Machines for Coating Confectionery.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
Machines for Coating Confectionery.
I, WILLIAM BERTRAM PHINNEY, of 56 South Ford Street, Rochester, in the
County of Monroe, and State of New York, U.S.A., Gentleman, 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:-
In the manufacture of candies, bon bons, etc., which are provided with a coating,
such as chocolate, it is desirable from a manufacturer's standpoint, that the coating"
applied to the candies shall be of sufficient thickness to effectually cover or seal
the candy-center or filling, and at the same time shall not be thicker than is
necessary for this purpose, because as a rule the covering material, as chocolate, is
much more expensive than the candy-center or filling to be covered, and it
is therefore desirable that just the right quantity for accomplishing the above
purposes he applied and that the portion of the chocolate covering beyond what is
necessary to accomplish the above results be saved, and the object of my present
invention is to provide a machine that will accomplish these results, which is
automatic in its operation and simple in construction, and to these ends the invention
consists in certain improvements in construction and combinations of parts, all as
will be hereinafter fully described and the novel features pointed out in the claims.
at the end of this specification.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2, a transverse-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 4, looking
in the direction of the arrow.
Figure 3, a perspective view of the machine looking from the rear corner.
Figure 4, a vertical-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5, a top-plan view.
Figure 6, a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.
Figure 7, a horizontal-sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 1.
Figure 8, a detail-sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 5.
Figure 9, a perspective view of a detail.
Figure 10, a perspective view of a tray.
Similar reference letters in the several figures indicate similar parts.
This
A indicates the base frame of the machine provided with the supporting legs A',
and a wooden or other heat-non-conducting table or platform A2 supporting a
receptacle B adapted to contain chocolate or other coating material.
receptacle B is provided with a chamber B' around it adapted to contain water or
other fluid, which is heated by means of a steam or hot water coil B2 arranged in
said chamber, the ends of said coil being connected by pipes B and B with a
heating coil C arranged in a jacket C, preferably beneath the base of the machine,
and heated by means of a gas-burner C, or other suitable appliance; the steam
generated or the water heated in the coil C circulating through the coil B and
beating the water, which will keep the contents of the receptacle B of the proper
consistency. Suitable couplings D are provided for connecting the steam coil
directly with the steain plant of a factory if it is desired to use the machine in such
position that this can be conveniently done, and in this event the circulation through
the coil C is cut off by means of valves D', but I prefer to provide the separate.

page_text: steam-generating devices C to enable the machine to be used in any position
desired. The vertical pipes C³, C³ have funnels C at their upper ends for filling,
and serve as expansion chambers for the water in the jacket.
This
The operating parts of the machine are supported upon a frame extending over
the chocolate receptacle and baving the side standards E, E, and at the top a
platform or frame E. Arranged on the underside of the platform E' and at one
side of the center of the machine is a guide or way F in which operates a
reciprocating slide F1 carrying a tray-dipper. Attached to the lower end of the
slide is a spider or frame I and through the arms of this spider pass bolts having
hand-nuts at their upper end and carrying at their lower ends two horizontally-
extending bars or plates 2 constituting a support for a tray G, shown in Figures 1
and 2, said tray being composed of a frame having cross-wires formed into pockets
for containing the candy-molds or forms to be coated, as shown in Figure 10.
Projecting from the front of the slide F¹ is a bolt G¹ upon which are pivoted two
levers G2, G2, the short arms of the levers being provided with studs g entering
grooves gl formed in the sides of the guide F, while the outer ends of said levers
are provided with pivoted blocks through which pass rods H pivoted at their
lower ends to a candy-retainer H¹ extending over the tray-support f2.
retainer H is composed of an open and preferably rectangular frame adapted when
the tray G is upon the support to hold it, if desired and having cross-wires j passing
above the candies supported in the pockets of said tray and prevent them from
floating out when the tray containing them is dipped beneath the chocolate or other
coating contained in the receptacle B. The supporting rods for the retainer H¹
are threaded at their upper ends and upon such threaded portions on opposite sides
of the blocks h are arranged adjusting nuts and h², as shown particularly in
Figure 2, for the purpose of adjusting the retainer for candies or trays of different
thickness. The studs on the ends of the levers G2 and the slots g' in the guide F
are so arranged that when the slide is moved downward, the levers will be turned
on their pivots and the frame H' will first be moved down in close proximity to the
candies in the tray, and as the downward motion of the slide continues the tray and
its contents will be dipped beneath the surface of the liquid coating and will then
be raised up to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, the upward movement
of the retainer H being caused by the projections on the levers and the slots in
the guides. If desired the frame H' could serve as a clamp and directly engage
the tray, but as the trays are made of heavy material this is not necessary as the
principal function is to prevent the candies from becoming displaced.
