Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a confection-molding machine embodying my
improvements.
Fig. 2 is a partial elevation of the opposite side thereof.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the hopper and the mechanism therein.
Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the center of the
hopper.
Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view through the hopper, taken on a plane at right
angles to Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of one of the plungers and molding-
cups.
Fig. 7 is a detailed perspective view of a modified form of bottom-block for the
hopper.
Fig. 8 is a similar view of a space-block.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line - of Fig. 6.
Near
A represents a rectangular frame which is supported by vertical legs B.
opposite ends of the frame A are journaled transverse shafts C, each of which is
provided with a pair of sprocket-wheels D. E represents a pair of endless chains
which connect the sprocket-wheels on one shaft to the sprocket-wheels on the
opposite shaft, the said chains thereby extending nearly throughout the entire
length of the frame A. as shown. F represents a table-frame which is supported at
a suitable height above the frame A by means of brackets or arms G. The said
frame F is composed of a pair of side bars H and a series of cross-bars I which
connect the said side-bars.
K represents pairs of standards which are arranged on opposite sides of the
frame A at or near the center of the same and extend for a suitable distance above
the frame. The said standards, together with the sides of the frame A and the
supporting legs B are cast integrally, as shown. To these standards is secured a
hopper L which is provided on its sides with peripheral flanges, forming water-
compartments M, the outer sides of which are formed by plates m, which are
bolted to the flanges of the hopper and can be removed when it is desired to clean
the compartments or have access thereto for any reason.
N represents a water-pipe which communicates with the upper side of the water-
compartments M and serves to maintain a constant circulation of hot water in the
said compartment, to the end that the contents of the hopper may be kept hot and
in a fluid or semi-fluid condition. On the ends of the hopper are guiding cars or
lugs O.
m represents faucets which are screwed into one end of the hopper and com-
municate with the lower side of the chambers M. The lower side of the hopper is
open and is provided with a pair of downward-converging longitudinal flanges m

page_text: A closed chamber W is provided at its upper edges with beveled outward-extending
flanges, which engage the upper side of the flanges m² and thereby the said
chamber W is adapted to be slid into and secured in the opening in the lower side
of the hopper and to form the bottom thereof.
Q.
The said chamber W is maintained in position in the lower side of the hopper by
set-screws which work in openings in one of the flanges m² and engage a gib w
which bears against one of the flanges w, as shown. The water-chambers M are
placed in communication with each other by means of a pipe n, and from the latter
depends a pipe n' which communicates with the chamber W. A steam-pipe com-
municates also with the chamber W and is provided with a cut-off valve n³ and has
a check-valve nª.
Prepresents a cross-head which is arranged across and above the upper side of
the hopper and has its ends projecting beyond the ends of the hopper and is
provided with a pair of vertical depending guide-rods S which work in vertical
openings in the lugs O. The said cross-head is provided with a longitudinal
slot p.
In the sides of the frame A midway between the standards K is journaled a
transverse shaft T to one end of which is secured a sprocket-wheel t. The said
shaft is provided at its ends with crank-wheels U. On the outer side of each of
the crank-wheels U is arranged a yoke u, the said yokes having right-angled
arms u¹ at their ends arranged transversely on diametrically-opposite sides of the
peripheral faces of the crank-wheels and said yokes are further provided with
slots extending in the direction of their length. Clamping bolts a project from
the outer side of the crank-wheels, extend through the slots u and are provided at
their outer ends with clamping-nuts a which serve to secure the yokes on the
"crank-wheels, as will be readily understood. Adjusting-screws a work in threaded
openings in the yoke-arms u', bear against the peripheries of the crank-wheels and
serve to permit the yokes to be shifted to any desired adjustment, so as to increase
or decrease the "throw of the crank-pins u', which project from the said
yokes.
""
To the ends of the cross-head P are swiveled blocks a, which have cars a¹ formed
at their outer ends.
V represents pitmen which have their lower ends connected to the crank-pins u
and have their upper ends extended through openings in the ears a¹ and secured
thereto, and thereby connected to the cross-head at any desired adjustment by means
of clamping nuts a which engage the threaded upper ends of the pitmen and bear
on the upper and lower sides of the ears a¹ whereby when the shaft T rotates the
crank-wheels, yokes and pitmen communicate vertical reciprocating motion to the
cross-head, as will be very readily understood.
Xrepresents a series of short cylindrical tubes which extend through vertical
openings in the bottom of the hopper or, more properly, in the closed chamber W,
the lower ends of the said tubes extending below the bottom of the said chamber
and being provided with screw-threads and the upper ends thereof being flush with
the upper side of the said chamber. To the lower end of each tube is screwed a
Zhaving a reduced discharge opening A' at its lower end and the said cups are
each provided with a shoulder B¹ at a slight distance below the lower end of tube X
and on the said shoulders are supported annular plates C' having central openings
which form the scats for valves D¹. The said valves have studs or arms E¹
extending from their lower sides, arranged radially and bearing against the vertical
recesses in the cups Z.
cup
Grepresents coiled volute springs which are made of fine steel wire and bear
between the bottoms of cups Z and the lower sides of the valves D', the upper ends
of the said springs being engaged by screws H¹ which are secured in the centers of
the valve-disks.
