GB462391A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for depositing fillings into tarts, pies, pastry moulds and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

462,391. Filling pies and the like. CAMWHEAT PIE MACHINE CO., Ltd., and PRATT, J. Sept. 7, 1935, No. 24984. [Class 28 (i)] A machine for depositing fillings into tarts, pies, pastry moulds, and the like comprises a supply hopper, a pair of plain or serrated rollers 6 and a worm 8 for feeding the material to delivery means comprising a hollow reciprocating knife 2 which descends to sever or separate a single filling from the bulk, and a piston 3 which descends to eject the single filling from the knife 2. The machine may be driven independently and the casings 41 delivered thereto by a band or other conveyer, but, as shown, the machine is driven by the vertically reciprocating cross-head 4 of a pie machine and the casings 41 are brought beneath the depositor by the circular, intermittently rotating table thereof. The knife 2 reciprocates in a sleeve 31 and is attached to a head 32 having a spring-loaded catch plate 33 which is contacted by spaced abutments 36<a>, 35, the abutment 36<a> being fixed relatively to the cross-head 4 and the abutment 35 vertically adjustable relatively thereto by a rotary screwed rod 34. The position of the abutment 35 determines the stroke of the knife 2. A similar fixed and movable abutment arrangement associated with the cross-head 4, imparts variable vertical reciprocations to a vertical rack which is connected by gearing to the rollers 6 and worm 8 to impart variable feed motions thereto. The gearing includes a freewheel, so that the feed motions are unidirectional, and a slip safety-coupling 13 on the worm shaft. The piston 3 is raised with the knife 2 and is retained in its raised position, during the initial descent of the knife, by a disc 37 snapping past a trip 38 which is adjustable on a screwed rod 39 pivoted to the machine frame and urged towards the disc 37 by a spring. A spring loads the piston during the descent of the knife 2, and when the trip is released by the cam 40 on the head 32, forces the piston downwards in the knife and ejects the filling into the casing 41. The arrangement of parts is such that all parts in contact with the filling material are readily removable for cleaning. Cushioning pads 43 are provided. In a modification, intended for liquid fillings, such as jam, the knife 2 is provided with a valve which is closed to retain the jam inside the knife until it is opened immediately prior to the descent of the piston 3, means being provided whereby the operator may close the valve if no casing 41 is beneath the depositor.