Candy dispensing apparatus

• US 4,714,419 A
• Filed: 05/21/1986
• Issued: 12/22/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nielsen A. Lamont
• Original Assignee: Nielsen A. Lamont
• Inventors: Nielsen, A. Lamont
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoag, Willard E.
• Application Number:
  US06/866,460
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 425/126 S, 425/436 R, 269/217, 269/234, 269/287, 222/377, 222/385, 221/290, 221/292, 294/103.1, 294/119.1, 414/732, 414/736, 901/32, 901/39, 227/2, 227/156, 227/116
• US Class Current: 425/126.2
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/0252 Apparatus in which the material is shaped at least partially in a mould, in the hollows of a surface, a drum, an endless band, or by a drop-by-drop casting or dispensing of the material on a surface, e.g. injection moulding, transfer moulding
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/0284 Removing articles from the mould; Associated manipulation
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 7/0031 Apparatus for manipulating sticks
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/26 for producing frozen sweets on sticks

Abstract

A system for producing confectionary products, especially lollipops, is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of molds mounted on a conveyor belt assembly. A dispensing means adapted for injecting a predetermined quantity of fluid into each of the molds is positioned proximate the belt. A stick handle inserter for receiving a plurality of elongated sticks, and thereafter inserting a single handle into each of the fluid retaining molds, is positioned adjacent the belt either before or after the dispensing means. A cooling means for cooling the viscous fluid to aid in its solidification is associated with the belt. A transfer means positioned proximate the belt is adapted to remove the finished confectionary product from the mold and thereafter transfer that product to a station for wrapping.

Claims

1. A transfer clamp for use in removing articles from a conveyor belt, said clamp comprising:

at least one first elongate panel, having a longitudinal axis, defining at least one substantially "V"-shaped slot spacedly positioned along one side of said first panel, said "V"-shaped slot having an interior region dimensioned to receive a stick portion of a lollipop mold assembly;

at least one second elongate panel positioned parallel and adjacent said first panel, said second panel defining at least one substantially "L"-shaped slot spacedly positioned along one side of said second panel to register with the positioning of said "V"-shaped slot, said "L"-shaped slot having an elongate inlet channel and a retention channel;

a first drive means associated with said second panel for displacing said second panel along said first panel between two conditions, a first condition wherein an interior region of said "V"-shaped slot is aligned with said inlet channel of said "L"-shaped slot, whereby a stick may be inserted into said aligned slots, and a second condition wherein said interior region of said "V"-shaped is not aligned with said inlet channel of said "L"-shaped slot, wherein said retention channel of said "L"-shaped slot in association with said interior region of said "V"-shaped slot substantially encircle of stick inserted into said "V"-shaped slot.

2. The transfer clamp of claim 1 wherein a second panel is positioned on opposing sides of said first panel, said first panel is positioned between a pair of said second panels.

3. The transfer clamp of claim 1 wherein a displacement of an edge of said "L"-shaped slot is adapted to bias said stick against an edge of said "V"-shaped slot with sufficient force to retain said stick during a manipulation of said panels.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 with the addition of a plurality of molds and conveyor means for moving said molds, to and away from means for dispensing a confection material into said molds.

5. A stick handle inserter for use in positioning stick handles in confectionary products, said handle inserter comprising:

a storage bin dimensioned to retain a plurality of substantially horizontally positioned stick handles, said bin having a floor which is mounted laterally slidable, said bin floor having at least one slot therein aligned parallel with said positioning of said stick handles in said bin, said slot being dimensioned to receive at least one of said stick handles;

at least one upright chute positioned below said bin floor, said chute having an open end positioned contiguous said bin floor, said open end dimensioned to receive said bin floor slot retained stick handle from said bin fllor slot upon said open end and said slot being brought into alignment;

at least one bar member positioned vertically above said chute open end said bar member being positioned atop and substantially contiguous said bin floor whereby said bar member precludes stick handles other than said stick handle in said bin floor slot from accessing said chute open end;

an upright curved bank mounted within said chute, said bank having a point of maximum elevation and a point of minimum elevation, said maximum point being positioned substantially directly below a first end of said stick handle and said minimum point positioned substantially directly below an opposite end of said stick handle;

whereby a stick handle falling into said chute contacts said chute initially proximate said first end and a surface of contact between said stick handle and said chute is displaced along a length of said stick handle as said handle continues its descent in said chute, whereby said stick, upon reaching a bottom of said chute, is oriented in a substantially vertical positioning;

a tamper means for impacting against said vertically positioned stick handle and impelling said stick handle into an awaiting fluid-filled confectionary mold.

