US2603341A

US2603341A - Sandwich making machine

Info

Publication number: US2603341A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1952-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1969-07-15

Description

A. A. KNEE 'SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE July 15, 1952 ll Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. .30, 1947 m m f. QN Num w M .21. N .ww/l .PNvN QS N A I Sl. m ...0. snm M .S J@ u S M QS .WQM \hm. m2 .wv o h. 9W h" 6' QNM.

. J w3 En J vm 3 my tm vw mm oo w E. o m m3 h Qmrll Sm @n L n .EN EN .mwN .hmvww m W mmm www am hun MQN .,N Bmw W -EN bmw x mw xv .EN EN. .8N `N www N. ||Im-NN .New www ATTORNEY.

July 15, 1952 A. A. KNEE SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

AARoN A. KNEE.

ATTORNEY.

11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 30, 1947 ATTORNEY.

11 sheets-'sheet 4 A. A. KNEE SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Jluly 15, 1952 Filed sept. so, 1947 SN M 5 Q En su h h Qm ms AA Ro/v A. KNEE'. BY @A ATTORNEY July 15, 1952 A. A. KNEE 2,603,341

SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Filed sept. so, 1947 I1 sheets-sheet 5 Anka/v A. KNEE.

BY @,Ak

ATTORNEY.

July 15, 1952 A. A. KNEE 2,603,341

SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 50, 1947 l1 Sheets-Sheet 6 [N V EN TOR. AEo/v A. Nea

/4 TTOEA/EY July 15, 1952 A. A. KNEE 2,603,341

SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1947 11 lShi-:(-B'lS-SheIl 7 AA20/v A /61/56,

NVENTOR.

01 BY l 4 l 0 /1 /4 TTOPA/E K 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 A. A. KNEE SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE @mm Sm omNJ f anw Oomv July 15, 1952 Filed Sept. 30, 1947 NSN.

AAeoA/A. ,M1/5E,- INVENTOR. BY l Arron/sy.

July 15, 1952 A, A KNEE 2,603,341

SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE ATTORNEY.

July 15, 1952 A. A. KNEE 2,603,341

SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Filed sept. 5o, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet lO ATTORNEY.

July 15, 1952 A. A. KNEE SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet ll Filed Sept. 30, 1947 AARo/v H. KNEE,

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 15, 1952 j 2,603,341 Y SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Aaron A. Knee, Charlotte, N. C., assignor to Lance, Inc., Charlotte, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina,

Application September 30, 1947, Serial No. 777,083

22 claims. l

This invention relates to a machine for making sandwiches such as peanut butter sandwiches and the like by providing means for feeding a cracker or cake along pre-determined paths, depositing a ller onto the cracker or cake, then depositing another cracker or cake on top Vof the first named cracker or cake in such a manner that the two crackers or cakes are in perfect superposed relation and then delivering the nished product from the discharge end of the machine to a suitable conveying means where they are usually packed into packages containing several of the nished double-decked crackers or cakes with the filler therein.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for making confections such as peanut butter sandwiches and the like by providing a plurality of conveying means disposed in side by side relation and having a magazine for holding a plurality of stacks of crackers or cakes, there being one magazine for each conveyor, whereby there may be provided a lling feeding mechanism having outlets for each of these conveyors for depositing in timed relation a pre-determined amount of lling material onto the cracker or cake which has been released onto the conveyors, and providing additional magazines for crackers or cakes and releasing a second cracker or cake onto the top of the first cracker or cake having the lling thereon at a pre-determined time to cause it to be superposed on top of the first cracker or cake with the filling material therein.

Means are also provided whereby if the production of the machine is greater than can be handled by the wrapping department to which the finished superposed crackers and cakes are delivered, for cutting out one or more of the feeding means for the crackers and for the lling material to thereby reduce the combined output of the machine until such time as the packing department has caught up with the output of the machine.

More specifically, it is another object of this invention to provide a sandwich making machine of the character described wherein the conveyor has one or more longitudinal rows of spaced pockets thereon with a pair of vertically movable pins associated with each of said pockets. Each of the cake feeding stations or magazines hasV a slotted platform thereon disposed immediately above the conveyor extending longitudinally of the conveyor and onto which the crackers or cakes are deposited, one at a time, in timed relation to movement of the conveyor.

A cam means is provided for elevating the pins as they move Past each of the magazines to thus cause the upper portions of these pins to pass between the slots in the corresponding slotted platforms for removing each successive cracker or cake therefrom and directing the same onto the, corresponding pocket or pockets, the cam means being so arranged as to permit the pinsto assume a lower position, relative to the position they assume while passing adjacent the magazines, as they pass beneath the filling feeding mechanism so that the filling feeding mechanisml mayfloe'` disposed closely adjacent the upper surfacesy of the crackers or cakesV on the pockets as the Iillir'ig is dispensed from the filling feeding mechanisml onto each successive cracker or cake from the rst of the magazines. Y Some of the objects of the invention 'having been stated, other objects will appear as the de` scription proceeds, when taken in connection w.' hf the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sandwich ma chine with parts omitted and other partsbeing broken away, showing the improved magazines and the arrangement thereof and showing a lling' dispensing apparatus disposed therebetween,4 schematically;

Figure 2 is a side elevation looking at the oppor'y sitev side of the machine from that shownin* Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the machine as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FigureV 1 with parts omitted and other parts being broken away;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure l" with parts broken away and showing the structure of the conveyor; Y

Figure 6 is a schematic longitudinal vertical section through the machine illustrating the configuration of the elongated cam means or pin con-v trolling trackways relative to the magazines Vand the lling feeding apparatus; Y

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the discharge end of the machine taken sub` stantially along the line 1 1 in Figure'; f

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through the discharge end ofV one ofthe magazines vshowing a portion of the conveyor associated therewith and being taken substantially along the line 8 8 inFigure3; l

Figure 9 is a View partly in section taken substantially along the line 9 9 in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view, mostly in elevation butl partly in section, taken substantially' along the line lll-l0 in Figure 8; l 'i Figure 11 is an isometric view of the sandwich" clamping means shown in the lower central portion of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is an isometric view of one of the cracker or cake holders or pockets and a portion of the endless conveyor such as is illustrated in Figure '7;

Figure 13 `is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially along the line |3-I3 in Figure 8 and omitting certain parts for sake of clearness;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, looking substantially along the line |4|4 in Figure 1 and showing the cracker or cake centering means disposed .between the two magazines, but omitting parts of the conveyor;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line ||5 in Figure 14 and showing the conveyor, partly Vbroken away, in association therewith;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary view, mostly in elevation, but showing parts in section, and taken substantially-along the line |6|6 in Figure 15;

Figure 11is an enlarged fragmentary topplan view looking down substantially along vthe line 1--1 in Figure 1 and showing, particularly, the manner in which the conveyoris constructed;

Figure 18 is-an isometric view of the framework of the machine omitting all parts that fare not integrally welded to the .framework of the machine.

