US1871332A - Method and means for collecting and arranging biscuits and the like - Google Patents

Description

g- 9,1931 R F. M FARLANE ET AL 1,371,332

METHOD AND MEANS FOR COLLECTING AND ARRANGING BISCUITS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTORS Kobe/'2? Ire/20k Mcfarmze WzZZz'a/n Edward Prescott ATTORNEY 9, R. F. MQCFARLANE ET AL 7 1,871,332

METHOD AND MEANS FOR COLLECTING AND ARRANGING BISCUITS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 tam" .54 5 e 2/ new 5 IN VENT ORS Robe/'2' Ira/20k Maa'farZ/me g, ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1932. R. F. M FARLANE ET AL METHOD AND MEANS FOR COLLECTING AND ARRANGING BISCUITS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 28, 1929. 4 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1932. R. F. M FARLANE ET AL 3 5 METHOD AND MEANS FOR COLLECTING AND ARRANGING BISCUITS AND THE LIKE I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Filed Dec. 28, 1929 rr IU i a 1 1 I l INVENTORS Jfoberifrerzcfi J/acf'ar-Zarze B VVz'ZZz'amZdzqardPresaaiZ 7" ff rgzmy Patented Aug. 9, 1932 T E ATES AT T oFFIcE ROBERT rnn'ncn MACFARIJIANE. or FULI-IAM, Lennon, AND WILLIAM nnwann rnnsg corn or 'WILLESDEN, Lennon. ENGLAND, assrenoes T0 BAKER PERKINS com- IPANY, INCL, 0F SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION O15 NEW YORK l ras'rnon AND Means Foe cottncterive Ann aarteneine BISCUITS A ain TEFL inn Application filed December 22, 1929, Serial No. 417,207, and in Great Britain Januar e, 1929.

This invention relates to devicesfor col lectlng and arranging blscuitsor other articles of ashape or character susceptible of treatment according to the invention. For convenience in descrlbing the inventionthe articles under treatment Willberei erred to as blscults 1 Ehe objection of the invention is toprovide a machine adapted to receive biscuits dehvered by a conveyor more or less continuously to collect them in an ord erly mannerand arrange them m1 afashion suitable to their being handled in convenient batches.

; According to the invention biscuits are received in single file or in'a pluralityof files, and themachine arranges them in rows onebehind the other, by successively'dis placing a predetermined number or row of V biscuits from the file or column 111 a direction transversely to the direction of-movement of the file. i l V he invention also consists of means for passing a predetermined (row-forming) number of biscuits in file or column succes sion, arresting the head otthe file iorbring ing the biscuits into close formation and for: transverse displacement, hold ng'the following part of the filein waiting forbfeeding as a subsequent. row; whilst causing. the first: mentioned row-forming number of biscuits to be given a further movement in the feeding direction thereby provldlng a clearance space between the last biscuit of the said.

feeds the biscuits against a displaceable stop;.

and in front of the working face of areci-procatory pusher that displaces the biscuits transversely to their. previous direction of travel. Upon the arrival of the leading his cuit against the displaceable stop those bis= cuits of the file that lie outside the zone of action of the pusher are detained whilst the stop is taken away. ...The conveyor band.

again advances thepredetermined numberof biscuits-a short distance untilth-ey againencounter the stop. This short additional travel or" the predetermined row separates it for transverse displacement from the main column'. The pusher then displaces the row transversely to the direction of movementof the band on to a batch plate carried bva conveyor which is thereafter given a -step wise movement to accommodate the next ro'w;

'Accordl'ng to one honvenient mode of handmanipulation of the machine a lever or arm,' I

the reciprocation of which is adapted togive a stepwise movement of the plate, its-pro vide'd withsu'pplementary controls ,or -li2i.1i-' dle's one of which is adapted to supply" a brake tothe advancing column ofb'isc'uit-sf while the other is adaptedtoadjust the dis placeable stop backwardly.

"In the drawings Fig. 1 is a diagrammatieplan view at the machine.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional plan viewlofthecentral portion of the 'nia'chine.

