Improvements in Machines for Making a Continuous Sheet from Lump Dough.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making a Continuous Sheet from
Lump Dough.
I, JAMES HENRY MITCHELL, of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia County, State of
Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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 object of this invention is to make a continuous sheet from lump dough, and
at the same time place centrally in the sheet of dough what is technically known
scrap dough," and automatically feed the dough sheet into the usual form of
biscuit cutting machine.
as
The functions formed by my machine are three in number: Starting with the
lump and scrap dough, these are made into a rough sheet form, having the scrap
enclosed by the fresh lump dough forming the top and bottom of the sheet. This
sheet is then carried forward automatically to that portion of the machine designed
for thoroughly incorporating or kneading the sheet by the action of a vertically
moving stamping roll, having a yielding bed located therebeneath. The last named
function performed by the machine, reduces the sheet to the desired thickness
required for the subsequent cutting into biscuits. The third function performed
by the machine, is that of automatically dusting both the top and bottom of the
sheet of dough, as it passes out of the sheeting machine towards the biscuit cutting
machine.
The adjustment of the different carriers and feed motions, are so arranged as to
admit of free manipulation while the machine is in motion. All the carriers are
provided with tightening devices, which may also be regulated while the machine
is in motion. The functions performed by the different parts of this machine
render it entirely automatic, requiring little or no human attention, thereby insuring
a more perfect sheet of dough than could possibly be produced by hand.
Reference being made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, showing the application of the motive
power.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, opposite to that shown in Fig. 1,
illustrating the application of motion to the different carriers, &c.
Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, central section of the machine, showing all the
internal working parts.
Fig. 4 is a detached view of mechanism for operating the roller 43.
Like numerals of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
In Fig. 1, 1 represents the side of the main frame of the machine, which is so
shaped as to carry all the necessary bearings; the opposite side of the frame,
(Fig. 2) is a reproduction of 1. 3 represents the preliminary dough sheeting
apparatus, the upper portion of which is divided into five compartments, numbered
respectively, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, as particularly illustrated in Fig. 3. The centrally
located compartment, 6, is for holding scrap dough, while compartments 5 and 7
are for holding fresh lump dough. Compartments 4 and 8 are flour holders for
These
automatically supplying flour to the surface of the sheeting rolls 9 and 10.
flour compartments 4 and 8 have inclined lids or covers, 11 and 12, which are
pivoted upon bearings 13 and 14, and perform the double function of covering the
Hour holders, and also forming the inclined sides of the hopper of the dough
compartments 5 and 7. As will be observed in Fig. 3, the lids 11 and 12 are
closed, and in operating them, they move in the direction of the arrows, and when

page_text: opened they admit freely the flour it is desired to supply to the compartments 4
and 8. The right and left hand sides of the respective flour compartments 4 and 8,
are formed by two sliding plates, 15 and 16. These plates are held and guided at
their ends by vertical slots 17 and 18, while upon the lower edge of each
plate 15 and 16, is a wooden shoe, 19 and 20, which comes in close contact with the
peripheries of the sheeting rolls, 9 and 10, the weight of the side plates being
supported by the rolls. These rolis rotate in the direction indicated by the
arrows (Fig. 3) and their entire surface is covered with fine or minute corrugations,
too minute for illustrating in the drawing. The functions of these fine corrugations
is to receive and firmly hold the dry powdered flour, said flour being taken from
the chambers 4 and 8, the bottoms of these chambers being formed by the peripheries