In the present construction, this downward motion of the tray-dipper is accom-
plished by means of a cam J¹ mounted upon a shaft J supported in suitable
bearings J on the platform E¹. With the groove in the cam co-operates a stud or
roller k on the end of an upwardly extending arm F3 attached to the slide F, and
the cam is so shaped that although the shaft J is revolving continuously, the dipping
frame will be sustained in upper position, as shown, for a greater portion of the
revolution of the shaft J, while the stud k is in the concentric portion k', the falling
and rising of the tray frame being accomplished by the portion 2 of the cam-track
which is eccentric. The shaft J is driven by means of a worm-wheel K secured
thereto, with which co-operates a worm K on a shaft K to which motion is
communicated by beveled gears K³ from a driving shaft K having suitable belt-
pulleys K thereon, and supported in suitable bearings on the platform E.
Arranged upon the opposite side of the machine, but above the coating
receptacle B, is a vibratory frame having a tray-support adapted to receive the
trays containing the coated candies and to vibrate the same rapidly, so as to
remove from the coated candies the surplus coating of chocolate returning the
latter to the receptacle. This frame embodies the two ways or lower bars L
connected to a vibratory frame actuator in the form of a slide M operating in a
suitable guide M' projecting from the underside of the platform E, said slide
being adapted to be reciprocated by means of a pitman M2 pivoted to its upper end
and to a wrist-pin M on a shaft M having a driving belt-pulley M³, as shown in

page_text: Figures 4 and 6. The loose connection between the slide M and the yoke carrying
the tray-frame is formed, in the present instance, by forming a central recess in
the slide in which is arranged, a block N having a downwardly projecting stud N1
to which the yoke-frame is secured by a nut n, the upper end of said block having
a stud N entering a recess in the lower end of an adjusting screw O, a spring 01
being arranged between the end of the stud N2 and the bottom of said recess, while
the upper end of the bolt is threaded and has upon it a locking nut O2 abutting
against the underside of the upper portion of the slide M. P indicates a suitable
packing, preferably of raw-hide or similar material, arranged between the under-
side of the block N and the lower portion of the actuator or slide M, the
connection of the parts being such that as the slide is reciprocated rapidly by the
means described, the tray frame will be carried up with it and its upward momentum
will be arrested by the spring O¹ and then as it falls it will be arrested by the
packing P diminishing the noise and causing a sudden jerk to the tray, which I
find is essential to remove the surplus coating from the candies in the best manner.
It will be understood that these reciprocating motions are very rapid, there being
several hundred a minute. The tension of the spring O' can be readily changed
by adjusting the bolt O in the slide and securing it in adjusted position by means
of the set nut O².
In order that the downward movement of the reciprocating tray-support may be
cushioned and the intensity of the jar regulated as may be found best, I attach to
the yoke L on opposite sides of the center, spring-links, each composed of two
sections L³, L, with a spring L' between them, the upper link-sections L being
adjustable relative to the upper frame by means of thumb nuts 12, as shown in
Figures 3 and 6.
It is of course necessary that the tray be clamped to the reciprocating support
during the movement of the latter and while this may be accomplished in a variety
of ways, I prefer to employ a frame P¹ sliding vertically upon bolts L' and having
cross-wires P constituting a candy-retainer for preventing the candies coming out
of the pockets in the tray, and small lugs (preferably in the form of screws) at
the sides adapted to engage the upper sides of the tray when the clamp frame is
moved down. The vertical movements of the clamp frame are caused by two
screws P passing through suitably threaded apertures in the ends of the yoke L³
and connected at their lower ends to the side bars of the tray clamp P¹ so as to revolve
therein, but when rotated in one direction operating to raise said clamp and release
the tray, and when rotated in the opposite direction to clamp said tray tightly to
the support, and the upper ends of these screws are provided with pulleys P3
having pins p thereon and are connected by a perforated belt P extending around
both said pulleys and causing their simultaneous operation in either direction to
raise or lower the tray clamping frame relative to the tray supports L. This belt may
be moved in opposite directions by land to clamp or release the tray, but as I
prefer to make the machine automatic I connect to this belt by suitable pins or
rivets g a slide Qarranged upon a rod or way Q¹ extending between the uprights
or standards E, E; said slide having a pin g' operating in slots in the bifurcated
end of a lever Q, pivoted at Q, to a bracket on the upper frame, and having at
its upper end a small projection or roller q2 arranged to be engaged by adjustable
cam-sections Q and Q formed upon or secured to a cam-wheel Q on the shaft J.
