US2283298A - Biscuit machine - Google Patents

Description

May 19; 1942. w. AQTHUM BISCUIT MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 4 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOB Wa/fer 77mm- 14 oEA/E Y May 19, 1942.

W. A. THUM BISCUIT MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 nl'lllll IHHI Patented May 19, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BISCUIT MACHINE Walter A, Thum, St. Louis, Mo, assignor to Papendick, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application Januar 29, 1940, Serial No. 316,140

3 Claims. (01. row-25) This invention relates generally to baking machines and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in machines adapted especially for the automatic cutting and panningof biscuit dough-bodies and the like.

My invention has for its primary objects the provision of a machine uniquely constructedfor automatically progressing or feeding a doughsheet of predetermined or adjustably selected thickness and width, subdividing the sheet into a plurality of dough-bodies having the desired biscuit, ro l, or bun shape, and then panning such dough-bodies in spaced arrangement for 7 baking.

My invention has for a further object theprovision of a machine of the type and for the purpose stated whichwill perform such operations in a continuous and timed sequence with a minimum of labor and at a relatively high speed, thereby effecting material economies in bakery costs, which eliminates the employment of human hands in the forming and panning of the biscuit or other dough-bodies, thereby greatly increasing the sanitary characteristics of biscuit production, and which is highly eflicient in the performance of its stated functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (four sheets) Figures 1 and 2 are broken plan and side elevational views, respectively, of a biscuit-dough cutting and panning machine embodying, my invention;

Figure Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of the machine, partly broken away and in section, the brake-pedal being omitted;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the machine, showing the doughcutting dies in normal, raised or elevated position and the dough-feed or lay-over plate in forward position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially broken away and in section of the machine, showlng the dough-cutting dies in de-- pressed or lowered dough-engaging and panning position;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the belt-timing and driving mechanism of the machine; and

. 3 is an enlarged fragmental side elevational view of the machine:

forwardly presented side rails 2 suitably rigidly secured, in turn, to second 'or intermediate upstanding side .frames B also forming part of the body of the machine and likewise suitably rigidly joined in spaced parallel aligning relation with respect to the framesA.

Bolted or otherwise secured upon in turn, bolted or otherwise suitably secured to upstanding front frames C also forming part of the body of the machine and similarly joined by suitable cross-members 4 in spaced 7 parallel aligning relation with the intermediate frames B and rear frames A, the front frames (1 being provided, for purposes presently appearing, with upwardly projecting supports 5, all as best seen in Figure 2.

Journaled at its ends in, and extending horizontally between, the frames A, is an idle shaft 6, mounted upon which intermediate the frames A is 'a preferably wooden drum 1.

Similarly Journaled in, and extending transversely between, the intermediate frames. B and disposed horizontally in alignment with the shaft 6, are spaced parallel shafts 8, 9,'which project outwardly at one end for mounting gears 10, ll, and'sprockets I2, l3, the latter being con nected by means of a suitable chain I 4,

Intermediate the .framesB, the shafts 8, 9, support suitable drum's l5, l6, preferably similar in structure and dimension to-the drum 1. It should benoted that the shafts 8, 9, are, sumciently spaced longitudinally of. the machine so that the drums l5, l6, wil1 be suitably spaced circumferentially for purposes presently appearing.

Also journal ed at its ends in, and projecting through, the intermediate frames B, is a shaft .11, mounted upon one projecting end of which is a pinion II for meshing engagement with the Figure 8 illustrates perspectively a plurality of 5;

gear ll.- -Mounted upon the other end of the shaft ",i a gear I! for meshing engagement with the drive pinion 20 of a conventional 'electhe frames 1 B, are second or intermediate side rails 3 again,

pended between the frames B and conventionally connected to any suitable source of power (not shown) by means of an electric conduit and a foot-switch s, the latter being suitably aocessibly located adjacent the front end of the machine,

'as'bestseeninFigure 2.

The gear I! is provided concentrically upon a side face with a brake-drum 2| for operative disposition within a strap-type brake-band 22 suitably attached at one end in an eye-block 23, in turn, pivotally mounted upon a pintle 24 set into and projecting inwardly from the adjacent frame B for swingably. supporting a depending link 25, theband 22 having its other end mounted in an eye-block 25 pivotally mounted upon, and intermediate the ends of, the link 25, as shown in Figure 2.

