Forming drum with an increased effective range

Abstract

The invention relates to a lollipop production device, with a drum that rotates around a central axis and that comprises a plurality of moulds at its circumference, a supply of lollipop material strand to the moulds, wherein the moulds form individual pieces of lollipop material into the desired shape of the lollipop head and a stick insertion means, which inserts a stick into each lollipop head.

Description

[0001] Forming drum with an increased effective range

[0002] The invention relates to a lollipop production device, with a drum that rotates around a central axis and that comprises a plurality of moulds at its circumference, a supply of lollipop material strand to the moulds, wherein the moulds form individual pieces of lollipop material into the desired shape of the lollipop head and a stick insertion means, which inserts a stick into each lollipop head.

[0003] It is known to make lollipops using a lollipop production device with a drum rotating about a horizontal central axis. The drum is provided with a series of moulds at its circumference. Generally, each of the moulds has a lower mould that is fixed to the drum and an upper mould that can be moved into an open position, in which the leading end of a strand of lollipop material is inserted into the lower mould. The upper mould is then moved into a closed position, thereby forming the lollipop material accommodated between the lower and the upper mould. The lollipop material is formed / pressed for example into a sphere-shape. From a direction parallel to the drum axis, a stick is inserted into the mould.

[0004] There is a constant need in the lollipop production industry to increase the production efficiency and / or to reduce the cost of the lollipop production device.

[0005] The problem is attained with a lollipop production device, with a drum that rotates around a central axis and that comprises a plurality of moulds at its circumference and a supply of lollipop material strand to the moulds, wherein the moulds form individual pieces of lollipop material into the desired shape of the lollipop head and a stick insertion means, which inserts a stick into each lollipop head, wherein the lollipop material strand is guided along a helical path around the drum.

[0006] The disclosure made regarding this embodiment of the present invention also applies to the other embodiments and vice versa. Subject matters disclosed relative to this embodiment can be combined with other embodiments and vice versa.

[0007] The present invention relates to a lollipop production device with a drum rotating around a central axis during production. The drum is provided with a series of adjacent moulds at its circumference, preferably around the entire circumference. More preferably, the moulds are provided along a ring, that extends around the central axis and perpendicular to the central axis. Preferably, each of the moulds has a lower mould that is preferably fixed to the drum and an upper mould that is moved, preferably pivoted, into an open position, in which the leading end of a strand of lollipop material is provided onto the lower mould. During further rotating of the drum, the upper mould is then moved, preferably pivoted, into a closed position, thereby forming the lollipop material accommodated between the lower and the upper mould. The lollipop material is formed / pressed for example into a sphere-shape. From a direction parallel to the drum axis a stick is inserted into the mould, preferably after the forming / pressing has started, but before it is finalized. During the insertion of the stick, the pressure on the lollipop material in the mould is preferably released. During closing of the upper mould, the respective lollipop head is separated from the strand.

[0008] The lollipop material can be any material which is utilized to produce a lollipop or a candy. Preferably, the lollipop material is a sugary material. The lollipop material may comprise two components, wherein one may be a liquid- or a pasty or powdery substance which is preferably surrounded by a solid substance. The lollipop material can be a composition of two or more single lollipop materials that each may have a different color. During the forming process the color may stay in its defined position, e.g. one color on top of the lollipop and a second color on the bottom of the lollipop.

[0009] For the purpose of forming the lollipop material, it is warm, preferably around 60° C. After the forming and the stick insertion, the lollipops are cooled to ambient temperature.

[0010] After the lollipop head is formed, the mould is opened again by moving the upper mould into its open position and then the lollipops are sequentially removed from the lower mould by means of a transfer device, which preferably grips the stick of the lollipop and pulls the lollipop out of the lower mould. The lollipop being removed from the mould can be handed over to a subsequent device, for example a conveyor, usually provided with a series of clamps to transport the lollipops to a next processing station, such as a packaging- and / or a cooling station. Alternatively in an intermediate step, the lollipops can be further processed for example further formed.

[0011] After removal of the lollipops, the drum is then rotated further to an annular position where the lollipop material strand reaches the moulds and in which the mould is filled again with lollipop material.

