GB648138A - Improvements in biscuit cutting and like machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

648,138. Biscuit-cutting machines. VICARS, Ltd., T. & T., and WILDE, A. E. Dec. 1, 1948, No. 31111. [Class 87 (ii)] A biscuit cutter adapted to be attached to the reciprocating head of a machine, comprises a cutter block, cutting shells attached thereto, outside and inside ejectors co-operating with the shells, and spring means consisting of one or more leaf springs adapted to activate the ejectors. The cutter block, Fig. 1, comprises two portions 10, 16, clamped together by means of swivelling members 17. The lower portion 16 carries the cutting shells 19, whilst the upper portion is secured by bolts 14 to the reciprocating machine head 12. A laminated spring 24 slidably adjustable in the block 10 by means of a worm and wheel mechanism 28, 30 to regulate the spring force, bears upon an ejector plate 20 through rollers 33, and bridge portions 34 integral with or attached to the plate 20. Fixed to the plate 20 by means of studs 21a and 23 passing through clearance holes in the portion 16 are the internal ejecting plungers 21 and the external ejector 22. In operation, the head 12 during its downward motion carries with it the cutters 19. By having stop means 39 or 40, Figs. 1, 3, extending below the bottom face of the ejector 22 by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the dough 41, the ejectors 21, 22 will be arrested when the stops contact the dough support 42. The head 12 and cutters 19 will however continue their downward movement to blank out the dough shapes, and the spring 24 will be energized. On raising the head and cutters the spring 24 will cause the ejectors to remain stationary upon the dough until they are retracted by the head, thus separating the blanks and the superfluous dough from the cutters 19. A modification, shown in Fig. 3, has several leaf springs 35 attached by their ends to adjustable links 36 to the upper part 10a of the block 10. The lower mid-points of the springs bear on rollers 37 which are rotatably secured in pedestals 38 in the plate 20. A suitable spring tension may be obtained by manipulation of the handle 29 or of the links 36.