Improvements in Lozenge-making Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: 'Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1890-Accepted. 20th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lozenge-making Machines.
I, WILLIAM ELLIS MAY, of 45, Fulham Park Gardens, in the County of London,
Civil 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 a machine for the manufacture of lozenges of any desired
weight or size and embossed on either or both sides, the said machine being
especially applicable for the manufacture of what are known as medicated lozenges.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a machine constructed according to
my invention.
Figure 2 is an end view, half of which is in elevation and half in section, of a
portion of the same drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a section on the line a, a, Figure 2.
a is the frame of the machine and b is a shaft journalled therein, through the
medium of which, motion is imparted to the various parts as hereinafter described.
«
"
c, is the "pinning" portion of the machine in which the paste from which the
lozenges are to be made, is gauged. This pinning mechanism comprises
the rollers d, d, e, fand f¹, which rollers are geared together and driven from the
shaft through the medium of bevel gearing g the shaft g', the worm g³, and the
worm-wheel in a well known manner the rollers d, e and f being carried in
adjustable bearings. is an inclined table for directing the paste between the pair
of rollers d, d, whence the paste passes between the rollers d', e and thence between
the rollers Plates i serve for directing the paste from the rollers d', e to the
rollers and from the latter on to a travelling belt k, passing around the rollers k¹, k³,
k³, k, ko, h, k, ks and . The roller is mounted upon a lever in such a manner
that it can be moved by means of a screw to regulato the tension of the belt.
a belt carried by the rollers m² m² for conveying away the scraps of paste as herein-
after described. Motion is imparted to the belt k, through the medium of gear-
wheels n, n, in engagement with pinions upon the shaft band each carrying a pin n',
which during each revolution of the wheels n, n, gears with a toothed wheel n³ on the
shaft of the roller k³, and motion is imparted to the belt m from a pulley on the shaft
of the roller through the medium of the belt m³, passing around a pulley on the
shaft of the roller m². The latter roller is mounted upon a lever in the same manner
as the roller k, for the purpose of regulating the tension of the belt m.
m is
o, o are dies which are located in steel cylinders or tubes p, p, secured to a cross
head, carried on vertically sliding rods q', q'. These rods 9', q¹ have near their
lower ends, slots 92, in which crank pins on the wheels n, n work, in such a manner
as to raise and lower the said rods and consequently also the dies Each cylinder
0, 0.
or tube p is at its lower end sharpened to form a cutter, as shown in Figures 2 and 3,
and the die which is well fitted inside the cylinder and is acted upon by a spring r
works up and down within the cylinder as the lozenges are being cut out, the length
of travel being limited by means of screws ³, 1, entering the said dies and passing
through slots in the cylinders p, p. 3, s are small cylinders fitted to slide upon
the exterior of the cylinders or tubes p p and rigidly connected with the dies 0, 0
by the screws 1, r³, so as to move therewith, for a purpose hereinafter described.
t,t are the lower dies which are firmly supported upon the cross bar t' secured to
the frame a, and u is a plate surrounding the said lower dies and supported upon
springs u, u pins u³ ³, serving to limit the downward motion of the said plate.
v, v are collars on the rods q', 7', which collars strike against collars v₁, 'v' in the
plate u to move the said plate downwards.
The operation of the machine herein before described is as follows, that is to say,

page_text: the paste is passed between the rollers of the pinning mechanism and thence onto
the belt by which the sheet of paste is gradually moved forward beneath the
dies oo the movement of the belt of course taking place whilst the said dies are
raised. As the cross bar carrying the dies descends the dies press on the paste and
as their descent continues the cutting edges of the cylinderspp pass through the
paste and around the dies tt so that the lozenges are severed from the sheet of paste.
As the cylinders p p continue to descend after the dies touch the paste, it is obvious
that the springs are compressed the pressure produced being sufficient to cause
any words or design engraved or embossed upon the dies to be re-produced upon
the lozenges. As the cylinders are being lowered it will be understood that in order
to enable them to pass over the diest the plate is depressed against the pressure
of the springs u¹, by the contact of the collars v', thereby relieving the cutters
from undue pressure. When the cross-bar rises and the pressure is taken off the
lozenges the dies oo and cylinders if are forced down by the springs, the dies
clearing the lozenges from the inside of the cylinders pp and the cylinders & s
clearing the paste from the outsides of the said cylinders. In like manner the plate u
in rising clears the lozenges and paste from the dies t t. The paste when again fed
forward pushes the finished. lozenges onto the belt whence they are conveyed to a
tray on a table to, while the scraps are passed onto the band m by which they are
conveyed to a tray on a table y.
:
I sometimes modify the arrangement herein before described by making the plate u
rigid, the designs for embossing (if used) being engraved on the said plate, in this
case, the cutting-edges of the cylinders p, only press on the said plate sufficiently
to cut through the paste.
The machine shewn in the drawing is adapted for making five lozenges at a time
but it is to be understood that a machine may be made according to my invention
and adapted to make a greater or lesser number.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. A lozenge manufacturing machine provided with a vertically movable cross-head
carrying a dio or series of dies, which or each of which slides within a cylinder or
tube secured to the cross-head and is acted upon by a spring, the lower end of which
cylinder or tube is sharpened to form a cutter, substantially as described.
2. In a machine for manufacturing lozenges, the combination with a cross-head
carrying one or more dies, arranged substantially in the manner described, of a
lower die or series of dies adapted to co-operate with the movable die or dies, the
said lower die or dies being arranged in conjunction with a depressible plate, sub-
stantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a die sliding in a tube the lower end of which is
sharpened to form a cuiter, of a small cylinder on the exterior of the said tube,
which small cylinder is secured to and moves with the die, substantially as, and for
the purpose, described.
4. In a lozenge making machine, the combination of a vertically movable cross-
head, a die or series of dies moving in a tube or series of tubes secured to the
cross-head, the said tube or tubes at its or their lower end or ends being sharpened,
and the said die or dies having secured to it or them a cylinder or cylinders sliding
upon the outside of the said tube or tubes; a lower die or series of dies; and a plate
having an aperture or apertures through which the lower die or dies pass, the said
plate being supported upon springs, substantially as described.
5. The manufacture and use of the improved lozenge making machine herein before
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Duted the 11th day of Amicust 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.