GB2024089A

GB2024089A - Machine for forming lollies

Info

Publication number: GB2024089A
Application number: GB7916114A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-12
Filing date: 1979-05-09
Publication date: 1980-01-09
Also published as: GB2024089B; NL7808098A

Abstract

There is described a machine in which an endless chain (3) formed by flaps (2) engages with a rotating drum part (8) provided with grooves (10). Each flap (2) is provided with two recesses (48). When engaging the drum, said recesses (48) of adjacent flaps (2) form together with a groove (10) a cylinder closed at the one end. Each such cylinder contains a piece of lolly material which was severed from a strip (54) thereof by the coming together of the flaps (2) and grooves (10). A punch is alternately-movably mounted by means of fixed guides in each cylinder so formed in order to compress the lolly material therein. A further punch can push a stick into the compressed lolly material, thereby forming a completed lolly having a stick. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Machine for forming lollies The invention relates to a machine for the forming of lollies, which comprises a frame, an inner body movable thereon which is provided with grooves running cross-wise to the movement direction thereof, means to move the inner body relative to said frame, a number of flaps movably mounted relative to the inner body, said flaps in the one position thereof forming together with one groove of the inner body a cylinder closed at the one end thereof, and allowing in the other flap position the feeding of lolly material inside the groove and the removing of a lolly from said groove, said flaps when being moved to the first position thereof cutting-off a portion from a lolly material length fed opposite a corresponding groove, means to move said flaps relative to the inner body, a punch for each groove in said inner body, said punch being movable relative to the inner body and fitting as a piston inside the cylinder formed by the groove and the corresponding flap, said punch forcing with the desired shape a portion from the fed material length against the closed cylinder end, and means to move alternately the punches relative to the inner body.

In known machines of this kind, the flaps which are directed cross-wise to the movement direction of the inner body, are hingedly connected with the one end thereof to said inner body. Said inner body in the location where the lolly material strip is fed, is moved along a direction opposite to the strip feeding direction. By means of cams, during said inner body movement, the flaps are opened in sequence in such a way that the strip lies facing a groove, and thereafter the flaps are closed whereby the flap cuts-off said strip and thus feeds some lolly material inside the cylinder said flap forms together with the groove.

The inner body forms for example an endless chain which is continuously driven and along which said cams are fixedly arranged. As the opening and closing in sequence of the flaps occurs at a fast rate, said known machine generates a lot of noise. Moreover said machine undergoes much wear, mostly due to the hinged mounting of the flaps. The removing of a formed lolly from a groove after opening the corresponding flap, is further generally not easy.

The invention has now for object to obviate the above drawbacks and to provide a machine for the forming of lollies which is of relatively simple structure, causes relatively little noise when operating even at high speeds, undergoes but relatively little wear and whereby the removing of the lollies from the machine may be performed very easily.

For this purpose, the inner body is comprised of a drum which is rotatably mounted on the frame about a geometrical axis which runs substantially in parallel relationship with the lengthwise direction of the grooves, while the flaps are connected together as an endless chain, the means for moving said flaps relative to the inner body comprise chain wheels over which said chain runs along a path whereby the chain engages the drum over part of the circumference thereof in such a way that the flaps forming the chain form together with the drum grooves said cylinders, and the means for moving the inner body are formed by means to drive one of those members formed by the drum and the endless chain.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the means for moving the inner body are comprised of means to drive the drum, while the drum drives the endless chain due to the engagement therewith.

In a noteworthy embodiment, the endless chain formed by the flaps, engages the drum over at least 90 of the circumference thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit formed by the drum and flaps is provided with channels which open on every cylinder formed by a drum groove and the corresponding flaps, on that side remote from said punch, while the machine comprises means to bring a stick inside the cylinder through said channel.

Preferably those means to bring a stick inside a cylinder through said channel, comprise a pin which is movably mounted on the drum and means to move said pin on the suitable time, whereby the punch pushes a stick through the channel.

Other details and features of the invention will stand out from the description given below by way of non limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a machine for the forming of lollies according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a lengthwise cross-section along line ll-ll in Fig. 1, of part of the machine from Fig. 1 drawn on a larger scale.

The same reference numerals pertain to similar components in both figures.

The machine as shown in the figures comprises mainly a drum 1 and a number of flaps 2 in which are joined into an endless chain as shown generally in 3.

