GB2043023A

GB2043023A - Apparatus for producing lollipops

Info

Publication number: GB2043023A
Application number: GB8001645A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Nagema VEB
Current assignee: Nagema VEB
Priority date: 1979-03-08
Filing date: 1980-01-17
Publication date: 1980-10-01
Also published as: BR8001327A; GB2043023B; DD141609A1; IT8048090A0; DE3004819A1

Abstract

An apparatus for producing lollipops from pieces of toffee mass, consists of a periodically driven wrapper wheel with radial retaining jaws for the reception of the toffees and their respective wrappers, on the circumference of which folding elements are provided to effect folding of the wrapper before ejection of the wrapped lollipop at an expulsion station, a punch for the preliminary punching of a reception bore for the stick through the folded end of the wrapper and into the toffee, and a stick feed device having a push member for pushing the sticks into the bore prior to ejection of the wrapped lollipop. Seen in the direction of rotation, a folding station II, downstream of a wrapper plus toffee insertion station (not shown), is arranged for the formation of an end fold for the wrapper (H) tubed about the toffee. The folding station consists of two radially oppositely movable side folders 5 with a tangentially following end folder 6. The folding station is followed by a further working station III for the entry of the punch (8) centrally through the completed fold. A working station IV is arranged in advance of a wrapped lollipop expulsion station V for the axial insertion of the sticks S, transported by the stick feed device, by means of the push member (10). The invention has the purpose of reducing the technical expense for the production of a toffee packing with stick and of guaranteeing maximum possible output of the automatic stick feed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for producing lollipops The invention relates to an apparatus for producing lollipops from pieces of toffee mass, consisting of a periodically driven wrapper wheel with radial retaining jaws to receive the toffees provided with a wrapper, on the circumference of which there are arranged folding elements nondisplaceable on the housing before an expulsion station, and with a punch for preliminary punching of a reception bore for a stick and a stick feed device having a push member for pushing the sticks into this bore.

it is already known to wrap pre-formed sweets which are then provided with a hole on one side with a device situated on the wrapping machine, where a reciprocating punch penetrates the wrapper. Then the wrapped and perforated sweets are provided with a stick pushed into the hole (U.S. 2,667,847). This embodiment is suitable only for pre-shaped sweets and thus it is not possible to manufacture the finished packages with wrapper from the continuous length of mass.

Finally it is also known to cut a sweet length conveyed by steps into sweets and provide the still soft sweets with a stick in further conveying, the sticks being kept in stock in an associated stick magazine and inserted individually into the sweet body by a reciprocating push member, with simultaneous pressure shaping (G.B. 701,927). In this embodiment firstly the sticks must be pushed into the sweets before the wrapping operation can begin. This apparatus cannot be associated with a toffee wrapper wheel, since there is no room in front of the folding elements for the stick insertion device. Moreover the apparatus works with two wrapper wheels, whereby low output and high constructional expense are necessary. Still further devices are also known having a conveyor disc with reception pockets on the edge.The sweets situated in the reception pockets of the horizontal conveyor discs receive a bore from the exterior by a punch. At a subsequent working station the sticks are pushed into this bore. -Subsequently the sweets provided with the stick must still be wrapped. (Ger. Pub. Sp. 1,265, 560, Ger. Pub. Sp.

2,749,291, U.S. 3,541,973, U.S. 3,879,162, G.B.

1,123,158, 1,371,419).

These apparatuses likewise cannot be accommodated on a wrapper wheel. Thus these apparatuses require much space and room.

The invention has the purpose of reducing the technical expense for the production of a toffee packing with stick and of guaranteeing maximum possible output of the automatic stick feed.

The problem of the invention therefore consists in producing a packet with stick on an ordinary toffee wrapper maching. In accordance with the invention this is achieved in that, seen in the direction of rotation, after the insertion station for the toffees there is arranged a folding station for the formation of an end side fold for the tubularly protruding ends of the wrapper, which consists of two radially oppositely movable side folders and a tangentially following end folder which is followed by a further working station for the insertion of the punch centrally through the completed fold, and before the expulsion station by a working station for the axial insertion of the sticks transported by the stick feed device, by means of the push member.

This arrangement provides the requisite for being able to produce the folding and the fitting of the sticks in the region of the available working stations on the wrapper wheel. Thus it is also possible to achieve a relatively high output.

According to one further feature a rotary gripper grasping the protruding wrapper is mounted in the housing at the working station for the adjustment of the punch on the side of the wrapper wheel remote from the stick. With this rotary gripper it is possible without great expense to produce a twisted inward fold on one side, which is advantageous for the packet. The invention is further characterised in that the stick feed device consists of a reception drum having radial grooves for the sticks on the circumference, which is driven periodically in synchronism with the wrapper wheel and the grooves of which in each case come to a halt at the insertion position radially at the top beneath a filling shaft, and are provided with an externally arranged security device against dropping out.This stick feed has the advantage that due to the plurality of available grooves the singling and feed of the sticks proceeds in a chronologically more favourable and more secure manner. The plane of symmetry of the radial grooves in the reception drum is here tangential to the pitch circle of the wrapper wheel determined by the punched opening. Thus the wrapper wheel can be transported further immediately without the stick being hindered by the reception drum.