Referring more specifically tothe drawings, the numeral I0 indicates alower'longitudinal .frame bar while II indicates a similar .bar on the other side of the machine (Figure 18). At one end these bars I0 and I I are joined togetherby an end bar I2 and at the other end the bars VI0 and respectively have Adownwardly projecting bars .I3 and I4 (Figures 2 and 18) to the lower ends of which is secured a `transverse end bar I5. At the discharge end of the machine the lower frame is supported by vertically disposedlegs I6 and I1.

Near the intake endof the machine are vertically `

disposed legs

20 and 2| which vare joined together by a transverse bar 22. Also there .are downwardly projecting

bars

24 and 25 extending downwardly from the side bars |0 and I I respectively -to which is secured a transverse bar 26. The bars I5, 22 and 26 support a plate member 21.

The bar |0 has rising upwardly therefrom

uprights

30 and 3| whose upper ends are connected to-anupper horizontal-bar 32. The

bars

30 and 3| are bridged by a bar 33 and extending from bar 30 is a bar 34 which has an upright bar .35 which vis connected to one endof the horizontal frame bar 32.

The lower horizontal bar I Ihas rising upwardly therefrom

uprights

36 and 31 which yare similar to

bars

30 and 3|. These haveextending therebetween a bar `40 and the upper ends of the

bars

36 and 31 are secured to an upper horizontalbar 4|. Extending toward the discharge .end of the machine and secured to upright bar 36 isa horizontal intermediate bar 42 which hasan upright bar 43 securedtheretoand which isalso secured to the upper horizontal bar 4 I.

Both the upright bars 30 and 36 have secured theretoone end of horizontal bars 44 and 45 respectively which project toward the intake end of the machine and have secured on the uppersurfaces thereof, near their free ends, uprising pins 46 and 41 which have xed thereon a transverse bar 50 which bridges the gap between the free ends of the bars44 and 45.

The bars 3| and 31 have secured thereto one end of

bars

52 and 53 whose free ends have secured therebetween a shaft 54. Secured to and rising upwardly from the upper horizontal bars 32 and 4| are

upright pins

55 and 56 to the upper ends of which is secured a transverse upper bar 51.

The upper horizontal bars 32 and 4| have, near the discharge end, and intermediate the ends, of the machine, downwardly projecting

portions

64 and 65 to the lower ends of which are secured transverse bars 65.

Secured to the proximate surfaces of intermediate

horizontal bars

33 and 40 are

bars

10 and 1| (Figures 5 and 18). Secured to the ends of the upper horizontal bars 32 and 4| and spanning the distance therebetween is an angle bar 14. To the rear surface of angle bar 14 is secured a transverse bar 11.

The ,upper horizontal bars 32 and 4| are connected at the intake end of the machine by a transverse bar 80. Disposed on the proximate sides of upper horizontal bars 32 and 4I are the projections 8| and 82 (Figures 5 and 18) which serve .to support the upper reach of the conveyor chains while the ,bars 10 and 1| support the lower reach of the `conveyor chains as will be later described.

Mounted on the plate 21 is an electric motor 00 having wires 9| and 92 leading from a suitable source of current, not shown, into the motor (Figures 1 and 2). This motor has a V-pulley 93 on its motor shaft 94 on which is mounted a V-belt 95. VThis V-belt 95 is mounted on a V- pulley 96 on one side of a variable speed drive mechanism 91, this comprising the input side of the conventional variable speed mechanism. The drive ,mechanism 91 has van output shaft |02 whichhas a pulley |03 fixed thereon on which a V-belt |04 is mounted. said V-belt |04 being mounted on a pulley |05 fixed on a shaft |06 rotatably mounted in bearings |01, which are mounted on the lower horizontally disposed bars I0 and Shaft [0:6 has mounted thereon a V-pulley IIS which has mounted thereona V-belt I I which is also mounted on a larger V-pulley I2 secured on a shaft ||3 mounted for rotation in bearings II4 disposed on the intermediate

horizontal bars

33 and 40. Adjacent the pulley ||2 is a sprocket wheel I I6. There is mounted in suitable bearings ||1 on horizontal bars 44 and .45, a shaft ||8, which has xedly mounted thereon sprocket Wheels |20 and |2|.

Rotatably mounted in bearings |25 disposed on the

horizontal bars

horizontal bars

33 and 40, as well as horizontal bars 34 and 42 (Figure The ends of the transverse bars |46 have wear shoes |54 and |55 secured thereon which contact thesupporting bars 8| and 82 to support the upper leaf of the conveyor while it is traveling from theintake end to the discharge -end vof the machine. Each of the transverse bars |46 has a plurality of cracker receiving shoes or pockets |56 xedly secured thereon in spaced relation to each other and all of these cracker receiving shoes are spaced at the same position along all of the transverse bars |46 so as to provide aligned rowsof .cracker receiving shoes throughout the entire'length of the conveyor of which chains |42 and |43 form a part.

The bars |66 have welded near each end thereof U-shaped members |61 and |68 which are adapted, near the discharge end of the machine, to ride on trackways |10 and |1|.

