GB670590A - An improved method of, and means for, handling biscuits - Google Patents

Abstract

670,590. Feeding biscuits to hoppers. WRIGHT'S BISCUITS, Ltd. July 21, 1949. [Oct. 21, 1948] No. 27343/48. Class 78 (i). A method (Fig. 1) of automatically feeding biscuits from a stacking machine to a vertically disposed hopper 16 comprises confining the biscuits between side guides 11 and causing the biscuits, on edge between the guides, to push one another along from behind over a band or table 15 which is curved over at right angles in the vertical plane so that the biscuits are turned from a vertical position to a horizontal position, said band or table terminating at the entrance to the hopper. Fig. 1. Biscuits 10 are fed from the stacking machine (not shown) between side guides 11 and upon table 13 by endless conveyer 12, and push each other up sleeve 14 and then between flexible steel bands 15 and 17 so that they pass into hopper 16 in flat position whence they are discharged by reciprocating device 23. Figs. 2 and 3. The flexible bands 15, 17 are enclosed within fixed guides 18, 19 which are spaced apart by pillars 20, guides 22 thereon serving as side guides for the biscuits and slots 21 permitting substitution of different pillars to vary the width apart of guides 18, 19. As shown, several rows of biscuits are guided side by side. Fig. 4. The bands 15, 17 are fixed at one end to hopper 6 and are movable at the other end (as in Fig. 4) so that when the feed is increased the bands expand upwards. To prevent excessive feed, band 17 is bent round to form a lug 24 which, when the band 17 flexes upwards, is forced down to enter a slot in sleeve 14 and thus prevent further feed till the excess of biscuits between the bands has been discharged. Figs. 5 and 6. When there is too small a feed, the bands 15, 17 tend to drop, and this tendency is utilised to block hopper 6 and to prevent discharge of biscuits therefrom, the movement depressing rod 25 against spring 26 and through linkage 33, 34, 35, 36 moving clamping plates 37 inwards within hopper 6 to stop the downward movement of the biscuits. The rod 25 is kept down by latch 29 engaging detent 30 in the said rod, and latch 29 is operated by reciprocating discharge block 23. This ensures that no biscuits are discharged from hopper 6 until there is a sufficiency of biscuits between the bends and until the said blade is moved to the left as shown (to engage latch 29) to prevent the blade breaking any biscuits. Specifications 670,560, [Group II], and 670,599 are referred to.