The arrangement of the cam-sections is such that when the cam wheel Q is rotated,
section Qwill cause the lever to be moved in one direction to cause the belt to
operate the screws and clamp the tray to the carrier, and the cam-sections Q' will
operate the lever in the opposite direction, moving the screws in the opposite
direction and raising the clamping frame and releasing the tray, as will be described
further on.
The shaft M is driven by a belt R passing around the pulley M³ and another
suitable driving pulley; said belt being normally loose, but adapted to be tightened
to operate the shaft M, by means of a belt-tightener embodying an idler pulley R¹
mounted upon the end of an arm R2 attached to a rock shaft R³ on the top of the

page_text: frame E¹, and attached to the other end of said rock-shaft is an arm R' having a
swiveled nut R³ with which engages a screw R passing through a block R
mounted on an arm R8, the lower end of the last-mentioned arm being sleeved
loosely on the rock-shaft, while the upper end is provided with a roller R³ adapted
to co-operate with the surface of a cam S, secured to the shaft J; said cam having
a section S¹ pivoted at and with its free end adjustable toward and from the
shaft so as to change the shape of the cam slightly and secured in adjustable
position by means of a bolt sl operating through a slot 2 on one arm of the cam
wheel S. Also mounted upon the armi R2 is a brake-pad S adapted to co-operate
at certain times with the pulley M' to arrest the rotation of the latter when the
belt is slackened. From this construction it will be seen that at certain times
during the rotation of the shaft the cam-wheel S will, through the parts
described, operate the shaft R³ and tighten the belt R on the pulley Ms causing
the vibratory tray-carrying frame to be operated in the manner described, the
length of this operation depending on the size of the cam S, and that when the
roller R drops off the end of the cam and projects in close proximity to
the shaft J, the belt will be loosened and the brake-pad S will engage the edge of
the pulley M arresting its motion, and the weight of the parts will hold the
vibratory tray-frame in its lowermost position, as shown particularly in Figure 4.
The belt-tightener may be adjusted to give the required tension to the belt by
means of the set-screw R, changing the position of the arm R8 with relation to the
arm R² attached rigidly to the shaft R³.
Operating in the bottom of the, tank or chocolate receptacle B is a vibrating
stirrer T having blades T' at intervals in its length and secured to the lower end
of a vertical rock-shaft T2 journaled in suitable bearings in the upper frame and
having upon its upper end an arm T3 connected by a link T with one arm of a
bell-crank lever T, the other arm of which is connected by a link T with the
lower end of a lever T7 (pivoted to a standard T8 on the frame) and provided with
a projection or roller entering a cam-groove T in the periphery of the cam-
wheel Q, which, as before stated, is attached to the shaft J. From this, it will be
seen that when the cam-wheel Q is rotated, the lever T7 will be vibrated and
through the parts described, the stirrer or agitator T will be moved from the
position shown in full lines in Figure 7 to that shown in dotted lines in said figure,
agitating the chocolate or coating material, and keeping it of the proper
consistency.
Inasmuch as the guides or ways F and M' should be lubricated, I provide upon
the underside of the slides F and M, cups X adapted to receive any oil dripping
from the ways and preventing its falling into the receptacle B.
The operation of the machine will now be apparent.