The supporting bars |10 and |1| are supported atV their ends by spacer collars |12 and 13 which in turn are supported by bars |14 and |15 which are supported near one of their ends, and inter-I mediate their ends, by the transverse bars 66 and at their opposite ends Iby another transverse bar 69 secured between the uprights 3| and 31 (Figures 1, 2, 5, '1 and 18) The spacers |12 and |13 are of varying height and are of such height as to vary the level of the U-shaped members |61 and |68 progressively as they move from the intake end to the ldischarge end of the machine. It will be noted, for example in Figure 6, that these bars have at their beginning near the intake end of the machine no spacer collars V|61 and |68 thereunder. These bars |10 and |1| are held in position by meansv of suitable stove bolts |16 penetrating both bars |10 and `|1| and thesupporting bars |14 and |15 '.hich vare supported by the transverse bars 66 and-69.

'I'wok different spaced dispensing stations are provided for feeding the crackers or cakes into the conveyor, and these stationsare identical and like reference characters will apply except' that the 'first feeding means which is not shown in as full detail as the'se'cond feeding means will have prime' notations added to like parts, and a thorough description will be'given ofthe second feeding means which is shown inmore'detaillFigures 1. 2. 3. 4.18, 9, 1oand13).

The crackeror cake magazines each comprise auplater 280 having angle strips 20| near their outer edges 'to which are 'secured they sidewalls 202 and 203, respectively` and also fixed to the plate 08 are'walls 204,285, 206; 201, 208, 289', 2|0 ,and` 2||, thus providing chutes or supporting areas indicated by reference characters 2I5, ,2|6,

`2|1, '2|8, and 2|9, for stacks rof crackers. u

The side walls 202 to 2|| project inwardly toward each other to narrow the chutes 2|5 to ZIB inclusive near the bottom thereof to give a sufcient clearance for travelv ofthe crackers while the top portions of these chutes are broader to make feeding of crackers thereinto all in a stacked form more easily accomplished. 'I'he members 20| to 2|| inclusive have inturned lips 222 which restrict the open side of the chutes 2|5 to 2|9 near their lower ends to prevent the crackers from jarring forwardly out of the chutes as vthese',lipsrestrict the passageway to a width which is narrower than the width ofthe crackers.

The members 204 to 2|| inclusive are secured in position by means of a plurality of blocks 223 (Figure 4) being secured between pairs of the same by means` of a screw 224 penetrating the sheetmetal member 200 and then suitable rivets or screws 225 penetrate the members 204 to 2|| inclusive and in the case of rivets, would penetrate the blocks 223, and in the case 0f screws would be threadably imbedded inthe block 223 to therefore hold the members 204 to 2|| inclusive in assembled position.

The side members 202- and 203 are secured to the angle members r20| as by screws 226 penetrating the angle members .and being threadably imbedded in the

side members

202 and 203.. The angle rnembers`20| are suitablysecured to the sheet metalplate '200 by means of suitable screws 221.

vThevcrackers or cakes are fed into the top or broaderportions of the chutes 2 5 to 2 9 inclusive to provide an elongated stack of .thecrackers in each c hute and then an attendant will continue to feed additional crackers into these chutes to cause an ample supply to be in the chutes at all times.

The lower edge of plate 200 has secured thereto by any suitable means an angle bar 230 which has welded thereto a cross bar 23| whose ends are supported in` uprights I232 and 233 (Figures 8and 9). The `shaft 23|l is rounded lat its ends and lis oscillatably mountedv in the uprights 232 7 and 233 and has

nuts

234 and 235 on its outer ends, by means of which the lshaft 23| can be adjustably clamped in position when the angularity of the metal plate 200 is determined. The

angularity of this metal plate may be adjusted by means of square shaft 236 being secured to the lower side of the plate 200 which shaft is rounded at itsends and penetrates

blocks

231 and 238 and nuts 24| and 242 are threadably mounted on the outer ends of the rod 236 to secure the

blocks

231 and 238 in position (Figures 1, 2 and 3).

Fixed in the lower ends of

blocks

231 and 238 are

rods

243 and 244 which are threaded at their lower ends and penetrate top horizontal side bars 32 and I4I and have

nuts

245 and 246 disposed above and below the bars 32 and 4I for adjusting the vertical position of the rods 243 and 27744.

Secured on their lower .ends to the forward lower surface of the angle bar 230 near the end of said angle bar 230 by means of suitable screws 250 are side upright bars and- 2'52 (Figures 8, 9 and 10) Secured at its ends to the posts 25| and 252 by means of

bolts

253 and 254 is a plate 255 which extends across the machine. Secured to the upper surface of plate 255 is a bar 256 by means of

bolts

253 and 254 and this bar 256 has a plurality of upwardly and rearwardly projecting lips 251 which overlie the lower ends of the chutes 2I5 to 2 I9 (Figures 8 and 9). These projections 251 are for preventing upward movement of the lowermost crackers during a feeding operation.

The plate 255 has raised portions 260 (Figures 9 and 10) spaced apart from each other. These raised portions 260 are on the lower side 0f plate 255 and in the spaces between these raised portions suitable gates 262 are mounted for sliding movement. These gates have a reversely bent portion 262a adapted to slide on the upper side of plate 255.

Secured to the plate 255 by means of suitable screws 263 is a transverse bar 264 which has spacer washers 265 (Figure 8) at various points along the bar-to hold the bar 26.4 in spaced relation to the plate 255. The upper leg 262a projectsA downwardly between the plate 255 and the bar 264 and has an outwardly and upwardly turned leg 262D which limits upward movement of the gate 262 (Figure 8). The bar 264 has a. bore 266 associated with each portion 262a in which is mounted a ball 261 which is normally urged against the leg 262a by means of a compressionspring 268.

There is a flat strip 210 secured on the top surface of bar 264 by means of the same Screws l263 which secure the bar 26,4 to the plate, 255 and -this flat barV 210 confines the compression springs 268 inY position to push' the ball 261 against the surface portion 262a so as to hold the gate 262 in elevated position when it is raised to the position shown in Figure 8, since the leg 26211 has a der iressiony 21| near its lower end which, is adapted -to be entered by the ball 261 to hold the gate Y262 in elevated position. The gate v262 when in lowered position is adapted to close the lower end of the chutes 2|5 to 2|9 inclusive to prevent a cracker from falling downwardly to where it can be expelled from the chute.

