US789655A - Wafer-coating machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

A. W. COPLAND.

WAPER COATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

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JN VL'JYTOR 'ALEXANDER 'W' OOPLAND www aM/M ATT'Y.

, PATENTE) MAYQ, 1905. A. W. GOPLAND. WAFER COMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

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INVENTUR ALEXANDER 'W' UOPLAJYB' WIT/$755555 A wk? No. 789,655. PATBNTEB MAY 9, 1905.

A.W.G0PLAND.

WAFER GOATING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. ze, 1904.

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No. 789,655. l 'P.ax'rfnv'mn MAY 9, 1905.-

` A.. W. GOPLAND.

WAFER OATING MACHINE.

APPLxoATIoN HLD SEPT. 2s, 1904.

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No. 789,655. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

A. W. GOPLAND. WAFBR GOATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

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I/V/TNL'SSES JN VEN TOR ALEXANDEE-W C0PLAND- Unire. Spares vArena Patented May 9, 1905.

written.

WAFER-COATING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,655, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed September 26, 1904. Serial No. 225,966.

To all whom. it puny concern:

'Be it known that-I, ALEXANDER W. Gor- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVafer-Coating Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to machines for coating baked goods, and is intended particularly in the particular construction herein shown for coating sheets of baked batter or dough which are afterward intended to be cut up into smaller sizes to make sandwich-wafers.

The invention consists particularly in the construction of a machine for iiattening the wafer-sheet and holding it for applying the filling to one sheet and subsequently for pressing a superimposed or upper sheet upon the lining to complete the article preparatory to being cut up.

The invention further consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as more fully hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is avertical central section through my improved machine, showing the drive mechanism in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 2 is a topplan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation looking from the right hand of Fig. 2, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line a; m

of Figs. land 3. Fig'. 5 is a vertical section through a modified form of machine.

A is the base of the machine, which has secured to it the hollow standard B, which has a suitable stationary top C.

D is a rotary table having depending from its middle portion the tubular sleeve D/,which suri'ounds the standard B and at its lower end is provided with a gear-wheel E. At four equidistant points on the rotary table D are vsecured the sheet-plates F of suitable size to receive and support the wafer-sheets which are to be coated and made into sandwich form. This rotary table, with the sheet-plates thereon, is rotated and raised and lowered by the following mechanism: G is a drive shaft driven from any suitable power and having thereon the worm meshing with the wormwheel G on the transverse shaft G2. On the shaft G2 is a cam H, on which bears a roller I-I, supported in the ends of the rock-arms H2, which are loosely sleeved on the transverse shaft I. To the rock-arms H2 are secured the two arms I, which extend around the side of the standard B and are provided at their ends with rollers ct, bearing on the under side of the annular gear E. The cam is so shaped that in each revolution thereof the rock-arms H2 and I will be rocked and the rotary table will be raised and lowered. On the end of the shaft G2 is a crank J, having a rollerwrist engaging in a slot of the lever JQ that lever being journaled at c on a stub-shaft on the base of the machine. From the level` J is a connecting-rod K1 which connects to the rock-arm K on the shaft K2 on the opposite side of the machine. This rock-arm carries a pawl d, adapted to engage a notched wheel L on the shaft K2 and in the forward movement thereof .rotate the same. On the shaft K2 is a bevel gear-wheel d', meshing' with a bevel-pinion e on the vertical shaft L. Se-

cured tothe upper part of the pinion e is a A gear-wheel M, which meshes with the gearwheel E and which is of suflicient length to permit of an up-and-down movement of the gear-wheel E in relation to the gear-wheel M without disengagement therefrom.

Throughthe connection described at each rotation of the shaft G2 the rock-arm K' will be moved forward, and through the gearing described the table and the plates thereon will be rotated a quarter-revolution. It is obvious from the description thus far given that the plates will stop at four equidistant points in cach rotation, and for convenience of reference I will number these points, as shown 1n Fig. 2, as 1, 2, 3, and 4. At the hrst stopping-point 1 the operator lays a wafer-sheet upon the plate which is in front of it, and it is desirable that, the sheet should be clamped tightly upon the plate, and this is effected by the following mechanism: Above the station l is a clamping-plate O, secured t'o the arm O', which is in turn-secured to the upper end iss of the shaft O2, extending centrally above the table C and down into the hollow standard B, where it is supported in suitable guides. Gonnected tothe shaft O2 is the rod I), which in turn is connected to the outer end of the 1ever F, journaled at i in the base of the machine and having a roller 7l on its end engaging with a cam Q on the shaft G2.