The drum is fast to a shaft 4 which is supported in a frame 5. For structural reasons, the drum 1 is comprised of three wheellike parts 7, 8 and 9 joined together by means of bolts 6. The cross-section in Fig. 1 is taken cross-wise through the center part 8.

Said center part 8 is provided over the whole circumference thereof with grooves 10 running in parallel relationship with the shaft 4. Said grooves 10 open over the whole length thereof on the outer surface of part 8 and have at right angle to the lengthwise direction thereof, a cross-section in the shape of a half-circle. Each one of said grooves 10 opens on the side of part 7 on the side wall of part 8. However on the side of part 9, each groove 10 is closed at the end thereof. The closed end is radiused and is in the shape of a sphere the diameter of which is not much smaller than the diameter of the cross-section of the remaining portion of groove 10. Between said radiused end of groove 10 and that side wall of part 8 lying on the side of part 9, there further runs across the outer surface of part 8 a small groove 11 which forms one half of a small round channel.Said small groove 1 which opens on the groove 10 lies in the extension of the geometrical axis of groove 10 and symmetrically thereto.

Part 7 of drum 1 is provided over the whole circumference thereof with a groove 1 2.

Cross-wise through said groove and in parallel relationship with the lengthwise direction of shaft 4, the shank 1 3 of a punch 14 runs precisely opposite each groove 10 in center part 8. Said shank 1 3 enters slidingly through openings 15 in those portions of part 7 that form the walls of groove 1 2. The axis of shank 1 3 lies in the extension of the geometrical axis of that groove 1 0 lying opposite thereto. On that side removed from part 8, the shank 13 projects outside part 7. To said projecting end is made fast a buffer cap 1 6 which is to cooperate with the curved rim of a guide 17, fixedly mounted on frame 5. On the side of part 8 also, the shank 1 3 projects outside part 7.Said projecting end bears a round head 1 8 which is provided at the outermost end thereof with a semispherical recess 19. The diameter of head 1 8 is equal to the diameter of groove 10 in the center part and said head 1 8 fits as well precisely into groove 10 from which said head 1 8 projects also with the half thereof. Inside groove 1 2 in part 7, a rider 20 is made fast by means of a bolt 21 to shank 1 3 of punch 14. A running roller 22 lies on said bolt 21 the head of which is located on that side of shank opposite to the bottom of groove 1 2.

Said running roller 22 is so designed as to cooperate with the curved rim of a guide 23 fast to frame 4. To prevent a possible tilting of rider 20 when roller 22 rolls over guide 23, said rider 20 is arranged slidingly on the side of the bottom of groove 12, over a fixing pin 24 which runs in parallel relationship with shank 1 3 cross-wise through groove 1 2 and is positively fastened to part 7.

On that side removed from part 8 of groove 12, said part 7 is provided over the whole circumference thereof with teeth 25 which cooperate with a gear-wheel not shown in the figures, which gear-wheel is driven by a motor which is not shown either in the drawings. In this way a continuous rotating motion is imparted to said drum 1.

Part 9 of drum 1 is used mainly to bring-in sticks during the forming of the lollies. Said part 9 is provided in the outer surface of which opposite each small groove 11 in part 8, with a small groove 26 which is moreover located in the extension of said small groove 11 and has the same half-round cross-section.

Said small groove 26 opens on that side of part 9 opposite part 8. On that side facing part 8, part 9 is provided on the outer side thereof with a collar 27 and every small groove 26 merges in the location of said collar 27 into a small channel 28 which opens then on the outer side of part 7 and consequently on a small groove 11 in part 8. Inside each small groove 26 a stick pin 29 is alternately movable. Said stick pin projects on the outer side of drum 1 outside part 9. Said stick pin is positively connected through said projecting end to a rider 30. Said rider 30 is also positively connected to a punch 32 which lies alternately movable inside an opening 32 which is provided in part 9 in parallel relationship with small groove 26 on that side facing shaft 4 of each groove.An inlaid key 33 which projects partly inside a groove in punch 31 and partly inside a groove in the wall of opening 32, prevents any rotating of punch 31 inside opening 32, without preventing however a movement thereof along the lengthwise direction of punch 31. Punch 31 is used as guide for the unit formed by stick pin 29 and rider 30 and insures that the stick pin 29 cannot come out of groove 26. The toand-fro movement of stick pin 29 is caused by two guides 34 and 35 cooperating with rider 30, said guides 34, 35 being made fast to frame 5. Guide 34 cooperates with a buffer cap 36 which is fast to the head of bolt 37 by means of which rider 30 is positively connected to punch 31. Guide 34 can thus push with the radiused rim thereof that unit formed by stick pin 29, rider 30 and punch 31 along the direction of part 8 from drum 1.Guide 35 acts on a part of rider 30 projecting outside punch 31 on that side opposite stick pin 29, and it is mounted inside a recess 56 in the outer surface of part 9 from drum 1. Said guide 35 pushes at the right time the rider and thus also the stick pin 29 away from the center part 8 from drum 1. When the stick pin 29 has been completely pushed away and thus lies substantially completely outside small groove 26, said groove 26 lies precisely underneath a stick funnel 38 which is mounted on frame 5 above drum 1. A stick can thus fall from said stick funnel 38 inside the groove.

