GB2122131A

GB2122131A - Device for cutting off single pieces from a plastically deformable mass

Info

Publication number: GB2122131A
Application number: GB08314721A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wolfgang Girndt; Eberhard Weckend; Dr Reiner Israel
Original assignee: Nagema VEB
Current assignee: Nagema VEB
Priority date: 1982-06-11
Filing date: 1983-05-27
Publication date: 1984-01-11
Also published as: IT1197662B; DE3315925A1; DD206067A1; DE3315925C2; IT8348462A0; GB2122131B; GB8314721D0

Abstract

A device is provided for cutting off single pieces from a plastically deformable continuous length of confectionery mass M supplied at constant speed, by means of two co- operating cutter blades 2a, 2b acting oppositely upon the continuous length of mass. In the region of the cutting position on each of the two sides of the mass length there is mounted a stripper drum 3, 4 driven in the conveying direction during the cutting operation. The drum is open on one side and rests with its external peripheral surface on the mass length and is formed with at least one transversely extending piercing 3b, 4b of slot form to receive the cutter blade which is arranged on the free end of a coupling rod 5, 6 which is off-set so as to extend from the open side into the stripper drum. The rod forms part of a gearing situated beside the mass length and moves the tip of the cutter blade on a path of circular arc form. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for cutting off single pieces from a plastically deformable mass The invention relates to a device for cutting off single pieces from a plastically deformable continuous length, such as confectionary mass supplied at constant speed, by means of two cooperating cutter blades acting oppositely upon the continuous length of mas.

The known wrapping machines for soft caramels are connected at the entry with a continuous-length-delivering, shaping and cuttingoff device, from which the individual pieces are taken for wrapping. The continuous length of confectonery mass is supplied at constant speed by means of shaping rolls and roller pairs, and conveyed intermittently in accordance with the working quantity required by the wrapping machine. During the intervals in conveying of the continuous length of confectionery mass the single pieces are cutt off by means of a rotating cutter which moves past a stationary edge in the guide (Fed. Ger. Pub. Sp. 10 24,330; Fed. Ger.

Pat. Sp. 934,556).

It is also generally known to cut off single pieces, as stated initially. For intermittently working wrapping machines this principle of the known cutter devices is still usable without particular disadvantage, so that no further newly developed devices have come into practical use.

With the beginning of the development of highoutput packing machines, in which the continuous length of confectionery composition must be cut off during a nearly continuous movement, disadvantages arise however in such a cutter device. Due to the halting of the feed movement during the severing operation accumulations occur on the cutter blades. This leads to deformations of the single pieces and adhesion upon the stationary edge in the guide. Thus the output capacity of the packing machine, especially in the case of a continuous manner of operation, cannot be exploited in an operationally reliable manner.

The invention has the aim of developing a cutter device which is suitable even for continuously working wrapping machines.

The problem of the invention consists in assuring the cutting operation without danger of adhesion to stationary parts. According to the invention this is achieved in that in the region of the cutting position on each of the two sides of the continuous mass length there is mounted a stripper drum driven in the conveying direction during the cutting operation, which drum is made open on one side, rests with its outer peripheral surface on the length of mass and comprises at least one transversely extending piercing ofslot form for the cutter blade which is arranged on the free end of a coupling rod which is angled off and protrudes from the open side into the stripper drum and is part of a gearing situated beside the continuous mass length, which gearing moves the tip of the cutter blade on an arcuate path.Thus the cut-off piece is advantageously moved forward by means of the cutter blades, after the severing operation, with a speed higher than the speed of feed of the continuous length, so that a gap occurs and mass adhering to the cutter blades is removed by the stripper drum. This renders possible a certain formation of single pieces with the continuous length of mass moving, exploiting the high performance of the subsequent wrapping machine. To reduce the speed of rotation of the gearing it is possible to arrange further cutters on the coupling rod.

The invention is explained by an example of embodiment in the drawing, wherein:- FIGURE 1 shows a longitudinal section of the device, FIGURES 2 to 5 show different phases of operation during the severing operation, as detail x in Figure 1.

The device consists essentialiy of a stationary guide passage 1 for the continuous length M of mass and a pair of cutters 2 arranged at the end of the passage 1, with two appropriately associated stripper drums 3, 4. The stripper drums 3, 4 are arranged in the region of the cutting position on both sides of the mass length M in such a way that they rest tangentially with their outer peripheral surfaces 3a, 4a against the mass length M. The stripper drums 3, 4 have four transversely extending piercings 3b, 4b of slot form distributed uniformly on the circumference for the two cutter blades 2a, 2b of the cutter blade pair 2. The stripper drums 3, 4 are made open on one side and are mounted each on a drive shaft 3c, 4c.The two cutter blades 2a, 2b are arranged each on the free end of a coupling rod 5, 6 which extend, angled off, from the open side into the stripper drums 3, 4. The coupling rods 5, 6 are parts of a parallel crank gearing situated beside the mass length M and assembled from the following gearing elements:- The coupling rods 5, 6 are carried by a double crank 7a, 7b, 8a, Sb each which are arranged on two shafts 9a, 9b, 1 0a, 1 Ob. On the shafts 9a, 9b, 1 Oa, 1 Ob there are secured gear wheels 11 a, 1 b, 1 2a, 1 2b which mesh with one another by pairs.

