An Improvement in Machinery for Chopping Lengths of Sugar- stick, commonly called Rock."
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
An Improvement in Machinery for Chopping Lengths of Sugar-
stick, commonly called Rock."
66
I, GEORGE PROKOFIEW, of 12, The Mount, Whitechapel Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:
The invention relates to an improvement in machinery for chopping lengths of
sugarstick commonly called "rock" and has for its object to obtain a simple
inexpensive and rapid machine, which will automatically feed the confectionery stick
to the chopping apparatus and which will be capable of regulation so as to vary the
sizes of the divided pieces at will.
..
In carrying the invention into effect a suitable frame is employed at the upper
part of which is provided a trough like table in which the stick to be divided is
introduced and the stick is continuously fed forward to the chopping knives hereinafter
described by means of two india-rubber rollers, the upper one of which is carried by a
weighted radius arm and provided with a regulating device to prevent it approaching
the lower roller beyond a given point so as to allow of the ready introduction of the
stick between the rollers.
On the shaft or axis of the lower one of these rollers is fixed an india-rubber faced
disc and upon the main shaft of the machine which is driven by a crank handle or it
might be otherwise driven is fixed a corresponding but larger rubber faced disc and
motion is given from the larger disc to the smaller disc by means of two india-rubber
friction rollers one adapted to run in contact with each disc and these rollers are fixed
with a sleeve mounted upon a shaft located at right angles with the shafts of the
driving discs so that by shifting the sleeve and friction rollers, towards the axis of
the larger dise the speed at which the feed rollers are driven will be reduced whilst the
upper or outer friction roller by approaching towards the periphery of the sinaller
driving disc will further reduce the speed of rotation and by the reverse adjustment
of the sleeve and anti-friction rollers the reverse effect will be produced as will be
readily understood.
+
The knives are arranged beyond the feed rollers and work parallel with the axes
thereof and these knives which are adjustable to provide for different diameters of
stick confectionery, receive in the manner hereinafter described a reciprocating
inovement transverse to the direction of motion of the feed rollers and the motion
given to the knives is so regulated that they do not meet, but approach one another
to a given distance capable of regulation according to the diameter of the stick and
so that they give thereto the necessary incisive blow to chop off a length of said
material.
The knives are carried by blocks or knife holders with capability of adjustment for
different diameters of stick confectionery and these blocks are mounted upon studs
or crank pins eccentrically fixed with crank dises fixed with vertical driven shafts so
that as the crank discs are rotated each block and its corresponding knife will be
caused to travel in a circular path and inasmuch as the shafts are driven in opposite

page_text: directions the knives will be caused to intermittently approach each other and thus
effect the chopping of the stick.
The blocks or knife holders are controlled by a guide bar which whilst it admits of
the rotary movement of the blocks and knives yet retains them in position parallel to
each other.
..
The vertical shafts giving motion to the knives are driven by means of bevelled
pinions upon their lower ends which engage bevelled wheels fixed upon a counter
shaft upon which is also fixed a toothed pinion with which engages a spur wheel fixed
upon the main shaft of the machine.
An Improvement in Machinery for Chopping Lengths of Sugar-
stick, commonly called "Rock."
I, GEORGE PROKOFIEW, of 12, The Mount, Whitechapel Road, 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:-
The invention relates to an improvement in machinery for chopping lengths of
sugar stick commonly called "rock" and has for its object to obtain a simple
inexpensive and rapid machine, which will automatically feed the confectionery'stick
to the chopping apparatus, accommodate sticks of varying diameter and be capable
of regulation so as to vary the sizes of the divided pieces at will.
In carrying the invention into effect a suitable frame is employed at the upper part
of which is provided a trough-like table on which the stick to be divided is placed
and the stick is continuously fed forward to the chopping knives hereinafter described
by means of two india-rubber rollers, the upper one of which is carried by a weighted
radius arm and provided with a regulating device to prevent it approaching the lower
roller beyond a given point so as to allow of the ready introduction of the stick between
the rollers.
In order to regulate the feed, the shaft or axis of the lower one of these rollers
has fixed thereon an india-rubber faced disc and upon the main shaft of the machine
which is driven by a crank handle, or it might be otherwise driven, is fixed a
corresponding rubber faced disc which however is located at a lower level and motion
is given from the lower disc to the upper disc by means of two india-rubber friction
rollers one adapted to run in contact with each disc and these rollers are fixed with a
sleeve mounted upon a shaft localated at right. angles with the shafts of the driving
discs so that by shifting the sleeve and friction rollers towards the axis of the lower
disc the speed at which the friction rollers are driven will be reduced whilst the upper
or outer friction roller by approaching towards the periphery of the upper driving
disc will further reduce the speed of rotation of the latter whilst by the opposite
adjustment of the sleeve and friction rollers the reverse effect will be produced as
will be readily understood and thus the speed of the feed rollers may be regulated
at will.
The knives are arranged beyond the feed rollers and work parallel with the axes
thereof and these knives which are adjustable to provide for different diameters of
stick confectionery receive in the manner hereinafter described a reciprocating
movement transverse to the direction of motion of the feed rollers and the motion
given to the knives is so regulated that they do not meet, but approach one another

