GB876878A - Improvements in or relating to handling of biscuits and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

876,878. Step-by-step conveyers. PACKMAN MACHINERY Ltd. March 3, 1960 [Feb. 5, 1959], No. 4120/59. Class 78 (1). A column of biscuits 20 standing on edge is conveyed over a dead plate 22 by the transverse movement of a flexible biscuit reservoir 23. This reservoir comprises a pair of fixed end sections 27, a curved centre section 28, intermediate sections 31 pivoted at 32 to the sections 27 and intermediate sections 33 pivoted at 34 to the centre section 28. The sections 31, 33 are arranged to telescope. The section 28 is mounted on a carriage 29 movable on guides 30. This carriage is connected by a rod 35 to a pivoted arm 36, Fig. 3, which is oscillated by pneumatic cylinder mechanism 39. The carriage 29, Fig. 4, is attached to a chain 56 which extends around sprockets 57, 58 and is engaged by a sprocket 55. This sprocket is fixed to the friction plate 53 of a friction clutch 52, Fig. 6, which is loose on the shaft 49 and is normally kept in engagement with the other plate 51 of the clutch by a spring 54. The shaft 49 is mounted rotatably in a crosshead 41 carrying rollers 47 which run on a fixed guide 48. A brake drum 50 fast on the shaft co-operates with a shoe 65 which is connected by a pin 64 to a pair of links 62. These links are formed with slots 63, Fig. 5, which embrace the shaft 49 and are connected by a pin 60 movable in slots 61 in the side plates of the crosshead. The pin 60 is carried by a link 59 which is connected to the cam lever 42. Since the clutch 52 is designed to slip at a predetermined load, when the reservoir is not required to feed a complete batch of biscuits, it will slip as soon as the resistance building up in the column of biscuits exceeds this figure. The crosshead 41 will complete its stroke but since the sprocket 55 now rotates on the chain 56, no further movement will be imparted to the carriage. Excessive outward displacement of the guides 28, 33 actuates an overload microswitch 68 to operate a switching gate 67 which diverts the biscuits into a discharge track 69. Switches 70, 71 wired in series control the operation of a stop in the output line of the reservoir which prevents delivery unless both switches are closed. The switch 70 is closed when the reservoir has expanded to an extent corresponding to the addition to its content of a complete batch of biscuits. The switch 71 is closed by a cam 72 at a definite time in the cycle of operation of the wrapping-machine. Specifications 801,564, 863,941 and 873,337 are referred to.