Improvements in or relating to Machines for Depositing or Moulding "Cream" Fondants and other Confections.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1894
'omplete Specification Left, 29th May, 1895--Accepted, 6th July, 1895
TRUVIDIONAL DI POITIATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Depositing or Moulding
"Cream" Fondants and other Confections.
I, DANIEL MOREY HOLMES of 34 Watt Street, City, County, and State of
New York, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to a machine for depositing "cream such as is used in
the manufacture of chocolate creams or fondants in moulds or prints formed in
parallel rows say for example in starch-flour contained in trays or boxes or on
other trays or plates.
The machine comprises generally, a preferably water-jacketted reservoir with
means for heating the same for containing a supply of the "cream," a row or
series of nozzles projecting downwards therefrom, an endless web chain or apron,
means for intermittently feeding forward the apron. for raising and lowering it when
each row of moulds is beneath the nozzles, and one or more pumps or ejecting
devices for discharging measured quantities of the " cream into the moulds.
"
33
The machine consists of a frame or stand supporting at its upper part the before
mentioned water-jacketted reservoir in the lower part of which are arranged a
series of outlets each corresponding with a pump chamber connected to one of the
nozzles. Over these outlets I provide a bar (hereinafter for convenience termed a
"valve bar") formed with a series of holes corresponding with the outlets and
adapted to be intermittently moved longitudinally so as alternately to bring the
holes into coincidence with the outlets to allow a quantity of " cream to pass
through them and move the holes away from the outlets to prevent the further
outflow of the cream from the reservoir and the return to the reservoir of that
which has already passed out therefrom. This valve bar may be conveniently
operated by a bell-crank lever and a reciprocating rod the latter having cam
surfaces on which an anti-friction roller is caused to act. The anti-friction
roller is mounted on a shaft, or on an arm or wheel carried by the shaft, which
latter is rotated by any convenient means whether hand or power;
last named arrangement may be reversed the roller being mounted on the rod
and operated by a cam. On the same shaft are mounted two cams adapted to
depress a pivotted frame carrying a roller over which the endless apron works,
the frame being raised to its elevated position, when the cams cease to exert
their downward pressure, by suitable springs.
or this
The shaft also has secured to it two eccentrics, one near each end, the straps or
rods of which are adjustably connected to a horizontally reciprocating bar carrying
a series of plungers each adapted to work in a pump barrel or cylinder provided on
one of the pump chambers. Each pump chamber below the part at which the
pump barrel is located and between said chamber and the outlet nozzle is provided
with an outlet valve which when the plunger is forced into its barrel appertaining
thereto opens to allow of the discharge of the "cream," and closes when the
plunger is withdrawn. The operations of the valve bar and pump plungers are so
timed that when the latter are being withdrawn towards the outer ends of their
barrels the reservoir outlets are uncovered or opened by the valve-bar and "
thereby allowed to be drawn into the pump chambers, and when the plungers make:
cream
"

page_text: "
their inward movement the reservoir outlets are closed so that the " cream
ejected past the valves and through the nozzles, and this latter operation takes
place when the apron is at rest and in its elevated position with the nozzles close
over or dipping into the moulds.
The apron is mechanically operated by a ratchet and pawl or equivalent device
which may be adjusted to suit the distance it has to be fed forward at each
operation, this corresponding with the distance between the rows of moulds to
receive the " cream." An additional hand ratchet and pawl device is provided for
initially adjusting the position of the starch trays which latter after the adjustment
of the first of a series may be fed through the machine in continuous succession,
each tray being placed close against the one immediately preceding it.
Any desired means may be employed for lengthening or shortening the effective
length of the eccentric rods to increase or decrease the length of the effective part
of the plungers working in the pump barrels so as to cause more or less "cream
to be ejected at each operation of the plungers.
<<
"
"
The before described machine may be used for depositing cream or other
semi-fluid materials on flat plates for the manufacture of lozenges and the like,
instead of in moulds as before described. Also for cream confections, gum-drops,
marsh-mallows and batters of various kinds of a semi-fluid character, such as is
used by bakers and confectioners generally.
Dated this 29th day of August 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Machines for Depositing or Moulding
"Cream" Fondants and other Confections.
I, DANIEL MOREY HOLMES, of No. 34 Watts Street, New York City, N.Y.,
U.S.A., Inventor, 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 especially to means and mechanism employed for moulding
confectionery from semi-fluid material, and has for its object the provision of an
automatic machine which will produce such confectionery in a rapid and perfect
manner, turning out goods of a superior finish and quality.