Fig.- 3 s fragmentary perspective view showing the method of transferring fromsinlgle file to a'mu'ltiple row formation.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showingthe relative positions of the pusher and gate at the end of a transfer stroke of the pusher.-

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the machine, partly broken away, showing a side view of the single-file supply conveyor and end View of thebatch plate conveyor. 7

Fig. 6-isa top plan view par tly broken away, of the ingle-file conveyor. 7

Fig. 7 lie-a part sectional side View of nthe mach1ne,wbroken away,- showing'the batch 1 platec'onveyor and control lever mechanism,-

theiview being taken in the direction of the arrows,"Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is aside view of the-mechanism far in eauygadju'sting' the bane whenv me ha nism of Fig. 2.

file of biscuits. 7

Fig. 10 is a part Fig. 9 is a part'section'al detail of the j able stop for the advancing end of the single sectional detail in 1 elevation, of the brake-actuatingmechanism; Fig. 11 is a side view, vpantly sectional;

55. actuated by a hand lever 16 which is suitably showing a modified arrangement of gate and plunger actuating mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 10.

In carrying the invention into effect as applied to collecting and arranging biscuits delivered in single file froma machine, for example, a'biscuit creaming or sandwich forming machine as described in our co-pending application, Serial Number 325,194, filedDecember 11, 1928, the single file is received from the creaming machine and delivered by way of an inclined chute into a channel 1. The channel is formed by a fixed rail 2 and an adjustable rail 3 mounted upon a bottom member 4 which is pivoted at one end to the A framework 5,'the other end being connected traveling band that carries the biscuits in any suitable manner to the machine from which the biscuits are being collected. Lateral adjustment of rail 3 is effected byalinement screws 6 and thumb screws 7 or other-- wise. g V

A bar 8 is located above the floor of the channel 11a distance suitable to accommodate the thickness of the biscuits, giving 'sufficient clearance for, them, but close enough to their tops to thwart any tendency of the column tobuckle and prevent one biscuit riding over another. Bar 8 may be vertically adjustable inits supports 9 and preferably extends the while length of channel 1. The bar is raised to an inoperative position when the apparatus is used to collect cream biscuits, v V,

In the bottom of channel 1 is an endless along the channel to the place where they are displaced transversely in the form of compact rows of predetermined length; For this purpose the band 10 extends across the machine and serves to feed the biscuits to the mechanism by which they are transferred in rows and assembled'in batches.

VA platform 11 for the displacement of the biscuits transversely is made of a thin-plate,

. which is spaced above the batch plates 12 that are ultimately to receive the biscuits.

The batch plates are carried on a batch conveyor 13 thatpreferably has a stepwise movement and advances at each step the width of a biscuit row so that successive'rows are arranged one behind the other in close order 7 on the batch plate. The stepwise movement of the conveyor 13 may be produced by means of a ratchet14 and pawl 15, the'latter being coupled .to the pawl by a link 17 V A pusher18serves to feed the biscuits from the "band 10 onto the batch plates12 on'con-i veyor l3. The pusher comprises a recipro-' cating frame having a vertical wall or working face 19. The pusher travels from a position of alinement with the fixed rail 2 of the channell across to the delivery edge of platform' 11. The length of the working face ofthe pusher corresponds with thefllength of a biscuit row to be transferred. In front of the pusher face 19 and spaced therefrom a distance approximately equal to the internal cross sectional dimension of the channel 1 is a displaceable gate 20 mounted in such a way that when the pusher 18 is reciprocated to displace biscuits from the line of the file gate 20 moves outof the way and gives the biscuits a free passage across platform 11. Reci-procatorymovement is given the pusher by mechanism that also displaces the gate.

The pusher and the gate are operatively connected to work synchronously with each other and with a hand lever 16 for slipping the batch plate conveyor. The mechanism chosen for illustration in Figs. 2, 5, 7 includes a rock shaft 21 mounted in brackets 22 on the frame of the machine. Rocks shaft 21 is connected by lever 23 and link 24 to the hand lever 16. v

' A pair of levers 25, 25 are fixed to rock shaft 21 and links 26, 26 connect the levers to a pairof. brackets 27 27 on the pusher 18.

'VVhen the rock shaft 21 oscillates the pusher 18. is reciprocated, slidingin its guide's28 and 29.

The brackets 27 in addition to serving as pivotalfconnections for links 26 carry a secondary rock shaft 301from which a pair of arms 31'depend, carrying thegate 20.