of the sheeting rolls 9 and 10, the flour resting upon the rolls. As the rolls rotate,
the fine flour is well packed and rubbed into the grooves or corrugations in the
surface of the rolls by means of the wooden shoes 19 and 20, held in contact with
the rolls by gravity. The surface of the sheeting rolls, after passing from the
flour chambers, is composed of alternate spaces of Hour and metal, which presents
to the fresh lump dough, a positive non-adhesive surface. The lump dough is
carried downward into the angle formed by the peripheries of the two sheeting
rolls, 9 and 10, thereby making it into sheet form. As the scrap dough in
chamber 6 is resting upon the lump dough in the chambers 5 and 7, all three
chambers feed their respective contents down between the sheeting rolls, simul-
taneously, as they rotate. The area of the scrap compartment is about one half
the area of the lump dough compartments; this will insure a proper distribution of
the scrap dough into the centre of the lump dough, in exact proportion to the
respective hoppers. A continuation of the sheeting rolls 9 and 10, will finally
deposit a sheet of dough upon the carrier 21, located below the said rolls, and
travelling in the direction indicated by the arrows. The application of the power
to these sheeting rolls will be hereinafter described. The carrier 21 receives
motion from a drum, 22. This drum is mounted upon a shaft, 23, journalled in
bearings 24, located in the frame 1 of the machine. Upon one end of the shaft 23,
is a hand wheel, 25, the object of which is to give independent rotation to the
driving drum, 22, and the carrier 21, when so desired. Upon the extremity of the
shaft 23 opposite to the wheel 25, is a ratchet wheel, 26. This ratchet wheel 26
engages with a pawl, 27, which is mounted upon a rock arm, 28, to which it is
fastened by means of a stud, 29. The rock arm 29 receives an oscillating
movement, whereby an intermittent motion is imparted to the shaft 23, and
consequently to the drum 22 which propels the carrier 21. The oscillating
movement of the rock arm 28 will be hereinafter described. The carrier 21, after
passing from under the sheeting rolls 9 and 10, is guided by the roller 30, mounted
in two adjustable bearings 31, one at each end of the frame 1. The object of
these adjustable bearings 31 is to prevent the carrier 21 working to one side or the
other of the machine. Passing from the roller 30, the carrier 21 is guided by a
roller, 32. This roller is also mounted upon adjustable bearings 33, located in the
frame 1 of the machine. The carrier 21 passing from the roller 32 next comes in
contact with a slide roller 34, journalled in a sliding frame 35, mounted in two
parallel slide ways 36 located upon each side of the frame 1. Secured to the slide
frame 35, is a strap, 37 which is wound upon a shaft 38 having its bearings in the
main frame 1. Located upon the shaft 38 close to the main frame is a ratchet
wheel 39, engaging with a pawl 40, which prevents movement of the shaft in one
direction, and the consequent slackening of the tightening roll 34.
Continuing the line of movement of the carrier 21, it now moves vertically from
the tightening roller 34, to a guide roller 41, rotating in bearings upon the main
frame 1. Passing from the roller 41, it again comes in contact with the driving
drum 22.
The dough form, resting upon the upper portion of the carrier 21,
this carrier to a second carrier, 42, travelling in the same direction.
now brought by the second carrier under the stamping roll, 43,
passes from
The form is
which has a

page_text: The
compound motion, composed of a vertically upward movement, while the roll is
stationary upon its axis, and when the descent of the roll is made upon the sheet
of dough, the roll rotates in the direction of the arrows for a short distance.
object of this compound motion is to perform a two fold function upon the dough
sheet, that of kneading, and also of reducing the thickness of the sheet. This
rotary motion works back in a positive manner, the surplus dough, against the
line of travel of the carrier 42, so that the finished sheet of dough passes from
under the roll of a uniform thickness, without any ridges which would otherwise be
formed upon the sheet, without the before mentioned rotary motion.
At
The sheet of dough, after passing from under the stamping roll 43, is carried
towards a roller 44, having its bearings in the main frame of the machine.