In each tube X is fitted a vertical cylindrical plunger I having openings in its
sides as shown in Fig. 6, the said plungers having their upper ends closed and
being provided with squared heads i, in which are central reduced openings K.

page_text: The lower ends of the bores in the plungers are reduced in diameter to form
seats L
M³ represents a series of vertical plunger-rods which have their upper ends
extended through the slots p, of the cross-head and are secured to the said cross-
head by clamping-nuts N1 which bear against the upper and lower sides thereof
and thereby admit of vertical adjustment of the said plunger-rods.
The lower ends of the said plunger-rods are reduced in diameter for a suitable
length to form threaded spindles. O' which extend through vertically-movable
sleeves b, which are arranged in the openings K¹ and have shoulders at their
lower ends adapted to engage shoulders e' in the said openings and thereby limit
the upward movement of the said sleeves. Upon the lower ends of the spindles O¹
arc screwed spherical valves P.
It will be observed by reference to Fig. 6 that the length of the spindles O₁ is
somewhat in excess of the length of the space between the upper and lower ends of
the plungers I and thereby lost motion of the rods M¹ is permitted in the plungers.
The threaded portions of the plunger-rods engage threaded bores in the sleeves,
and thereby the said sleeves constitute adjusting-nuts which may be turned and
caused to move upward or downward on the stems and serve as stops to engage the
upper ends of the plungers on the upstrokes of the rods, so as to regulate or limit
the lost motion of the rods in the plungers, which causes cach plunger to feed an
even or uneven amount to suit the molds.
S' represents a driving-shaft which is journaled in the frame A and provided with
a driving-pulley T¹ the same being connected by a crossed endless belt d, to a
pulley e, on a counter-shaft f. The said counter shaft is provided with a large
driving-pulley g, adapted to be connected by an endless belt to a steam-engine or
other motor. The said shaft S' is connected to the shaft T by means of gear-
wheels Y and Z.
UU represent a pair of shafts which extend through the hopper and have their
bearings in the ends thereof. The said shafts are provided with radial stirring-
paddles V which are arranged obliquely, as shown in Fig. 3 with the paddles of
one shaft registering with the paddles of the other shaft, both sets of paddles
working in the spaces between the plungers, and thus serving to keep the contents
of the hopper agitated, and also serving to force the contents of the hopper into
the tubes as will be presently described.
One end of the shaft U is provided with a sprocket-wheel which is connected
to the sprocket-wheel t by means of an endless sprocket-chain l. The opposite
ends of the shafts U₁ U2 are provided with meshed gear-wheels respectively,
as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the function of these wheels being to impart rotary
motion to the shaft U' from the shaft U' as will be understood.
X represents a tray which is secured to and connects the endless chains E. The
said chains and the shafts C and sprocket-wheels D constitute a carrier which is
adapted to move the tray longitudinally under the hopper. The said tray is divided
into compartments of suitable size, which compartments are arranged in line with
each other and each series of the said compartments is adapted to register with the
cups Z on the under side of the hopper in succession as the tray passes under the
said hopper, the motion of the carrier being so regulated that on each upstroke of
the cross-head the tray will move a sufficient distance to bring another series of
the compartments under the cups Z. On each end of the driving-shaft S' is a
crank-wheel A³.
B₁ represents a ratchet-wheel which may be duplicated at the other side, and
each wheel is secured rigidly near one end of one of the shafts C. On the pro-
jecting end of the said shaft is loosely mounted a rocking lever C2 which has a
pawl D2 pivoted at its upper end and engaging the ratchet-wheel. Said rocking
lever has a slot E' in its lower end.
F² represents a pitman, which is connected to the crank of the wheel A' by a pin
or bolt F, and it is also connected to the rocking lever by a bolt G³ that may be

page_text: >
set in the slot and thereby enables the pitman to be so adjusted as to regulate the
throw of the rocking lever.
From the foregoing it will be understood that when the driving-shaft rotates,
motion will be communicated to the shaft T and thereby cause the cross-head and
the plungers to reciprocate. The pitman communicates rocking motion to the
lever C² and causes the pawl to partly turn the ratchet-wheel at each forward
movement of the lever, giving an intermittent rotary motion to shaft C, and thereby
moving the endless carrier and the tray thereon a suitable distance. The table
supports the tray, but the latter being connected with the chains is moved along by
the motion thereof. As the shaft C is given an intermittent rotary movement the
chains will be given a horizontal intermittent longitudinal movement, and since the
tray is connected to the chains the same intermittent movement will be imparted
to the tray.
The driving-pulley T¹ and gear wheel Y¹ are loose on the shaft S¹ and are rigidly
connected together and are thereby adapted to rotate in unison. The said pulley T¹
is provided on one side with a hub Z which has clutch-teeth Z.
Z represents a clutch-sleeve which is feathered on the shaft S₁ and is provided
with clutch-teeth Z which are adapted to engage the clutch-teeth Z. A lever Z
is fulcrumed on the bracket Z3 which is secured to one side of the frame A, and one
end of the said lever is bifurcated and caused to engage the clutch-sleeve in the
usual well-known manner. The opposite end of the said lever is connected to a
vertical hand-lever Z which is pivotally connected to one side of the frame A by
a bolt Z and is guided in a slotted bracket Z".