As it appears mostly from Fig. 1, each flap 2 is comprised of a body 39 on the one side of which stand two ribs 40 projecting in the cross-wise direction of body 39. Said ribs also project sidewise outside body 39. The spacing between the ribs 40 on succeeding flaps 2 of endless chain 3 is alternately larger and small er. In the figures, those ribs 40 with the larger spacing are designated 40' and those ones with the smaller spacing are designated 40". The spacing differential between the-ribs 40' and 40" is such that the ribs 40" fit narrowly between the ends of two ribs 40'.

Those ribs 40" with a smaller spacing on a flap 2 thus project on either side therefrom between those ribs 40' with larger spacing on two adjacent flaps 2. The ribs 40 on adjacent flaps 2 thus come to lie with the ends thereof next to one another similarly to the link walls in a chain. Said ends lying next to one another are hingedly connected together by a hinge pin 41 which passes cross-wise through the ends. A falling-of of said hinge pin is prevented by a bush 42 which is arranged between both innermost ribs 40' about said pin 41 and which is positively connected thereto by means of a pin 43. By means of said ribs 40 connected by hinge pins 41 which form actually a chain, the chain 3 formed by the flaps 2 runs over two sprocketwheels 44 and one sprocket-wheel 45.

Sprocket-wheels 45 are arranged on shafts 46 which are rotatably supported in frame 5.

Said sprocket-wheels 44 are mounted at the top opposite drum 1, with a mutual spacing in such a way that chain 3 engages said drum 1 over an angle of about 90 . Sprocket-wheel 45 lies on a shaft 47 which is rotatably mounted in frame 5 somewhat above sprocket-wheels 44 and midway between same, in such a way as to be adjustable in height. Such adjustability is obtained in a known way not shown in the figures. By adjusting sprocket-wheel 45 in the height, the chain 3 can be spanned.

Bodies 39 of flaps 2 are thus located on the outer side of chain 3. Each body 39 from a flap 2 is provided on both lengthwise sides thereof and on that side removed from ribs 40, with a recess 48. Each recess 48 is comprised of a portion in the shape of onefourth of a cylinder and the rounded side of which faces body 39, and of a portion connecting thereto in the shape of one-eight of a sphere the diameter of which is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the above-mentioned cylinder. Actually each recess 48 is identical in shape and size to half the recess 10 in center part 8 of drum 1. The length of the body 39 from each flap 2 is further equal to the width of center part 8 of drum 1.The shape of each body 39 is moreover such that the bodies 39 as they engage the topmost portion of drum 1 already connect with one another whereby thus adjacent recesses 48 from adjacent bodies 39 form a groove which is the mirror image of the groove 10 in drum 1 and moreover faces precisely same. The adjacent recesses 48 in two adjacent bodies 39 and groove 10 facing same in drum 1 thus form together a round cylinder wherein head 1 8 from punch 1 4 fits to be slidable toand-fro therein, and which is closed at one end by a semi-spherical surface. To each one of the recesses in each body 39 also connects a small groove 49 which when both bodies 39 engage one another and drum 1, lies precisely facing a small groove 11 in drum 1 and forms together with said groove 11, a complete round channel for a stick.Said channel then lies in the extension of an opening 28 and the small groove 26 connecting thereto.