page_text: to a given distance capable of regulation according to the diameter of the stick and
so that they give thereto the necessary incisive below to chop off a length of said
material.
The knives are carried by blocks or knife holders with capability of adjustment for
different diameters of stick confectionery and these blocks are mounted upon studs
or crank pins eccentrically fixed with crank discs fixed with vertical driven shafts so
that as the crank discs are rotated each block and its corresponding kuife will be
caused to travel in a circular path and inasmuch as the shafts are driven in opposite
directions the knives will be caused to intermittently approach each other and thus
effect the chopping of the stick.
The blocks or knife holders are controlled by a guide bar which whilst it admits of
the rotary movement of the blocks and knives yet retains them in a position parallel
to each other.
The vertical shafts giving motion to the knives are driven by means of bevelled
pinions upon their lower ends which engage bevelled wheels fixed upon a counter
shaft upon which is also fixed a toothed pinion with which engages a spur wheel fixed
upon the main shaft of the machine.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully to
describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to the present
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
Figure 3 is a front end view of part thereof showing the knives in their retracted or
outer position.
Figure 4 is a rear end view of part thereof showing the knives in their advanced or
inner position.
Figure 5 is a plan thereof.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of one of the blocks or knife holders separately.
Figure 7 is a plan thereof.
Figure 8 is an end view thereof, and,
Figure 9 is a plan view of parts showing more clearly the cutting edges of the
knives.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference Figures 6 to 9 are drawn to an increased scale with respect to the other
figures of the drawings.
a represents the base plate of the machine which is perforated to receive screws by
means of which it may be fixed to a bench or table, and a represents a standard or
frame rising therefrom.
At the upper part of the frame a¹ is provided a grooved or trough like table bin
which the stick to be divided is placed, and this trough or table b is removably
fixed with the frame a by means of a screw 6* passing through a plain hole in
the frame al and screwing into a threaded boss b¹ upon the underside of the trough or
table b.
The end of the stick of confectionery is introduced between two bushed india-
rubber feed rollers c, d, the upper one c of which is cylindrical and loosely mounted
upon a shaft or axle c² carried by the outer end of a radius arm c¹ the inner end of which
is formed with a boss 3 by which it is mounted upon a stud c* carried by the
frame a whilst the lower feed roller d which is grooved is fixed upon a shaft d¹
carried partly in bearings at formed in the frame a and partly by the upper eye f
of the shaft f³ hereinafter described.
The shaft or axle c² of the upper feed roller c carries a weight c which serves to
hold the top feed roller c to its work, but in order to prevent said roller approaching
the lower roller d within given limits so as to leave an opening between the rollers
for the ready introduction of the stick a regulating device is provided consisting of

page_text: a screw stud c³ which screws through a tapped hole formed in the axle c² and at its
lower end bears upon a part of the frame a¹.
as
In order to regulate the feed the shaft or axis of the lower one d of the feed
rollers has fixed thereon an india-rubber faced disc d and upon the main shaft e of
the machine which is mounted in a boss or bearing, a* formed on the frame a¹ and
driven by a crank handle e¹ or it might be otherwise driven, is fixed a corresponding
rubber faced disc e and motion is communicated from the disc e² to the disc d² by
'the means hereinafter described.
: 1
These communicating ineans consist of two india-rubber friction rollers' ff. the
one f¹ running in contact with the rubber face of the disc d2 and the other f
similarly running in contact with the disc e² and these rollers are fixed. with a sleeve f
mounted with capability of revolution and endway adjustment upon a shaft f³ located
at, right angles with the shafts d'e of the driving discs d² e² a collar f3* and binding
screw serving to hold the sleeve'f in the desired position.
The shaft f3 at its ends is provided with eyes f4 mounted upon the ends of the
shafts de an adjustable collar f** upon the shaft serving to regulate the position
of the friction roller f¹ with relation to the rubber faced disc d2 whilst the friction
roller f2 is kept up to the disc e² by the lower end of the shaft f³ which passes through
'the ring f and works in an annular groove formed in the shaft e near to its end.
T
By shifting the sleeve and friction rollers f1f2 towards the axis of the disc e² the
speed at which the friction rollers f¹ f2 and feed roller d are driven will be reduced,
and the upper or outer friction roller f¹ by approaching towards the periphery of the
driving disc d² will further reduce the speed of rotation of the latter and consequently.
of the feed roller d whilst by the opposite adjustment of the sleeve f and friction
rollers fif the reverse effect will be produced that is to say the speed of the feed
roller will be accelerated.
By this arrangement of parts the speed at which the stick of confectionery x is fed
forward to the knives hereinafter described and consequently the size of the portions
chopped off may be regulated at will.
The knives or cutters g are arranged beyond the. feed rollers c d and work
horizontally in a circular path transversely of the direction of motion of the feed
rollers and more or less parallel with the axes thereof but in the same direction of
motion as the stick and these knives which are adjustable to provide for different
diameters of stick confectionery "receive motion in the manner hereinafter
described.
The movement given to the knives is a reciprocating circular movement transverse
'to the motion of the feed rollers as hereinbefore pointed out, and this motion is so
regulated that the knives g do not meet but approach one another to within a given
distance capable of regulation according to the diameter of the confectionery stick
so that they give thereto the necessary incisive blow to chop off a length of said
material whilst by reason of the circular movement of the knives said action does not
impede the continuous forward movement of the stick.
.
For this purpose the knives gare mounted upon the sides of blocks or knife
holders h by means of headed bolts or studs h¹ which pass through long slots gi formed
in the knives g longitudinally thereof and screw into tapped holes formed in the
blocks or knife holders h by means of which the knives g may be fixed in the desired
position and adjusted for different diameters of stick confectionery and in order that
the knives g may be thus firmly held, steady pins or studs h² are provided which
studs are fixed with the blocks or knife holders and enter the slots g¹ of the
⚫ knives g.
By this construction the knives may be easily removed for sharpening, repairing,
or renewing, and replaced with equal facility.
The blocks or knife holders are mounted with capability of turning upon studs
or crank pins 12 eccentrically fixed with crank discs fixed with vertical shafts i
driven as hereinafter described so that as the crank discs are rotated each block or
knife holder h and its corresponding knife g will be reciprocated and caused to travel
in a circular path and inasmuch as the shafts i are driven in opposite directions the

