US113635A - Improvement in machines for cutting lozenges - Google Patents

Description

UNITED Srn'rns-1fn'rn1vfr @Erica WILLIAM EDWARD DAMANT, OF WEST HOBOKE-N, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WM. HESSIN, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING LOZENGES, &c.

Specification fowning part of Letters `Patent No. 113,635, dated April 1], 18171.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM EDWARD DA- MANT, of West Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Guttin g Lozenges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine for cutting lozenges.- Fig. 2 is a verticaltransverse section of the same,

l taken on the plane of the line man, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken on the plane of the line i/ y, Fig. 4, and showing also an attachment for rolling the paste. Fig. 4 is a plan or top view of the machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new machine for cutting the iiat pieces of confectionery known in the trade as lozenges,7 and which are usu ally circular, but often also of other form.

The main object of the invention is to so construct the machine that it will operate by continuous action on endless or uninterrupted sheets of paste and cut the lozenges therefrom with exactness and rapidity.

The invention consists mainly in the use of a-hinged feed-table, which carries an endless feed-apron, and a perforated platform embracing the stat'onary annular cutters. The platform is luslh with the cutters when the machine is at rest or not cutting, but moved down to carry the paste against the cuttingedges during the desired operation. i

The invention consists, also, in the connec- Ation with said table-platform and Xedcntters of a verticallylreciprocatin g frame, which carries an apron against the cutting-edges to insure the entire piercing of the paste. Between this frame and the movable platform are interposed elastic blocks or pieces, which swing down the said platform during the descent of the frames.

I The invention also consists in the new arrangement of mechanism for imparting the required motion to the several aprons of the feed-table, reciprocating frame, and lozenge and waste conveyers, as hereinafter more fully described.

A in the drawing represents the frame of my improved lozengc-cutting machine. It is made of metal or wood, or both, of suitable shape and size to be best adapted to-the several devices and mechanisms attached to it. In about the middle ofthe frame A, below the top of the same, is hung the transverse driving-shaft B, which receivesrotary motion by suitable means. The two ends of the frame A carry transverse drums C C, which are about on a level with each other, and serve to hold an endless apron, D, as shown. Gontin uous or intermittent rotation is imparted to one of the drums Ufor moving the apron I) in the desired manner. One drum C is hung in bearings, which are longitudinally adjustable to permit proper tension to be applied to the apron. Above one drum C is hung, in projecting ears a a of the frame A, a transverse roller, E. The ears c are, in front of the roller E, connected by a cross-piece, b, to which is hinged, at c, a table, F, extendii'igabont to the middle of the -frame A. Springs d df, on the under side of the table F, serve to hold the same in a horizontal position, but do not prevent it from being swung down when press ure is applied from above. table F carries a transverse roller, c. An endless apron, G, is placed around the rollers E c and passes around the table F, as shown, its upper part being about at on said table. When the table is moved on its hingeszthe :apron will be carried up or down with it without having its rotary motion interfered with. E carries at one end a ratchet-wheel, f, and a loose arm, g, which has a spring-pawl, li, for the ratchet-wheel, and is, by a pitman, c', conneeted with a crank-pin, j, on the shaft B. By this connection intermittent rotary motion will be imparted to the roller .E and. apron Gr.

This Vmotion can be regulated by having the Y crank-pin j adjustable on the shaft, and the pitman adjustable on the arm g, so that the strokes of the arm may be lengthened or shortened at will. The other end of the frame A carries above the other drum C a roller, E2,

rlhe free end of the The roller j that described for the roller E. To the crosspiece b2 is hinged, at c2, a table, F2, extending to within a short distance from the end of the table F, and held up by springs d2. A roller, e2, is hung in the free end of the table F2 to receive an apron, G2, that hangs on E2 and e2. The two tables F and F2 are, in their positions of rest, nearly on a level with one another. The roller E2 carries a ratchet-wheel, f2, and loose arm, g2, which has a 'pawl, h2, and is, by a pitman, i2,- connected with the crank-pin j. The motion of the aprons G G2 will thus be obtained by a similar means, and should be alike in degree. able in their bearings to provide for a proper tension of their respective aprons. To the free end of the table F is secured, by means of arms, so as to be clear of apron G, a perforated platform, H, whichl reaches nearly to the table F2, lling the gap between F and F2, as shown. I I are the annular cutters. They are in a straight or curved row or rows, aflixed to a plate, 7c, which is, with its ends, tted between dovetailed or grooved supports l l, that project from theframe A. The plate la can be withdrawn from between the supports l when it is desired to sharpen the cutters. The cutters are placed vertically, so that they project through the apertures of the platform H, the said apertures being of such size and form as to nicely fit the outer sides of the cutters. The upper sharpened edges of the cutters are lush with the surface of the platform Has long as the table F is held horizontal by the springs el but, as the cutters are stationary, they will project through the platform whenever the same is moved down with its table. At the sides of the frame A, about in line with the cutter-holder k, are arranged vertical posts m m, which are slotted to constitute guides for a vertically-reciprocating frame, J. This frame is, by rods a a, connected with eccentrics o on the shaft B, to receive the desired up-and-down motion from the same. The upper end of the frame J carries the d rum L, and its lower end a pair of rollers, p. An endless apron, M, passes over the drum L and rollers p, its lower part being above the cutters, as shown. The drum L carries a ratchetwheel, q, and loose arm r, which has a springpawl, s, for said ratchet-wheel. The arm r is pivoted to a standard, t. The vertical movement of the frame J causes the pawl to turn the apron M at every other stroke. u a are rubber blocks or pieces interposed between the frame J and platform H.

The operation is as follows: The paste to be cut is, from the rolling apparatus, depositel upon the apron G, and fed 'by the same The rollers E E2 are adjustto the platform H.- When the paste covers the platform and cutters the frame J moves down and forces, by means of the blocks u u, the platform down over the cutters. The apron M holds the paste on the platform and causes it to be pierced by the cutters, so that pieces of the desired shape will be within the latter. Vhen the apron M reaches the cutters the paste must have been completely cut through. The frame J is then elevated, the table F following, until the platform is again flush with or rather slightly above the cutters. The plate is then moved ahead, the waste arrivin g on the apron G2, while a new portion is placed over the cutters by the action of the feed. The lozenges cut out fall through the cutters upon the apron D, and are by the same conveyed to a suitable receptacle. The rotation of the apron M is provided to prevent the same from being cut by frequent contact in the same place with the knives.

The cutters are annular, as stated, for circular lozenges, but may be of other form if desired, having, however, in every case, continuous cutting-edges.

It will be noticed that the swinging of the table F is of great value and importance, as it provides for the cutting of the paste without requirin g the cutters to move. This gives a cleaner cut and smoother edge of lozcnge than the moving of the cutters toward the paste, and requires less power besides. The hinging of the table F2 is, however, not so necessary, and may be dispensed with.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The hinged feed-table carrying the apron l G and platform H, to operate in conjunction withk the stationary cutters, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The reciprocating frame J, combined with the stationary cutters and swinging perforated platform H, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The elastic blocks u u, interposed between the reciprocating frame J and swinging platform H, substantial] y as herein shown and described.

4. The cutters I I, affixed to a sliding plate, K, and applied below the reciprocating frame J, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The combination of the roller E with the wheel f, arm g, pawl h, pitman i, and crankpin j, all arranged to operate substantially as herein shown and described.

WILLIAM EDWARD DAMANT.

Witnesses GEO. W.' MABEE, T. B. MosHER.

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