IL46645A - Apparatus for the production of hollow confections provided with centre fillings - Google Patents

Abstract

1486483 Moulding confectionery AUGUST STORCK KG 5 Feb 1975 [16 July 1974] 4976/75 Heading B5A Hollow confections with centre fillings are produced in apparatus comprising transversely spaced rows of cup-shaped centrifugal moulds 5 mounted on an intermittently driven chain conveyer 1 for rotation about their vertical axes after receiving a metered charge, e.g. of chocolate. Each mould has a depending stem 14 rotatably mounted in a holder 4 and carrying a clutch member 16a, 16b which, at a mould spinning station B, is located above a driven clutch member 21 on a holder 27 whereby when the holder is raised, e.g. by a cam mechanism the clutch members are brought into engagement. The member 21 is supported by a slide 28 Fig. 5 displaceable slightly in the conveying direction of the moulds so that the clutch members are brought into axial alignment on engagement. At the station B two transversely extending rows of moulds are rotated by a drive which allows the said movements of the clutch member's arranged in pairs, each pair being carried by a slide 28. Each member 21 is axially slidable on a driving spindle 24, Fig. 2, with a collar 25 and drive pins 35. Radial slots in the member 21 receive radial ribs of the clutch member 16a 16b. The bottom end of each spindle 24 is connected by a crank coupling 36, Fig. 5, to a drive shaft 37; the latter are geared together by pinions 39 driven by an intermediate gear engaging a main gear driven by a motor through a universal joint shaft. The apparatus of Fig. 1 includes means 6-9 supplying, respectively, to two rows of moulds, an oil spray, a metered charge of chocolate, a filler such as nuts, raisins and a covering material. The filled moulds pass through a cooling chamber 10 in which the confections are ejected from the inverted moulds by means 11 which depresses ejector pins 17, 19, Fig. 2. The empty moulds then traverse a heating chamber 13. [GB1486483A]

Description

»Vya D'^n n o*pn»a *iis»»V tpnn Apparatus for the production of Hollow confections provided with centre fillings AUGUST STORCK KG C. 44615 August Storck KG. 4802 Halle (Yfestphalia) . Steinhausen 12. v-\ Apparatus for the Production, of Hollow Confections Provided with Centre Fillings.

The invention relates to apparatus for the production of hollow confections provided with centre fillings, as described and claimed for instance in German Federal Patent Specif cation No. 1 955 056 Israel P. Sp. No. 33629 and the corresponding British Patent Specification Ho. I 290 359./ According to these specifications the confections are produced by centrifugal casting in an open top mould charged with a flowable confectionery mass, said mould being temporarily rotated about a vertical axis by drive means and then cooled and discharged. The centrifugal moulds are mounted in transverse and longitudinal rows on conveyor means which carry them underneath a metering feed means for pouring the flowable confectionery mass, rotation being imparted to the moulds by a main drive means through clutches controlled by a time switch. In operation apparatus of such a kind has proved to have certain defects. Due to wear of its components or to stretching of the chain conveyor which carries the moulds trouble tends to arise when the cooperating clutch members move into engagement, particularly if the conveyors are of major length and carry a large number of moulds. Clutch trouble may result in considerable dislocation in the entire production line.

Furthermore, the upper edge of the spinning confectionery case tends to be of unequal height if rotation of the mould is started during or immediately after the pouring of the confectionery mass into the mould.

It is an object of the present invention to remedy these remaining defects and to ensure that by precise cooperation of the many parts and assemblies the entire apparatus will work trouble-free irrespectively of any possible wear or fatigue, so that accu a e^"1 moulded confections will be cleanly discharged from the moulds.

According to the invention this is achieved in that the two clutch members associated with the moulds and/or with the drive means are displaceable in conveying direction in relation to their associated parts and adapted to pull themselves into axial alignment when they engage. Moreover, the spinning station follows the charging station in the direction of travel of the conveyor at a distance which corresponds to at least one step of the intermittent drive of the conveyor, so that rotation of the moulds cannot begin until the confectionery mass which has been poured into the moulds has formed a substantially horizontal surface. According to the invention the distance of the spinning station from the charging station is variable and adjustable.