this point the carrier 42 passes away from the dough sheet resting upon its surface,
around a flour drum, 45, said drum being composed of a number of parallel
bars, 46, forming the periphery of the drum, and so arranged that the flour within
the drum passes freely between them, resting upon, or coming in contact with the
carrier 44, thereby thoroughly dusting or flouring its upper surface, it being under-
stood that this carrier 44 completely encases the flour drum 45, and prevents the
escape of the flour. The ends of the flour drum are made solid, the ends of the
bars 46 being pivoted in these heads. Passing through the centre of the drum 45
is a shaft 47, to which the drum is secured. This shaft is mounted in bearings 48
in the main frame 1. Upon the end of the shaft 47 is a ratchet wheel 49, which
gives motion to the drum 45, as will be hereinafter described. The carrier 42
passes from the flour drum around a guide roller, 50, mounted upon arms
bearings 51, fastened to a square shaft 52, journalled in the main frame 1. Upon
the end of the shaft 52, is a hand lever, 53. By turning this hand lever downward,
the roller 50 will also travel in that direction, thereby opening the upper portion
of the flour drum, so that flour can be supplied by passing it to the interior of the
drum between the bars 46, after which the roller 50 is returned to its working
position. It will be readily understood, that the carrier 42 in passing around the
flour drum 45 must be thoroughly dusted with flour upon its upper surface, and as
this carrier after passing the roller 50 again receives the sheet of dough, it will
transfer a portion of the flour to the lower side of the sheet, it being very essential
that the sheet shall not adhere to the gauging rolls upon the cutting machine to
which it is afterwards transferred by the carrier, 42. It is also highly desirable
that the upper surface of the sheet of dough should be thoroughly dusted with
flour, which is done by an automatic flouring device composed of a flour hopper, a
distributing roller, and a dusting brush. 54 is the flour hopper, the bottom of which
is formed by a distributing roller, 55, which rotates in slide bearings, 56, fastened
to the sides of the flour hopper, 54. Upon the extremity of the roller 55, beyond
the bearing 56, is fastened a pulley 57, which gives motion to the roller 55, as
hereinafter explained. In close contact with the roller, 55, is a dusting brush 58,
which in rotating, transfers from the roller 55 all flour that may adhere to it.
This flour is held loosely among the bristles of the brush, which come in contact
with the bar, 59, where they are slightly bent in a backward direction from the
line of travel. When they finally pass the bar 59, they resume their normal
position very quickly, owing to their elasticity, and thereby cause the flour adhering
to the bristles to be thrown off, by this elastic rebound; the flour being thus
liberated, falls down upon the sheet of dough, resting upon the carrier 42, thereby
covering the upper surface of the sheet with a fine dust. In order to regulate the
amount of flour passing from the hopper 54, there is provided a sliding plate, 60,
having an adjusting screw, 61, and as this adjustment makes more or less opening
between the distributing roller 55, and the slide plate 60, any desired amount of
flour may be carried out by the distributing roller.
The carrier 42 is shown as broken off, it being understood that it continues and
passes around a guide roller (not shown) located upon an ordinary cutting machine,
returning therefrom and comes in contact with a guide roller, 62, having its
bearings mounted in the main frame 1. The carrier then descends in a vertical

page_text: direction, and surrounds a tightening roller, 63. This roller 63 has its bearings in
a sliding frame 64, which frame is mounted in slide ways, 65, one on each side of
the main frame. To hold the tightening roller taut, there is provided a strap, 66,
which encircles a shaft, 67, having its bearings in the main frame of the machine.
This shaft bears a ratchet 68, just inside of the frame, which engages with a
pawl, 69, for preventing backward movement of the shaft, and the consequent
slackening of the carrier 42. The carrier 42, after passing the roll 63, returns
vertically to a guide roller, 70, having its bearings in the main frame. After
passing around this roller 70, it travels horizontally to a drum, 71, and then
vertically to another guide roller, 72, mounted in sliding bearings, 73, fastened to
the main frame. The object of these slide bearings is to regulate the travel of the
carrier 42, keeping it in the centre of the machine.
Power is applied to the various parts of the machine, as follows:-Upon the
driving shaft 74, is keyed a driving pulley, 75, having a stand bearing, 76. Back
of this driving pulley is keyed a pinion 77, which engages with a large gear, 78,
for the transmission of motion to the sheeting rolls 9 and 10. Keyed to the gear
wheel 78 is a shaft 79, extending across the machine, and having its bearings in
the main frame. Upon the opposite end of the shaft 79 is an eccentric 80, having
an eccentric strap, 81 surrounding it, with a connecting rod, 82 secured thereto.