To attain the desired end, my invention consists in certain novel and useful
combinations or arrangements of parts and peculiarities of construction and
operation, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described and then pointed out
in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my confectioner's machine.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stock chamber, opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of portions of the stock discharging
mechanism.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine at line x-x of Fig. 3.
Similar numerals of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
1 is the main frame of the machine, 2 are cars, extending downward from the
upper portion of the main frame, and 3 is a shaft journaled in the ears, 2, bearing
a roller 4, firmly secured thereto. Extending from the shaft 3 are side bars 5 of a
table, 6. 7 is a roller, mounted upon a shaft 8, journaled in adjustable boxes, 9, at

page_text: the extremities of the side bars, 5. 10 is a carrying belt passing around the
rollers 4 and 7, and the table 6. 11 are springs fixed to the main frame 1 at 12,
and supporting the side bars 5 at 13.
Mounted upon the main frame near the centre thereof is a stock chamber,
consisting of an inner portion, 14, and outer portion 15. 16 is a steam supply
pipe, designed for applying heat to the space between the two portions of the
stock chamber to keep the stock at the requisite consistency for moulding.
Beneath the stock chamber are two plates, 17 and 18, provided with holding
lips, 19.
The plate 17 is rigidly fixed to the bottom of the stock chamber, but the
plate 18 is held by bolts passing through holes therein, slotted in such a manner
as to permit a slight lateral movement to the plate, the object of such a construction
being to provide means for loosening the parts supported by the said plates 17
and 18, by retracting the plates 18 when sugar. or other stock has become
embedded in the interstices.
20 is an open topped box, having lips 21 near its upper edge, adapted and
arranged to engage with, and be held by the lip 19 upon the plates 17 and 18.
One side of box 20 is perforated with holes, as at 22, and extending beyond each
perforation is a cylinder 23. Within the box 20 is placed a sliding bar, 24, having
openings therein corresponding to the perforations 22; the lower edge of this
bar 24 fits into a guiding slot, 25, in the bottom of the box 20, the said bar 24
being kept in snug contact with the side of the box by cross-pieces, 26, engaging
with a transverse rod, 27, resting against the opposite side of the box. Engaging
with the sliding bar 24, at one end thereof is a rod 28, whereby said bar is caused
longitudinally reciprocate, as will be hereinafter explained. Beneath each
cylinder 23, is a screw-threaded collar 29, surrounding a perforation 30, communi-
cating with the interior of said cylinder. Connected to each collar 29, is a valve
shell, 31, (see particularly Fig. 4) wherein is mounted a stem, 32, arranged to play
in the centre of two perforated disks, 33. The stem 32 bears a valve plate, 34,
which is normally held against the upper perforated disk within the valve shell by
means of a spring, 35.
Within each cylinder 23 is located a piston head 36, having a packing ring, 37,
formed of suitable material, at the back of it, said ring being forced in contact with
the wall of the cylinder by means of a beveled collar 38, passing beneath the
packing, and being adjusted by a nut, 39, or the equivalent, mounted upon the
piston rod, 40. The piston rods 40 are fixed in a horizontal bar 41, mounted in
slide-ways, 42 in the main frame 1. The bar 41 is provided near each extremity
with rods, 72, connecting with eccentric straps 43, encircling eccentrics, 44 mounted
upon a shaft 45 journaled in the main frame.
Mounted upon the shaft 45, are cams, 46, having each a slight depression at 47,
said cams being arranged to bear against friction rollers, 48, upon the table
gide-rails 5.
49 is a crank, fixed to the shaft 45, and engaging with a pitman, 50, having a
perforated eye 51, through which passes a rod 52. 53 is a ratchet, secured to the
roller 4. 54 is an arm, pivoted upon the extremity of the shaft 3, and bearing a
pawl 55, this arm is slotted at 56, and in said slot is adjustably secured the rod 52.
57 is a bearing fixed to the main frame 1, the rod 52 passing through this bearing.
58 is a spring, coiled around the rod 52, and engaging with a collar 59 fixed upon
the rod 52.
Connected to the rod 28 is a bell crank 60 pivoted in the main frame, the outer
aim of said crank passing between pins, 61, fixed in a sliding bar, 62, connected to
an eccentric strap 63, encircling an eccentric 64 mounted upon the shaft 45.
65 is a gear wheel, mounted upon the shaft 45, said wheel meshing with a gear
wheel 66, mounted upon shaft 67, journaled in the main frame 1, and bearing a
driving pulley, 68.