6. A dispensing means for use in dispensing a supply of viscous fluid into a mold, said dispensing means comprising:

a supply chamber dimensioned to contain a supply of viscous fluid, said chamber defining a discharge port;

a tubular measuring tube having a first hollow open-ended channel therein, said measuring tube being mounted axially reciprocable in said supply chamber, said measuring tube defining a first port opening and a second port opening, said first port opening communicating with said first channel and said supply chamber, said measuring tube being positionable against said supply chamber wall proximate said discharge port;

a piston-like valve member mounted axially slidable in said measuring tube and extending through said second port, said valve member defining a second hollow channel extending over a length thereof, said valve member having a valve head configured to close said first port opening;

a discharge shaft valve mounted axially slidable within said second channel, said shaft valve being dimensioned and aligned to be sealing inserted into and retracted from said supply chamber discharge port;

actuation means for reciprocating said measuring tube, said piston-like valve member and said shaft valve, whereby said measuring tube may be displaced away from said supply chamber wall permitting a predetermined quantity of fluid to be drawn into said first channel by the vacuum created by a preselected displacement of said piston-like valve member within said measuring tube, said quantity of fluid being thereafter discharged from said measuring tube by abutting said first port opening in a sealed relationship with a portion of said supply chamber wall circumscribing said discharge port, withdrawing said discharge valve shaft to open said discharge port and thereafter effecting a positive active discharge under the force of a displacement of said valve member in said measuring tube.

7. The dispensing means of claim 6 wherein said measuring tube, said piston-like valve member and said discharge shaft valve are detachably mounted within said dispensing means whereby said measuring tube, said piston-like valve member and said shaft valve may be removed from said dispensing means, cleaned and thereafter reinstalled without disturbing any settings and adjustments of said dispensing means.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 with the addition of plural molds and conveyor means for moving said molds beneath said dispensing means.

9. Apparatus for producing confectionary products, said apparatus comprising:

a supply chamber dimensioned to contain a supply of viscous fluid, said chamber defining a discharge port;

a tubular measuring tube having a first hollow open-ended channel therein, said measuring tube being mounted axially reciprocable in said supply chamber, said measuring tube defining a first port opening and a second port opening, said first port opening communicating with said first channel and said supply chamber, said measuring tube being positionable against said supply chamber proximate said discharge port whereby said first port and said discharge port are closed;

a piston-like valve member mounted axially slidable in said measuring tube and extending through said second port, said valve member defining a second hollow channel extending over a length thereof, said valve member having a valve head configured to close said first port opening;

a discharge shaft valve mounted axially slidable within said second channel, said shaft valve being dimensioned and aligned to be sealingly inserted into and retracted from said supply chamber discharge port;

actuation means for reciprocating said measuring tube, said piston-like valve member and said shaft valve, whereby said measuring tube may be displaced away from said supply chamber wall permitting a predetermined quantity of fluid to be drawn into said first channel by the vacuum created by a preselected displacement of said valve member within said measuring tube, said quantity of fluid being thereafter discharged from said measuring tube by abutting said first port opening in a sealed relationship with a portion of said supply chamber wall circumscribing said discharge port and withdrawing said discharge valve shaft to open said discharge port thereafter effecting a positive action discharge under the force engendered by a displacement of said valve member in said measuring tube;

a storage bin dimensioned to retain a plurality of substantially horizontally positioned stick handles, said bin having a floor which is mounted laterally slidable, said bin floor having at least one slot therein aligned parallel with said stick handles in said bin, said slot being dimensioned to receive one of said stick handles;

at least one upright chute positioned below said bin floor, said chute having an open end positioned contiguous said bin floor, said open end dimensioned to receive said bin floor slot retained stick handle from said bin floor slot upon said open end and said slot being brought into alignment;

at least one bar member positioned vertically above said chute open end, said bar member being positioned atop and substantially contiguous said bin floor whereby said bar member precludes stick handles other than said stick handle in said bin floor slot from accessing said chute open end;

an upright curved bank mounted within said chute, said bank having a point of maximum elevation and a point of minimum elevation, said maximum elevational point being positioned substantially directly below a first end of said bin floor slot-retained stick handle and said minimum elevational point being positioned substantially directly below an opposite second end of said bin floor slot retained stick handle;

whereby said bin floor slot retained stick handle, upon falling into said chute, contacts said chute initially proximate said first end whereby a surface of contact between said stick handle and said chute is displaced along a length of said stick handle as said handle continues its descent in said chute, whereby said stick, upon reaching a bottom of said chute, is oriented in a substantially vertical orientation;

a tamper means for impacting against said vertically oriented stick handle and impelling said stick handle into an awaiting, fluid-filled confectionary mold;

at least one first elongate panel having a longitudinal axis defining at least one "V"-shaped slot positioned along one side of said first panel, said "V"-shaped slot having an apex region and being dimensioned to receive a stick portion of a lollipop mold assembly;

at least one second elongate panel positioned parallel and adjacent said first panel, said second pane defining at least one "L"-shaped slot positioned along one side of said second panel to correspond to the positioning of said "V"-shaped slot, said "L"-shaped slot having an elongate inlet channel and a retention channel;

a first drive means associated with said second panel for displacing said second panel along said first panel between two conditions, a first condition wherein an interior region of said "V"-shaped slot is aligned with said inlet channel of said "L"-shaped slot, whereby a stick may be inserted orthogonally into said aligned slots, and a second condition wherein said interior region of said "V"-shaped slot is not aligned with said inlet channel of said "L"-shaped slot, wherein said retention channel of said "L"-shaped slot in association with said interior region of said "V"-shaped slot substantially encircle a stick inserted into said "V"-shaped slot.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 with the addition of plural molds and conveyor means for moving said molds beneath said port.