At the opposite end of this connecting rod 82, is journalled a rocking arm, 83, the
upper end of which is keyed to a rock shaft 84. As the eccentric 80 moves, it
will cause a rocking or oscillating motion to be imparted to the shaft, 84, which
works in bearings, 85 in the main frame 1. Upon the extremity of the shaft 84,
opposite to the arm 83, is an adjustable rock arm, 86, having an adjusting screw, 87,
by which an increase or decrease of motion may be obtained, as it moves the sliding
stud, 88, to or from the centre of the shaft. To this sliding stud 88 is attached a
connecting rod, 89, which extends upward and is connected to a pawl arm, 90. To
this arm 90 is fastened a pawl, 91, which engages with the teeth of a ratchet
wheel, 92. The pawl arm 90 surrounds and oscillates upon the shaft 93, of the
sheeting roll, 9. Upon the shaft 93 is keyed a gear, 94, which engages with a
similar gear 95, keyed to the shaft 96 of the sheeting roll 10. This shaft 96 is
mounted in sliding bearings, 97, one on each side of the preliminary sheeter 3.
Upon one side of the slide bearings 97, rests a spring 98, one end bearing on the
slide box, and the other end coming in contact with the frame of the preliminary
sheeter 3. The action of this spring 98 is to press the slide bearing 97 against
the adjusting or locating screws 99, which regulate the distance between the
sheeting rolls 9 and 10, giving any thickness of dough sheet required.
The action of the stamping roll 43 is as follows: Next to the driving gear 77 on
the shaft 74, is an eccentric, 100, close to the main frame of the machine, while
upon the opposite side of the machine, close to the frame, is a corresponding
eccentric, 101. The shaft 74 has two bearings, 102, the main frame of the
machine (shown particularly in Fig. 3). The caps of these bearings are provided
with thrust screws 103. Said screws are tapped into the caps, having their heads
in close contact with the under side of the heavy rib of the main frame of the
machine. The object of these screws is to withstand the exceedingly heavy
pressure produced by the motion of the eccentric upon the shaft 74. To of the
eccentrics, 100 and 101 are attached connecting rods, 104 and 105. The upper
ends of these connecting rods are arranged with sliding bearings, 106 and 107. In
the centre of these bearings revolves a shaft, 108, to which is keyed the stamping
roll 43, before mentioned, journalled in sliding boxes mounted in the slide ways 109
and 110 bolted to the top of the main frame 1. The lower sides of the sliding
bearings 106 and 107 are provided with two springs, 11, while upon the top of the
bearings are two locating or adjusting hand wheels 112, fastened to adjusting screws
passing through the upper portion of the connecting rods, and coming in contact
with the top of the slide bearings 106 and 107 respectively. By raising or lowering
these slide bearings within the upper portion of the connecting rods, any desired
height of the stamping roll 43 above the carrier may be obtained, to give the

page_text: requisite thickness to the dough sheet, the vertical movement of the roll being
obtained through the medium of the eccentrics, and connecting rods. To produce
the rotation of the stamping roll 43, there is fastened to the shaft 108, a small
ratchet wheel 113 (see Fig. 4), the teeth of which engage with two pawls, 114
fastened inside the rim of a wheel in the edge whereof are cut a number of gear
teeth, 115. This wheel rotates freely upon the shaft 108, being located closely to
one end of the stamping roll 43, between it and the slide bearing 109. The teeth.
of this wheel engage with a rack 116. When the shaft 108, with the roll 43,.
moves upward, it will cause a rotation of the wheel 115 through the medium of the
rack 116. This upward movement will cause the pawls 114 to pass over the teeth
of the ratchet wheel 113, and therefore produce no rotation of the stamping roll 43.
During the downward movement of the stamping roll, and the connected parts, the
wheel 115 will rotate in an opposite direction, and consequently the pawls 114 will
turn the ratchet wheel 113 during the entire downward stroke of the stamping roll,
consequently the said roll is stationary during the upward stroke, and rotates during
the downward stroke. At the right hand side of the stamping roll 43, (Fig. 3), is.
a flour box, 117, the bottom whereof forms a scraper for the stamping roll, and at
the same time prevents the escape of flour from the box. This flour box or pocket
is held in position by means of two brackets 118, connected to a cross yoke, 119,
extending across the stamping roll 43. By this arrangement, the flour box will at
all times be held closely to the stamping roll, and will travel up and down with it.
The object of this flour box 117 is to keep the surface of the stamping roll
covered with flour so it will not adhere to the sheet of dough while in the act of
stamping.