The invention is also characterised in that the punch for piercing the reception bore and the push member for inserting the sticks are each arranged by means of a lever on an axially displaceabiy mounted drive spindle. Thus it is possible to carry out both axial working movements with only one drive. For the secure guidance of the sticks in insertion an angle lever which pivots in front of the radial grooves is mounted at the insertion point beside the reception drum.

A sensor on the reception drum, engaging in the grooves, is here to provide the prerequisite for being able to switch off the machine in the absence of sticks. Likewise a locking slider arranged beside the vertical feed shaft for the sticks and actuatably connected with a feeler on the toffee feed serves for the purpose of shutting off the feed of sticks in the absence of toffee mass.

So that the toffees situated in the retaining jaws are not too heavily stressed during punching or stick insertion, at the working station for the entry of the punch and the working station for pushing in the sticks in each case a counter-holder which applies itself to the toffees from the rear is mounted on the opposite side of the wrapper wheel.

Finally the invention is also characterised in that the stick feed with the punch and slider is arranged pivotably before the wrapper wheel.

Thus all the parts of the apparatus are advantageously better accessible for maintenance.

The invention is explained in an example of embodiment in the drawing, wherein:- FIGURE 1 shows a section along the line A-A FIGURE 2 shows an elevation in Figure 2.

The apparatus consists essentially of a periodically driven wrapper wheel 1 having different working elements described below. The wrapper wheel 1 is provided with radial retaining jaws 2 for the reception of the toffees T. The toffees T are pushed in at an insertion station (not shown) with the wrapper H between the retaining jaws 2. On the circumference of the wrapper wheel 1 there are folding elements 4 nondisplaceable on the housing 3 for turning over the wrapper H contrarily of the direction of rotation. In the drawing, considered initially in the direction of rotation of the wrapper wheel, there may be seen an empty working station I lying after the insertion station (not shown). At this working station on the front side there is a retaining jaw pair 2 with a toffee T the wrapper H of which still protrudes to the exterior in tubular form.At the next working station there is arranged a folding station II for the formation of an end fold for the tubularly protruding ends of the wrapper H. This folding station II consists of two radially contrarily movable side folders 5 with a tangentially following end folder 6. After the folding station sl a non-displaceable folding plate 7 is arranged on the housing and a working station Ill follows for the driving of a punch 8 centrally in through the completed fold. On the other side of the wrapper wheel 1 in the housing 3 there is mounted a rotary gripper 9 which grasps the protruding wrapper H, which gripper is illustrated however only in Figure 2. This working station III is followed by a further working station IV for the axial insertion of a stick S by means of a push member 10.In the region of these two working stations III, IV there is arranged a stick feed device having no reference numeral.

This consists of a reservoir 11 with a vertical filling shaft 12 at the outlet, beneath which a reception drum 13 is arranged. The reception drum 13 has radial grooves 1 4 on the circumference for the reception of the sticks S and is driven periodically in synchronism with the wrapper wheel 1. These grooves 14 here in each case come to halt radially at the top beneath the filler shaft 12 and at the insertion point. So that the sticks cannot fall out during the conveying movement; externally a security device 1 5 is provided. The grooves 14 in the reception drum 1 3 come to lie at the insertion point in such a way that the plane of symmetry thereof is tangential to the pitch circle of the wrapper wheel 1 fixed by the pierced opening.

Thus the sticks S are not hindered in being brought out of the grooves 1 4 in the further stepping of the wrapper wheel 1. The stick feed device is also completed by an angle lever 1 7 mounted pivotably on the drive shaft 1 6 of the reception drum 13, which lever pivots at the insertion point IV in front of the corresponding groove 14 in order to achieve secure guidance during insertion. Beside the reception drum 1 3 there is also mounted a sensor 1 8 engaging in the grooves 14 which halts the machine by means of a switch (not shown) in the absence of sticks S.

Beside the vertical feed shaft for the sticks S there is also arranged a blocking slider 1 9 which is connected for switching with a sensor (not shown) on the toffee feed. This blocking slider 1 9 is arranged on an electromagnet 20.

The punch 8 for piercing the reception bore and the push member 10 for inserting the sticks S are each arranged by means of a lever 21 on an axially displaceably mounted drive spindle 22 which thus simultaneously actuates both tools 10, 21. At the working station III for the insertion of the punch 8 and the working station IV for the pushing in of the sticks S in each case a counter-holder 23, 24 applying itself from the rear to the toffee T is mounted on the rear side of the wrapper wheel 1, so that the toffee T is grasped more securely in punching and insertion. The stick feed with the punch 8 and push member 10 is mounted as a whole pivotably in front of the wrapper wheel 1.