Secured to the lower surface vof the angle bar 230 is a plurality of spaced cracker receiving and supporting members or platforms broadly referred to by reference character 215 (Figures 8, 9 and 10) This member 215 has a leg 216 which is secured to the lower surface vof `angle bar 23|)l by means of suitable screws 211. The leg- 216 has integral therewith a downwardly and forwardly projecting platform portion or ledge 218.

The portion 216, as is clearly visible in Figures 8 and 10, has integral therewith

side walls

262 and 283 which have inturned flanges or spaced supporting

members

284 and 285 at their lower edges which provide a space therebetween of less dimensions than the width of a cracker. These spaced supporting

members

284 and 285 project substantially beyond the ends of the

side walls

283 and 282. The downturned portion 218 has a pair of gaps 286 and 281 cut in the lower edges thereof through which the pins |65 pass to remove a cracker from the inturned portions or

ledges

284 and 285 and to carry the cracker along to the free ends of these inturned portions or

ledges

284 and 285 to where it will fall by gravity .onto the conveyor chain in the first cracker dispensing assembly whereas ln the second conveying assembly the cracker will fall onto the filling which will have been deposited onto the first cracker.

There is provided a plate 290 (Figures 8 and 10) which is turned at right angles at its upper ends as at 29| and to the upper side of this plate 290 and to its portion 29| is secured, by means to be presently described, a closure plate 292. It will be noted in Figure 8 that the plate 292 terminates a substantial distance short of the'lower edge of the plate 290 thus forming a leaf portion or member projecting below the closure plate 292. The sheet metal plate 290 projects at each end beyond the ends of plate 292 and these ends are slidably mounted in

grooves

293 and 294 in the angularly disposed posts 25| and 252. The lower surface of plate 290 is reinforced by meansof a bar 295 which is secured to the plate 290 and to the plate 292 by means of bolts 296 penetrating the above named parts.

Secured to the outer surface of this plate 290 and near the top portion thereof by any suitable means such as bolts 300 penetrating

plates

290 and 292, is an angle bar 30| which is also penetrated by the bolts 300. At each end of angle bar 30| suitable bolts 303 penetrate the forwardly projecting leg of angle bar 30| and the lower` portion of these bolts 303 are penetrated by pivot pins 355. These pivot pins 305 pivotally support the upper ends of connecting rods 306 whose lower ends are pivotally connected by pivot pins 301 (Figure 8) to forked bolts 3|0 which penetrate a bar 3|| and these bolts are confined in position by means of nuts 3|2 on the lower end thereof.

The shaft 3| I near its ends has abutting thereagainst the upper ends of inclined levers V3I3 and 3I4 (Figures l, 2, 9 and 10) which project downwardly and forwardly and are xed to the two ends of a shaft 3I5 mounted in suitable bearing blocks 3I6 disposed on the horizontal

intermediate bars

34 and 42. It is to be noted that the bearing blocks 3I6 are mounted on similar intei-mediate horizontal bars 33 and .40.

The bar 3|| is rounded on its right-hand end in Figure 10 or the end nearest the observer in Figure l and has pivotally mounted thereon a connecting rod 3|1 which has its lower end eccentrically connected to an eccentric wheel 320 which isdxed on the shaft I I8 mounted in bearing blocks I1. The structure for the first cracker dispensing means is identical to the second means except that the connecting rod 3|1' is connected to an eccentric wheel 325 which, in-

stead er being mounted Aon shaft ns, is mounted .lip 326l which has a vertically disposed hole there-` through which is penetrated by a shoulder screw 321 and allows vertical lsliding movement of the tionl to bar 51.

The lower portion of each member 325 has a horizontally disposed portionv 328-. This has a pair of

grooves

330 and 33| in its lower surface through which the' pins |65 may pass if no i# cracker is' present tohold the member 325 in elevated position'and thus this arrangement prevents thepins |65 from having to raise the member 325 in the event no cracker is'in position to h olda member 325 in elevated position (Figure "F1 8). The purpose of the member 325 is to cause the lower horizontal portion 328 to engage the crackers as they travel through the machine and, as will be observed in Figure 8, it will hold the crackers C-2 in horizontal position until they arel entirely removed from the inturned flanges 284 Aand 285 so that the cracker will fall in a horizontal attitude onto lthe filling F deposited onto the previously deposited cracker C-I.` .filso mounted on the shaft |06 is a' V-pulley 350, (Figure 2) which has mounted thereon a V-belt 35|'which is also mounted on a pulley 352 xedlyzsecured on a shaft 353. Theshaft 353 is supported by bearings 354 at the ends thereof which are secured on the lower surfaces of frame members |70 and k|V A(Ifiguresl and 2). Y The end of the shaft 353 remote-, from the observer in Figure 2, but nearest th observer in ,Fi'gureL` has arsprocket wheel 3641mounted thereon on which is mounted a sprocket chain 365 which is also mounted on a sprocket wheel 366 fixedlymmounted on a shaft 358. Shaft: 358

also has xedly `mounted thereon a sprocket portion 326 as well as `the member 32.5 with 1.81% g wheel y3 61 which has mounted thereona sprocket chain 310 which is also mounted on'a sprocket wheel .3 1lffixedly secured on a shaft 312 which is part of a fillingA feeding apparatus. The filling feeding apparatus may be of any desiredconstruction `provided that it operatesVV to .dispense fillingl material at predetermined intervals in timed relation to movement of the conveyor. Thus. the driving means for the lling feeding apparatus is shown in detail, but the filling feeding apparatus is shown schematically and indicated generally at 315. The apparatus 315 does not, necessarily, constitute a part of the present invention andQther'efore, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. This apparatus 315 may be of the type disclosed in my co-pending application entitled DispensingI Apparatus for ViscousdMaterial andv Method." SeriahNo. 251,725, filed October 17, 1951.

In this instance, the -illing feeding apparatus |56 of the conveyor by means of fourv spacer blocks 316, there being two on top of each' of the bars 32v and 11|.Y Resting on top of these blocks is a plate member 311 and the plate member 311.

kzo 315 is supported in spaced relation to the pockets Vtical to each. other.

10. as well Vas the spacer blocks 316 are penetrated by screws 380 which are threadably imbedded inthe horizontal bars 32 and 4|. This plate 311 is the base portion vof the filling feedingapparatus 315.