By means of the mechanism just described the pulley T¹ may be thrown into or
out of connection with the shaft S¹ and hence the machine may be instantaneously
started or stopped at the will of the operator.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
On each upstroke of the cross-head the rods M¹ are elevated, so as to first raise
the valves P from the openings L' and then raise the plungers 11 in the tube X.
A portion of the fluid or semi-fluid contents of the hopper then flows through the
side openings in each plunger and through the opening L in the lower end thereof
into the tube X upon the upper side of the valve D₁. On the ensuing downstroke
of the cross-head the rods M' are lowered, which first causes the valves P¹ to close
the openings L in the lower ends of the plungers, and the shoulders at the lower
ends of the sleeve-nuts 6, then engage the upper sides of the valves Pl, force the
same downward in the seats or openings L', and cause the plungers I¹ to move
downward in the tubes X, thereby exerting pressure on the mixture in the tubes X
and causing the same to open the valves D against the resiliency of the springs G
and force the mixture into the cups Z from which it escapes through the openings A
into the tray. By adjusting the yokes u on the crank-wheels U the stroke of the
cross-head may be regulated and by adjusting the sleeve-nuts b, up or down on the
stems Othe quantity of material fed to each cup at each upstroke of the cross-
head may be regulated, as will be very readily understood, and thereby cause the
machine to deposit the mixture in the mold or receptacles of the tray in exactly the
desired quantities.
As before described, and illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the chamber W closes
the open bottom of the hopper and is detachably secured thereto. Hence the said
chamber may be readily removed from the hopper and another chamber substituted
therefor having a greater or less number of tubes or tubes of greater or less
diameter. Thus the quantity and size of the confections can be regulated to suit
the taste and fancy of the manufacturer. It will be understood that in removing
the chamber from the hopper it is necessary to separate the pipe-connections which
supply it with steam.
In Figs. 7 and 8 1 illustrate the preferred form of my invention, in which I
employ a number of removable plates or sections 1, in lieu of the chamber W, which
I heretofore used, the said plates or sections being provided with flauges 2 of the
-

page_text: same shape as the flanges w. The said plates are of varying widths and are each
provided with a tube X. In order to space the said detachable plates or sections
to any desired distance apart, I employ space-blocks 3 such as illustrated in Fig. 8
and in dotted lines in Fig. 7, said space-blocks being adapted to be inserted
between the said plates or sections. When the said plates or sections are employed
it will be necessary to remove some of the plunger-rods M which may be readily
done by first removing the nuts N¹ thereof, and the plunger-rods must be adjusted
laterally to the required distance which may be done by sliding them in the slot p,
of the cross-head.
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. In a machine for molding semi-fluid material, the combination with the hopper
and the cross-head, of the shaft T having the crank-wheels U, the yokes u, pro-
vided with crank-pins and having arms at their ends extending over the
peripheries of said wheels, adjusting-screws through said arms bearing upon said
peripheries, clamping-bolts a extending from the outer face of each wheel through
slots in said yokes and pitmen v, connecting the cross-head with the crank-pins of
the yokes, substantially as described.
2. The combination, in a confection-molding machine or the like, of the tube X,
the plunger I therein, having the shoulder c at its upper end and the valve-seat Li
in its lower end, the plunger-rod M' having the valve P1 at the lower end thereof
and the threaded stem O at the upper end, the length of the stem being somewhat
in excess of the length of the plunger 1' for the purpose set forth, and the sleeve b,
screwed around the said stem O¹ operating within a limited space in the
plunger and having the shoulder to engage the shoulder c¹, substantially as
specified.
3. The combination, in a confection-molding machine or the like, of the hopper
having the tube X the removable valve-cup Z at the lower end of said tube the
plunger I in said tube having the interior shoulder c' at its upper end and the
valve-seat L' in its lower end, the plunger-rod M' having the valve P¹ at the lower
end thereof, and the threaded stem O¹ at the upper end, and the sleeve b, moving
vertically in the plunger I and screwed to the said plunger-rod and having the
shoulder to engage the shoulder c' substantially as described.
4. The combination, in a confection-molding machine or the like, of the hopper
having the longitudinally-adjustable discharge tubes X carried by the bottom, the
reciprocating cross-head having the slots p, the plungers I in the tubes X for the
purpose set forth, and the plunger-rods M having their upper ends extending
through and adjustable in the slots p, substantially as described.
5. In a confection-molding machine or the like, the combination with the hopper
having the opening in its lower side and the downward-converging flanges m² of the
plates 1, having the tubes X and the flanges 2 to engage the flanges m³, and the
space-blocks 3, adapted to be inserted between the said plates, for the purpose set
forth, substantially as described.
6. In a confection-molding machine or the like, the combination with the hopper
having the opening in its lower side and the downward-converging flange m² of the
plates 1, having the tubes X and the flanges 2 to engage the flanges m², substantially
as described.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.