[0012] According to the state in the art, the lollipop material strand is guided towards the drum parallel to the ring of moulds and in the same axial position of the drum as the moulds. Inventively and contrary to the state in the art, the lollipop material strand is guided along a helical path around the drum until it reaches the mould to be filled with lollipop material strand. Consequently, the lollipop material strand is guided simultaneously around the circumference of the drum and in an axial direction of the drum. The lollipop material strand approaches the ring of moulds both in a tangential- and axial direction.

[0013] Preferably, there is a circular overlap between the lollipop material strand and the moulds being filled with lollipop material.

[0014] The guidance of the lollipop material strand along a helical path allows to increase the circle segment of the drum along which the moulds are filled with lollipop material. Due to this prolongation of the circle segment along which the lollipop material can be formed / pressed, the speed of rotation of the drum can be increased and / or the diameter of the drum can be reduced without reducing the pressing- / forming time of the lollipop material.

[0015] Another inventive or preferred embodiment of the present invention is a lollipop production device, wherein the moulds are provided along a circular ring at the circumference of the drum and wherein the drum has an axial extension, wherein the lollipop material strand is supplied to the drum at a different axial location than the axial location of the ring of moulds.

[0016] The disclosure made regarding this embodiment of the present invention also applies to the other embodiments and vice versa. Subject matters disclosed relative to this embodiment can be combined with other embodiments and vice versa.

[0017] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the lollipop material strand is supplied to the drum at a different axial location than the axial location of the ring of moulds. The lollipop material strand is then axially guided towards the ring of moulds while it is simultaneously moved around the drum, preferably along a helical path. This allows a circular overlap of the still unformed lollipop material strand and the moulds which are filled with lollipop material, so that the circular segment of the drum along which pressing / forming of the lollipop material takes place is increased and / or the diameter of the drum and / or the needed number of moulds can be reduced without reducing the output of the device. Alternatively, the speed of rotation of the drum is increased, which increases the output of the inventive device.

[0018] Another inventive or preferred embodiment of the present invention is a lollipop production device, wherein, relative to the axial extension of the drum, the lollipop strand supply is on one side of the ring of the moulds, while the stick insertion means are on the opposite side. The disclosure made regarding this embodiment of the present invention also applies to the other embodiments and vice versa. Subject matters disclosed relative to this embodiment can be combined with other embodiments and vice versa.

[0019] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the drum has an axial extension parallel to its axis of rotation and the ring with the adjacent moulds is placed somewhere at the circumference of the drum along its axial extension. Now, according to this embodiment of the present invention and relative to the axial extension of the drum, the lollipop material strand supply is on one side of the ring of the moulds, for example the right hand side, while the stick insertion means are on the opposite side of the ring of the moulds, for example the left hand side. This assures that the sticks of the lollipops, which have been inserted into the moulds do not collide with the lollipop material strand supplied to the moulds.

[0020] The following applies to all inventive and preferred embodiments likewise.

[0021] Preferably, the circle segment of the drum along which the mould is filled with lollipop material is > 180°, more preferably > 210° and even more preferably > 250°. Due to this large circle segment of the drum, the pressing time can be increases without reduction of the production capacity. Alternatively, the diameter of the drum can be reduced without reduction of the production capacity and / or the production capacity can be increased by increasing the speed of rotation of the drum without loss of forming- / pressing time.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the device comprises a take-out wheel, which removes the lollipops from the moulds of the drum at a take-out position.

[0023] Each mould rotates from a filling- to the take-out position. In the filling position, each mould is filled with fresh lollipop material, While the drum rotates further, the mould is then closed and preferably cuts of the desired length of lollipop material from the strand. Subsequently and / or simultaneously, a stick is inserted into the lollipop material, preferably through an opening in the mould. The drum then rotates further and the lollipop material is further pressed into its desired shape, until the mould reaches the take-out position in which and / or prior to which, the upper mould has been moved into a position that the lollipop can be removed from the mould.

[0024] This is preferably accomplished by a rotating take-out wheel, which preferably rotates in the opposite direction of the drum. Preferably, the take-out wheel has a plurality of grippers at its circumference, which each grip the stick of a lollipop and remove it from the moulds and hands it over to a subsequent unit, which can be a further processing unit and / or a transportation unit. According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises downstream from the drum an additional forming drum. This additional forming drum further forms the lollipop heads, for example from a sphere- shape into a flat shape, for example a disklike shape.

[0025] The problem is also solved with a method to produce a lollipop with the inventive device wherein the lollipop heads are processed along a circle segment > 180°, preferably > 210° and even more preferably > 250°.

