Confection molding machine

• US 5,242,291 A
• Filed: 11/01/1991
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Farmakis
• Original Assignee: John Farmakis
• Inventors: Farmakis, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Jay H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEYSON, JOSEPH S
• Application Number:
  US07/786,569
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 425/215, 425/4 R, 425/130, 425/246, 425/259, 425/220, 425/442, 425/444, 425/100, 425/195, 425/99, 425/506, 425/261, 425/432, 425/576, 425/145, 425/552, 425/157, 425/453, 264/39, 249/129, 426/506, 426/515, 426/524, 426/660
• US Class Current: 425/215
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 1/21 Apparatus for moulding hollow products, open shells or other articles having cavities, e.g. open cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 1/22 Chocolate moulds A23G1/21 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 1/26 Conveying devices for chocolate moulds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 1/28 Apparatus for removing chocolate from the moulds

Abstract

A confection molding machine provides for continuous, multiple cavity molding and unmolding of confection figures which may be of differing configuration and mass. The mold device utilizes a self-closing and opening mold in conjunction with dedicated, independent injection nozzles and confection pumps. Two outwardly facing mold halves are carried on an independent mold assembly, and corresponding mold halves abut one another just before filling and again after unmolding the finished confection figure. An endless conveyor, preferably a pair of spaced transfer chains, carries the mold assemblies and the mold halves are clamped together when passing over an unsupported section of the endless conveyor.

Claims

1. A confection molding machine, comprising:

a support stand having an inlet end and an outlet end with a sprocket assembly journaled at each of said ends and with a conveyor support member extending a first distance from said outlet end toward said inlet end;

an endless conveyor having an upper processing string and a lower return string carried by said sprocket assemblies, said upper processing string having an unsupported section extending a second distance from the inlet end of said support stand to said conveyor support member, and a supported section extending said first distance from the unsupported section to the outlet end, said conveyor support member disposed beneath said supported section;

a mold injection station positioned on said support stand adjacent said inlet end and extending above said upper processing string;

a plurality of mold assemblies attached to said endless conveyor, each mold assembly having two outwardly directed mold halves with a plurality of mold cavities defined in an outer surface of each mold half, the mold halves on adjacent mold assemblies joining in abutting relationship with each other when traveling across said upper processing string to define a plurality of molds;

means for driving said endless conveyor such that said mold assemblies are sequentially aligned with said mold injection station for placement of liquefied confection within said mold cavities;

said unsupported section defining means for applying a clamping force to said molds when traveling over said unsupported section due to the combined weight of the mold assemblies and the injected confection.

2. The confection molding machine of claim 1 wherein said endless conveyor comprises a pair of spaced transfer chains having lugs thereon for carrying said mold assemblies.

3. The confection molding machine of claim 2 including a plurality of sprocketed chain guides on said support stand above the unsupported section of said transfer chains for maintaining uniform spacing between said chains.

4. The confection molding machine of claim 2 wherein each lug has a pair of spaced L-brackets extending upward therefrom for supporting said mold halves, the mold halves on each mold assembly thereby spaced to provide clearance for passage of cooling air around said molds.

5. The confection molding machine of claim 4 including a removable tie bar extending between adjacent L-brackets.

6. The confection molding machine of claim 1 including a plurality of spacers projecting from an inner surface of each mold half to provide clearance between the mold halves on each mold assembly for passage of cooling air around said molds.

7. The confection molding machine of claim 1 wherein abutting mold halves further define a channel around each mold cavity directly adjacent a contact edge for each mold cavity to prevent flashing.

13. The confection molding machine of claim 6 including a tie bar on each mold assembly joining said mold halves.

8. A confection molding machine, comprising:

a support stand having an inlet end and an outlet end with a sprocket assembly journaled at each of said ends and with a conveyor support member extending a first distance from said outlet end toward said inlet end;

a pair of spaced, endless transfer chains engaged on said sprocket assemblies and having an upper processing string and a lower return string, said upper processing string having an unsupported section extending a second distance from said inlet end to said chain support members and a supported section extending said first distance from said unsupported section to said outlet end, said conveyor support member disposed beneath said supported section;

a mold injection station positioned on said support stand adjacent said inlet end and extending above said upper processing string;

a plurality of mold assemblies attached to said endless conveyor, each mold assembly having two outwardly directed mold halves with a plurality of mold cavities defined in an outer surface of each mold half, the mold halves on adjacent mold assemblies joining in abutting relationship with each other when traveling across said upper processing string to define a plurality of molds;

means for driving said endless transfer chains such that said mold assemblies are sequentially aligned with said mold injection station for placement of liquefied confection within said mold cavities;

said unsupported section defining means for applying a clamping force to said molds when traveling over said unsupported section due to the combined weight of the mold assemblies and the injected confection.

9. The confection molding machine of claim 8 including lugs on said endless transfer chains for carrying said mold assemblies, each lug having a pair of spaced L-brackets extending upward therefrom for supporting said mold halves, the mold halves on each mold assembly thereby spaced to provide clearance for passage of cooling air around said molds.

10. The confection molding machine of claim 9 including a removable tie bar extending between adjacent L-brackets.

11. The confection molding machine of claim 8 including a plurality of spacers projecting from an inner surface of each mold half to provide clearance between the mold halves on each mold assembly for passage of cooling air around said molds.

12. The confection molding machine of claim 8 wherein abutting mold halves further define a channel around each mold cavity directly adjacent a contact edge for each mold cavity to prevent flashing.

14. The confection molding machine of claim 11 including a tie bar on each mold assembly joining said mold halves.