GB712420A - Improvements in and relating to cookers for boiling sugar and the like sweet substances for the production of confectionery - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0712420/III/1> <PICT:0712420/III/2> <PICT:0712420/III/3> In apparatus for the continuous boiling of sugar comprising a heater, a vacuum chamber and a receiving vessel connected in series, equal amounts of the boiled sugar are discharged batchwise from the apparatus after a predetermined quantity of sugar has been pumped into the apparatus or after a predetermined time period, by the automatic admission of air into the vacuum chamber and consequent release of the receiving vessel. Sugar solution is supplied by pump 1, Fig. 4, and piping 2 to coil 3, Fig. 1, which is disposed in steam chamber 5. The heated solution passes into chamber 4 which is closed at the base by detachable pan 6, and is evacuated through connection 8. Pan 6 is held by suction against rubber ring 7 disposed around the periphery of chamber 4. Chamber 4 is connected to cylinder 19 by conduit 17, and the vacuum draws piston 18 up the cylinder, thereby putting spring 25 under tension by means of sprocket chain 20. Vapours evolved from the heated solution in chamber 4 are withdrawn through vacuum connection 8, and the boiled sugar falls into pan 6. Chamber 4 is connected to an air-inlet valve 14, Fig. 4, through piping 15. Connected through gearing to pump 1 is a ratchet wheel 16 having a single tooth which opens valve 14 through bell-crank lever 26, thus breaking the vacuum in chamber 4 when a certain quantity of solution has been pumped into the apparatus. Pan 6 and a second pan 9 are carried on a frame 10 which is tiltable about pivot 10a and rotatable about spindle 10b. The frame has a pendulum 11 which is provided at its lower end with guiding rollers 12, 13 which run in a cam way 29, Fig. 2. As the vacuum is broken, pan 6 is released downwards from chamber 4, and pendulum 11 swings out to the right. Air enters cylinder 19 through conduit 17, and spring 25 pulls piston 18 downwards by chain 20. Chain 20 turns sprocket wheel 21, and with it (through shaft 22 and bevel wheels 23) a locking pawl (not shown). This pawl catches in ratchet wheel 27 which rotates frame 10 through 180 degrees by hollow shaft 28. Pan 6 is thereby brought into the position previously occupied by pan 9, and the latter is pressed against chamber 4 owing to the weight of the boiled sugar in pan 6. The valve 14 is meantime again closed, so that the vacuum is re-established, and the process is repeated. The product in pan 6 is emptied by tilting. In an alternative embodiment, either the sugar pump or a clock may transmit electrical impulses at certain time intervals to the vacuum valve, which is then opened by an electromagnet. The pan carrier frame is released for its rotary movement by contacts, which in their turn are operated by the vacuum or by means of further electrical impulses from the sugar pump or clock. The rotary motion of the carrier frame is then effected by a motor through a one-way drive.