The two working stations III, IV are followed by an ejection station V. At this station V an ejector lever 25 is mounted in the housing 3 and a rowforming slider 26 is mounted centrally inwards.

Beneath this station V a horizontal conveyor belt 27 is arranged to receive the expelled finished stick toffees T. To secure the stacking and transfer to the conveyor belt 27 there serves a stacking slider 28. The manner of operation of this device can be seen from the following section.

Single toffees Tare cut from a continuous length of toffee mass (not shown) and pushed with a wrapper 8 into the retaining jaws 2. This insertion station on the wrapper wheel 1 is not contained in the drawing. The wrapper wheel 1 is periodically driven and the inserted toffee T, after the wrapper H has been folded over externally by the folding element 4, arrives at an empty working station I. After this working station I is passed the tubular ends of the wrapper are folded in on the toffee Ton the front at the folding station II by the side folders 5 entering radially from the exterior.

During the pivoting back of these side folders 5 the end folder 6 moves from the exterior towards the toffee T. The end folding is concluded after the folding plate 7 has been passed. At the next working station ill the punch 8 penetrates centrally through the end fold into the toffee and thus forms a reception position for the stick S.

At the same working station on the other side of the wrapper wheel 1 the tubular end is twisted in by the rotary gripper 9. At the same time a counter-holder 23 comes to abut there which has a recess in the region of the twisted-in tip. The pushing in of the stick S is effected at the following working station IV. The stick S intended for this purpose here comes from the reservoir 11 by way of the vertical filling shaft 1 2 situated at the exit, in one of the axial grooves 14 in the reception drum 13, to before the push member 10 at the working station IV.

The reception drum 13 likewise moves periodically so that the corresponding groove 14 is stationary at the insertion point. In order to obtain secure guidance in the insertion operation, an angle lever 17 is pivoted in front of the groove 14 at this point in the time of the forward movement of the push member 10. The angle lever 17, by means of a dog, at the same time generates a shaking movement at the bottom of the reservoir 11. Then the push member 1 is actuated and pushes the stick S into the toffee T. The advance of the push member 10 is initiated in drive by the same drive spindle 22 as the advance of the punch 8, so that while the reception position is punched on the working station Ill at the same time a stick S is being pushed in by the push member 10 at the following station IV.

The completed wrapped toffees T provided with a stick S are then conveyed by the wrapper wheel 1 to the ejection station V. The ejector lever 25 pushes the finished toffees T out of the retaining jaws 2 on to the conveyor belt 27. Then the rowforming slider 26 comes into action to arrange the toffees T in rows, while the stacking slider 28 is pivoting away temporarily downwards.

Claims

1. Apparatus for producing lollipops from pieces of toffee mass, consisting of a periodically driven wrapper wheel with radial retaining jaws for the reception of the toffees provided with a wrapper, on the circumferences of which folding elernents-non-displaceable on the housing are arranged before an expulsion station, and with a punch for the preliminary punching of a reception bore for the stick and a stick feed device having a push member for pushing the sticks into this bore, characterised in that seen in the direction of rotation, behind the insertion station for the toffees a folding station is arranged for the formation of an end fold for the ends of the wrapper protruding in tubular form, which station consists of two radially oppositely movable side folders with a tangentially following end folder, followed by a further working station for the entry of the punch centrally through the completed fold and before the expulsion station a working station for the axial insertion of the sticks, transported by the stick feed device, by means of the push member.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that at the working station for the entry of the punch, on the side of the wrapper wheel remote from the stick there is mounted in the housing a rotary gripper which grasps the protruding wrapper.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 and 2, characterised in that the stick feed device consists of a reception drum having radial grooves on the circumference for the sticks, which is driven periodically in synchronism with the wrapper wheel and the grooves of which come to a halt at the insertion point in each case radially at the top beneath a filler shaft and are provided with an externally arranged security device against falling out.

4. Apparatus according to Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the plane of symmetry of the radial grooves in the reception drum, at the insertion point of the stick, is tangential to the pitch circle of the wrapper wheel determined by the punched opening.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1 to 4, characterised in that the punch for punching the reception bore and the push member for pushing the sticks in are arranged, each by means of a lever, on an axially displaceably mounted drive spindle.

6. Apparatus according to Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that an angle lever which is pivotable in front of the radial grooves is mounted at the insertion point beside the reception drum.

7. Apparatus according to Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a sensor engaging in the grooves is arranged on the reception drum.

8. Apparatus according to Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that beside the vertical filler shaft for the sticks a blocking slider is arranged which is operably connected with a feeler for the toffee feed.

9. Apparatus according to Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that at the working station for the entry of the punch and the working station for the pushing in of the sticks in each case a counterholder is mounted on the opposite side of the wrapper wheel and applies itself from the rear to the toffees.

10. Apparatus according to Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the stick feed with the punch and push member is arranged for pivoting in front of the wrapper wheel.

11. Apparatus for producing lollipops from pieces of toffee mass, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.