sliding
cam having movable cam surfaces.
3
Instead of operating the crank pin by the combined movements of the slide and
the wheel carried upon it, a suitable pattern cam may be fixed to the machine, so
that an attendant can cause the crank pin or an equivalent part of the driving 4
mechanism to traverse such pattern manually.
In order to clearly set forth the nature of this invention I will describe one form
of machine constructed in accordance therewith adapted to coat fondants or the
like with chocolate and to impart to them the desired finish; but it is to be
understood that I do not limit this invention to the coating of confectionery with
chocolate nor to the form of machine illustrated which is described by way of
example.
In the accompanying drawings:-
4
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chocolate coating and decorating machine partly
in section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, and with part of the frame broken away to 5
expose the drip rods to view.
Fig. 2 a plan of the machine shown in Fig. 1, partly in section on the line 2--2
of Fig. 4.
Fig. 3 a perspective view of the drip rods and grid and some of the connected.
mechanism and
Fig. 4 an end elevation of the machine.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
5

page_text: A is the frame of the machine, made preferably of cast-iron, and provided with
a well or tank A¹ for the reception of the melted chocolate. This tank may be
steam jacketted or I may use other means such as gas, to keep the contents of the
tank at any desired temperature.
Above the tank A' and between two upright members A2 of the frame A is a
bar B movable up and down vertically, its ends being received and guided by slots
in the uprights A2 which are placed one at each end of the tank A. The various
parts of the machine are operated from a shaft C carried by the frame A and
driven by a belt running on the pulley C' at one end of the shaft; on the other end
is a pinion C2 meshing with a spur wheel D' upon a shaft D also carried by the
frame A.
The shaft D carries at one end the cam 12 and at the other a segmental wheel D³
the operative effect of this last being that of an ordinary spur wheel having part of
the teeth removed.
The segmental wheel D³ meshes with a pinion E on a third shaft E which thus
receives an intermittent motion of rotation. Upon each end of the shaft E is a
crank connected by a connecting rod E3 with the bar B to which it imparts
the requisite rising and falling motion; the two cranks E3 are both at the top of
their stroke at the same time and have the same throw. The bar B is thus main-
tained parallel to itself throughout its travel.
From the bar B depends a horizontal wire grid F by the bars B₁ the fondants.
being fed by hand by a depressible tray carried on springs, not shown in the
drawings, from the plate G on to the grid F when the machine is in operation.
Further there is a bar or beam H attached at each end to the bar B but clear of
it throughout the greater part of its own length, from which hang a number of
rods K by ball and socket joints as shown at K. These rods terminate at their.
lower extremities a short distance above the grid F.
The rods hall pass through a straight bar K2 which acts as a link to compel
all the rods K to partake of whatever motion is given to the link,
any one point in which traces a path similar to that traced by any:
other. The holes in the link through which the rods pass are made
preferably conical with their larger ends uppermost, that is, turned towards
the points of suspension of the rods whose movements are thus determined by the
lower edges of the hole, the conicity being of a sufficiently great angularity to keep
the sides of the holes clear of the rods throughout the range of required motion...
This motion is derived from a mechanism to which particular reference is made.
hereinafter.
I will now particularly describe the rods K which are an important feature of;
this invention.
Some of the rods are shown in detail in perspective in Fig. 3. K¹ is the ball which
fits in the socket of the beam H. The rod is reduced in diameter at K³ to permit
its being placed in position in the beam through a slot K4 leading to the socket.
At the lower end of the rod is a bulb or pip K ending in a point K6 and:
connected with the main body of the rod by the wire K' a large portion of whose
length is enveloped by a tube K9 which is open below, fits tightly over the rod.
above and has one or more openings K in its sides; two such openings are shown
in the drawings. It is important that the connecting piece or wire K7 should be.
of less diameter than the internal diameter of the tube K8. The tubular portion K8
may be made to slip up on the rod K and so expose the wire K7 for removing.
congealed material. The movement may be limited in any convenient way as by.
a pin and slot.
The cam D upon the shaft effects the feeding of the fondants through the
machine, by means of the lever L, which is fixed to the rock-shaft L' journalled,
in the frame A and has a projection L2 carrying a roller L³. A spring M in
tension between a point on the frame A and the lower end of an auxiliary lever on
the shaft L', not shown, keeps the roller L3 pressed against the edge of the cam D³.