The rock shafts 21 and are coupled to;

gether by lever 32 and link 33 andlarm 34 whereby any oscillatory movements of. the rock shaft 21 will be communicated 130M161 rock shaft30, causing displacement of gate 20. The gate is mounted on the arms 31 by means of arms 35 and wing nuts 36; f

To' keep" the biscuits from lifting while theyare being transferreda rail 37 is secured to bracket'27 by means of a pair of light wirearms 38. The arms may be clamped in vertically adjustedposition by means of wlng nuts39. Thus the'arms 39 may have the necessary verticahand lateral adjust-- ments. A g

A brake device in the form of a lateral blade 40 is arranged to restrain the move-' ment of the file of biscuits along channel 1 andto'accommodate the brake the rails 2,- 3 of channel l'terminate short of the near end of pusher 18. Brake blade40 is mounted to swing on a. spindle 41 which'is oscillated by irrespective of their arrestment; The stop 45 is displaceably mounted uponv guide menu-V ber 28 for the pusher, and can be moved backward apredetermined distance. .Such.

backward movement of the stop is effected by a wire control 46.1 If desired two sep-.

trols 47, 4-8. These grip controls are adjust-.

able independently and the brake 40 is pref: erably arranged to operate before theposition of the stop {l5 is readjusted in the manner just described. i

Varying width of batch plates may be accommodated in this machine and for that purpose pusher 18 is made with a central portion 18a, having telescoping end pieces 185, 180 connected by links 18d to a .ro-ir tatable adjusting plate 18 which is=slotted and provided with nuts 18fifor lockingthe parts in their adjusted position. The guide members 28, 29 are also slotted for, adjustment.

- Band 10j is supported in guide wheels l9, 50, the latter being driven from a suitable sourceby a cone pulley 51. The band wheel is tensioned by adjusting screws 52 associated with the guidefwheel 49. The band 10 can be laterally adjusted to accommodate difierent sizes of biscuit, with theconsequent variation in the width of the channel 1. The shifting of the band is" effected by axial adjustment of the spindle 53 of the'guide wheel 19 by means of the forked double armed lever 54: which is given a pivotal movement by the screw spindle 55. The double armed lever 54 is fixed to shaft 56 extending beneath the machine. At the other end of the band a similar arrangement (not shown) may be provided, whereby lateral movements of both of the wheels are effected simultaneouslv.

In operation a single file of biscuits proceeding along the channel 1 travels onward after leaving the channel and proceeds across the platform 11 until it meets stop 45. Brake blade 40 is then actuated by pressureon the grip 47 to hold the foremost of the main biscuit column. As soon as the column has been arrested stop 45 is moved back the predetermined distance by actuating the grip 48 and the band 10 moves the predetermined number of biscuits that lies upon the platform forward until the foremost biscuit again meets the stop. This movement spaces the last biscuit of the row on the platform away from the foremost biscuit in the supply file. Thus is produced a working clearbiscuits.

ance between the biscuits about to be moved transversely andthe file of biscuits that iswaiting in channel 1 readyto proceed across the platform when brake blade 40 is released.-

When the predetermined row of biscuits has been thus selected and isolated from the file thepusher 18 is actuated by hand lever 16 to make a stroke transversely. Simultaneouslywith the stroke of the pusher the gate 20 is raised permitting the biscuits to be pushed out upon the leading edge of the batch plate 12 lying ready to receive them. -The pusher and gate regain their initial position while the batch plate is being moved forward one step. Brake 10 isthen liberated and stop 15 is returned to its normal position, by the spring return of the wire control 46. The waiting file is picked up by the traveling band and passed across the-platform in front of the pusher for repetition of the transfer operations. Y

The cycle of operations is continued to build up a batch, row by row.

According to a modified embodiment of the invention (see Figs. 11 and 12) the pusher may comprise abar 57 mountedv upon a pair of guide rods 58 (onlyone of which is'shown) and guided in bearings 59. -Thebar '57 carries an end plate 60 and a fixed central plate 61, the joints between which are covered by thin plates 62. The adjustable plate 60 and fixed. central plate 61 together constitute theworking face of thepusher. The adjustable.

end plate 60 isbent at right angles to form'a support 63 for the adjustable stop 45a.

Adjustment of the end plate 60 is elfectedv by a screwed rod 64 which engages nuts 65 carried by the pusher, the rod having a milled head 66 operatingin a fork 67 mounted on.