Assuming the receptacle B to be partially filled with chocolate or other material
with which the candies are to be coated, and the two tray carrying frames H' and L
in the position shown in Figure 4, which is the normal position of the machine, and
the tray-carriers being in alignment, the operator now slides a tray containing the
uncoated candies upon the tray-supporting bars f, and the various cams and
operating parts are so timed as to produce the following operations in the sequence
noted As the cam J' revolves, the slide F descends, the first portion of the
movement causing the frame H to move down over the tray and prevent the
candies from floating out of the pockets therein, then the eccentric portion *
causes said tray to be dipped beneath the surface of the chocolate, coating the
candies, and the tray-support is then raised to normal position and held there by
the concentric portion of the cam J, and the last portion of the upward
movement of the slide F¹ lifts the retainer H₁ to the position shown in full lines
in Figure 2. The operator stationed at the front of the machine now pushes the
tray from the dipping-carrier on to the vibratory tray support L, as the two are
then in line, as shown in Figure 4, and the cam-section J operates the lever Q2,
causing the downward movement of the tray-clamp P', to clamp the tray to the
vibratory tray-support L, and as soon as this clamping operation has been

page_text: completed, the cam-wheel S operates the belt tightener and causes the rapid
rotation of the pulley M, and the vibration of the tray through the means
described, shaking the surplus chocolate from the coated drops back into the
receptacle B. Meantime, and as soon as the dipping tray-support F2 has arisen
above the surface of the chocolate in the receptacle, the cam-groove To operates
the lever T' causing the stirrer T to move from its position at the side to the end
of the receptacle (the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 7) and then back
to normal position, shown in full lines in said figure. When the roller R
reaches the end of the cam S, the belt-tightener will be released and the brake
applied to the pulley M arresting the motion of the vibratory tray-carrier, and at
this time the cam-section Q actuates the lever Q2 and releases the tray-clamp,
permitting the operator to remove the tray from the vibratory carrier and transfer
the candies from which the surplus coating has been shaken, to the oiled paper or
trays in the usual manner and send them to the cooling-room. After the stirrer T
has returned to normal position and preferably a short time before the vibration
of the vibratory tray-support has ceased, the next downward movement of the
dipping tray-support has been accomplished and another tray of candies has been
dipped and the two carriers are again in line so that the second tray may be
pushed from the dipper to the vibratory carrier and the operations accomplished
as before. It will thus be seen that the operation of the machine is continuous
and it is only necessary for one operator to supply trays of uncoated candies to
the dipping carrier, then to move them to the vibratory carrier from whence they
are removed by a second operator after having had the surplus coating removed by
shaking.
Of course, instead of timing the parts exactly as described, the arrangement of
the cams can be varied as desired, it being sufficient that the dipping and vibratory
carriers be arrested so that the trays may be transferred from one to the other and
the operation of the machine be continuous.
From a practical use of this machine I find that the candies may be coated
evenly without waste of material and the machine being entirely automatic only
requires the application of trays of uncoated candies and the removal of the trays
of coated ones.
In order that the temperature of the coating material may be accurately
determined I arrange in the stirrer T a pocket for receiving a removable thermo-
meter V, which the attendant can remove and consult when the stirrer is at the
position of rest at the side of the receptacle, as in full lines in Figure 7.
It will be understood that other means for actuating the various movable parts
could be employed, and I do not therefore desire to be confined to the details of
construction shown herein.
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 with a receptacle for coating material, of a vertically movable
tray-dipper arranged over the receptacle, and an independent vertically-operating
vibratory tray-support also arranged over the receptacle and in proximity to the
dipping frame so that trays may be transferred from the dipper to the vibratory
tray-support, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a receptacle for coating material, of a vertically movable
tray-dipper arranged over the receptacle and actuating mechanism therefor, a
vibratory tray-support, and an operating mechanism therefor, and controlling
devices, as cams, for controlling the actuating mechanisms and causing the arrest
of the dipper, and vibratory frame when in line with each other to permit the
transfer of a tray from one to the other, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a receptacle for coating material, a vertically-movable
tray-dipper arranged over the receptacle, and actuating mechanism therefor, and a

page_text: movable candy-retainer on the dipper, of a vibratory tray-support arranged beside
the dipper, a movable tray-clamp and candy-retainer on the latter, and actuating
mechanism for vibrating the tray-support, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the receptacle for coating material, a vertically-movable
tray-dipper arranged over the receptacle and actuating mechanism therefor, a
vibratory tray-supporting frame beside the dipper and actuating mechanism
therefor, of a stirrer and actuating mechanism therefor, and controlling devices,
as cams, for controlling said actuating mechanisms and operating to cause the
arrest of the dipper and tray-support when in juxtaposition, and to permit the
movement of the stirrer when the dipper is out of the receptacle, substantially as
described.
