GB2042877A

GB2042877A - Apparatus for Cutting a Continuously Supplied Strip, e.g. of Pastry, into Sheets

Info

Publication number: GB2042877A
Application number: GB7900526A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Winner Food Products Ltd
Current assignee: Winner Food Products Ltd
Priority date: 1979-01-08
Filing date: 1979-01-08
Publication date: 1980-10-01
Also published as: GB2042877B; HK68584A

Abstract

The leading edge of a strip 1 is drawn beneath a blade 3 by clamps 6 are closed by springs 49. The clamps 6 are horizontally reciprocated in synchronism with the cutting operation of the blade 3. Opening and closing of the clamps 6 is controlled by ramps 53, 57 interacting with clamp-actuating arms 51, 54 respectively. The cut sheets drop successively onto a conveyor which is moved intermittently so that a series of overlapping stacks of sheets is produced automatically. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for Cutting a Continuously Supplied Strip, e.g. of Pastry, into Sheets This invention relates to apparatus for cutting a continuously supplied strip into sheets. The strip may, in particular, be a strip of pastry, especially one produced by the process described in U.K.

Patent Specification No. 1,278,526.

The invention provides apparatus for cutting a continuously supplied strip into sheets, comprising guide means for receiving the strip and guiding it along a given path, cutting means for cutting the strip at a given location on the given path, gripping means reciprocable along the given path between a forward position in which it extends upstream of the given location to grip a previously cut leading edge portion of the strip and a rear position in which it lies downstream of the given location, the gripping means including a clamp and resilient means urging the clamp to close, drive means for operating the cutting means and reciprocating the gripping means in synchronism with each other so that the cutting means operates while the gripping means is between its forward and rear positions in its movement towards its rear position, and first and second ramps for interacting with the gripping means during its reciprocation, the gripping means further including first and second movable members each actuable to open the clamp against the action of the resilient means, the first member cooperating with the first ramp so that during movement of the gripping means towards its forward position the clamp is opened downstream of the cutting means and is subsequently closed to grip a previously cut leading edge portion of the strip, and the second member cooperating with the second ramp so that during movement of the gripping means towards its rear position the clamp is opened adjacent its rear position in order to release the leading edge portion of the strip.

Thus the gripping means draws the leading edge of the strip past the location at which the strip is to be cut. Preferably, the cutting means operates while the leading edge portion of the strip is still gripped by the clamp, so that the strip is under tension during cutting. There may be more than one clamp, the number being selected to suit the width of the strip; usually three clamps are sufficient, and this number is therefore preferred.

A preferred embodiment includes a conveyor arranged below the gripping means in order to receive the sheets, the drive means of the apparatus being arranged to drive the conveyor in synchronism with the cutting means and gripping means. Preferably, the conveyor is moved intermittently by the drive means so that successive stacks of sheets are built up on the conveyor. It is preferable for the intermittent movement of the conveyor to be parallel to the said given path and to be through a distance less than the length of each sheet, whereby a series of overlapping stacks is formed.

The invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus for cutting and stacking pastry; Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of the apparatus from above, on an enlarged scale; Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus; Figure 4 is a part-sectional end view of the apparatus, with parts omitted for the sake of clarity; and Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the apparatus, with parts omitted for the sake of clarity.

The apparatus illustrated receives a continuous strip 1 of part-cooked pastry from a machine (not shown) such as that described in U.K. Patent Specification No. 1,278,526, in which the pastry is cooked on the circumferential surface of a drum revolving at a constant speed. The pastry strip 1 is received by a guide 2 in which it travels along a horizontal path. The path of the strip 1 passes beneath a vertically reciprocable blade 3 which cooperates with a stationary block 4 to produce a shearing action which cuts the strip.

The leading edge of the strip 1 is drawn beneath the blade 3 by a horizontally reciprocable gripping mechanism comprising three clamps 6.

The gripping mechanism is mounted on a pair of blocks 7 which slide along guide rods 8 between fixed forward stop 9 and adjustable rear stops 11.

Each block 7 is connected to a respective swinging arm 1 2 which is urged forwards (to the left in Figure 1) by a spring (not shown). Each arm 12 carries a cam-follower 1 3 which bears against the periphery of an oblate cam 14 fixed on a common shaft 16 carrying a wheel 17 driven via a drive belt 1 8 by a motor 19 whose speed is adjustable to correspond to the rate at which the pastry strip 1 is supplied by the pastry-cooking machine.

The shaft 16 carries a gear 21 meshed with a gear 22 on a shaft 23 which carries a cam 24 adjacent each end. Each cam 24 cooperates with a respective cam-follower 26 at the lower end of a respective vertical rod 27 which is guided by a tube 28 and is fixed to a cross-piece 29 carrying the blade 3. Accordingly, the vertical reciprocation of the blade 3 is synchronised with the horizontal reciprocation of the gripping mechanism.