The upper end of the lever L is connected by links or bars L to a cross bar G³
:
:

page_text: actuating a discharge bar G' in which are recesses G2 to receive the fondants which
are placed upon the grid F and by this means spaced in a row to come accurately
below the drip-rods K when thrust forward.
On the opposite end of the rock-shaft L' which extends right across the machine,
is a second lever like the lever L connected similarly to the bar G¹ thereby ensuring 5
the parallel motion of the latter.
The cam 12 is so shaped as to give the discharge bar G¹ three distinct steps in
its forward motion, the first of which advances the fondants nearly to the required
position on the grid for ornamenting after being dipped into the tank A¹. After
a slight retrogade movement and a "dwell", the bar advances further than before,
bringing the fondants a little short of vertically below the dip rods and remains
there during the decorating operation; its third and last step is to advance the
chocolates from the grid on to a paper band W provided to receive them. The bar
then retires to the other limit of its motion, and the above cycle of operations is
repeated.
In addition to bringing the fondants to the required position for the various
operations, the bars G and G³ effect the movement of certain other devices as I
will now explain.
1
A further portion F1 of the grid F is formed separate from the main body of the
grid and is pivotted at F upon a projecting arm attached to the main frame A. 2
A pin on the grid piece " engages in a slot N in a lever N which lever is
pivotted at N2. The end of the lever opposite to that in which is the slot, passes
under the bar G', and the ends of the bar G¹ being received and guided by a curved
slot 12 the bar is depressed as it recedes and the end N3 of the lever N is depressed.
This action lifts the pin 13 and effects the partial rotation of the grid piece F. 2
In Fig. 3 only one side of the grid with one lever N and connected part are shown
a similar combination is provided at the other side of the grid. The grid is
thus kept clear of the paper Was it descends.
The bar G as it moves forward engages with a lip or projection O on a slide O
and draws it forward through a short distance and in returning leaves the slide
stationary until it comes into contact with the slide O which is carried back with
the bar G³ to its original position. The slide O carries adjustable plates o' o². The
position of these plates and their length and thickness may be varied as desired.
The effect of these plates as the slide O moves forward is to trip the lower end of
a lever pivotted at 1" whose upper end actuates a slide R as shown clearly in
Fig. 1. the return motion of the slide being effected by a spring 4 (Figs. 2 & 4).
This slide carries one, two or more cog wheels all rotating at different velocities
and driven from a pair of bevel wheels R³ R. These wheels are normally locked
against rotation by a detent r engaging a slot in the disc 1 on the bevel wheel
driving shaft.
The bar G³ effects their periodic release by means of the lever 2 actuated by
the roller ³ on the bar G³. Two wheels R R are shown and cach is provided with
a slotted projection on its upper surface to which one end of the lever R is attached
by a bolt, the throw of the crank formed by the said projection being variable as
will be readily understood.
The lever R5 is pivotted at Rs upon the slide R7 which is capable of motion to
and fro in the same direction as the slide R. The other end of the lever R5 is
pivotally connected at R8 by means of an adjustable extension piece R⁹ to a
rectangular frame R¹ and adjacent to this point of connection, is a pivot R" by
which through the link S¹ that part of the frame R is attached to the pantograph
or copying mechanism S.
The form of pantograph shown in the drawings comprises two levers S³ S³, of
equal length working on fixed pivots 23 and having their adjacent ends connected
by a link s; their other and remote ends being linked to the frame R10 by the
members S and S.
By this means the frame R, which is supported by a table-like structure A³ on
which the frame is free to slide in any direction, is compelled to move parallel to

page_text: itself, and whatever motion may be imparted to the one end is copied by every
other part.
To this frame by projections R2 is attached the link bar K² which operates the
drip. rods K.
At T is shown a framework, made preferably of wire, which descends upon the
fondants before they are immersed and retains them in their respective positions
during immersion.
The frame is suspended upon rods T working in guides and connected by other
rods T² to the levers T (only one is shown in Fig. 3) one end of each of which
comes into contact with a projection U fixed to the frame of the machine as the
bar B approaches the upper limit of its movement.