One great advantage of vhaving the cake holding chutes at an incliney such as shown in the drawings, is that -the-vplate 200 supports thev greater portion of the weight of the column vof cakes and therefore the reciprocating member 292 in removing the lowermost cake will not grind the uppersurface thereof or sometimes break the lowermost cake lbecause there will not benearly as muchl-pressurelexerted on the lower-- mostcake asftherefwouldbe ifl the chutes-were Vert-[11034],"A

Mounted ron suitable :uprisers 590 rising from upper-horizontalbars32 and 4| vis a transverse bar-1592 (

Figuresn

1, 2, 14, 15 and 16) which has vertically disposed holes therein in which` are oscillatably mounted

bolts

593 and 594. The lower ends of these

bolts

593 and 594 are slotted longitudinally of the machine and have a pivot pin 595` therein .on which are `mounted'oneY end ofy bars 596 and 591. The bars'596 and 591 project forwardly in closeproximity to the discharge orices of the filling feeding means 315.

Also mounted on suitable uprisers 600 and 60| is a transversebar 6021 which has pivoted'as at 603 and 604 bell crank levers v-605and 606 whose short legs abut each other and have semi-circular vcavities therein which `are penetrated by a pin 601 which is dropped down througha lsuit-f able hole 608 in the bar 602 and serves as'a roller bearingbetween the short legs of the bell crank members 605 and 606.v

' The bell cranklmembers605 and 606 have their free long legs'normallybiased andmoved toward each other by means of ya tension spring 6|0. f The hole 608 is normallycovered bya cap member 6| I. Near the free ends of the bell cranks 605 and 606'fis pivotedV a link member 6|4 as at 61|1. Thelfree ends of bell cranks 605 and 606 havedownwardly projecting pins 6|2` and 6|3. Loosely mounted on the lower ends of pins 6|2 andf6|3 which are headed, are the members 6|5 and 6|6 which have horizontal upwardly projecting legs which project toward Veach other and then an upright ,portion and then an upper horizontal portion designated at 6|8 and 6|9 respectively `which llie flushv against the free ends of the members 596vrand 591. The purpose of this arrangementuisto properly align the first .cracker C' vwhich has, been deposited on the conveyor chainsections, and immediately after it has had the lling F applied thereto so that when the second cracker 0 2 is fed onto the top thereof they will be in proper superposed relation. TheL description is for one of the mechanisms'associated with che of the five longitudinal sections of the-conveyor chain and like reference characters will apply as v`they are iden- Attentionlsespecially called t'o the flared out portions at 6I8 ,and 6|! in Figure 11i which serve to align the cakes in proper position immediately-beneaththedischarge openings of thell- Ving depositor 315. Also attention is vcalled to the fact that theseportions 6|8 and 6|0 in Figurel .project out over the edges of the cakes and there-k foreV holdthem down on the conveyor fand thus 4 prevent the lling while itis being deposited from dragging the cakes backwardly due lto the fact that the portions 6|3 and 6|9 willholdthe Acakes, C| down on the conveyor softhatthey will be carriedy along the conveyorrby the pins .immediately belowthe shortlegs if bell-

ranks

605 and 606 is mounted a bar 622 Whichwis securedl at its-ends by thesame uprisers, 600 and 60|, which secure the transverse bar V602 at its ends. This bar 622 is ,used to slidably support the `short legs of the bell cranks 605 and 606 and thepins601. Y

, Transverse bar 51,-,has Aalready been described as supporting a plurality of vertically slidable members325 as is shown in Figures 8 and 1l. As has alreadynbeen describedkthe conveyorchain inthe present :invention has five rows ofv cracker supporting members |56 in addition to the means for properly .aligning theA crackers C| and. as has been described, ,it isl necessaryto properly align the top crackers C.2 after they have been deposited by the second cracker depositing mechanism. .1 v l ,Secured to the lower side of bar 51 and in the spaces between the points where the vertically

movable members

32,5 are mountedare intermediate bars 630 (Figures 8 and 13) for the intermediate rows of crackersandwiches and outside bars 63|. The outside bars 63| and each of the intermediatebars 630 have oscillatably mounted therein vertically disposed pins 632 and `633. The upper ends of these pinshave fixed thereon

levers

634 and 635 respectively.

The

levers

634 and 635 are joined together by a, tension spring 636. Secured to the lower ends of

pins

632 and 633 are guiding

varies4

640 and 64|. The outside members 63| also have

pins

632 and 633 as well as

levers

634 and 0,35 and guiding vanes 64| thereon, their structure being identical to one side 'fof thestructure aillxed to themembers 630.

Y The members .640 .and 64| and server toproperly laterally align the top crackers C-2 which have been deposited on top of the filling material F, which has been discharged from the filling feeding apparatus 315. Thepins |65 which convey the crackers through the machine serve to align the top and bottom crackers longitudinally.

While the top and bottom crackers C-I and C-2 are being aligned transversely by the

vanes

640 and 64|,l additional aligning means are provided to assist in this operation. Y t Disposed fon each side of each* longitudinal row of' sandwiches disposed on the conveyor belt mechanism is a pairl of angle bars 100 and 10| (Figures 5 and 7) which support the' finished sandwiches S for sliding movement and there yis disposed between these angle bars100and 10 |71; 'a bar 103 with suitable slots between the bar 103 yandV the angle bars 100 and 10|, for the pins. |65 to project into as theylift the finished sandwiches S onto the angle bars and 10|. y

It will be noted that the right-hand'`V end of these angle bars 100 and 10|, as well as the ,mide ,dle bar 103, slant downwardly so asto provide an inclined surface up which the'nished' s andwiches S may be moved bythe pins4 |65 before thepins |65 cease to be in engagement` withthe finished sandwiches S. These bars 1010 ,`10 rvand 103, are suitably supportedby thefa'ngle bracket Y14- previouslyV described. The sandwiches may move along these bars 100, 10| and |03 to a'suit- `able container or onto another conveyor. for further processing..Y u i A. y u y, The trackways |10 and |1| which support the are located. on opposed sides.. of the cracker supporting members ends of the transverse bars |66 and the pins therein, determine the elevation of the top ends of these pins as they progress through the machine, iy referring sto Figure 6,A one of the trackways. 11| .iS. there visible arid the other trak: wayk |10 is identicalon the other side of vthe machineV V(Figures 57,6 and v'1). y Thereitis'noted that the upward movement ofthe |65 'is begun and this elevation isnma'inta'ined until after theA pins |65 pass the rst cracker magasine. This causes thepins |65 to be raised up suffi? ciently ,to pass through thelslots 286 and 2'81 in the first set of cracker 'supporting members 215'.