The sheets of pastry cut from the strip 1 fall onto a conveyor 31 comprising a plurality of endless nylon filaments passing round a driven roller 32 and an idle roller 33. The roller 32 is driven by a chain 34 passing round a wheel 36 which is intermittently rotated clockwise (as viewed in Figure 1) by a vertically movable member 37 whose lower end carries a camfollower 38 cooperating with a cam 39. The cam 39 is driven from the shaft 16 via a connecting rod 41 and a rotatable mechanism 42 so that the conveyor 31 moves in synchronism with the reciprocations of the blade 3 and the gripping mechanism, the conveyor 31 advancing after 5 (or a multiple of 5) sheets of pastry have been cut.

The clamps 6 of the gripping means each comprise a lower jaw 43 fixed on a common cross-piece 44 whose ends are fixed to the respective blocks 7, and an upper jaw 46 fixed on a common axle 47 whose ends are rotatably mounted in respective flanges 48 at the ends of the cross-piece 44. Coil springs 49, mounted on the axle 47 and interacting with the cross-piece 44, urge the upper jaws 46 towards the lower jaw 43 in order to close the clamps 6. One end of the axle 47 carries a first arm 51 whose fee end has a roller 52 for cooperating with a first ramp 53 in order to open the clamps 6 during the forward movement of the gripping mechanism. The ramp 53 includes an angularly adjustable element 53a.

The other end of the axle 47 carries a second arm 54 whose free end has a roller 56 for cooperating with a second ramp 57 in order to open the clamps 6 during the rearward movement of the gripping mechanism. The longitudinal position of the ramp 57 is adjustable.

The movements of the blade 3 and the gripping mechanism are synchronized so that the blade 3 descends to cut the strip 1 which the gripping mechanism is between its forward and rear positions in its movement towards its rear position, which rear position is defined by the stops 11. In this condition, the apparatus operates as follows.

Starting from its rear position, in which the clamps 6 are open, the gripping mechanism is moved forward by the swinging arms 12. The roller 56 leaves contact with the ramp 57 so that the clamps 6 close. Before the clamps 6 reach the leading edge of the strip 1, the roller 52 rides onto the ramp 53, thus opening the clamps 6. The clamps are kept open until they overlap the leading edge portion of the strip. As the clamps approach their forward position, defined by the stops 9, the roller 52 leaves contact with the ramp 53 so that the clamps close and grip the leading edge portion.

The motion of the gripping mechanism is then reversed by the swinging arms 1 2. During its rearward motion, the roller 52 passes below the ramp 53 so that the clamps 6 remain closed.

While the strip 1 is gripped and drawn along by the gripping mechanism, the blade 3 descends to cut off a sheet of the required length. Immediately after this, the roller 56 cooperates with the ramp 57 to open the clamps 6, whereupon the sheet which has been cut off falis onto the conveyor 31.

After 5 (or a multiple of 5) sheets have been deposited in this fashion, the conveyor 31 is advanced by a distance shorter than the length of a sheet.

In this way a series of overlapping stacks of sheets of pastry is produced automatically.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cutting a continuously supplied strip into sheets, comprising guide means for receiving the strip and guiding it along a given path, cutting means for cutting the strip at a given location on the given path, gripping means reciprocable along the given path between a forward position in which it extends upstream of the given location to grip a previously cut leading edge portion of the strip and a rear position in which it lies downstream of the given location, the gripping means including a clamp and resilient means urging the clamp to close, drive means for operating the cutting means and reciprocating the gripping means in synchronism with each other so that the cutting means operates while the gripping means is between its forward and rear positions in its movement towards its rear position, and first and second ramps for interacting with the gripping means during its reciprocation, the gripping means further including first and second movable members each actuable to open the clamp against the action of the resilient means, the first member cooperating with the first ramp so that during movement of the gripping means towards its forward position the clamp is opened downstream of the cutting means and is subsequently closed to grip a previously cut leading edge portion of the strip, and the second member cooperating with the second ramp so that during movement of the gripping means towards its rear position the clamp is opened adjacent its rear position in order to release the leading edge portion of the strip.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the cutting means operates while the leading edge portion of the strip is still gripped by the clamp.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, including a conveyor arranged below the gripping means in order to receive the sheets, the drive means of the apparatus being arranged to drive the conveyor in synchronism with the cutting means and gripping means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the conveyor is moved intermittently by the drive means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the intermittent movement of the conveyor is through a distance less than the dimension of each sheet in the direction of movement.

6. Apparatus for cutting a continuously supplied strip into sheets, substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.