The gear wheels 1 2a, 1 2b are in engagement with a drive gear 13 which is mounted on a shaft 14.

On the shaft 14 there is arranged a crank 1 5 which is connected through a coupling rod 1 6 with a second crank 17. The crank 17 is situated on a drive shaft 18 which is moved by a drive system (not shown).

The stripper drums 3, 4 are likewise driven by the gearing as described above. For this purpose gear wheels 19, 20 meshing with one another are situated on the drive shafts 3c, 4c. The gear wheel 20 is in engagement with an intermediate wheel 21 arranged beside it and mounted on an intermediate shaft 22. On the intermediate shaft 22 a further wheel 23 is secured which meshes with the gear wheel 1 2b through which the drive for the stripper drums 3, 4 is introduced.

To receive the single pieces E severed by the device a U-shaped delivery bar 24 leading to the wrapping machine (not shown) is provided, extending transversely of the guide passage 1.

The manner of operation of the device is the subject of the following description.

The continuous length of confectionery mass coming from an extruder (not shown) moves continuously in the guide passage 1 into the working region of the-cutter device. As may be seen especially from Figure 2, the cutter blades 2a, 2b are initially situated outside the mass length M, having previously been situated within the stripper drums 3, 4. The length to be cut from the mass length M has here already been conveyed beyond the cutting position.The further movements of the stripper drums -3,4 and of the cutter blades 2a, 2b are initiated by the gearing as already described, as follows:- From the rotating drive shaft 1 8 the drive wheel 13 seated on the shaft 14 is moved, by means of the crank 17, coupling rod 1 6 and crank 15, in the direction of the arrow x. The gear wheels 1 2a, 1 2b are set in rotation by this rotating drive wheel 1 3 in the direction of the arrows 4. At the same time these gear wheels 1 2a, 1 2b drive the upper gear wheels 11 a, 11 b.By means of the double cranks 7, 8 arranged on the shafts 9a, 9b and 1 Oa, lOb the cutter blades 2a, 2b secured on the coupling rods 5, 6 move into the working position.

The drive of the stripper drums 3, 4 is transmitted from the gear wheel 1 2b through the wheel 23 and intermediate wheel 21, which both rotate in the direction of the arrow Z, to the gear wheel 20 of the stripper drum 4. This gear wheel 20 through the gear wheel 1 9 at the same time drives the stripper drum 3, which rotates together with the stripper drum 4 in the direction of the arrow m.

The further course of work of the cutter blade pair 2 with the stripper drums 3, 4 can be seen from Figure 3. The two cutter blades 2a, 2b move in opposite directions through the piercings 3b, 4b in the stripper drums 3, 4 with the moving continuous length of confectionery mass towards one another until they meet in the middle. At the same time the stripper drums 3,4 rotate with a peripheral speed approximately equal to the speed of the mass length M, so that the cutter blades 2a, 2b extending through the piercings 3b, 4b are not hindered.

In Figure 4 the cutter blades 2a, 2b have already moved back again away from one another to outside the mass length M. This movement is accompanied by the stripper drums 3, 4 in a rotating movement. By the arcuate rotating movement of the cutter blades 2a, 2b on the coupling rods 5, 6, in conformity with the advance of the mass length M, the cutting operation is concluded, while in the return movement of the cutter blades 2a, 2b the single piece E is pushed forward somewhat faster by-these. Thus a gap advantageously occurs between the continuously advancing mass length M and the single piece E, as may be seen clearly especially from Figure 4.

This course of movement, in combination with the tangential contact of the mass length M with the circumferential surfaces 3b, 4b of the stripper drums, produces a clean cut, even at high working speeds. Thus sticking and coalescing of the cutter device are largely avoided. As soon as the cutter blades 2a, 2b have moved outside the mass length again, the severed single piece E has arrived in the delivery bar 24, whence it is transferred by transfer elements (not shown) to the wrapping machine. Then the cutter blades 2a, 2b are returned on a circular path into the interiors of the stripper drums 3, 4, as also illustrated in Figure 5. The stripper drums 3, 4 and the mass length M here advance continuously. At the moment when the next of the four piercings of slot form has arrived at the cutting position the two cutter blades 2a, 2b again carry out an opposite cutting movement, as already described initially. The previously severed single piece has already been transported further, so that the delivery bar 24 stands ready to receive the next single piece E.

Claims

1. A device for cutting off single pieces from a plastically deformable continuous length of mass supplied at constant speed, by means of two cooperating cutter blades acting oppositely upon the continuous length of mass, characterised in that in the region of the cutting position on each of the two sides of the mass length (M) there is mounted a stripper drum (3, 4) driven in the conveying direction during the cutting operation, which drum is open on one side, and rests with its external peripheral surface (3a, 4a) on the mass length (M), said drum having at least one transversely extending piercing (3b, 4b) of slot form for the cutter blade (2a, 2b) which is arranged on the free end of a coupling rod (5) which is off-set so as to extend from the open side into the stripper drum (3, 4), said rod forming part of a gearing situated beside the mass length (M) and moves the tip of the cutter blade (2a, 2b) on a path of circular arc form.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein further cutter blades are arranged on the coupling rod.

3. A device for cutting off single pieces from a plastically deformable continuous length of mass supplied at constant speed, substantially as claimed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.