In order to ensure the desired correct cooperation of the two clutch members one of the two clutch members is connected to its associated shaft by a transmission, a Cardan shaft, or the like, permitting axial misalignment of the two shafts to be bridged.

Conveniently the required compensation of axial misalignment may be achieved by the employment of a conventional double parallel crank coupling. Owing to the displaceability of the clutch members, particularly in the direction of travel of the moulds, engagement of the clutch members between the moulds and the drive means is always assured, even should the moulds that are to be rotated and their clutch members, fail to move into precise axial alignment with the corresponding clutch members associated with the drive means or should faults in the pitch of the chain links and wear of the links or chain wheels and so forth after prolonged use cause the relative positioning of the clutch members to change. According to the invention the cooperating clutch members are geometrically suitaj^iy designed or provided with projections recesses and the like to pWl j the cooperating clutch members automatically into axial alignment [ i I when they engage. f V/ith particular advantage several clutch members, particularly several driving clutch members, are mounted on a common clutch holder which is movable for engaging and disengaging the clutches and all the clutch members are geared to a common, drive through intermediate gearing. The clutch members are preferably mounted severally or in groups on slides which are slidably displaceable in the common | clutch holder in the direction of travel of the centrifugal moulds, and the transmission means which permit compensation of axial mis- j alignment may be interposed between the driving clutch members and j [ the intermediate gearing. At the same time the intermediate gearing i may also be accommodated in the clutch holder and connected to a I fixed driving motor by a Cardan shaft. 1 The complete clutch holder and all the parts and assemblies ' mounted therein can be advanced and retracted in clutch engaging and j disengaging direction by means of a lifting gear besides being | adjustably movable in the direction of travel of the moulds in j relation to the metering feed means for charging the moulds, thereby ! to enable rotation to be briefly imparted to the centrifugal moulds i at points which are sufficiently far removed from the metering feed ! I means at the charging station to allow for the consistency of the j mass and existing operating conditions. | i Preferably the arrangement is such that several centrifugal j moulds, each together with its associated clutch member attached to j its spinning spindle, are freely rotatably mounted on a common transverse holder on the conveyor chain in one or more transverse rows, that the drive means for the moulds are located a the spinning station "below the conveyor chain, and that a plurality o ^ driving clutch members corresponding in number to the number of moulds that are to be simultaneously driven and having a self-aligning action upon engagement with the cooperating clutch members of the moulds - each together with a transmission means which compensates axial misalignment - are individually mounted in a common clutch holder in a manner permitting displacement in the direction of travel of the moulds and driven by a main drive means through intermediate gearing. In order to permit confections of different shapes to be produced the centrifugal moulds in their holders or the transverse holders together with the moulds and associated clutch members are exchangeably mounted so that they can be replaced on the conveyor chain.

The invention can be performed in various ways. A preferred embodiment is shown, purely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine fitted with centrifugal moulds for casting hollow confections Figures la to lg are diagrams illustrating consecutive stages of the production process, Figure 2 is an axial section of a centrifugal mould and its associated clutch, Figure 3 is an illustration of that part of the machine which includes the charging and spinning stations, Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the clutch drive for spinning the moulds, Figures 5 to 7 are side elevations and a view from above of part of the drive for the moulds, Figure 8 is a perspective view of a coupling for compensating axial misalignment and Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary views showing the manner of cooperation of the clutch members.

