Shaping lollipop heads in two different steps

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lollipop production apparatus having: a drum rotating about a central axis and including a plurality of molds on the circumference of the drum; a supply of a strip of lollipop material towards a mold, in which the mold shapes a single piece of lollipop material into the shape of the desired lollipop head; and a stick portion insertion device that inserts a stick portion into each lollipop head.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lollipop production apparatus comprising: a roller, a plurality of molds rotating about a central axis and including on the circumference of the roller; a supply section for lollipop material strips toward the molds, wherein the molds shape individual blocks of lollipop material into the desired lollipop head shape; and a stick insertion device for inserting a stick into each lollipop head. Background Technology

[0002] Lollipops are known to be manufactured using lollipop production equipment with a roller that rotates around a horizontal central axis. The roller is equipped with a series of molds on its circumference. Typically, each mold has a lower mold and an upper mold; the lower mold is fixed to the roller, and the upper mold can be moved to an open position, in which the guide end of a strip of lollipop material is inserted into the lower mold. The upper mold is then moved to a closed position, thereby shaping the lollipop material contained between the lower and upper molds. For example, the lollipop material is shaped / pressed into a spherical shape. The stick is inserted into the mold from a direction parallel to the roller axis.

[0003] In the lollipop manufacturing industry, there is always a demand to produce lollipops of various shapes on the same equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The problem is solved by a lollipop production device having: a first forming roller, rotating about a central axis and including a plurality of molds on the circumference of the roller; a supply section for lollipop material strips toward the molds, wherein the molds form individual blocks of lollipop material into a first shape of the desired lollipop head; and a stick insertion device for inserting a stick into each lollipop head, wherein the lollipop production device includes a second forming roller located downstream of the first forming roller and reshaping the lollipop head into a second shape.

[0005] The disclosures made in this embodiment of the invention are also applicable to other embodiments, and vice versa. The subject matter disclosed in this embodiment can be combined with other embodiments, and vice versa.

[0006] This invention relates to a lollipop production apparatus having a first forming roller that rotates about a central axis during production. The first forming roller is provided with a series of adjacent molds on its circumference, preferably around the entire circumference. More preferably, the molds are arranged in a ring extending about and perpendicular to the central axis. Preferably, each mold has a lower mold and an upper mold, the lower mold preferably fixed to the roller, and the upper mold being moved, preferably pivoted, to an open position, in which a guide end of a strip of lollipop material is provided onto the lower mold. During further rotation of the first forming roller, the upper mold is then moved, preferably pivoted, to a closed position, thereby shaping the lollipop material contained between the lower and upper molds. The lollipop material is shaped / pressed into a first shape, for example, spherical. A stick is inserted into the mold from a direction parallel to the roller axis, preferably after shaping / pressing has begun but before it is completed. During stick insertion, preferably, pressure on the lollipop material in the mold is released. During closing of the upper mold, the corresponding lollipop head separates from the strip.

[0007] The lollipop material can be any material used to produce lollipops or candies. Preferably, the lollipop material is a sugar-containing material. The lollipop material may include two components, one of which may be a liquid, powder, or paste-like substance, preferably coated with a solid substance. The lollipop material may be a combination of two or more individual lollipop materials, each of which may have a different color. During the forming process, the color can be maintained in its defined position, for example, one color on the top of the lollipop and a second color on the bottom of the lollipop.

[0008] To allow the lollipop material to take shape, it is kept warm, preferably at about 60°C. After shaping and inserting the stick, the lollipop is cooled to ambient temperature.

[0009] After the lollipop head is formed, the mold is reopened by moving the upper mold to its open position. The lollipop is then sequentially removed from the lower mold by a transfer device, which preferably clamps the stick portion of the lollipop and pulls it out. The lollipop removed from the mold can be transferred to subsequent equipment, such as a conveyor, which is typically equipped with a series of clamps to transport the lollipop to the next processing station, such as a packaging and / or cooling station. Optionally, the lollipop can be further processed in intermediate steps, such as further shaping.

[0010] Each mold rotates from the filling position to the removal position. In the filling position, each mold is filled with fresh lollipop material. As the rollers rotate further, the molds are then closed and, preferably, the desired length of lollipop material is cut from the strip. Subsequently and / or simultaneously, the stick is inserted into the lollipop material, preferably through an opening in the mold. The rollers then rotate further, and the lollipop material is further pressed into its desired shape until the molds reach the removal position, where, and / or before, the upper mold has been moved to a position where the lollipop can be removed from the mold.

[0011] This is preferably accomplished by a rotating take-off wheel, which preferably rotates in a direction opposite to the roller. Preferably, the take-off wheel has a plurality of grippers on its circumference, each gripper holding the stick of the lollipop and removing the lollipop from the mold and transferring the lollipop to a subsequent unit, which may be a further processing unit and / or a conveying unit.