At its lower end, the link 25 is pivotally mounted in a clevis-block 2| fixed upon the rearwardly presented end of a conventional tum-buckle rod .25 provided at its other end with a similar clevis block 25 for pivotal connection with the angularly projecting leg 35 of a bell-crankpedal E pivotally mounted adjacent the front end of the machine, as shown in Figure 2, in a conventional Swingably mounted on'the opposite ends of the shaft 5 and projecting upwardly a suitable distance above the upper end of the frames B, is a pair of links 32 slotted longitudinally intermediate their ends, as at 33, for shiftably receiving respective studs 34 each having a respective lock-nut assembly 35 at its outer end. At its inner end, each stud 34 is rigidly fixed in a slideblock-35 suitably bored for shiftably accommodating an adjustment-rod 31 extending longitudinally of the machine and diametrally enlarged and threaded at an end, as shown, for engaging an upstanding leg 35 of a U-shaped bracket 35 bolted at its bight upon the upper face of a side Traveling over and around the drum 1, l5, and riding freely over the upper face of the tableboard 45, is an endless rear or primary beltconveyor 45 fabricated preferably of canvas or other suitable material. Similarly trained for traveling over and around the drums I5, 45, and

riding freelyover the upper face of the tableboard 41, is an endless front or secondary beltconveyor 55 also fabricated preferably of canvas or other suitable material. I

Welded or otherwise suitably fixed upon the respective'forwardly presented faces of the rear frames A and-the respective rearwardly presented faces of the front frames C, are oppositely L- shaped brackets 5| for slidably accommodating journal blocks 52 rotatively supporting conventional belt tightening idler rolls 53. Threaded on the brackets 5|, are vertically disposed screws 54 for adjustably shifting the blocks 52 and their supported rolls 53 and tightening or loosening the conveyor-belts 45, 55, as may be required.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured upon the upper marginal faces of the forward frames'C, are transversely aligned U-shaped brackets I having relatively widely spaced upstanding front and rear ears 54, 55. The rear ears 55 are formed with upwardly projecting extensions e connected transversely of the machine by a re-enforcing frame B and having a second upwardly presented leg spaced a substantial distance forwardly from the leg 35 and likewise suitably bored for rotatively and shiftably accommodating the forwardly presented end of the adjustment-rod 3'l.

Joumaled in and extending transversely of the machine betweenthe links 32, is a shaft 4| supporting a preferably wooden drum 42, ad-

hesively fixed upon the periphery of which is a preferably smooth canvas covering 43. At its one end, the shaft 4| projects outwardly through a link 32 and has fixed thereto a gear 44 for meshing engagement with the gear l5.

Journaled in, and extending transversely of the machine between, the forward side frames 0, is a shaft 45 supporting an also preferably wooden drum 45 inhorizontal alignment with, and of the same diameter as, the drums I, I5, and I5. Marginally secured upon, and extending horizontally between, the frames C, is a preferably wooden table-board 41 having its upper face in a plane tangential to-the drumsl5, 46, andterminating at its rear and front ends in concaved marginal faces adjacent and complementary to the respective drumslt, 45.

Similarly mounted along its longitudinal margins upon, and extending horizontally between,

the intermediate frames B, is 9. preferably wooden table-board 48 also having an upper face disposed in the same plane as the table-board 41 .and likewise terminating at its rear and front ends in concaved marginal faces adjacent and complementary to the drums I, I5, respectively.

tending free rolling shaft 55 provided with a pair of cutter-disks or wheels 5| suitably spaced trans- .versely of the machine, as best seen in Figure 1 Centrally upon the rearwardly presented face of the beam 55, is a U-shaped bracket 52 having vertically spaced parallel legs 53 provided with suitably threaded aligning apertures for accommodating opposed adjustment screws for positioning engagement with the forwardly extending tail-piece 55 of an adjustment-dog 55 suitably pinned or otherwise fixed upon the rod 58. Also suitably mounted upon and extending rearwardly from the cars 55 in suitable operative juxtaposition to the cutter wheels 5|, are conventional so-called deflection blades 51, all as best seen in Figures 1 and 2 and for purposes presently fully appearing.

Mounted at their ends in, and extending transversely between; each of the pairs or sets of bracket-ears 54, 55, are parallel horizontally aligned rods ;55 for shiftably supporting slide blocks 55 each provided with outwardly projecting pintles 15 for rocking engagement with forwardly presented arms II, in turn, at their for ward ends pivotally (connected, as at 1,2, to links 13 keyed or fixed attheir lower end upon the outwardly extending ends of a transverse rock shaft '14 joumaled for axial oscillatory movement in the frames C, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

Also pinned or otherwise fixed at an end upon one of the outwardly presentedends of the rockshaft I4, as best seen in Figure 3, is an auxiliary and projecting laterally outwardly from a side face of, a frame C, as best seen in-Flgure 3.