The levers T having their fulcrums at upon the bar B the further upward
movement of the latter causes the frame T to be lifted relatively to the grid Fas
will be readily understood. Fig. 3 shows the frame depressed and Fig. 2 shows
the position of the levers T3 when the frame T is lifted from the fondants.
An adjustable check T is provided to limit the downward movement of the
frame T to suit the dimensions of the goods being coated.
A heating arrangement such, for example, as the steam coil V may be provided
to keep the material taken up by the rods K at the required temperature and to
prevent material such as chocolate from solidifying upon the rods, which solidifi-
cation has hitherto been the source of considerable trouble.
I may also add a vibration-causing device which however forms no part of the
subject of the present application for patent. Such a device is shown by the hammer
head X and toothed wheel Z, the wheel Z being in constant rotation when the
machine is at work but the hammer only operative at stated intervals, being tilted
by the cam into an inoperative position when not required to produce vibration.
The object of the vibrations is to cause superfluous liquid to drop from the various
parts which have been immersed in the tank A¹.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
A number of fondants, not greater than the number of drip-rods, are placed by
the operator on the depressible tray, not shown and are fed by bim on to the grid F
by a device which brings them into position under the frame T, the bar B being
in its upper-most position. Immersion in the tank A' then takes place by the
descent of the bar 13 caused by the engagement with the pinion E¹ of the segmental
wheel D. The wheel D³ goes out of engagement with the pinion E as the
cranks E arrive again at the top of their throw and the bar B is in its uppermost
position, and the cranks are retained by springs in that position against any
accidental descent until the wheel D³ again effects it.
During this period of rest of the cranks E2 and bar B, the discharge rod G₁
actuated by the cam 12 advances and thrusts the fondants, forward and then
retires a short distance, leaving the goods free while the hammer X vibrates the
grid and shakes off superfluous chocolate.
'
When the hammering is complete the bar G' again advances and if necessary
rearranges the row of coated fondants by virtue of the recesses G², at the same
time advancing the goods a short, distance.
By this time the bar G³ has engaged with and brought forward the slide 0 and
has tripped' the lever P thus jerking the row of rods K forward until their bulbs
are vertically above the goods.
At the same time the roller 7 removes the detent r from the disc and the
wheel R' imparts by its consequent revolutions a circular movement to the rods,
the streams of chocolate from which decorate the goods below. Again advancing
under the action of the cam D³ the bar G2 trips the lever P further and by the
sudden throw of the rods causes a break in the stream of chocolate thus imparting
a neat and "clean" finish to the decoration. This is further secured by the
simultaneous advance of the goods by the bar G¹ which, as has been explained,
moves in company with the bar G³.
This advance of the bar G³ continues until the goods leave the grid and are

page_text: pushed on to the travelling band of paper W, on which they are delivered from the
machine. Other attachments such as a circulating pump are shown in Figure 1
which forms no part of the present invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The employment of one or more automatically operated drip rods for the
purpose described.
2. An automatically operated drip rod such as K adapted to take up a portion of
a fluid material when immersed therein and to deliver it in a steady stream when
removed therefrom with or without a heating device V.
3. A drip rod universally jointed to its support at one end terminating in a
pointed bulb such as K5 at the other end having a tubular portion such as K8 with
one or more openings K9 therein, and a bulb-carrying stem K7 of smaller diameter
than the internal diameter of the tubular portion substantially as described or
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery coupling together two or
more automatically operated rods.
5. In apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery the combination of two
or more automatically operated drip rods or equivalent pattern-tracing devices
and a copying mechanism such as S substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery the combination with two
or more drip rods or equivalent pattern-tracing devices of a mechanism comprising
a slide carrying a crank, means for rotating the crank, and a lever for imparting
the required motion to the drip rods substantially as described.
7. In apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery the employment of a
heated drip rod.
.
"
"
8. In apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery imparting to the drip rods
a jerk or sudden impulse for the purpose of securing a clean commencement or
termination of the ornamentation.
9. In apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery the combination with the
movements of the drip rods described in claim 8 of intermittent movements
imparted to the goods for the purpose described.
10. In apparatus for the manufacture of confectionery the combination of parts
constituting the mechanism for automatically producing the pattern forming
motion substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 & 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
11. The complete machine for the manufacture of confectionery substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of October 1897
BOULT & WADE.
Agents for the Applicant.