After they havepassed .the first cracker receiving position, the trackways |10 and I1! ai'e. somewhat lower and occupy the positionshown in the right-hand portion of Figure '15 and this allows the top ends of the pins |65 to pass beneath the lling feeding apparatus 315, but will still be high enough to engage the rear edges of the first deposited crackers C -I to receive the filling F. After they have received the filling and have gradually started to rise as shown in Figure 6 and in the left-hand portion of Figurev l5 to where the pins |65 are elevated approximately to the position shown 'in Figure `8, they will pass through the slots or notches 'in the second cracker dispensing mechanism to engage the crackers C-2 disposed on the hori-l zontal platform formed by the flanges 284 and 205.v Then, after they have deposited the cracker C-2 on top of the filling F whiehhas been deposited on cracker C-I, they remain in this high position as shown in Figure '1 until they discharge their sandwiches onto the bars 100,10I and 103 and move downwardly from behind the rear edge of the finished sandwiches, thus, discharging the sandwiches from the machine. i i

YThe sandwiches discharged from the en ds of

bars

10,0, 10| and 103 might be delivered to a suitable wrapping mechanism if desired, but in commonpractice, they are delivered onto a conveyor mechanism where operators on each side of an extended endless conveyor pick up al plurality of sandwiches and wrap them into a package ready for sale. I Y. In the event that the sandwiches `are disvcharged from the bars 100, 10| and 103 faster than desired and it is desired to cut down the capacity of the machine, then one or more of the discharge orifices of the filling feeding apparatus 315 can be closed. Before this is done. however, one of the gates 262 in one of the cracker feeding chutes 2|5 to 2|6 inclusive will be moved, in the'rst cracker feeding station, to closed position forthat line in the'conveyor in which the orifice is to be closed to 'stop the filling material. Then, of course, in the same line along the conveyor, lthe cracker dispensing gate 262 in the second cracker feeding magazine would be moved to closed position to thus entirely cut out one of the five rows of the conveyor from productive operation. Y l o In the' drawings and specification there has been set forth apreferred embodimentiof the invention, and although specific terms are em'- `ployed, they are used in ageneric and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes oflimitatiQn, the scope of the inventionl being defined in the claims.

Iclaii'nz".A I ,Y ,l A `1..In a machine'for making sandwiches,` a frame,'an endless'conveyor mounted in the frame. and having a plurality of spaced projections ex'- tending outward from the conveyor and being movable at right angles to the conveyor, a first feeding station disposed above the upper reach of the conveyor for feeding cakes to the conveyor and a second feeding station disposed above the upper reach of the conveyor for feeding cakes to the conveyor, the rst and second feeding stations each comprising reciprocal means for removing one cake at a time and feeding it downwardly toward the conveyor, a pair of spaced supports onto which the cake is adapted to fall, said supports extending along each side of the conveyor to allow the projections on the conveyor to pass between the supports and engage the cake to move it longitudinally of the shelf and off the shelf and allow it to fall onto the conveyor, and means for aligning the top and bottom cakes with respect to their line of travel to superpose the same.

2. In a machine for making sandwiches f rom two cakes, crackers and the like, an endless conveyor mounted in said machine, a plurality of spaced pockets mounted on the conveyor, a plurality of transversely disposed bars mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the conveyor and having outwardly projecting pins, a first cake feeding station and a second cake feeding station disposed in spaced relation to each other and above the upper reach of the conveyor, each of the cake feeding stations comprising reciprocable means for feeding one cake at a time downwardly, a slotted platform disposed immediately above the conveyor and extending longitudinally of the conveyor, the inwardly and outwardly slidable bars on the conveyor having pins extending outwardly therefrom, a trackway on which the conveyor is adapted to move, a second trackway on which the inwardly and outwardly slidable bars are adapted to move, said trackway for the transversely disposed bars having an elevated portion at each cake feeding station onto which the transversely disposed bars are adapted to rise to cause the pins thereon to move upwardly and pass through the slotted portion of the platform supporting the cakes and to remove the cakes from the slotted platform to allow them to fall onto the conveyor, cam means for engaging the transversely disposed bars and lowering the same after they shall have passed by the rst cake feeding station and other cam means for elevating the transversely disposed bar s to cause one of their pins to traverse the slotted platform of the second cake feeding station to remove a cake therefrom.

, 3. In a machine for making peanut butter sandwiches and the like, a magazine for holding a stack of crackers and a second magazine for also holding a stack of crackers, each of the cracker magazines having a reciprocable member for removing one cracker at a time rtherefrom, a horizontally disposed shelf member disposed below each of the magazines and onto which the cracker is adapted to fall when delivered, an endless conveyor mounted in the machine and having its upper leaf disposed below the cracker magazines, a trackway on which the upper leaf of the conveyor is supported, the conveyor having a pluralityrof inwardly and outwardly slidable bars mounted thereon, the shelf members supporting the crackers being slotted, pins extending from the bars and a second trackway on which the ends of the pins are adapted torest, the second trackway `having an elevated portion at -eachof the cracker feeding stationsfor raising the transversely disposed bars vand causing the pins to pass through the slots in said shelf members to remove a cracker therefrom, means also for operating the second magazine in timed relation to deposit a cracker therefrom onto the top of the rst cracker, and means for aligning the topmost cracker with relation to the bottommost cracker.