Also pinned or otherwise fixed upon the rockshaft 14 preferably midway between the side frames C, is an actuating lever 82 provided at its outer or free extremity with a foot pedal 83 and adapted intermediate its ends for shock-absorbing abutment with a conventional spring-pressed cushioning plunger 84 mounted in a U-shaped cross brace 85 extending transversely between, and rigidly secured at its ends upon, the side frames C, as best seen'in Figures 3 and 4.

Spirally coiled on the shaft 14 and attached at one end to an abutment 86 fixed on the shaft 14 and at its opposite end to a stud 81 upon the inner face of the adjacent side frame C, for purposes presently appearing, is a torsion spring 80.

The side frames C are cut away or slotted along their upper margins, as at h, for seating a transversely extending slide-board 89, and

- suitably fixed upon the frames C and extending transversely of the machine over the board 89, is a rectangular die-plate 90 provided with a plurality of suitably shaped, spaced, and arranged punch-accommodating openings 9i, the plate 90 being also so positioned that its upper face is dis? posedin a horizontal plane slightly below the plane of the upper face of the secondary belt 50.

Upstanding from the four corners of theapertured die-plate 90, are four posts 92, and shiftable on the posts 92 over the apertured plate 90, is a horizontally disposed head-plate 93, the upward movement of the plate 93 being limited by stop-washers 94 and cushioned by washers 95 suitably secured on the posts 92, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

Fixedto, and depending from the under face of, the head-plate 93, is a plurality of open-bottomed cylindrical punch-members 96 positioned and diametrally sized for co-operation with the openings 9| and each formed at its lower end with a so-called blunt shearing peripheral face or margin, as at m, the plate 93 being also provided with a depending knife-blade 91 extending transversely of the machine and having its cutting edge n disposed in a plane substantially above the plane of the respective shearing margins of the punches 96 and rearwardly of the shearing-edge of the die-plate 90, as best' seen in Figure 5. I

Provided upon the upper'face of the plate 93 iii machine between, the slide blocks 69, isa horizontally disposed so-called lay-over plate I09 having its under face substantially in the plane best seen in Figure 5. As also seenin Figure 1,,

the plate I09, at its front "end at, is slightly wider than the trimmed dough-sheet and at its rearportion is provided with upturned ears I09'pivotally connected to links II, II, in turn, pivoted ,to studs extending from the slide-blocks 69 for allowing the plate I09 to lay flat 'on the convey- 'or-belt 50, the blocks 69 being connected for alignment for a V-shaped strip 11.

Journaled in the arms 5 and extending transversely of the machine in downwardly spaced relation to the rock-shaft I03, is a horizontally disposed hinge-shaft III held from axial movement by a pair of conventional set-collars I I2 disposed in abutting engagement with the arms 5, and pinned or otherwise fixed upon the shaft III, is an obliquely downwardly presented catch-flap H3 resting lightly along its lower margin upon the upper face of the lay-over plate "39f all as best seen in Figures 4 and 5 and for purposes presently fullyappearing, I

Fixed upon the die-plate 90 along its forwardly presented transverse margin, is an apron II4 ex.-

tending arcuately forwardly and downwardly for discharge into a chute II 5 supported between the side frames C for discharging, in turn, into a conventional catch-box I I6 removably disposed upon the floor intermediate the side frames C, as shown.

Fixed to or upon the board 89 and projecting laterally outwardly of the machine beyond one of centrally of its longitudinal margins, are transversely aligned lugs 98 for supporting a transversely disposed rod 99, pivotally attached to which, is a pair of spaced parallel links I00, in turn, suitably pivotally connected to a pintle IOI retained in place by set-collars IN" and intermediate the links I00 rockably supporting the forward end of a suitably elongated link I02 pinned or otherwise fixed adjacent its rear end upon a rock-shaft I03 journaled in, and extending transversely of the machine between, the arms 5, the link I02 having a preferably rod-like rearwardly presented extension I04 for shiftably supporting a counter-weight I05.retained in adsposition by means of aset screw or the e- Also pinned or otherwiseflxed at or adjacent an end upon the rock-shaft I03 preferably ad erably positioned for convenient manipulation by anoperator standing in front of the machine. Mounted on, and extending transversely of the the side frames C through the opening or slot h,

is a supplemental board IIB, slidable upon the upper'face of which is a tray-board I I9 having a manipulating handle I20 and supporting a shallow tray-like receptacle I2I for positioning successive baking pans I22 suitably beneath or under the die-plate openings 9| for receiving the punched dough-bodies F, all as best seen in Figure 6. y