At the `proper point of time the reduced portion of the cam Q will come opposite the 'roller t' and allow the plate Oto lower by gravity upon the wafer-sheet, which is upon the sheet-plate at the position 1. These sheets are more or less wavy or uneven, and this pressing will temporarily flatten them out. In order to hold them flat, I provide clamping means for the edges. IThese clamping means are of the following construction: /c represents four horizontal shafts arranged under each sheet-plate contiguous to the edges thereof and geared together at the corners by bevel-gears, as shown at Z. The inner shaft of each set is provided with a rock-arm Z', which is connected by a link m with a bellcrank lever m', journaled on the table D. The lower end of the bell-crank rests against a pin n. rThis projects inside the sleeve D. At the point 1, as shown in Fig. 1, as the table is raised this pin will impinge upon and be pressed out by an inclined lug 0 on the standard B, which will rock one of the shafts 7c, and through the gear connection the other shafts t' will alike be rocked and withdraw the clamping-arms p, each of which is provided with a clamping-flange p, overlapping the top of the sheet-plate, as shown in Fig. 1. As the table lowers just before its rotary movement, the pin n will drop off of the lug o, and the torsion-springs s on one of the shafts c will cause the rock-arms p to as-` sume their vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, and cause the clamping-flanges p to clamp the edges of the sheet for the succeeding operation. During the time the table is lowering and until these clamping-flanges are in their clamping position the plate O lowers with the table, so as to keep the sheet fiat until the clamping is effected.

Before the sheet-plate leaves the position 1 and moves to the position 2 it will be lowered, the cam H operating the rock-arms H2 and I', causing the roller a to lower, and the weight of the table will lower it. When lowered, it is rotated a quarter-turn by the gears M and E. When it reaches the position 2, it will be raised to its uppermost position, (shown in Fig. 1,) and at this position is a frame R, which is open and surrounds the sheet-plate and which has on its inner edges a thin sten- Y cil-plate R, which is directly above the edges of the sheet clamped upon the sheet-plate. To hold the sheet perfectly flat and take out any bends or curves there may be in it, I preferably stretch across this stencil-frame a series of wires R2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

S is a hopper containing the compound with which it is desired to coat the sheet. This hopper normally rests with its discharge-opening in the bottom upon the part S of the stationary top C. This hopper is reciprocated over the sheet-plate and over the stencilframe by the following mechanism: T represents connecting-rods connected to opposite ends of the hopper and attached to levers T/, the latter being secured to the shaft I, which is rocked by a rock-arm U, secured to the end thereof and having a roller-wrist engaging a groove in the cam U on the end of the shaft G2. The hopper being reciprocated back and forth over the sheet clamped on the sheetplate will upset and lower the material thereon, the thickness being determined by the thickness of the stencil-frame. The table will then again be lowered and rotated a quarterturn by the mechanism described and the sheet will be brought to the position 3. At this position the coated sheet will have placed upon it by the operator another sheet of like size, there being time for the operator to thus superimpose the sheet while the machine is atrest at its stopping-points. The table is again lowered and the clamped sheet is moved into the position 4. Above this position is a presserplate V, and as the table with the sandwichsheet rises the two sheets will be pressed tighter together and flattened between the sheet-plate and the presser-plate V. This presser-plate V is adjustably supported on the arm V of the top C by means of the bolts q and nuts q. The table again lowers and is moved a quarter-turn to the original position, where the sandwich-sheet is removed, a new one inserted, and the operation repeated.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a machine similar to that shown in the other figures, except that the wafer-sheet is fiattened and is held in its fiat condition by pneumatic means instead of by mechanical means. In this viewI use the same standard B, except that I put a partition T2 across the upper part and the same rotary table D, except that I form conduits T2 from the vertical portion thereof beneath the sheet-plates. The sheet-plates in this case I show as simply perforated plates, as illustrated at S2., In the standard B, I make apertures S, which connect the interior of the standard with the interior of the sleeve D', and then conn'ect the interior of the standard with any suitable air-exhausting means, so that a vacuum will be produced beneath the sheets on the sheet-plate, and they will be held tightly thereon during the various operations by the atmospheric pressure on top so long as the vacuum is beneath. This enables me to dispense with the presser-plate O and the means for operating it and also the clamp- IOO IIO

ing plates 29 and the mechanism for operating' them. Either the mechanical flattening and clamping or the pneumatic flattening and clamping' may be employed, and I believe both are Within the spirit of my invention.

The details of the invention may be modilied obviously in a number of other Ways, and I do not desire to be limited to the specific details herein shown except Where such details are made the subiect-matter of particular claims.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a machine for coating Wafer-sheets, a sheet-plate having means for flattening and holding the sheet ilat, and means for coating the sheet While thus held flat on the plate.

