US1138576A - Candy-making machine. - Google Patents

Description

E. R. KNOTT.

CANDY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG30| |910.

1138j,576 Patented May A, 1915.

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THE NDRRIS PETERS COI. PHOT0-LITHO., WASHINGIYJN. D, 1

E. R. KNOTT.

CANDY MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.30. |910'.

Patented May 4, 1915.

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EUSTACE R. KNOTT, OF SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO E. R. KNOTT MACHINE COMPANY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CANDY-MAKING MACHINE.

' To all whom 'it may concern.'

`into short pieces of the proper size for the desired confections, the said device having means for feeding the reduced batch lengthwise tov the device, of a section-cutter by which the reduced batch is separated between the reducer and' the feeding means of the confection-cutter, so that the portion which is in advance and being acted upon by the confection-cutter may have a rate of feed of its own, independent of the rate at which the remainder ofthe batch follows from the reducer. By separating the batch at an intermediate point, tendency to drawing or stretching of thebatch between the batch-reducer and confection-cutter, in case of loss in rate of delivery at the reducer or gain in the rate of feed at the confectioncutter, with resulting change in diameter and variation in the size of the confections formed therefrom, is obviated. Thus, aseotion which is being separated into small pieces by a confection-cutter, will be permitted to advance independently ofthe succeeding portion of the batch, and to travel faster than the Vlatter follows in case the rate of feed of the said section at the KVconfection-cutter or other device yfor operating thereon should gain on the rate of feed at the adjacent batch-reducer.

The invention also includes various improvements in the construction of a rotary -spinner or batch-reducer.

lt also includes other features and combinations which are pointed out in the claims. f

An embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawings, in which latter, Figure 1 shows in side elevation a com.- bined machine containing the dilerent fea.- tures of the invention, the casing being in section in a vertical pla-ne extending length: wise of the machine Fig f3 iS a Partiel P18@ Specification of Letters Patent. .n Patented flay 4 1915. Application med August 3o, 1910. serial No. 579,731.

thereof, the casing and the first spinner being omitted, F ig. 3 is a view in section in the plane of line 3, 3, of Fig. 1, looking toward the left inthe latter figure, on an enlarged scale. Fig. i is a side elevation of one of the spinners, detached, on the enlarged scale of Fig. 3, with certain small portions .of stand 7 and boss 6 broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the cones of a spinner, and its supporting bearing.

The features of the invention are shown embodied in a combined machine, represented inFigs. 1 and 2, of which the characteristic elements are the iirst rotary spinner or batch-reducer A, the second rotary spinner or batch-reducer B, the section-cutter @,the confection-cutter D, and the driving'connections having provisions for varying the relative speeds of the successive devices. Abatch of plastic candy supplied to the first spinner A is, by the action of the latter, caused to pass therethrough and in itspassage is drawn out and reduced indiameter, being made uniform in size throughout its length. The said batch may be supported by hand at the entrance to the said spinner, or it may be laid upon a convenient batch-supporter ad] acent such entrance.

Figs. 1 and 4f illustrate the emyployment vof a concaveor trough-shaped batch-supporter 1. Passing from spinner A to spinner B, the batch is further reducedand eX- Y tended in being acted upon by spinner B. An intermediate batch-support 2 is shown in Fig. 1 between spinner A and spinner B, at the entrance to the latter. Issuing from spinner B, the batch advances along a` supporting guideway 3 past the section-cutter C, by which latter ,it is separated at intervals into l sections of intermediate length. Each section in turn is cut up by the confection-cutter D into short pieces of the required size for the confections to be produced.

Each of the Spinners shown in the drawings consists, essentially, of a group or nest of cones el, 1i, etc., Figs. 1, 3 and 1, a rotatarier, and which incloses a central space or passage for the reception of the batchy of candy to be reduced. r1`hey are set close together in the said series, with their axes converging, so that the central space or passage tapers gradually from the' entrance thereof at the large ends of the conestoward the exit at the small ends of the cones. The respective axes of theindividual cones have a slight transverse inclination or obliquity with relation to the prolongation of the axis of the carrier, so that the said axes cross the said axis at the small ends of the cones without, however, intersecting said axis. In operation, the batch of candy to be reduced is passed into the central space at the large 'end of the latter until it is engaged with the surfaces of the cones. The direction of the rotation of the respective cones upon their individual axes is the same as that in which the carrier and series of concs are revolved. Consequently the cones roll around in con tact with the exterior of the batch. At the same time, because of the Obliquity of their individual axes with reference to the axis of rotation of the carrier, the rotation of the respective cones about their said individual axes acts to impel or feed the batch toward the small ends of the cones. The rolling action,rtalring place concurrently with the endwisefeed of the batch, operates to reduce the batch gradually in diameter until it has assumed the size of the exit at the small ends of the cones and passes therethrough.