In use and operation, the baker prepares a suitable dough-batch, depending upon the particular type of rolls or biscuits which are to be baked. A suitably rolled and subdivided sheet of the dough-batch is placed upon the conveyorbelt 49. Thereupon. the operator depresses the foot switch a, thereby energizing the motor D, which, in turn, rotates the gear I9, shaft I'I, pinion I0, and gear II. Then, as the gear II is rotarily driven in the direction of the arrow, in Figure 7, the sprocket I9 is similarly rotated and,

through the chain, I4, drives the sprocket I2, the

gear I0 meshing with the gear 44., Hence the primary conveyor 49, the secondary conveyor 50,-

and the sheeting roll or drum 42 are simultaneously or conJointly driven, it being noted, however, that the conveyor 49 will be driven at a slightly slower forward speed than the secondary conveyor 50 and the sheeting roll 42. as a result of the speed reduction'ratio between the sprock-' ets l2 and l3.

The portion of the dough-sheet which as been deposited upon the primary conveyor49, is accordingly fed over the plate or board 48' and between the secondary conveyor 50 and the sheeting roll 42. By reason of the fact that the sheeting roll 42 and the secondary conveyor 50 are traveling at a somewhat more rapid rate of speed, the dough-sheet is practically pulled beneath the sheeting roll 42, resulting in the formation of a substantially uniform dough-sheet and preventing any tendency of the dough-sheet'to pile up in back of the sheeting-roll 42. It will be understood that the thickness of the dough-sheet may be selectively varied by altering the space between the periphery of the sheeting roll or drum 42 and the upper face of the secondary conveyor 50 by threadedly shifting the adjustment rods or screws 3 and the associated slide blocks 36 horizontally' forwardly or rearwardly, as may be desired. Depending upon the direction in which the slide blocks 36are so shifted, the supporting links 32- will be swung forwardly or rearwardly, as the case may be, thereby shifting the studs 34 within the slots 33 andaccordingly swinging the sheeting roll 42 toward or away from the upper face;

of the secondary conveyor 50,

As the dough-sheet progresses forwardly, the same passes beneath the cutting disks GI and is marginally trimmedto a predetermined width, and the trimmed strips t are obliquely deflected by the blades 61 to the sides of the conveyor 50, as shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 1, so as to clear the forwardly presented portion of the lay- -over plate I09 and be carried around by the conveyor 50 for discharge through the chute IIS into the catch-box H6 for removal. i

The trimmed dough-sheet continues its forward progressive movement until its forward portion aligns with the lip IIO of the lay-over plate I09. The operator then releases the switch s, which, in turn, opens the operating circuit, the operator then. bydepressing, the pedal E, tightening the brake band 22 upon the drum 2| and bringing the conveyors 49, 50, to rest. It may here be stated that the portion or section of the dough-sheet initially placed upon the primary conveyor 49 should preferably, though not necessarily, be

'sumcient in relation to the particular thickness been brought. to rest, extend from the lay-over plate lip I I0 rearwardly across the secondary conveyor 00 and terminate slightly forwardly of the sheeting roll 42.

Thereupon, the operator, under foot-pressure upon the pedal 02, depresses the actuating lever '82, axially oscillating the rock-shaft l4 and swinging the links 10 and arm- Ii forwardly. Then, as the links 13 swing forwardly, the slide blocks 90 are shifted forwardly alongthe'slide rods 90, thereby shifting the lay-over plate I09 forwardly over the die-plate openings 9|, so that .the lay-over plate lip III will extend slightly be- "wardly against thepull or tension of the spring 00, thus rotating the sprocket I4, such 1 rotary movement thereof being-transmitted through the roller friction clutch]! to the drum 4., thereby shiftingthe secondary conveyor I0 forwardly a distance substantially equal to the distance which the lay-over plate I0! is shifted. c

Thereupon, the operator removing foot -pressure from the pedal 09, the rock-shaft I4 and the I3 and farm 15 swing back to s the tray board II9 shifted back into initial posi- The lay-over plate I09 is thereby shiftably returned to initial position, but, by reason of the fact that the reverse rotary movement of the sprocket I8 is not transmitted through the roller friction clutch 19 to the drum 46, the secondary conveyor 50 remains stationary. Accordingly, the dough-sheet continues to project over the upper face of the die-plate 90, any tendency of the dough -sheet to shift rearwardly upon return movement of the lay-over plate I09 being overcome by the catch-flap H3, which functions in the manner of a ratchet.

