GB776352A - Improvements in or relating to machines for cutting soap or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

776,352. Cutting moving lengths of soap. VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS (ENGINEERS), Ltd. April 22, 1955 [May 3, 1954; Feb. 28, 1955], Nos. 12748/54 and 5910/55. Class 87(2). A soap cutting machine is characterized by a cutter head comprising rotatable spaced side members with their axes a certain distance apart and a circularly extending series of cutters between the side members each pivoted at one end to one side member and at the other end to the other side member with the distance between the pivot axes corresponding to the distance between the axes of the side members, whereby the cutters move in a circular path and remain parallel to each other and successively engage soap fed to a position adjacent the cutter head and cut it into predetermined lengths. The soap A as it is extruded from the plodder is conveyed by an endless belt 5, Fig. 1, either free running or power assisted, past adjustable top and side rollers 23, 24 and under freely rotatable discs 7, 8. The disc 7 has a stub axle 12, Fig. 2, rotatable in a bearing 13 carried by a bracket 9, and the disc 8 similarly has a stub axle 14 in a bearing in a bracket 10. The relative position of the bearings is such that the axles are spaced vertically by a distance B. Blades 18, of which seven are shown in Fig. 1, are carried each in a holder 16 which is pivoted at 20 to the disc 7 and at 22 to the disc 8, the distance between the pivots 20, 22 being also B. The effect is that, as the discs rotate, the blades 18 remain parallel and as the moving soap engages one of the blades it causes the discs to rotate and the blade is carried downwards, cutting through the soap and travelling along with it. The continued movement of the extruded soap behind the blade maintains the rotation of the discs and causes the blade to withdraw upwards while it pushes the cut soap forwards along the belt. As each blade reaches its bottom position the following blade is about to meet the soap. A series of rollers 30 support the belt 5 under the cutting position. The tension of the belt is adjustable by a screw 33. The discs may have peripheral teeth 57, Fig. 3, meshing with pinions, e.g. 58, on a shaft 61 situated at the mid-point of the distance B, the inter-engagement of the discs with pinions on the same shaft ensuring that they rotate in synchronism. Fig. 3 shows two parts 66, 71 of a cover which are held together by a pin 74, Fig. 5 (not shown), which passes through the opening formed by alternate bent projections from the covers in the manner of a hinge. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the axes of the discs 7b, 8b are separated by a horizontal distance C and the blade holders 89 have generally horizontal upper parts 90 from which depend arms 91 to which the blades 18b are clamped. The pivot shafts 92<SP>1</SP>, 93<SP>1</SP> on each holder, carried by the discs 8b, 7b respectively, are also separated by a horizontal distance C. The cutting action is the same as before. The cutter head comprising the discs and blades may be interchangeable with others having different numbers of blades to cut pieces of different lengths, or to cut material of different thickness. The bearing casings 78 for the stub axles on the discs, Fig. 7, carry each a plate 81 whose opposite sides bear against side members 80 and which rests on abutments 82, where it is clamped by a screw 83, the adjustable length of which provides for the accommodation of different cutter heads. According to the first Provisional Specification the cutters may be pivoted to a disc and connected by links to an eccentric ring, and, instead of blades, may have wires held in stirrups. The second Provisional Specification mentions that the shaft 61 may be vertically above the disc axis.