With reference first to Figure 1 there is provided a casting machine substantially comprising a chain conveyor 1 for moulds which travels in intermittent steps in the arrowed direction over return wheels 2 and 3. The chain 1 is exchangeably fitted with holders 4 which carry two rows of rotatable centrifugal moulds 5. Figure la represents one such mould 5 empty. As shown in Figure lb a flowable confectionery mass 50, such as a hard boiled sugar syrup, chocolate, a croquante mixture or the like, is poured into the moulds. Rapid rotation is then imparted to each mould 5 (Figure lc but preferably not until the surface of the mass has found its own level. The speed of rotation and the spinning time depend upon the consistency and composition of the confectionery mass. Centrifugal force causes the mass to rise up the side of the mould and to form a hollow cup 51 which is thus made to set. This can be done by exposing the spinning mass to a blast of cold air or by conveying the mould into a cooling zone. As shown in Figure Id a nut, raisin, fruit or the like 52 may then be dropped into the open cup 51 at a further working station and, finally, any desired filling 53 which may be a liquid or cream is introduced as indicated in Figure le. When this has been done a capping mass 54 is deposited (Figure If) over the filling and rotation of the mould is resumed to ensure that the capping mass spreads evenly over the open surface and bonds with the edge of the cup. The moulds then travel through a cooling chamber and they are turned upside down (Figure lg) as they are carried over the return wheel by the returning strand of ttie chain, permitting the finished confection 55 to be ejected from the mould by a short stroke of an ejector 17 and 19 and carried away elsewhere.

Above the working path of the moulds diverse metering feed A.. means are provided (Figure 1). Preferably before receiving the confectionery mass the moulds 5 are wetted with a parting oil isfti g from a sprayer head 6. This later facilitates the removal of the finished confection from the mould. In the direction of travel there then follows a metering feeder 7 for the flowable confectionery mass, such as a hard boiled sugar syrup, chocolate, caramel or like mass, and this may be followed by a feeder 8 for introducing into each cup a nut, a raisin, cherry and/or a mass for forming the chocolate centre and by yet another metering feeder 9 for a capping mass.

These several units may be spaced at varying distances in the direction of travel to provide sufficient time for the moulded cup to set before a nut or liquid centre filling and later the capping mass are introduced. Finally ;the moulds are taken through a cooling chamber 10. In this chamber the moulds 5 may be emptied by ejector means 11 which deposit the confections on an external delivery conveyor 12. The empty moulds then travel through a heating chamber 13 and are finally returned over the return wheel 2 to the upper part of the mould conveying path where they are again charged with confectionery mass.

The flowable confectionery mass is introduced at a so-called charging station marked A in Figure 1 by the metering feed head 7 into the moulds 5 whilst the chain conveyor is stationary. In the following spinning station B the moulds 5 are briefly rotated by drive means controlled by a time switch, as will be later described.

To ensure that the case 51 which is to be moulded from the mass 50 has a satisfactorily straight horizontal edge which will subsequently bond with the capping mass as desired, rotation of the moulds is delayed until the confectionery mass 50 introduced into the still stationary mould 5 has formed a substantially level surface.' For this reason the moulds 5 are not started up until they reach the spinning station B which follows station A where the mass is introduced at a distance therefrom corresponding to one or more steps j of the intermittent drive of the chain. > In Figures 1 and 3 the spinning station B is shown displaced ! a short distance in the direction of travel away from the charging station A and in Figure 3 it will he seen that this distance is , 1 several times the centre spacing a of consecutive moulds.

Since the moulds are disposed in two rows which are ; simultaneously served by the feeders each step of the intermittent drive of the conveyor chain advances the moulds a distance b equal ! to twice their centre spacing a, so that b = 2a. The distance from \ A to B in the direction of travel may be for instance four times the I centre spacing a or two conveying steps, so that .the time it takes ; to perform two conveying steps b is available for the mass to form a ; flat horizontal surface. This time should be controlled according to j the nature of the mass that is being moulded and in accordance with other operating parameters by bodily displacing the clutch assembly for imparting rotation to the moulds in the direction of travel of ; the moulds. : As already described, each holder 4 preferably carries two rows of moulds 5. The holders 4 may be exchangeable in the chain as i complete units and/or the centrifugal moulds 5 themselves may be : individually replaced in the holders 4. Each mould 5 is formed with I a hollow spindle 14 which is rotatably mounted in a possibly plastics ; bush 15 in the holder 4· Below each holder 4 the spindle 14 carries ; a clutch member 16 in the form of a clutch cone 16b provided with a ; flange 16a. Axially movably contained inside the hollow journal 14 is an ejector head 17 which is attached to a rod 19 projecting from f the end of the journal. Interposed between a collar 20 at the · bottom end of the rod.19 and the journal 14 is a compression spring /... ! 18 which urges the ejector head 17 into position of rest. At the ejecting station 11 a tappet not shown in the drawing is adap Mted to jerk the collar towards the spindle end, causing the ejector 17 to dislodge the confection from the mould 5 which is now upside down.