Over about 90 between sprocket-wheels 44, the flaps 2 thus engage with that portion of body 39 lying between recesses 48, that portion of outer surface of part 8 from drum 1 lying between grooves 1 0. Two adjacent flaps with adjacent recesses 48 thereof thus form together with the opposing groove 10 in part 11, the above-described cylinder wherein head 18 of punch 14 is slidable. Now due to the flaps having to always engage accurately in the required position drum part 8, there is further mounted inside each groove 10, at that end removed from part 7, a bush 50 through which passes shank 1 3 from that punch 14 pertaining to said groove 10.Said bush 50 which thus forms and additional guide for punch 14, is fastened with a small screw 51 to part 8 in such a way that said bush cannot slide together with punch 1 4. On that side facing part 9, there is further mounted in part 8 a small bush 52 which projects outside part 8 next to groove 11.

Said bush 52 fits inside a corresponding recess in one of both adjacent flaps 2 which form together with the above-mentioned groove 10, a cylinder for the forming of a lolly. The bush 50 and the small bush 52 further act as driving member whereby both flaps 2 which lie above a groove 10 in drum 1, are taken away from said drum when rotating. The endless chain 3 is consequently not driven directly but rather from drum 1 itself.

Next to drum 1 is further mounted on frame 5, a supply way 53 for a strip of lolly material.

The operation of the above-described machine is as follows. A confectionery strip 54 which has been manufactured in a known way, is fed between smoothing rollers 55 by the supply way 53. Said supply way 53 opens on the top portion of drum part 8. Said drum 1 is so driven that the top portion thereof moves away from the end of supply way 53. The revolution direction of drum 1 is shown in Fig. 1 by arrow 56. According to the rotation of drum 1, the end of strip 54 is thus laid at the end of supply way 53, crosswise over a number of grooves 10. Said strip 54 encounters some time a flap 2 from the endless chain 3. Those portions of bodies 39 from said flap that lie between both recesses 48 will enter strip 54 and as the flap comes closer to drum 1, said portions will penetrate deeper into the strip and finally completely cut-off same.A strip piece thus falls into a groove 10 which has in-between been completely closed by two adjacent flaps 2, and consequently lies inside the cylinder directly in front of head 1 8 from punch 14 which lies as far out as possible. Due to further rotating, the buffer cap 1 6 on said punch 14 engages guide 1 7 and thereby punch 14 is driven in.

Said punch will move inside the closed cylinder wherein lies the strip piece 54 and said piece will be pressed against the radiused end of said cylinder. As head 18 is also provided with a semi-cylindrical opening, the strip piece 54 will finally be pressed substantially to a sphere. During such pressing by punch 14, a stick enters the small groove 26 which lies in the extension of the formed cylinder wherein punch 14 presses the strip piece. Naturally the stick pin 29 was slid out to the utmost.

Said stick pin 29 is now pushed inwards by the engagement between buffer cap 36 and guide 34, whereby thus substantially at the same time as the lolly is completely formed inside said cylinder, the stick is pushed into said lolly through that channel formed by the small groove 11 and recesses 49. Directly thereafter guide 35 pushes stick pin 29 back to the original position thereof and guide 23 pushes through running roller 22 the punch 14 back to the original position thereof. Of course the shape of guides 34 and 1 7 is such that said latter movements are not obstructed.

The stick pin 29 and punch 14 lie back in the original position thereof when said cylinder has reached a position below the last-in the movement direction-sprocket-wheel 44.

Both flaps 2 which bound said cylinder are now raised from drum part 8 due to being guided away over sprocket-wheel 44. In other words that groove 10 which was part of said cylinder and wherein now lies a formed lolly, is no more closed. The small groove 11 connecting with groove 10 is also no more closed by the flaps 2, in such a way that the lolly may now easily be removed from groove 2 together with its stick from groove 11. This may be done either manually or mechanically.

The operations described above for the one piece of confectionery strip 54, are continuously repeated in succeeding grooves 10 between the end of supply way 53 and that location where flaps 2 from endless chain 3 leaves again drum 1. Due to the flaps being mounted in the form of an endless chain, the wear is very slight. The flaps engage very smoothly drum 1 in such a way that even with high production rates, the resulting noise is minimized. The machine can work at very high speed and is very reliable. The shape of the lolly is as good as desired. Groove 10 and both recesses 48 which form together a cylinder are suitably brought together. A round opening is simultaneously formed in part 8 of groove 11 and both flaps 2 with recesses 48 when said flaps connect with drum 1. By adjusting the length of the stroke of punch 14, it is also possible to manufacture instead of ball-shaped lollies, oblong and for example more or less ellipse-shaped lollies.