4. In a machine for making sandwiches from two cakes, crackers and the like, an endless conveyor mounted in said machine. a plurality of spaced pockets mounted on the conveyor, a plurality of transversely disposed bars mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the conveyor, a rst cake feeding station and a second cake feeding station disposed in spaced relation to each other and above the upper reach of the conveyor, each of the cake feeding stations comprising reciprocable means for feeding one cake at a time downwardly, a slotted platfrom disposed immediately above the conveyor and extending longitudinally of the conveyor, the transversely disposed bars on the conveyor having pins extending outwardly therefrom, a trackway on which the conveyor is adapted to move, a second trackway on which the transversely disposed bars are adapted to move, said trackway for` the transversely disposed bars having an elevated portion at each cake feeding station onto which the transversely disposed bars are adapted to rise to cause the pins thereon to move upwardly and pass through the slotted portion of the platform supporting the cakes and to remove the cakes from the slotted platform to allow them to fall on the conveyor.

5. In a machine for making peanut butter sandwiches and the like, a cracker feeding magazine for holding a stack of crackers and a second cracker feeding magazine for also holding a stack of crackers, each of the cracker feeding magazines having a reciprocable member for removing one cracker at a time therefrom, a horizontally disposed longitudinally slotted shelf member disposed below the magazines and onto which the cracker is adapted to fall when delivered,

endless conveyor mounted in the machine and having its upper reach disposed below the cracker magazines, a trackway on which the upper reach of the conveyor is supported, the conveyor having a plurality of inwardly and outwardly slidable bars mounted thereon, pins extending from the bars, a second trackway on which the ends of the bars are adapted to rest, the second trackway having an elevated portion at each of the cracker feeding stations for raising the transversely disposed bars and causing the pins to pass through the slots in said platforms to remove a cracker therefrom, means also for operating the second magazine in timed relation to deposit a cracker therefrom onto the top of the first cracker, and means for aligning the topmost cracker with relation to the bottommost cracker after the topmost cracker has been deposited onto the first cracker.

6. In a machine for making sandwiches from cakes and a suitable filling material, an endless conveyor having a plurality of transverse rows of pockets and having a plurality of transversely disposed bars having outwardly projecting pins mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the conveyor, there being a bar disposed between each transverse row of pockets, a pair of rows of cake magazines disposed in spaced relation to each other and each cake magazine comprising a plurality of chutes for holding a :stegen:

stacl'cof cakes, a--platform disposed below? each! chute and being disposed in horizontal-alignment with the upperreachof vthe endless conveyor and in spaced Vrelation thereto, each or the platforms having slotsl therein, a trackway on which the upper reach of the conveyor isadap'ted to be supported, a second trackway disposed on each sidev of the endless conveyor and on which the ends ofthe transverse bars are adapted to travel, said trackway having elevated portions beneath each of the magazines for raising the transverse bars to cause their pins to pass through the slotted platform toV remove a cake' therefrom, means driven in timed relation to the machine for simultaneously operating all ofthe means for discharging cakes oneat a time from the lower ends of said chutes, and means for selectively rendering inoperable the cake feeding means for anyl 8. In a sandwich making machine having a plurality of chutes disposed in side by side relation into which cakes are adapted to be stacked, a slidable gate for removing Vone vcake at a time from the lower ends of each ofthe chutes, a second slidable gate for closing theY lower end ci each of the chutes for preventing downward movement oi the cakes therein, an endless conveyor disposed below the chutes and onto which the cakes are adapted to fall, said'e'ndless conveyor having pins projecting upwardly theren from, a pair of spaced supporting means disposed beneath each of the chutes andbetween which the pins are adapted to pass, the cake after being removed from the lower end of' a chute' being adapted to fall onto the spaced supporting means to be engaged by the pins on the endless conveyor for removing it from theV spacedV supporting means and allowing it to fall onto the endless conveyor.

9. Apparatus for forming sandwiches comprising a conveyor, the upper reachV of which is adapted to move in a substantially' horizontal plane and a pair of dispensing stations disposed in spaced relation above and along the path of travel of the upper reach of the conveyor, each of'the dispensing stations comprising an angularly disposed chute in which a stack of super-l posed articles may be placed, closure means for closing the lowermost end of said chute, means automatically operable in timed relation to' move'- ment ofthe conveyor for moving the closure means out of engagement with the lowermost end lowermost end of said chute when the closure4 means is moved away from the lower end of the chute, said platform being disposed in spaced relation to the open lower end ofthe chute whenv the closure means is moved away from the open end of the chute, thereby permitting the'lower most of the articles in the stack to move, b'y

grayity;v against `th'e platform and,.whereby, upon the' closure means again being moved to' closedy position for closingv the lower end of the chute, the lowermost of the articles'will be moved towards the conveyor by the closure means, vertically movable spaced pins on the conveyor andV cam means engaging the pins throughout their length ofY travel while in the upper reach oi the conveyor, spaced supporting ledges forming an opening therebetween and onto which the lowermost of the articles is adapted to fall when moved downwardly by the said closure means, said pins projecting through the opening formed between the spaced supporting ledges by virtue of the cam means engaging said pins to thus push the said lowermost of the articles oi the supporting ledges and onto the conveyor.

10. VIn a machine for making sandwiches and' cakes, an endless conveyor having a plurality of transversely disposed bars having outwardly project-,ingl pins mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the conveyor, a pluralityy of shoe members on the conveyor.V there being a shoe member for each of said transversely disposed bars, a pair of cake dispensfing magazines disposed in spaced relation to eachother above the upper reach of the conveyor and each cake' dispensing magazine comprising an inclined chute for holding said cakes and being disposed in a vertical plane above theup'pef reach' of the conveyor, a' platform disposed at' the lower end of each chutev and in spaced relation to the upperl reach of the endless conveyor, each of said platforms having a' longitudinally' extending slot therein. aY rst trackway on which thel upper'reach of the conveyor' is adapted to be supported, a second trackway' disposed adjacent opposite sides of the' endless conveyor and on which the ends of the transverse bars are adapted to travel, said second trackway having elevated portions beneathV eachV of the cake'dispensing magazines for raising theV transverse bars to cause their pins to pass through the slotted platforms to remove a cake therefrom, the second trackway having a lowered portion to thus allow the pins to move downwardly, by gravity, to a lower elevation, the second trackway being adapted to again move the pins-to a slightly higher elevation to thusrev move a cake from the second of the cake dis'`^ pensing magazines and to deposit the cake fromv the same onto thecake from the preceding cakey dispensing 'magazina 11.- -In'a sandwich making machine having an endless conveyor travelling in a substantiallyv xed closed path in a horizontal'plane and the conveyor having a plurality of spaced transverse bars thereon, a plurality of shoe members mounted'on each of said bars, a magazine comprising a plurality of inclined chutes adapted' to' contain' a pluralityA of stacks of superposed articles lpositioned above the conveyor,A each of said chutes having an open bottom, reciprocable closure means for the bottom of each of said chutes, and automatic means for moving the closure means away from the open lower ends ofi the inclined chutes in times relation to' n'iovementV of the conveyor, a supporting plat'- forin disposedbelow each chute and extending in a horizontal plane above the path of travel of' the' shoe members andlonto which the ar'- ticles are adapted to fall upon being released by the reoiprocable closure means, each of saldi supporting platforms having a longitudinally entending slot therein, and means associated with each' off the-'shoe members` for removing'l 17 each of the articles. as it is positioned on the supporting platform, from the supporting platform and depositing it onto the corresponding shoe member as the conveyor moves beneath said magazine.-