When constructed and arranged in accordance with the foregoing description,
the operation of my device is as follows: Stock being supplied to the stock
chamber, the tray of moulds to be filled is placed with its first row beneath the

page_text: discharge valves, and the machine is started. The slide 24 is located with its
openings opposite to the perforations 22, and as the shaft 45 revolves, the pistons 36
are drawn outward through the medium of the rods 40, cross-bar 41, connecting
rods 42, eccentric straps 43, and eccentrics 44 mounted upon the said shaft 45;
this operation fills the cylinders 23 with the stock. While this is taking place,
the depression 47 in the cams 46 have passed to the friction rollers 48, and the
table carrying the belt 10 is forced upward by the springs 11 to such a height as
to cause the discharge valve shells 31 to project into the moulds beneath them.
At this moment the bell-crank 60, through the medium of the connections between
it and the eccentric 64 upon the shaft 45, moves the bar 24 so as to close the
mouths of the perforations 22, and the pistons commencing their backward strokes,
force the stock confined in the cylinders 23 into the discharge valve shells, the
pressure opening the valve therein, and permitting the escape of the stock into the
moulds. As soon as the backward stroke of the pistons commences the spring in
the valve shell closes the outlet from the cylinder, thus preventing the ingress of air,
and the further discharge of stock, and as the perforations 22 have again been
opened, the above described operation is repeated. While the discharge of the
stock into the row of moulds is taking place, the cams 46 first permit the mould
tray to be raised a sufficient distance to cause the valve shells to enter the moulds
a short distance, the object of this being to give as little drop to the stock at the
beginning of the discharge as possible, so as not to injure the fine lines in the
moulds by displacing the material of which they are formed, but as soon as
the stock begins to fill the moulds, the cams force the table downward a sufficient
distance to cause the valve shells to clear the moulds and the further revolution of
the cams depresses the supporting table, at the same time the flow of stock is cut
off, with a quick movement, the full distance, breaking off the stock, and having a
clean, perfectly moulded product, without any projecting points. While the table
is in the depressed position, the belt supporting the tray of moulds is advanced one
step by the action of the connections between the roller 4 and the crank 49 upon
the shaft 45, presenting a fresh row of moulds to be filled, the entire action being
automatic, it only being necessary to supply the stock and empty moulds, removing
those already filled.
By my peculiar arrangement, the discharging mechanism is located entirely
outside of the stock chamber, and beneath the same; all of the stock will be
exhausted from said chamber, and the detachable discharging mechanism is easily
cleaned.
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 of the character herein specified, the combination with the
stationary stock chamber, and discharge valve shells connected therewith, of the
depressable table beneath the stock chamber, and means for causing said table to
approach said chamber until the discharge valve sbells enter the moulds, then
recede slightly, the table finally being forced downward to its initial position,
substantially as shown and described.
2. In a machine of the character herein specified the combination with the spring
elevated, depressable table, of cams adapted and arranged to permit said table to
raise, then descend slightly, and finally to force the table to its initial position,
substantially as shown and described.
3. In a machine of the character herein specified, a mould supporting table,
pivoted at one extremity and supported upon spring mechanism at the other, a
carrying belt passing over said table, in combination with means for depressing the
table, and for moving the carrying belt, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a machine of the character herein specified, a stock chamber having
supporting bars placed at each side of an opening in its bottom, said bars having
holding lips at their inner edges, one bar being laterally movable, in combination

page_text: with stock discharging mechanism adapted and arranged to be removably held by
said bars, substantially as shown and described.
5. In a machine of the character herein specified, the combination with a stock
chamber, of discharging mechanism in which is comprised a series of escape
openings, a perforated reciprocatable bar controlling said openings, a series of
discharge cylinders provided with reciprocating pistons, and a series of discharge
valve shells, connected with said cylinders, substantially as shown and described.
6. In a machine of the character herein specified, a stock discharging device in
which is comprised a receiving box having a series of openings at one side, means
for alternately opening and closing said openings, cylinders connected to said
receiving box and containing reciprocatable pistons, and discharge valve shells
communicating with the cylinders, the whole combined and arranged to operate,
substantially as shown and described.
7. In a machine of the character herein specified, the combination with a stock
chamber, of discharging mechanism the parts whereof are located entirely outside
of the stock chamber, and beneath the same, substantially as shown and described.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a complete machine
for depositing or moulding cream fondants and other confections substantiallyias
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of May 1895.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.