At the mould spinning station the clutch members 16 of the moulds 5 cooperate with driving clutch members 21. Each driving clutch member 21 contains a central conical socket 21b which conform with the clutch cone 16b, and which in its end face 21a contains radial grooves 23 for the reception when the clutch engages of corresponding ribs 22 projecting from the flange 16a. The shape of the grooves 23 and of the projecting ribs 22 can be clearly seen in Figures 9 and 10. The arrangement is such that the driving clutch member 21 containing the grooves 23 can slide across the projecting ribs 22 if for any reason whatsoever the moulds 5 should have become jammed in their bearings.

For this reason the clutch members 21 are axially yielding, being kept in engagement with the clutch members 16 by the thrust of compression springs 34.

Conveniently the clutch members 16 and 21 may consist of a plastics, such as a polyamide, "Ultramid" or the like, which can be easily shaped, and which ensures a satisfactory coupling action.

On the other hand the shape of the two clutch members is such that they are selfr-aligning, i.e. the clutch cone 16 can displace the socket member 21 sideways if the two clutch members 16 and 21 are not in complete axial alignment.

Axial alignment of the two clutch members can thus be established because the clutch members 21 are mounted in slides 26 which are slidably mounted in a common clutch holder 27. In respect of each pair of moulds two driving clutch members 21 are mounted on a common slide 26, each slide 26 having extensions 28 which are slidably movable in ways in a common clutch holder 27 in the direction of travel of the moulds (Figures 5 to 7). The dis nt of slidable displacement is limited by set screws 45 (Figure 6) which are adjustably screwed into the inside wall of the clutch holder 27. The clutch holder 27 extends across the width of the conveyor 1, i.e. from end to end of a row of moulds. It is mounted on a rod 29 which is vertically slidably movable in a sleeve 30 (Figure 3). The bottom end of the rod 29 carries a roller 31 which rides on a cam 32 mounted in a cam holder 33 and driven by an articulated drive shaft not shown in the drawing. When the cam 32 is rotated the entire clutch holder assembly 29, 27 together with the driving clutch members 21 is raised and lowered sufficiently to effect engagement and disengagement of the clutch members in synchronism with the working cycle of the machine.

Each driving clutch member 21 is axially slidable on a driving spindle 24 (Figure 5) which has a collar 25 and which is itself mounted in the slide 26. The clutch member 21 is driven by pins 35 v/hich slidably engage blind holes 35a in the member 21. Moreover, compression springs 34 embracing the pins 35 are interposed between the collar 25 and the clutch member 21. · The springs are responsible for the yielding engagement of the two clutch members.

The bottom end of each driving spindle 24 is connected by a double parallel crank coupling 36, known as a Schmidt coupling (Figure 8), to the end of a drive shaft 37 mounted in the clutch holder 27. The coupling substantially comprises three rotary members, each having the form of a circular plate, viz. 36a, 36b, 36c_. These are interconnected by two sets of three cranks 36d and 36e, pivotably attached to the plates at points located on a concentric pitch circle at equiangular intervals of 120°. The two outer plates 36a and 36£ are fast on the ends of the cooperating /... input respectively output shaft 24 and 37 , whereas the floating position of the plate 36b in the centre is determined e clusi e!^ by the cranks 36d and 36e to which it is attached. Any axial misalignment "x" between input and output shafts 24 and 37 causes the centre plate to occupy a defined position in which it rotates about its own axis.