The invention is in no way limited to the above embodiments and many changes can be brought therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the

Claims

appended claims. For instance, the shape of the grooves provided in the drum and of the recesses in the flaps does not have to be exactly as described above as long as the flap recesses when said flaps are engaged with the drum, form together with the drum grooves a cylinder inside which a-confectionery piece can be pressed. The punch for pressing the confectionery piece does not either have to be moved toand-fro by means of guides. The punch may for instance may moved in the one direction by a spring. The same goes for the stickfeeding pin. CLAIMS

1. Machine for the forming of lollies, comprising a frame, an inner body movable thereon which is provided with grooves running cross-wise to the movement direction thereof, means to move the inner body relative to said frame, a number of flaps movably mounted relative to the inner body, said flaps in the one position thereof forming together with one groove of the inner body a cylinder closed at the one end thereof, and allowing in the other flap position the feeding of lolly material inside the groove and the removing of a lolly from said groove, said flaps when being moved to the first position thereof cutting-off a portion from a lolly material length fed opposite a corresponding groove, means to move said flaps relative to the inner body, a punch for each groove in said inner body, said punch being movable relative to the inner body and fitting as a piston inside the cylinder formed by the groove and the corresponding flap, said punch forcing with the desired shape a portion from the fed material length against the closed cylinder end, and means to move alternately the punches relative to the inner body, in which machine the inner body is comprised of a drum which is rotatably mounted on the frame about a geometrical axis which runs substantially in parallel relationship with the lengthwise direction of the grooves, while the flaps are connected together as an endless chain, the means for moving said flaps relative to the inner body comprise chain wheels over which said chain runs along a path whereby the chain engages the drum over part of the circumference thereof in such a way that the flaps forming the chain form together with the drum grooves said cylinders, and the means for moving the inner body are formed by means to drive one of those members formed by the drum and the endless chain.

2. Machine as defined in claim 1, in which the means for moving the inner body are comprised of means to drive the drum, while the drum drives the endless chain due to the engagement therewith.

3. Machine as defined in either one of claims 1 and 2, in which the endless chain formed by the flaps, engages the drum over at least 90 of the circumference thereof.

4. Machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the unit formed by the drum and flaps is provided with channels which open on every cylinder formed by a drum groove and the corresponding flaps, on that side remote from said punch, while the machine comprises means to bring a stick inside the cylinder through said channel.

5. Machine as defined in claim 4, in which the means to bring a stick inside a cylinder through said channel, comprise a pin which is movably mounted on the drum and means to move said pin at the suitable time, whereby the punch pushes a stick through the channel.

6. Machine as defined in claim 5, in which the means to move the stick pin relative to the drum comprise a punch which is movable inside an opening in said drum and is connected to said pin, and a rider which is mounted on that punch end projecting outside the drum and cooperates with two guides which are fixedly mounted relative to the frame and when the drum rotates, can push the rider in the one or the other direction respectively, by engaging said rider.

7. Machine as defined in any one of the preceding claims, in which each flap on that side thereof facing the drum as it engages same, is provided on either side thereof with a recess and said cylinder inside which a punch is movable, is formed by a groove in said drum and two adjacent grooves from two adjacent flaps.

8. Machine as defined in claim 7, in which each flap comprises a body and on that side removed from the recesses, two ribs, whereby the ribs from adjacent flaps lie next to one another with ends projecting outside said body, and are connected together by means of hinge pins.

9. Machine as defined in any one of the preceding claims, in which the punches each comprise a head that lies inside a groove in said drum, and thus inside a cylinder where that chain formed by the flaps engages said drum, and a shank which is slidably mounted relative to said drum, while said means for moving alternately said punch are formed by guides which are fixedly mounted relative to the frame and when the drum rotates, cooperate with said shank to move same in the required direction.

10. Machine as defined in claim 9, in which the punches cooperate by means of an end projecting outside said drum, with a guide while a rider cooperating with the second guide is made fast to the punch in the location of a drum groove.

11. Machine as defined in any one of the preceding claims, in which the drum grooves are closed at that end thereof removed from the end through which enters a movable punch.

12. Machine as defined in claims 5 and 9, in which the drum is comprised of three parts fastened together, namely a center part which is provided with said grooves, a part wherein the punches movably enter with a portion thereof, and a part wherein the stick pins movably enter.

1 3. Machine for the forming of lollies, as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.