An Improved Machine for Cutting "Rocks" and like Confectionery.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1898-Accepted, 9th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Cutting "Rocks" and like Confectionery.
I, WENZEL FRANZ DRAHY, of Seplitz, Bohemia, in the Empire of Austria, Lock-
smith, 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:
Hitherto bars of "rock" and the like confectionery were cut partly by hand
and partly mechanically. The cutting of bars of "rock" by the former process
apart from the considerable time required, had the drawback that the cut pieces
of a bar of "rock" were not precisely equal in size, whilst the cutting on the
hitherto mainly imperfect machines had for a consequence a considerable
breakage.
39
The rock cutting machine which forms the object of the present invention
is characterised by the easy attendance required and by its rapid work, and by
the fact that the product obtained is of a uniform size and a loss of material is
almost entirely avoided.
66
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side view on the line, Figure 3;
Figure 2, a plan view of the machine with the guide tubes for the bars of
rock removed;
"
Figure 3 is a cross section;
Figures 4-6 and 8 and 9 are various details of the machine; whilst
Figure 7 is a section at y on Figure 3.
The machine consists essentially of a frame mounted by means of two arms a
in side walls A, which frame is moved downwards by the arrangement of cams c
on a shaft and projections e on the arms a by the rotation of the shaft, whilst
springs attached to the connecting bars f of the frame press the latter back
into its raised position. The movement of the frame is limited on the one hand
by the length of the cams e and projections e and on the other hand by a hook h,
Figures 3, 4 and 5, adjustable in height, against which hook the arm a presses
in its upward movement caused by the springs g. The arms a are connected
at the ends which are opposite to their points of rotation by means of a bar i
on which an indiarubber plate k is fixed by means of a covering of leather 7.
By this arrangement an elastic support for the bars of rock R is formed, which
latter are inserted by a frame B, Figures 1, and 9, mounted in the side walls A.
This frame consists of several tubes n formed of galvanised iron connected with
one another by means of bars m soldered thereon, which tubes are slotted on their
rear side near where the bars of rock are sliced to show or render visible the exact
amount of the same remaining uncut. The inner diameter of the tubes n (which
may if desired be also replaced by wire spirals) corresponds to the actual thick-
ness of the bars of rock. When the frame B is inserted in the machine its tubes
stand precisely over two cutters or knives o which are screwed between two jaws
which may be approached to one another so as to almost come in contact and
again moved apart. This operation is attained simply by the cam shaft d being
provided with double eccentrics on both its ends which project from the machine,

page_text: the eccentric rods of which are attached to pins r of the jaws of each knife engaging
through slots in the side walls A. The eccentrics are operated by means of toothed
wheel gearing Z rotated by hand by means of crank handles, or in the case of
larger machines by means of any suitable motor.
of
In the position of the cutters shown in Figure 1 the bars i and the arms a
are in their raised position, the bars of "rock" rest on the leather cover
the indiarubber plate k and are cut on a further rotation of the eccentrics. At
this moment the cam c has come into engagement with the projection e as a result
of which the arm is moved downwards, thus stretching the springs g.
When
the cam c has released the projection e the arms a are again raised by the springs y
until they engage with the hook h. By the continuous rotation of the double
eccentrics the knives o now move apart and the ends of the bars of
resting thereon drop on to the cover of the elastic support k. In this manner
the bars of rock are cut.
rock"
In order after each cut to prevent the cut-off portions of the bar of rock remain-
ing on the cover of the indiarubber plate k in other words in order to clear the
latter after each cutting, the following arrangement is adopted :-
2:
The ends of the arms a project into recesses s in two eccentrically revoluble
mounted discs t which when the arms a are moved are simultaneously rotated.
The discs t are connected together by the back or bar u of a brush
If the arms are moved downwards the discs rotate into the position shown in
Figure 2, and then into the position shown in Figure 6 shortly after the knives
have made their cut, and the cut off parts have fallen on to the elastic support k,
or rather on to the strip of leather covering the same. As may easily be seen,
the brush thus throws off from the leather strip the cut-off pieces of
and thus simultaneously clears the latter.
"
<
rock
"
When the cam c is again disengaged from the projection e, the arms a are
as already previously mentioned raised by the springs g. By this means however
the discs t are again returned to their normal position, Figure 3, and the thus
cleared leather strip is released on which the rock bars can again rest afresh.
It is evident that this method of working is an extremely simple and economical
one, and that by means of this machine several bars of "rock can be cut simul-
taneously. The size of the pieces cut off corresponds to the distance between the
leather strip and the knives o and this distance may be suitably altered by a
corresponding adjustment of the hooks h. Of course bars of "rock
of any
suitable thickness may be cut on the same machine, and for this purpose it is only
necessary to have several frames B with tubes of various internal diameters.
The cut off parts fall from the leather strips on to a seive S under which a sheet
metal plate S is provided at a suitable distance for receiving the sugar dust.
Numerous modifications may of course be made in the machine without departing
from the scope of this invention and the form hereinbefore described is merely
a simple and at the same time practical method of construction of the same as an
example.
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. A machine for cutting bars of rock" and like confectionery comprising
an elastic support (k) formed of indiarubber covered with leather (1) arranged
underneath cutting knives (o) which support is mounted between two arms movable
downwards by a cam shaft (d) and adjustable as to their extreme lowest position
by means of an adjustable hook (h) and returned into their normal position by
means of springs (g), which arms project with their free ends into recesses (s)
of two discs (t) connected with one another by means of a brush (r) and revolubly
mounted with the object of enabling the said discs to be revolved by means of
the arms (a) after each cutting of the bars (R) of "rock" which latter are con-
veyed by means of a frame (B) on to the elastic support (k) or rather the leather

page_text: covering (1) thereof, whereby the successive operation or movement of the
arms (a) is effected together with a throwing off by means of the brush (v) of
the cut pieces of "rock" from the elastic support into a double sieve (SS¹), or
in other words a clearing of the said support, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
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2. In a machine of the kind described, a frame (B) composed of tubes (n)
or wire spirals connected with one another by means of bars (m) soldered thereon,
and having a diameter corresponding to the actual diameter of the
"
rock bars
to be cut, said tubes where such are employed being slotted on their rear side
with the object of allowing the actual remaining length of the bars of "rock'
to be seen at any time during the cutting substantially as described.
39
3. In a machine of the kind described, a form of construction of the knives
consisting of thin knives (o) screwed between jaws (p), the pins (r) of which pass
through a slot in the side walls (A) and are connected with the eccentric rods of
double eccentrics (g) mounted on the cam shaft (d) substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of March 1898
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.