2. In a machine for coating Wafer-sheets, a vertically-reciprocating sheet-plate, means for flattening and holding the sheet flat thereon, and means for coating the sheet While thus held llat on the plate.

3. In a machine Yfor coating Wafer-sheets, a movable sheet-plate, means for flattening the wafer-sheet on the plate, means for moving the plate to a coating mechanism, and said mechanism for coating the sheet.

^ 4. In a machine for coating Wafer-sheets, a movable sheet-plate, means for ilattening the wafer-sheet thereon, a stencil-plate, a coating-receptacle adapted to be moved over the stencil-plate,means for moving the sheet-plate beneath the stencil-plate, means for reciprocating it against the stencil-plate and for lowering the plate and moving it away from the stencil-plate.

5. In a machine for coating Wafer-sheets, a table, a plurality of sheet-plates thereon,means for rotating the table a partial rotation and stopping, means for reciprocating the table at the stopping-points, and a coating mechanism adapted to operate to coat a sheet upon a sheetplate at one of the stopping-points.

6. In a machine for coating Wafer-sheets, a table,a plurality of sheet-plates thereon, means for rotating the table successively partial rotations and stopping the same after each movement, means for reciprocating the table at the stopping-points, mechanism Jfor coating the sheet at one stopping-point, and a presserplate at another stopping-point for the purpose described.

7. In a machine for making Wafer-sheet sandwiches, a table, a plurality of sheet-plates thereon, means for rotating the table successive partial rotations and stopping the same after each movement, means for reciprocating' the table at the stopping-points, mechanism for coating' the sheet at one stoppingpoint, a presser-plate at another stoppingpoint, said table Stopping at a point intermediate the coating and pressing.

8. In a machine for coating' Wafer-sheets, the combination of a movable sheet-plate, the

plate O, means for moving said plate upon the Wafer on the sheet-plate to llatten the same, and means for clamping the edges of the Wafer-sheet while thus llattened.

9. The combination of the sheet-plate, the geared shafts along the edges of the sheetplate, the arms Vp secured thereto, the clamping-flanges p on the ends of the arms, and means for rocking the shafts to cause the clamping-flanges to engage over and Withdraw from the edges of the sheet-plate, for the purpose described.

10. 'Ihe combination of a traveling and reciprocating sheet-plate, the presser-plate O for flattening the sheet at the receiving-point, clamps for the edges of the sheet, and means for applying the clamps upon the downward reciprocation of the sheet-plate, substantially as described.

11. The combination of the reciprocating hopper, the stencil-frame beside the same, a series of Wires or bars stretched across the opening in the stencil-frame, a sheet-plate, means for moving the sheet-plate up to the under side of the stencil-'frame and for reciprocating the hopper over the frame.

12. The com bination-of the table, the sheetplates thereon, means for moving and reciprocating the plates, the presser-plate above the table, and means for adjusting the plate 'to and from the table.

13. In a Wafer-coating machine, the combination of a support 'for a Wafersheet,means for tlattening and holding the sheet fiat thereon.

141. In aWafer-coating machine, mechanism for flattening a Wafer-sheet and holding it flat, and cooperating automatic mechanism for coating the sheet While thus held.

15. In a Wafer-coating machine, a stencil- IOO plate having a series of cross-bars such as fine Wires extending across the stencil openly, and a coating-hopperadapted to reciprocate across the stencil-plate.

16. In a wafer-coating machine, a coating mechanism for applying a layer of plastic material to a Wafer on the Wafer-holder, a presser, and an intermittently-traveling Wafer-holder, said Wafer-holder stopping at the coating' mechanism at the pressing-point and at a point intermediate the coating and pressing points.

17. In a machine for making Wafer-sand- Wiches the combination of an intermittentlytraveling holder, mechanism for applying a layer or' plastic material to a wafer-sheet on the holder, and a pressing mechanism, the coating and pressing mechanism being supported, and the wafer-holder stopping at the coating and pressing means, and at a point between the tivo.

18. In a machine for making Wafer-sandwiches, the combination of coating mechanism adapted to apply a layer of plastic mate- IIO rial to a Wafer-sheet on the sheet-plate, a ism and presser, and means for holding awapresser, the sheet-plate, and means for movfer-sheet flat on the plate While being coated. .10 ing said plate successively to the coating In testimony whereofl I aflix my signature in mechanism and presser. presence of two Witnesses.

19. In a machine for making Wafer-sand- ALEXANDER W. COPLAND. Wiches, the combination of separate coating Witnesses: mechanism and presser, a sheet-plate adapted H. C. SMITH, to move successively to the coating mechanl JAS. P. BARRY.

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