[0012] After the lollipop is removed, the roller then rotates further until the lollipop material strip reaches the annular position of the mold, and at this annular position, the mold is filled with lollipop material again.

[0013] According to the invention, the apparatus includes a second forming roller that transforms a first shape of a lollipop head into a second shape. The second roller is provided with a series of adjacent molds on its circumference, preferably around the entire circumference. More preferably, the molds are arranged along a ring extending about and perpendicular to a central axis. Preferably, each mold has a lower mold and an upper mold, the lower mold preferably being fixed to the roller, and the upper mold being moved along a linear path or a different path, preferably pivoted to an open position, in which the lollipop head is provided onto and / or between the lower and upper molds. During further rotation of the roller, the upper mold is then moved, preferably pivoted to a closed position, thereby shaping the lollipop head received between the lower and upper molds from its first shape into its second shape.

[0014] When the lollipop head is inserted between the lower and upper molds of the second forming roller, the stick is preferably placed in a recess in the upper and / or lower molds. This recess is preferably positioned parallel to the axis of rotation of the second forming roller.

[0015] After the lollipop heads are shaped into their second form, they are removed from the second forming roller. This is preferably done by a clamp that holds the stick portion of the lollipop. The clamp is preferably mounted on a conveyor, such as a chain.

[0016] Preferably, the second forming roller is modular and attachable, enabling the production of lollipops with either a first or second shape. When producing a lollipop head with a first shape, the second forming roller is omitted or bypassed. When producing a lollipop head with a second shape, the second forming roller is used.

[0017] The lollipop head can be filled in its first and second shapes. The filling material is preferably added upstream of the first forming roller. The lollipop head can be composed of lollipop materials of different colors. Combinations of different colors are completed upstream of the first forming roller.

[0018] Preferably, a transfer device is provided between the first forming roller and the second forming roller. The transfer device preferably has a clamp on its circumference that clamps the stick of the lollipop, removes the lollipop from the first forming roller, and releases the stick after the lollipop head is placed between the lower and upper molds of the second forming roller.

[0019] Preferably, the lollipop production equipment includes a conveying device to transport the lollipops to further processing devices, such as cooling, coating and / or packaging devices.

[0020] The problem is also solved by a method for producing lollipops, which is carried out by means of: a first forming roller, a plurality of molds rotating about a central axis and including on the circumference of the first forming roller; a supply section for lollipop material strips toward the molds; wherein the molds form individual blocks of lollipop material into a first shape of a desired lollipop head; and a stick insertion device for inserting a stick into each lollipop head, characterized in that the lollipop head is reshaped into a second shape by a second forming roller located downstream of the first forming roller.

[0021] The disclosures made in this embodiment of the invention are also applicable to other embodiments, and vice versa. The subject matter disclosed in this embodiment can be combined with other embodiments, and vice versa.

[0022] Preferably, the second shape is a flat shape or a three-dimensional shape. More preferably, the first shape is less flat than the second shape, for example, it is a sphere. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Now according to the only Figure 1 The present invention will be explained. This explanation applies equally to all inventions and does not limit the scope of protection. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The only accompanying drawing shows the lollipop production apparatus 1 of the present invention, which includes a first forming roller 7 having a plurality of molds 3 on its circumference. Parts of lollipop material are cut from a strip 2 of lollipop material and simultaneously shaped by the molds into a desired first shape. Preferably, during the forming process, a stick removed from a stick supply 10 is inserted into the lollipop material, preferably through a notch in the mold. The movement of the stick into the mold is preferably parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller. The molds are preferably adjacent to each other, more preferably directly adjacent to each other, and arranged along a ring around the roller extending parallel to and within the paper plane. Each mold includes a lower mold and an upper mold, the lower mold preferably fixed to the roller, and the upper mold movable relative to the lower mold from an open position, preferably pivoting to a closed position, and vice versa. The lower and upper molds are connected, preferably by a hinge. The pivot axis of the hinge is preferably tangent to the circumference of the roller. In the open position, the lower mold can be filled with lollipop material, and the formed lollipop can be removed. From the open position, after the guide edge of the lollipop material strip has been placed on the mold, the upper mold is then closed until the upper and lower molds are at least substantially in direct contact, thereby shaping the lollipop material into the desired lollipop head shape and separating two adjacent lollipop heads from each other. In this closed position of the mold, the lollipop has received its final shape. Subsequently, the upper mold is opened again so that the lollipop can be removed, and the mold can again receive the lollipop material strip. In this embodiment, the removal of the lollipop from the mold 3 of the roller is performed by a transfer device 6, which is a take-out wheel, preferably having a gripper on its circumference that clamps the lollipop stick and removes the lollipop from the mold.