page_text: knives g will be caused to intermittently approach each other and thus effect the
chopping of the stick x of confectionery.
The blocks or knife holders h are controlled by a guide bar h³ which at one end is
fixed with one of the blocks or knife holders by means of a screw h' and also by the
upper ends of the studs 2 which pass through holes in the bar h³ and receive
washers * which are held in position by pins passing through the studs it and this
bar h³ for a considerable part of its length is formed with a longitudinal slot h* which
receives a projection or guide piece fixed with one of the blocks h and this
arrangement of parts whilst it admits of the rotary movement of the blocks or knife
holders h and knives g yet always holds the knives in the same vertical plane that is
parallel to or in alignment with each other.
23
The vertical shafts i giving motion to the knives g are driven in opposite directions
by means of bevelled pinion's is upon their lower ends which engage bevelled wheels **
fixed upon the ends of a counter shaft mounted in a boss or bearing a formed in
the frame a¹ and upon which counter shaft 5 is also fixed a toothed pinion ≫ which
engages a spur wheel e³ fixed upon the main shaft e of the machine.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the machine will accommodate
sticks of varying thickness without the necessity for changing any of its parts and
the only adjustment required is to the knives or cutters and that can be easily effected
whilst the size of the pieces cut off can be regulated at will by varying the speed of
the feed mechanism.
It will be obvious that the details of construction of the parts may be to some
extent varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
By the means herein before described a simple, inexpensive and highly efficient
machine is obtained by the aid of which stick confectionery may with great
rapidity be chopped or divided into pieces of any desired length within certain
limits.
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. A machine for chopping stick confectionery comprising, a grooved table upon
which the stick rests, feed mechanism for carrying said stick forward, a pair of knives
located in the path of the stick and receiving a circular movement in a horizontal
plane and in the direction of travel of the stick in such manner that they approach
one another to within a regulated distance and means actuated from the main shaft
of the machine for giving motion to the knives and feed mechanism substantially as
herein shown and described.
2. A machine for chopping stick confectionery comprising a grooved table upon
which the stick rests, feed rollers for carrying said stick forward, a pair of knives
located in the path of the stick and having a circular movement in a horizontal plane
and in the direction of travel of the stick means for giving motion to said knives, and
means for giving motion to and regulating the feed consisting of a rubber faced or
equivalent disc fixed on the shaft of one of the feed rollers, a corresponding disc fixed
on a driven shaft of the machine and a pair of friction rollers fixed upon a sleeve
mounted with capability of revolution and endway adjustment upon a shaft arranged
at right angles with the discs one of said friction rollers running upon the face of each
disc substantially as herein shown and described.
3. A machine for chopping stick confectionery comprising a grooved table upon
which the stick rests, feed mechanism for carrying said stick forward, a pair of knives
arranged in the path of the stick and adjustably mounted upon blocks or knife-
holders, said blocks being mounted upon studs or axes eccentrically carried by crank
dises fixed with shafts driven in opposite directions so that in the rotation of the
shafts a circular reciprocating motion in a horizontal plane will be given to the knives
means for holding said knife holders and knives always in alignment
notwithstanding the circular motion thereof substantially as herein shown and
described.
and

page_text: 4. A machine for chopping stick confectionery comprising a grooved table upon
which the stick rests feed mechanism for carrying the stick forward, a pair of
knives arranged in the path of the stick and carried by holders, means for giving to
said holders a circular movement in a horizontal plane and in the direction of travel
of the stick and a slotted bar fixed with one holder and by its slot engaging
studs upon the other holder for holding the knives always in alignment
notwithstanding the circular motion thereof substantially as herein shown and
described.
Tinted this 4th da
1000
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
Rooms 221-225, Birkbeck Bank Chambers,
Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.