GB444157A - Improvements in and relating to mechanism for handling confections for the cooling thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

444,157. Endless-belt conveyers. NATIONAL EQUIPMENT CO., 3640, Main Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Aug. 9, 1935, No. 22552. Convention date, Sept. 27, 1934. [Class 78 (i)] A system for cooling sweets delivered by the belt 10, Fig. 1, of the enrober or other machine comprises a cold chamber 13 wherein are housed three superposed spaced endless belt conveyers A, B, C. Each conveyer comprises an inner canvas or like supporting and driving belt 14 and an outer paper belt 15 for receiving the sweets. Independent tensioning means are provided for the two members of each conveyer. The end of each conveyer nearer the belt 10 is supported in a frame 30 pivoted at 31 and rockable in two stages by a lifting mechanism 36. In the position shown, the lifting mechanism has been operated through one stage so that the centre conveyer is in the same horizontal plane as the belt 10. Initially the top conveyer registered with the belt 10 and after full operation of the lifting mechanism the bottom conveyer registers therewith. Simultaneously with the operation of the lifting mechanism a discharge conveyer 107, Fig. 2, at the other ends of the main conveyers (these ends remaining in the same spaced horizontal planes at all times) is swung, through the linkage 118, to register with that conveyer which for the time being registers with the enrober belt and which is the one being loaded and unloaded. The conveyers are intermittently driven and at any time two are stationary within the cooling box whilst the third moves, this being in all cases the one whose far end registers with the belt 10. The motion of each conveyer is controlled by an electromagnetically operated clutch connecting the drive roller of the appropriate conveyer to a constantly running drive shaft 65 which also drives a cam-shaft, not shown, for energizing and de-energizing the circuits of the solenoids operating these clutches. The cam-shaft also controls (1) the timing and the extent of the operation of the lifting device and (2) circuits for operating mechanism for retracting within the conveyers the ends of those conveyers above the one registering with the belt 10 whereby access may be had to the sweets delivered on to that conveyer so that they may be further treated between the belt 10 and the entrance to the cold chamber. The retracting mechanism comprises pinions 62, Fig. 10, on shafts 60 engaging racks 58 slidably mounted on the tilting frame 30, the rotation of the shafts 60 being controlled by solenoid clutches energized by the rotation of the cam-shaft. The ends of the conveyers that have been retracted are re-projected to their normal positions at the appropriate time in the cycle by the engagement of other pinions 61 on the shafts 60 with other racks 59. The racks 58, 59 are formed on members slidably mounted on the side bars of the frame 30 and are connected to members slidable on the side bars and carrying the rollers 47, Fig. 1, and the guide plates 45 of the far ends of the conveyers. Retracting and projecting means are not provided for the lowest conveyer.