[0025] In this example, roller 7 rotates counterclockwise. A ring with an adjacent mold 3 is positioned within the paper plane. The feed path of the lollipop material strip 2 is shown by the arrow. In this example, the lollipop material strip passes through the circumference of roller 3 at approximately the four o'clock position, but remains above the paper plane. Subsequently, the lollipop material strip 2 is guided along a spiral path along the circumference of the roller, while axially moving towards the mold ring; that is, in this example, from above the paper plane towards the paper plane. Once the lollipop material strip is coaxial with the mold ring, approximately at the one o'clock position, the lollipop material strip can be placed onto the lower mold. Subsequently, the upper mold closes, and the forming and cutting of the lollipop material begins and is completed, while the corresponding mold rotates counterclockwise. During the forming of the lollipop material, the strip moves into the lollipop material, preferably parallel to the central axis of rotation of the roller, preferably through a hole in the mold. Here, at the three o'clock position, the lollipop 5 is removed from the mold by a transfer device 6, which rotates clockwise. It can be seen that the path of the lollipop material strip 2 and the ring of the mold 3 intersect each other. During the intersection, the ring of the mold 3 is located in a different axial plane than the lollipop material strip 2, so the lollipop material strip 2 and the still-filled mold 3 do not interfere with each other. It can also be seen that the circular segment of the mold filled with lollipop material is at least >180°, and here approximately 270°. Due to this larger segment, the rotational speed of the rollers can be increased and / or the diameter of the rollers can be reduced without sacrificing production capacity.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the invention, the production apparatus includes a second forming roller 9, which changes the first shape of the lollipop head provided by the upstream forming roller 7 to a second shape. For example, a spherical lollipop head can be pressed into a flat lollipop. Subsequently, the lollipop is removed from the production apparatus by a conveyor 8, such as a chain with clamps. Optionally, the lollipop is transferred directly from device 6 to device 8.

[0027] The second roller also includes multiple lower and upper molds on its circumference. A lollipop head with a first shape is placed between the lower and upper molds. During the counter-clockwise rotation of the roller, the upper mold closes and shapes the lollipop from its first shape into its second shape. After the upper mold reopens, the lollipop is removed from the second forming roller by a clamp, here mounted on a chain.

[0028] The second forming roller is a feature of the equipment, and this feature can be added modularly as needed. In cases where a lollipop head with the first shape is required, the second forming roller can be omitted or bypassed. The second forming roller is particularly advantageous when producing filled, flat lollipop heads or flat lollipop heads with defined color or flavor distribution.

[0029] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1: Lollipop production equipment 2: Lollipop ingredient strips 3: Mold 4: Central axis 5: Lollipop 6: Transfer device, remove the wheel 7: Forming roller, first forming roller 8: Conveying device 9: Forming roller, second forming roller 10: Rod Supply Department

Claims

1. A lollipop production apparatus (1) having a first forming drum (7) rotating around a central axis (4) and comprising a plurality of molds (3) on the circumference of the first forming drum (7), a supply of lollipop material strips (2) towards the molds (3), wherein, The mold (3) shapes the individual pieces of lollipop material into a desired first shape of a lollipop head; and a stick insertion device inserts a stick into each lollipop head, characterized in that the lollipop production apparatus (1) comprises a second shaping drum (9) located downstream of the first shaping drum (7) and reshapes the lollipop heads into a second shape.

2. The lollipop production apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The second shaping drum is modularly attachable.

3. Lollipop production apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A transfer device is provided between the first shaping drum (7) and the second shaping drum (9).

4. Lollipop production apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The lollipop production apparatus comprises a conveying device (8) to convey the lollipops to further processing devices.

5. A method of producing lollipops, the method being carried out by means of a first forming drum (7) rotating around a central axis (4) and comprising a plurality of moulds (3) on the circumference of the first forming drum (7); a supply of lollipop material strips (2) towards the moulds (3); wherein, The mold (3) shapes the individual pieces of lollipop material into a desired first shape of a lollipop head; and a stick insertion device inserts a stick into each lollipop head, characterized in that the lollipop heads are reshaped into a second shape by a second shaping drum (9) located downstream of the first shaping drum (7).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The second shape is a flat shape.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The lollipop material strips are filled.

8. The method according to claims 5-7, characterized in that, The lollipop heads are composed of materials having different colors and / or having different flavors, each material preferably being located in a defined position in the lollipop head. The lollipop production apparatus comprises a conveying device (8) to convey the lollipops to further processing devices.

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