The gate 26a is carried by bent threaded the bar 5 rods 68 adjustably mounted on a rock shaft 69 pivoting in bearing 70 secured to the bar 57. The rock shaft has arms 71 fixed upon the ends thereof, said arms carrying rollers 72 engaging cam surfaces or ramps 73. On moving the pusher to displace a row of biscuits, the rollers 72 will ride up the ramps and cause the gate 20a to rise out of the way of the arms 74suppor-ting wires 7 5 to which a guard Ila;

rail or wire 76' is attached, the wires 75 being secured by bolts 77 whereby the desired adjustments may be efiected. I

The pusher is reciprocated by a transverse shaft 78 seating in'a forked member 79 secured'to the guide rods 58, said shaft being pivotally mounted at its ends in levers 80 connected to the hand lever 16 by a link 81. i

The appliance has been described as hand operated. However, it may be constructed to operate automatically in known manner, and the batch plates may be fed onto the conveyorlB automatically. 7 i

The conveyor 13 may also be given auto-- matic stepwise movement and may be timed so that anadditional spacing interval is given between the additionof the final row of biscuits to one batch plate and the firstrow of biscuits for the next batchplate.

Such automatic features are not described in detail herein because the inventive noveltyof my device is comprehended in the simple hand-actuated forms here shown. 7

Clearance, provided by the displaceable stop, between the last biscuit of a row and the first biscuitof the next succeeding row is important in biscuit handling, for it enables the predetermined row to be pushed off the band sidewise without catching on'and breaking the adjacent edges of the next biscuit.

The stop has been described as being stepped back by means of the wire control, but the stated object may also be attained by a stop that is displaceable in any other way, and a second stationary or permanent stop may be spaced from the firststop by a distance equal to the clearance desired. The scope of certain of the claims, therefore, in cludes such equivalent modifications.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination a continuous traveling band, a pusher parallel with said band and mounted for reciprocation crosswise the same,

means for actuating said pusher,-a displace-'- able stop positioned normally in the path of travel of articles carried bysai'd band and arranged to be contacted by said articles at a placein front of the pusher, stop-actuating means, a brake member located in advance of the pusher and arranged to engage and arrest articles on the moving band before their arrival at the pusher, brake-actuating means, a conveyor beneath said band and arranged for stepwise movement in the direction of the forward travel of the pusher, a displaceable from said lever respectively to said pusheractuating means, to said gate-actuating means and to said conveyor-actuating means, a palr ing the pusher bar crosswise the band, a gate removably located'along the edge of the belt opposite the pusher bar and operatively connected therewith so as' to be lifted when the pusher bar moves across the band, a batchconveyor belt located beneath the'pusher bar, means for advancing the belt stepwise in a direction crosswisethe band, batch plates carried by said belt, a control lever at said sta- 7 'tion operatively connected to said pusher bar and to said belt conveyor for actuating them simultaneously in opposite directions, said brake-actuating control and said stop actuating control both carried on said lever.

- 3; Incombination, a continuous travelingband, a pusher parallel with said band and mounted for reciprocation crosswise the same,

'means for 'actuatingsaid pusher, a brake member located in advance'of the pusher and arranged to engage and arrest a column of articles on the moving band before their arrival at the pusher, brake-actuating means, a conveyor leading from thezone of operation of the pusher in the direction of movement of the-pusher during its working stroke, actu ating means for sa'idconveyor, a displace able. stop located normally in the path of travel of articles carried by said band and positionedto be contacted by said articles at a place in front of thepusher, and means for the column of articles beyond said brake can becarried on by the moving band and spaced from those held back by the brake.

In testimony whereof, we aifix our signatures.

ROBERT F. MACFARLANEV WILLIAM E. PRESCOTT.

displacingsaid stop awayfrom-the column of articles-out of the path of the pusher, whereby before the operation of the pusher of retractible grips associatedw'ith said lever, i operating connections from one of said grips to said brake and from the other gripto the displaceable stop." I

2. In combination a traveling band arranged for transporting biscuits in file formation, a stop removably positioned inthe path of travel ofthe biscuits on the band, a brake adapted to engage a biscuit in said file remote from said stop, manually actuated means for operating said brake from a control station, manually actuated means for re moving said stop and for relocating is slightly in advance of its original position, a pusher- :bar disposed lengthwisethe conveyor at one side thereof beyond the brake, means'for mov-

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