In thecase of embodiments of certain of the combinations herein claimed as of my invention the precise character or construction of the'batch-reducer or spinner is not material and may vary in practice. In some cases a batch-reducer of other approved -type may be employed. I prefer, however, to employ a batchreducer of the rotary or spinner type herein shown and described, and certain of the special features of my present invention have reference more particularly thereto. These features are shown in the drawings. In the embodiment thereof that is shown in the latter, the carrier 5 is made, f or convenience, as a disk or wheel having a hub or short sleeve 5a and a central eye or opening. 1t is mounted upon a bearing-support that consists of a long tubular boss 6 projecting from a fixed stand 7, the said stand having an opening S therethrough, (shown in Fig. 4,) which registers with the central opening or passage 61, Figs. 8 and t, through the boss. The opening 8 of the stand 7, and the opening or passage 6 within the bearing-support 6, are in line with the central space inclosed by the nest of cones, (see Figs. 3 and 4), and the batch of candy passes therethrough to enter into the said central space. The tubular boss 6 constitutes a guide for the batch as the latter enters the spinner. Being stabeinO ad'acent the said diskaortion.

tionary or non-rotative such guide has no tendency to turn or twist thefbatch. 1f a rotating guide were employed at this point in the machine, the Contact of its inner surface with the batch would tend to turn and twist the latter. The cones il, 4f, etc., are located entirely 'at the delivery side of the disk-portion of carrier 5, their large ends For the support of each cone upon the carrier I employ, by preference,a long sleeve-bearing and a long pintle fitting together, one thereof being provided in connection with the carrier and the other with the cone. In the preferred 'constructiom the cone is hollow from itslarge end for a considerable portion of its lengta, and the bearing is extended lengthwise into the cone a. considerable distance so that it serves to support the cone for a large portion of the length of the latter against springing under strain acting thereon atand adjacent its tip.

` In the drawings, the sleevebearing is vprovided at 9 in connection with the carrin the bearing, and the rate of wear is reduced. The rotating of the respective cones upon their individual axes is effected in the said embodiment by means of pinions 11, 11, etc., fixed upon the portions of the pintles 10, 10, etc., which project through the sleeve-bearings 9, 9, etc., and a centrallylocated bevel gear-wheel 12 with which the said pinions engage, the Said bevel gearwheel being formed upon a hub 12"L which is Sleeved upon tubular boss 6 alongside hub 5a of carrier 5. In operation, rotary motion is communicated to bevel gear-wheel 12 and to carrier 5, in the same direction but at different speeds, the gear-wheel being driven moreY slowly than the carrier, the result being that as the rotation of the carrier revolves the series of cones around the axis of the carrier the gear-wheel 12 acts through its engagement with pinions 11, 11, etc., like a rack to cause the respective ycones to r0- tate, the rotation of the said gear wheel in the samedirection as the carrier at a properly-proportioned slower rate serving to cause the cones to rotate at the proper relative rate of speed in the same direction upon their individual axes. The carrier 5 and bevel gear-wheel 12 are driven at the proper speed relative to each other by means of suitable gearing from an actuating shaft, marked 13 in the case of spinner A, and 13a in the case of spinner B. In the case of spinner A, the said v.gearing comprises a spur-pinion 14, Figs. 2 and 3, fixed on the .formed integral with the hub 12a of the Said bevel gear-wheel, va spur-gear 16, with which gear-wheel 15 is in mesh, fixed upon a short side-shaft 17 supported in bearings in standards 18, one of which is shown in Fig. 3, and a second spurfgear 19 fixed Von short shaft 17 and meshing with spur-teeth formed on the periphery of the carrier 5. ln Lthe case of spinner Bthe gearconnections with shaft 13mi are similar to those just described, save that the toothed wheel 14a on shaft 153a is much larger in diameter in proportion than pinion 111, inasmuch as 'spinner B must operate at a relatively-increased speed.

