GB2214462A

GB2214462A - Compression moulding

Info

Publication number: GB2214462A
Application number: GB8801086A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Holmes
Original assignee: SANDEE S LOLLIES Ltd
Current assignee: SANDEE S LOLLIES Ltd
Priority date: 1988-01-19
Filing date: 1988-01-19
Publication date: 1989-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-01-19
Also published as: GB8801086D0; GB2214462B

Abstract

Apparatus for moulding sweetmeat rock while in its semi-solid state, comprises a mould having a plurality of parts 5, 6 together defining a shaped cavity, and at least one passageway connecting with said cavity for the passage of a ram head 13, 14 for exerting pressure on the contents of the mould cavity in use so as to press the contents fully into the cavity. A slot 15 in the ram head 14 can mount a plastic ring for incorporation into the moulded article. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS This invention relates to confectionery products and more particularly to the kind of sweetmeat known as rock made from a heated sugar syrup which is aerated and cooled to form a semi-solid plastic material which solidifies into a product of very hard consistency.

Because the rock becomes semi-solid as it is produced it has hitherto proved impossible to form it into all but the simplest of shapes. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for moulding rock while in its semi-solid state, comprising a mould having a plurality of parts together defining a shaped cavity, and at least one passageway connecting with said cavity for the passage of a ram head for exerting pressure on the contents of the mould cavity in use so as to press the contents fully into the cavity.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of moulding rock while in a semi-solid plastic state comprising introducing a portion of such rock into a cavity of an open mould, closing the mould and moving an insert into the mould cavity so as to press the rock into the cavity.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a moulded rock product of the kind that can be produced in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is one embodiment of machine according to the invention, and Fig. 3 shows upper and lower mould halves of the machine shown in Fig. 2.

The product shown in Fig. 1 comprises a central- moulded shape 1 which in this case is that of a small bear. The shape 1 is used for illustrative purposes only and it will be appreciated that any other shape may be used, e.g. another animal or human figure, a ship, train engine or the like. Suitable shapes have in common that they involve relatively complex angles and curves which have hitherto posed particular problems when the material used is rock. At one end of the shape 1, in this case at the head end of the bear, is a plastics carrying ring 2 and at the other end is a base 3 integral with the shape 1 and made of the same material.

The machine illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 comprises a mould having two halves 5, 6 of mirror-symmetrical female configuration together defining when closed a shaped central cavity 7 terminating in cylindrical passageways 8, 9. The mould 5, 6 or at least the parts thereof that come into contact with the rock are made of or lined with non-stick, physiologically harmless material. The lower mould half 6 is held stationary under the upper mould half 5 which is carried by a fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder device 10 capable of lifting the mould half 5 into the raised position illustrated in Fig. 2 and then lowering it into mating contact with the lower mould part 6.Sideways acting fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder devices 11, 12 are provided at opposite sides of the mould 5, 6 and carry respective ram heads 13, 14 of at least part-cylindrical shape corresponding to the shape of the respective cylindrical passageways 8, 9 into which they are inserted in use. The ram head 13 has a conical leading end and a cylindrical rear portion whereas the ram head 14 is of cylindrical shape throughout but with a slot 15 in its front end for the purpose of receiving a plastics ring 2.

In use, with the mould open as shown in Fig. 2 a portion of semi-solid rock is inserted in the cavity of the lower mould part 6, the mould is closed by actuating the piston and cylinder device 10 to lower the mould part 5 onto the mould part 6, and simultaneously the ram heads 13, 14 are introduced into their respective passageways so as to fully close the mould, the slot 15 having been previously equipped with a plastics ring 2 having an anchorage (not shown) which becomes embedded in the head end of the shaped product. The ram heads 13, 14, and in particular the ram head 13, exert pressure on the semi-solid contents of the mould cavity to force the contents into the cavity 7 so as to assume the shape thereof. The tapered end of the ram head 13 penetrates the cavity 7 with the result that the foot of the shape is partially hollow.The operation of the devices 10, 11 and 12 is so controlled that any excess material flows into the passageway 9 that is swept by the ram head 13 so as to form the base 3 which may be of variable thickness without affecting the acceptability of the product. This has the advantage that little or no surplus material or flash is produced the removal of which would require an additional manual finishing operation.

It will be appreciated that the machine may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the right-hand end of the mould could be closed and the left hand ram head 13 adapted, as by the provision of a carrying slot analogous to the slot 15, to carry a stick for insertion into the shape from the foot end.

The invention is not restricted to the moulding of rock but may be used for the moulding of other material, whether confectionery or not, posing similar moulding problems.

Claims

1. Apparatus for moulding rock while in its semi-solid state, comprising a mould having a plurality of parts together defining a shaped cavity, and at least one passageway connecting with said cavity for the passage of a ram head for exerting pressure on the contents of the mould cavity in use so as to press the contents fully into the cavity.

2. A method of moulding rock while in a semi-solid plastic state comprising introducing a portion of such rock into a cavity of an open mould, closing the mould and moving an insert into the mould cavity so as to press the rock into the cavity.

3. Apparatus for moulding rock while in its semi-solid state, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. A method of moulding rok while in a semi-solid plastic state, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.