All the drive shafts 37 which are mounted in a common clutch holder 27 are geared together by pinions 39. On the other hand, the pinions nesh with intermediate gears 38 which engage a principal gear 40 (Figures 4 and 6 ) driven by a motor 42 through universal joint shaft 41. The motor 42 may be a variable speed motor fixed in I i. the machine frame 43. The universal joints at each end of the shaft | 41 permit the entire driving clutch head to be moved in any direction] This is necessary firstly to enable vertical motion to bring the j clutch members into engagement for driving the moulds and secondly | to permit compensation of axial misalignment due to positional change! of the moulds caused by expansion of wear of the chain to be effected! by horizontal displacement. A time switch not shown in the drawing { synchronises the intermittent conveyor chain drive and the motions of clutch engagement and release according to the requirements of thej casting (charging of the moulds) and spinning operations. The one i motor 42 drives all the clutches 21 continuously at the speed j required for spinning, e.g. at 800 to 1000 r.p.m., rotation being imparted to the moulds only for as long as the clutches are in engagement (fractions of seconds), the speed of the motor being controllably adjustable by reference to the nature and consistency r of the confectionery mass that is to be spun. The clutch holder 27 including the lifting mechanism 29 to 33 rests on a slide 45 which [ f. is slidably mounted in fixed ways 46 and adjustable by means of a ; screw 47. The driving motor 42 may participate in such adjustment : /. . . j or the motor may remain stationary, since the Cardan shaft 41 permits any such displacement of the clutch and drive assembly. /..

Claims (11)

1. P a e n C l a i m s 1. Apparatus for the production of hollow confections provided with centre fillings, comprising conveyor means which travel through a casting station under a metering feed means for casting a flowable confectionery mass into cup-shaped centrifugal moulds which are mounted on the conveyo for rotation about a vertical axis and each fitted with one member of a clutch which at a spinning station moves over a rotary drive comprising the other member of the clutch so that the two clutch members can be briefly brought into neutral engagement for rotating the moulds, characterised in that the two clutch members .(16, 21) associated with the moulds and/or with the drive means are displaceable in conveying direction in relation to their associated parts and adapted to pull themselves into axial alignment when they engage.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the spinning station follows the charging station A^* in the direction of travel of the conveyor at a distance which is equal to^least one step (a) of the intermittent drive of the conveyor.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and 2, characterised in that the distance of the Spinning station from the charging station is j adjustably variable.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that one of the two cooperating clutch members (16-» 1^ is connected to its associated shaft by transmission means a Cardan shaft or the like to permit compensation of axial misalignment of the driving and driven shafts.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1 to 4, characterised in that a conventional double parallel crank coupling (-3€7 is provided to compensate axial misalignment. /...

6. Apparatus according to Glaim 1 to 5, characterised in that several driving clutch members £·2£"7 a**e provided on a common clutch h der (-£?-) which is movable for engaging and disengaging the clutches and that all the clutch members are geared to a common drive i ) through intermediate gear means (30, 39» 40 .

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterised in that the driving clutch members are mounted severally or in groups on slides ( * which are slidably displaceable in the common clutch holder in the direction of travel of the centrifugal moulds T» the transmission means which permit compensation of axial misalignment being interposed betv/een the driving clutch members l2 *f and the intermediate gear means (30, 39, 40).

8. Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterised. in that the intermediate gear means ( 8» 39» 40) are also accommodated in the clutch holder («2Τ7 and connected to a fixed driving motor by a Cardan shaft (*7.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 1 to 8, characterised in that the clutch holder (2† and its associated drive means can be advanced and retracted in clutch engaging and disengaging direction by means of a lifting gear 29 to 33) (cam disc, crank motion, cam slot or the like) and that the entire assembly is adjustably movable in the direction of travel of the moulds in relation to the metering feed means C^f for charging the moulds.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 1 to 9, characterised in that the driven and the driving clutch members (-16 and 21) are suitably shaped to be self-aligning during engagement or provided with projections, recesses and so forth which cause the clutch members to pull into axial alignment when they engage.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 1 to 10, characterised in that the cooperating clutch members (1G and 21) are plates (10&, and Dla) /... members · 15. Apparatus according to Claim 13 and 14, characterised in that several centrifugal moulds i f are operatively coupled by gear means, belts or the like and adapted to be coupled by a common clutch member with a cooperating clutch member driven by drive means. 16. Apparatus according to Claim 1 to 15, characterised in that the main drive means is a variable speed motor equipped with control means which reduce the speed for clutch engagement and immediately raise it again to the speed needed for spinning the confectionery mass.