- One aim in connection with the rotary spinner is to cause the cones thereof1 to revolve around the inclosed portion of the batch of candy without rotating or twisting the candy. This aim is'attained preferably `by so disposing the said cones that the inclosed space shall be of proper'- proportions to just receive another cone of the same size, etc., and by so proportioning the gearing that a revolution of a cone with the carrier Vand arotation of the cone upon its individvualaxis shall be performed in equal time.

By thus proportioning the Vincl'osed space so that the formed mass of candy occupying the same shall just correspond in Ashape and size with one of the cones of the spinner, and proportioning the gearing so that each outside cone shall. rotate just once on its own axis in revolving once around the candy, the respective cones will simply roll around the candy without tendency to rotate or twist the candy itself. The same result may be attained in cases in which the inclosed space differs in size from the cones of the spinner, by proportioning the gearing so that the surface speed of a cone in rotating upon its individual axis shall just equal the speed at which the coneis caused to travel around upon the exterior' of a conical mass of candy occupying the said-space. Y

For working hard candy, as in the manufacture of stick candy, cones are employed having smooth surfaces, to thereby avoid any tendency to roughen the surface of the candy, and to avoid feeding the candy along too fast. For working upon soft candy, as in the manufacture of molasses kisses and the like, the cones will have longitudinally-grooved surfaces or the Said surfaces will be otherwise adapted to take hold unison therewith, the portion of the pintle which projects beyond the forward end of;

the sleeve-bearing 9 is made tapering, and the bore in the body. of the cone is made correspondingly tapering to fit the said'portion of the pintle. Thev cone is forced tightly upon the pintle, into firm frictional engagement therewith. .The extremity of thepinjtle is screw-threaded and receives a washer 22 and nut 22a which hold the body of the cone in place upon the pintle. A recess 22h in the .end of the cone-body receives th washer andpartly receives the nut. The tips 1a. 4a, etc., of the cones are mad as separate pieces and are combined with the body-portions of the cones in manner rendering them readily removable and replaceable. rIhis is conveniently provided for, as shown in Fig. 5, by forming in the butt ends of the said cone-tips internally-threaded holes which fit portions of the screw-thread ed extremities of pintles..10, 10, etc., that project beyond the ends ofthe body-portions of the cones. formedwith arecess partly receiving the nut 2:23*l on the corresponding pintle. One set of tips may be unscrewed from the cones and another set screwed on in the place thereof. By providing sets of tips of different length and size, the diameter of the exitopening at the small ends of the cones be varied, with corresponding variation-in the diameter of the batch as it issues from the spinner.

Then it is desired to render the exterior of the reduced batch smooth as it leaves the spinner, and obviate the production of spiral ridges or threads thereon by the ends of the cones, the small ends of the cones are so shaped, as exemplified in the drawings, that the portion of the internal space which is inclosed by such ends is cylindrical for a distance longer than the extent of feed for one revolution of the spinner. This construction yprovides for pressing or ironing out threads or ridges.

When working hard candy, to avoid chilling the surface of the candy, provision is or may be made by means of suitable heating arrangements for warming the spinners, the section-cutter. the confection-cutter, and other parts with which the batch of candy makes contact in traveling through the machine. The drawings show a gas-pipe 23 extended the length of the combined mav chine, below the spinners and cutters, and furnished at Vintervals with burner tips 94, 24, etc. Steam-pipes or electric-heaters might be used instead.

v The section-cutter C may be of any approved construction suitable for the purpose of separating the batch into sections of intermediate length at intervals as it `advances from spinner B. In the present instance it consists of .a pair yof rolls 25, 25

The butt end of each tip/is Y rotating on upright axes at opposite sides 'of guideway 3, and each furnished with a cutting blade QG. By such blades coming together in the rotation of the said rolls at predetermined times in the working of the machine the separation of the batch into sections is effected. The rolls are geared together by means of spur kgear- wheels 27, 27, to cause them to rotate at the same speed, and are driven from shaft 13 by means of a bevel gear-wheel 9.8 fixed on the lower end of the shaft of one of the rolls and meshing with a bevel gear-wheel 29 fixed on the said shaft 13a.