'I'hepperator then grips the hand-grip I08 and, by swinging the lever III'I downwardly, lowers the head-plate 93 and shifts the punch-members 96 through the so interposed dough-sheet, thereby cutting out correspondingly shaped individual biscuit dough-bodies, pressing the same through the die-plate openings 9|, and depositing the doughbodies in neat row arrangement in the respective recipient underlying baking tray or pan I22 ready for baking, as shown in Figure 8.

At the same time, the transverse cutting blade 91 shears off the punched portion of the doughsheet from the sheet proper, and then, as the hand-grip I08 is released, the counter-weight I05 swings the link I02 in reverse direction and causes the head-plate 93 to move upwardly to initial position.

Thereupon, the operator again depresses the pedal 03, swinging the lever 02 downwardly and again causing the lay-over plate I09 and the secondary conveyor 50 to move forwardly in the same manner as previously described. Upon this successive operation, however, the forwardly -presented arcuate lip I I0 of the lay-over. plate I09 helps the operator to sweep the waste or residual portions of the previously punched dough portion forwardly over the apron H4 and through the chute .I I5 into the catch-box Hi. When the pedal 83 is released, the lay-over plate I09 returns asbefore to its initial position, having deposited a successive portion of the dough-sheet upon the upper face of the die-plate 90 for successive biscuit or roll-forming operation.

Meanwhile, the previously successively filled pans or baking trays I22'are shifted from beneath the die-plate 90 by sliding the tray-board I I9 outwardly over the extended portion 'of the auxiliary board Ill and manually removed for successive conventional bakery treatment. An empty baking tray I22 is placed in the positioning tray I2I and tion, 50 that the empty baking tray I22 is brought into biscuit-receiving position beneath the dieplateopeningsfl.

During thesesuccessive biscuit or roll cutting and panning operations, the dough-sheet will be progressively moved toward the forward or cut-, ting end of the machine, as previously described, by the successive movements-of the secondary conveyor 50. By reason of the fact, however, that the sprocket II is connected by means of a roller friction clutch I3, this intermittent movement will not be transmitted to the primary conveyor 49 and the latter will-remain stationary to permit the ope'ratorto form and place thereon a suitable successive dough portion.- When the preceding dough-sheet has been completely out and the secondary conveyor 50 is empty, the operator may-again actuate the switch a and, in the manner previously describedJeed the next succeeding dough-sheet forwardly onto the secondary conveyor 50. However, inasmuch as the sprocket initialposition under the pull of the spring at, u llriscqnnected to the-shaft 45 by 'means' of the roller friction clutch I9, this forward movement of the conveyor 50 will not be transmitted to the links 13, and arm 15, and, therefore, the lay- I Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A- biscuit machineincluding an apertured die-plate for receiving a substantially flat doughsheet, a head-plate mounted for fiatwise reciprocation over the die-plate, a series of spaced cylindrical open-bottom punch-members depending from said head-plate for corresponding removable projection into the apertures of the dieplate and through the interposed dough-sheet,

each of said punch-members having adjacent its outer periphery an annular dough-engaging area disposed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said punch-member and means for reciprocating the head-plate and its carried punch-members.

2. A biscuit machine including, in combination, a table for supporting and conveying a dough sheet, a pair of spaced-paralle1 links swingably mounted at their lower ends on the table and extending upwardly therefrom, a sheeting-drum journaled at its ends in and extending horizontally between the link in upwardly spaced relation to the table, and means mounted on the table and engageable with the links for swinging the links to any one of several different positions of adjustmentand thereby shifting. the drum toward and away from the table for correspondingly increasing and decreasing the distance between the under face of the drum and the upper face of the table and thereby varying the thickness of the dough sheet.

3. A biscuit machine including, in combination,

a table for supporting and conveying a dough I sheet, avpair of spaced parallel links swingably mounted at their lower ends on the table and extending upwardly therefrom, a sheeting-drum journaled at its ends in and extending horizontally between the link in upwardly spaced relation to the table, a bracket fixed on the table adjacent each of the links and having a pair of upstanding ears disposed respectively on opposite sides of the link, a rod shiftably mounted at one end in one of the earsand threadedly mounted at its other end in the other of said ears, and a swivel block mounted on the rod intermediate said ears andhaving a laterally extending pin slidably engaged in a slideformed longitudinally dough sheet.

in the link for adjustingthe position of the link and therebyshifting the roller toward and away from the table for varying the thickness of the WALTER A. THUM.

Images