12. In a structure according to claim 11, said reciprocable closure means "comprising anf automatically operable closure plate movable into and out of closing position for closing the lower end of each of the inclined chutes, cam means for moving the closure means in timed relation to movement of lthe conveyor, a leaf member extending from the closure plate and being disposed in spaced relation to the open lower end of each of the inclined chutes upon the closure plates being moved to open position to thus serve as a guide member against which the lowermost of the articles from the stack in each of the inclined chutes may slide by gravity, means on said supporting platform for restricting downward movement of the said lowermost article upon the article engaging and sliding down the leaf member, said leaf member being adapted to move with the closure plate out of engagement with the former lowermost of the articles in each stack to permit the article to fall onto the supporting platform where it may be engaged by the means associated with the shoe members for removing the articles Vfrom the supporting platforms.

13. In a structure according to claim 12, a manually operable gate at the bottom of each of said chutes and disposed between the lower end of each of said'chutes and its corresponding closure plate for closing the lower end of the chute and to thus prevent an article from being discharged therefrom upon the said closure plate moving to an open position.`

14. In a structure according to claim 1l, said supporting platform comprising a pair ofspaced ledges extending in a horizontal plane and supported by the magazine andvbetween which the means associated with the shoe members for removing the articles therefrom is adapted to move, a vertically -movable weight member positioned above the supporting platform, its trailing edge being positioned in the same vertical plane as the trailing edge of the supporting platform, the bottom of said vertically movable weight member being cut at a slight angle relative to the horizontal so as to permit the article on the supporting platform, as it is slid along said supporting platform by the means associated with the shoe members, to pass beneath said weight member and to be supported by the pressure of the weight member against the platform until its extreme rearmost edge is clear of the supporting platform, thus tending to retain the horizontal attitude of the article until it falls onto the corresponding shoe member.

15. In a structure according to claim 14, spring loaded aligning members disposed on opposed sides of the path of travel of each of the shoe members on the transverse bars, and between A which the articles are adapted to be moved by the means associated with the shoe members for removing the articles from the supporting platform, to thus position the article centrally of the shoe member upon the article being slid off the discharge edge of the supporting platform.

16. In a sandwich making machine having an endless conveyor travelling in a substantially xed closed path in a horizontal plane and the conveyor having a plurality of spaced transverse bars thereon, a-plurality of shoe members mounted on each of said bars, a magazine comprising a plurality of inclined chutes adapted to contain a plurality of stacksofsuperposed articles positioned abovethe conveyor, each of said chutes having an open bottom, reciprocable closure means for thebottom of each of said chutes, and

automatic means for -moving the closure means away from the open lower ends of lthe `inclined chutes in timed relation to movement of the conveyor, a supporting platform disposed below Teach chute and extending in a horizontal plane above the path of travel of the shoe members and onto which the articles rare adapted to fall upon being released by the reciprocable closure means, each of said supporting platforms having a longitudinally extending slot'therein, and means associated with each of the shoe members for removing each of the articles, as itis positioned'on the supportingv platform, from the supporting platform and depositing it onto the ycorresponding shoe member as the conveyor moves beneath said magazine, each of said chutes of the magazine being channel-shaped in cross-section and rbeing open at their upper sides, guide meansy projecting inwardly from the upper sides of said chutes to thus guide the Vstack of articles placed in said chutes downwardly and for moving any upwardly protruding articles toward the bottom, of said chute.

17. Apparatus for dispensing flat objects comprising a frame having an endless conveyor provided with a plurality of spaced outwardly projecting pins, an inclined storage magazine disposed above the conveyor, a horizontally disposed platform disposed below thel lower endof the magazine and having a longitudinally disposed slot therein, means driven in timed relationto the travel of the conveyor'for releasing one object at a time from the magazine to allow it to jfall by gravity onto the platform` so-that as a pinl on the conveyor moves through'said-s'lot the object will be removed from the platform to fall fby gravity onto the conveyor.

18. Apparatus for superposing a pair of fiat objects comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of spaced pins extending therefrom, rlrst and second magazine stations spaced apart from each other and adapted to hold flat objects, the endless conveyor being disposed below the stations, means for raising the pins on the conveyor as they travel below the first and second stations to remove a fiat object therefrom to allow the flat objects to fall by gravity into superposed relation, and means for lowering the pins on the conveyor while they are passing between the rst and second stations.

19. In a machine for making sandwiches from cakes and a suitable filling material, an endless conveyor having a plurality of transversely disposed bars having outwardly projecting pins mounted for sliding movement toward and away from the conveyor, there being a bar disposed between each transverse row of pockets, a pair of cake magazines disposed in spaced relation to each other and each cake magazine comprising a plurality of chutes for holding a stack of cakes, a platform disposed between each chute and being disposed in horizontal alinement withl the upper reach of the endless conveyor and in spaced relation thereto, each of the platforms having slots therein, the transverse bars having pins extending upwardly therefrom, a trackway on which Vthe upper reach of the conveyor is adapted to be supported, a second trackway disposed on