rThe confection-cutter D illustrated in the drawings is constructed as in U. S. Letters Patent No. 949,434, granted to me February 15, 1910, although in practice any approved form of device may be employed instead. As shown, it comprises the bell-mouthed guide 30 through which the batch, or the leading section thereof, first passes, the pair of feed- rolls 31, 31, rotating on parallel vertical axes, the intermediate guide 32, the

pair of bladed rolls or cutters 33, 33, rotating on parallel vertical axes, and the rotating bladed fly 34 working in the openings between the blades of the cutters 33, 33, at the delivery side of the latter, to clear and deliver therefrom the pieces or confections into which the batch has been divided. The general construction of the device is or may lbe essentially the same as in the patent just mentioned, motion'being transmitted to the working parts through the upright shaft 34L and driving mechanism in connection with the said shaft as will presently be explained.

The driving shaft of the machine is shown at 35. It extends lengthwise of the combined machine, and trains of driving conyneetions extend from it to the different working devices. Such trains embrace variablespeed transmitting mechanisms by means of which the relative speeds of the successive working devices may be regulated and varied as required. @ne train at the forward end of the said shaft serves for the actuation of the confection-cutter and of the adjacent spinner or batch-reducer. Another train, located at the rear end of the driving shaft, serves for the actuation of the first spinner or batch-reducer.

Referring first to the driving-train for the actuation of the confection-cutter and the adjacent spinner or batch-reducer: A bevel gear-wheel 36 is fixed upon the forward end of driving-shaft 35. It meshes with a bevel gear-wheel 37 having in its hub a groove which receives the points of screws 38, 38, carried by the arms of a stationary fork 39. The bevel gear-wheel 37 is mounted upon a transversely-extending shaft` 40 having a long spline 41 which engages with the interior of the said bevel gear-wheel. The said spline provides for causing the shaft 40 to turn in unison with the bevel gear-wheel 37, while permitting the said shaft to be shifted lengthwise through such bevel gearwheel, as by means of the manually-operated yand shaft being held from relative shift lengthwise of the shaft, in the usual manner in the like construction. Shaft 40 has fixed upon its inner end a driving brush-wheel 43, the periphery of which engages with the side-faces of a pair of driven brush-wheels 44, 45, between which it is located. One of these driven brush-wheels, as 44, is connected with a short shaft 46 carrying a bevel gearwheel 47 meshing with a like wheel 48 .on the upright shaft 34a pertaining to the confection-cutter, and motion communicated from brush-wheel 43 to brush-wheel 44 is transmitted through the described connections to the working parts of the confectioncutter, to actuate the feed- rolls 31, 31, cutters 33, 33, and fly 34, thereof. The driven brush-wheel 45 is fixed on shaft 13, and motion communicated to such brush-wheel .from the driving brush-wheel 43 is transmitted from the shaft 132L to the sectioncutter C and spinner or batch-reducer D through the connections which have been described. The shafts 46 and 13n are out of line horizontally with each other, so that when the driving brush-wheel 43 makes contact with driven brush-wheel 44 near the center thereof it makes contact with driven brush-wheel 45 near the periphery of the latter, in which case the confection-cutter is driven at a high rate of speed relative to that of the spinner or batch-reducer B and section-cutter C. Lengthwise shift of shaft 40 carrying driving brush-wheel 43 toward the periphery of driven brush-wheel 44 causes it to approach the center of the driven brush-wheel 45, in which case the speed of the confection-cutter is decreased and that of the spinner or batch-reducer B and section-cutter C is increased.

Upon the rear end ofdriving-shaft 35 is fixed the bevel gear-wheel 50 meshing with a bevel gear-wheel 51 having its grooved hub engaged by the points of screws carried by a stationary fork 52. Bevel gear-wheel 51 is mounted upon a longitudinally-movable shaft 53 having a spline 54 that engages with the said gear-wheel, the said shaft having combined therewith. a manually-operated shifting-lever 55, and having fixed upon it a driving brush-wheel 56 which engages by its periphery with the side-face of a driven brush-wheel 57 mounted on shaft 13. Through these connections the shaft 13 is driven, and it actuatesl the spinner A through the gearing, etc., which have been described... Longitudinal vshift .of shaft 53 in the direction to carry the driving brushwheel 56 toward the center of the driven brush-wheel 57 increases the speed of the spinner A, while shift of said shaft in the opposite direction, carrying driving brushwheel 56 toward the periphery Vof driven brush-wheel 57, decreases the speed of the said spinner. f