Attached to the extreme end of the driving gear shaft 74, is a slotted crank 120,.
which is provided with a regulating screw, 121, passing through a sliding stud 122,
upon the outer end of which is a connecting rod, 123. This rod receives any desired
amount of motion from the slotted crank 120, as it rotates, in proportion to the
distance the sliding stud 122 is from the centre of the crank. Upon the opposite
end of the connecting rod 123, is a bearing, 124, encircling a sliding stud, 125,
which stud is operated by an adjusting screw 126, all being mounted upon the upper
portion of the rock arm 28, this arrangement giving motion to the endless carrier, 21.
The rock arm 28 oscillates upon the shaft 23. Out beyond the end of the shaft 23,
and extending downward, is the lower portion of the rock arm 28, which contains a
second adjusting screw, 127, extending downward to the extremity of the rock arm
into a bearing 128. The object of this adjusting screw 127 is to operate the sliding
stud, 129, which extends inwardly towards the main frame of the machine, and
engages with the end of a connecting rod 130. Upon the other end of this
connecting rod 130, is a stud bearing, 131, working upon a stud, 132, which is
fastened to a rock arm 133 at the upper end of which is a stud 134 for operating a
pawl 135, which engages with a ratchet wheel, 137. This shaft 137 has its bearings
in the main frame of the machine, and carries the driving drum 74 which assists in
operating the second carrier, 42. Upon the outer side of the stud 132, and in close
connection with the connecting rod 130, is a connecting rod, 138, operated by said
rock arm.
Upon the other end of the connecting rod 138, is a bearing, 139,
encircling a stud, 140, which is fastened to the rock arm 141, said arm oscillating
upon the shaft 47. Upon the inside of the rock arm 141 is a pawl; 143, which
engages with the teeth of a ratchet wheel, 142, this pawl being mounted upon the
stud 140. The shaft 47 turns the dusting drum 45, said drum performing two
functions; that of propelling the second carrier 42, and of covering the upper
surface of said carrier with flour.
Motion for operating the upper dusting device is taken from the extreme outer
end of the shaft 47 (see Fig. 1), by means of a pulley 144, and a band 145 which
passes around a pulley 146, attached to the shaft of the dusting brush, thus giving
motion also to the distributing roll 55.
As the height of the preliminary sheeter makes it somewhat unhandy to place

page_text: dough in the hoppers, two steps 147 and 148 are provided, to enable the operator
to readily obtain the required elevation for feeding the sheeter.
149 is a depressable bed, mounted upon a plate 152, passing between the sides of
the main frame 1. 151 are guide bolts for said plate, and 150 represents a strip of
rubber, or other yielding material, located between the bed 149 and the supporting
plate 152. This construction gives a yielding support for the sheet of dongh as it
passes beneath the roll 43, materially assisting in the kneading and sheeting
process.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what I claim as
new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is :--
1. A preliminary sheeter in which is comprised a pair of sheeting rolls, a divided
hopper for the lump dough, and a central hopper for scrap dough, arranged
substantially as shown and described.
2. In a machine of the character herein specified, a kneading roll having a
simultaneous vertical, and a rotary motion, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a machine of the character herein specified, a kneading roll having a
simultaneous vertical and rotary motion, in combination with a yielding bed located
therebeneath, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a machine of the character herein specified, a pair of sheeting rolls and an
independent- kneading roll in combination with means for conveying the dough
sheet, substantially as shown and described.
5. In a machine of the character herein specified, the combination with the
sheeting rolls, of means for dusting the top of the dough sheet, and for applying
flour to the carrier, substantially as shown and described.
6. In a machine of the character herein specified, a dusting device, consisting of
a flour hopper, a distributing roller, a brush coming in contact with said roller,
and means for throwing the flour from the brush, substantially. as shown and
described.
7. In a machine of the character herein specified, a flouring device around
which the dough carrier runs, said device consisting of a hollow drum having
openings therein for the escape of the flour, substantially as shown and
described.
**
8. In a machine of the character herein specified, preliminary sheeting rolls, and
a sheet carrier, in combination with means for kneading the sheet after leaving the
preliminary sheeting rolls.
Dated this 25th day of May 1894.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.