5. In coating machine, the combination with the receptacle, the movable
dipper adapted to support a tray, of the retainer vertically movable toward and
from the tray, levers pivoted upon and movable with the dipper and links con-
necting them with the retainer, and the stationary cams with which the levers
co-operate to cause the retainer to move toward and from the tray as the dipper is
operated, substantially as described.
6. The combination of the receptacle, the movable dipper, the crossed levers
pivoted on the dipper, the vertically-movable candy-retainer, the links connecting
it with the levers and the stationary cams having the straight and curved portions
for moving the levers when the dipper is actuated, substantially as described.
7. In a coating machine, the combination with a coating receptacle and a
vertically-operating vibratory slide, of a frame carried by the slide and having a
tray-support thereon, the buffer arranged between the underside of the frame and
the slide, and the spring between the slide and frame for holding the latter in
engagement with the buffer, substantially as described.
8. In a coating machine, the combination with a coating receptacle, a vertically-
operating vibratory slide, of a frame carried by the slide and having a tray-support
thereon, the buffer arranged between the underside of the frame and the slide, and
the spring arranged between the slide and frame, and means for adjusting its
tension, substantially as described.
9. In a coating machine, the combination with a coating receptacle, and the
vertically-operating vibratory slide having the recess therein, the block in the
recess, and the tray-support attached to the block, the buffer between the under-
side of the block and the slide, the adjusting screw and set nut, and the spring
between the screw and block, substantially as described.
10. In a coating machine, the combination with the main frame, the receptacle
and the vibratory slide, the frame having a tray-carrier thereon loosely supported
upon the slide, and the adjustable supporting springs connected to the main frame
and to the tray-carrier frame, substantially as described.
11. In a coating machine, the combination with the vibratory frame having the
tray-support, of the tray clamp on the frame having the cross wires and positively
operating devices for moving the clamp up and down to cause it to engage and hold
the tray during the vibration of the frame, substantially as described.
12. In a coating machine, the combination with the vibratory frame having the
tray-support, of the tray-clamp thereon, and the screws for raising and lowering
the tray-clamp connected for simultaneous operation, substantially as described.
13. In a coating machine, the combination with the main frame and the vibratory
frame having the tray support, and actuating devices for said vibratory frame, of
the tray clamp thereon, a cam, and positively operating connections substantially as
described between said cam and the tray clamp for operating the latter positively
at predetermined times in a direction to clamp and hold the tray and also at other
time to release it, and connections between the frame actuating devices and the
cam, substantially as described.
14. In a coating machine, the combination with the main frame, and the vibratory
frame having the tray-support, of the tray clamp on the vibratory frame, the screws

page_text: for operating the clamp relative to the support, and connections between them, the
lever for actuating the screws, and a cam for moving the lever at predetermined
times to clamp and release a tray, substantially as described.
15. In a coating machine, the combination with the main frame, and the vibratory
frame having the tray-support, of the tray-clamp on the vibratory frame, the screws
for operating the clamp, the belt connecting them, the slide connected to the belt,
the lever and the cam, substantially as described.
16. The combination with the receptacle, the dipper, the vibratory frame having
a tray-support, and actuating mechanism for vibrating the vibratory frame, of the
cam for moving the dipper, a second cam connected to the first-mentioned one, and
devices, as a belt tightener, and brake operated upon by the last-mentioned cam,
for controlling the operation of the actuating mechanism of the vibratory frame,
substantially as described.
17. The combination with the receptacle, the vibratory frame having the tray
support, and actuating mechanism for vibrating said frame, and a controlling device
such as a belt tightener, of an adjustable cam operating said tightener, whereby the
duration of the movement of the vibratory frame can be regulated as desired,
substantially as described.
18. The combination with the main frame, and the receptacle, the vertically
movable dipper, and the cam for actuating it, the vibratory tray support having a
tray clamp thereon, actuating mechanism for said tray-support, and controlling
devices, as a cam and belt tightener, connected to the first-mentioned cam for
causing the relative movements of the dipper and vibratory frame, substantially as
described.
Dated this 9th day of April 1806
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.