In adjusting the speeds, driving brushwheel 43 is shifted between driven brushwheels 44, 45, radially thereof, until the proper ratio of the speed of spinner B and section-cutter C to that of the confectioncutter D is secured. Driving brush-wheel 'f 56 is shifted radially relative to driven brush-wheel 57 until the required ratio of the speed of spinner A to that of spinner B has been secured Various adjustments of the speeds are found necessary in practice, because some kinds of candy feed faster through the spinners than other kinds.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a candy-making machine, the combination with a batch-reducing device, and a confection-cutter having means for feeding the reduced batchk lengthwise and operating to progressively separate the longitudinally moving batch into confection-pieces, of a section-cutter by which the batch is separated between the reducing device and the feeding means of the confection-cutter to permit the portion in advance to have a rate of endwise feed of its own through the confectioncutter.

2. In a candy-making machine, the combination with a rotary spinner delivering continuously, a confection-cutter having cutterrolls between which the reduced batch feeds longitudinally with a continuous action, and a section-cutter by which the said batch is separated between the spinner and the confection-cutter so that the portion in advance may have a rate of feed of its own through the confection-cutter.

3. In a candy-making machine, the combination with a rotary spinner and reducer revolving around the batch of candy without turning or twisting the latter, of'a stationary batch-support at the entrance to said spinner and reducer by which the batch is held until drawn into the spinner.

4- In a candy-making machine, the combination with a rotary spinner comprising a nest of cones around a central cone-shaped space, and means for revolving said nest around the said space and rotating the cones upon their individual axes, of a batch-support at the entrance to said space supporting the batch until it is drawn into the spinner by the feeding action of the cones.

5. In a candy-making machine, the combination with a rotary spinner comprising a nest of cones around a central cone-shaped space, and means for revolving said nest around the said space androtating the Vcones upon .their individual axes, of a non-rotat-` ing guide through which the batch enters space, andmeans for revolving said nesty around the said space and rotating the cones upon their individual axes, of a fixed sup-- port for the spinner having a central opening and constituting a non-rotating guide for the batch as it enters the said coneshaped space of the spinner.

7. In a rotary spinner for candy-making machines, in combination, a rotary carrier, a pintle mounted to rotate therein and tapered for a portion of its length to form a cone-seat, and a cone having an internal tapered seat tting said cone-seat and in frictional engagement therewith, whereby said cone and said pintle are caused to rotate in unison.

8. In a rotary spinner for candy-making4 machines, in combination, a rotary carrier, a pintle mounted in a bearing thereon, tapered for a portion of its length, and having a screw-thread, a cone having an internal seat fitting the tapered portion of the spindle, and a nut applied to said screw-thread and holding the cone in frictional engagement with the said tapered portion.

9. In a rotary batch spinner, a nest of cones having the small ends thereof constructed to smooth the batch leaving the same, and means for rotating said nest around the batch.

l0. In a rotary batch spinner, a nest of cones having the small ends thereof converging and enlarged and constructed to smooth the batch leaving the same, and means for rotating the said nest around the batch.

1l. In a rotary spinner for candy-making machines, the nest of cones having the small ends thereof shaped to enclose a space which is cylindrical for a distance exceeding the extent of feed for one rotation of the spinner and means for rotating the said nest around the batch of candy.

12. In a rotary spinner for candy-making machines, in combination, a carrier, a nest of cones inclosing a cone-shaped space of the same size and proportions asl one of said cones, and operating means whereby a revolution of a cone with the carrier and a rotation of the cone upon its individual axis are caused to take place in equal time.

13 In a rotary spinner for candy-making machines, in combination, a carrier, a nest of cones inclosing a cone-shaped space, and operating means whereby the surface speed of a cone in rotating upon its individual axis shall just equal the speed at which the cone is caused to travel around upon the exterior Aof a conical mass of candy occupying the said space, to obviate tendency to rotation or twisting of the candy itself.

14. The combination of a frame provided 5 with a horizontally-disposed, hollow, cy- `lindrical, stationary member forming a comi', in converging relations and also each prol'fvided with a gear, shafts mounted in the Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,V

bearings, conical reducing and drawing rolls Washington, D. G.

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