[0026] The disclosure made regarding this embodiment of the present invention also applies to the other embodiments and vice versa. Subject matters disclosed relative to this embodiment can be combined with other embodiments and vice versa.

[0027] “Processed” according to this embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: filling the mould with lollipop material, cutting and / or forming the lollipop material and removing the formed lollipops from the mould.

[0028] The inventions are now explained according to the only Figure 1. The explanations apply to all inventions likewise and do not limit the scope of protection.

[0029] The only Figure shows the inventive lollipop production device 1 , which comprises a drum 7 with a plurality of moulds 3 at its circumference. By means of the moulds, a portion of lollipop material is cut off from a lollipop material strand 2, while it is formed by the mould into its desired shape. Preferably during the forming process, a stick, which is removed from a stick supply 10 is inserted into the lollipop material, preferably via an indentation in the mould. The movement of the stick into the moulds is preferably parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum. The moulds are preferably adjacent, more preferably directly adjacent, to each other and provided along a ring around the drum, that extends parallel to the paper plane and here in the paper plane. Each mould comprises a lower mould, that is preferably fixed at the drum, and an upper mould, that can be moved, preferably pivoted, relative to the lower mould from an open to a closed position and vice versa. The lower- and the upper mould are connected, preferably by means of a hinge. The pivot axis of the hinge is preferably tangential to the circumference of the drum. In the open position, the lower mould can be filled with lollipop material and the formed lollipops can be removed. From the open position, after the leading edge of the lollipop material strand has been placed onto the mould, the upper mould is subsequently closed until the upper and the lower mould are, at least essentially, in direct contact and thereby forms the lollipop material into the desired shape of the lollipop head and separates two adjacent lollipop heads from each other. In this closed position of the mould, the lollipop has received its final shape. Subsequently, the upper mould is opened again, so that the lollipops can be removed and the mould can receive lollipop material strand again. The removal of the lollipops from the moulds 3 of the drum is carried out in the present case by transfer means 6, here a take-out wheel, which preferably has grippers at its circumference, which grip the stick of the lollipops and moves them out of the mould.

[0030] The drum 7 rotates in the present case counter clockwise. The ring with the adjacent moulds 3 is provided in the paper plane. The feed path of the lollipop material strand 2 is indicated by arrows. In the present case, the lollipop material strand crosses the circumference of the drum 3 approximately at the four o'clock position but is still above the paper plane. Subsequently, the lollipop material strand 2 is guided along a spiral path along the circumference of the drum and simultaneously axially towards the ring of the moulds; i.e. in the present case from a position above the paper plane towards the paper plane. As soon as the lollipop material strand is coaxial with the ring ring of moulds, here approximately at the 1 o'clock position, the lollipop material strand can be place onto the lower mould. Subsequently, the upper mould is closed and the forming and cutting of the lollipop material starts and is finalized, while the respective mould rotates counter clockwise. During the forming of the lollipop material, a stick is moved, preferably parallel to the central axis of rotation of the drum, into the lollipop material, preferably through a hole in the mould. Relative to axial extension of the drum and relative to the ring of moulds, the sticks are preferably inserted into the moulds opposite from the side on which the lollipop material strand is supplied; i.e. in the present case the sticks are supplied from below the paper plane, while the lollipop material strand is supplied above the paper plane. Here in the three o'clock position, the lollipops 5 are removed from the moulds by means of the transfer means 6, which rotates here clockwise. It can be seen, that the path of the lollipop material strand 2 and the ring of moulds cross each other, wherein during crossing, the ring of moulds 3 is in a different axial plane than the lollipop material strand 2, so that the lollipop material strand 2 and the still filled moulds 3 do not interfere. Further it can bee seen that the circle segment in which the moulds are filled with lollipop material is at least > 180°, here app. 270°. Due to this large segment, the rotational speed of the drum can be increase and / or the diameter of the drum can be reduced, without losing production capacity.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the production device comprises an additional forming drum 9, which changes the shape of the lollipop heads provided by the upstream forming drum 7. A spherical lollipop head can, for example, be pressed into a flat lollipop. Subsequently, the lollipops are removed from the production device by transportation means 8, for example a chain with grippers. Alternatively, the lollipops are handed directly from the means 6 to the means 8.

[0032] List of reference signs

[0033] 1 Lollipop production device

[0034] 2 Lollipop material strand

[0035] 3 Mould

[0036] 4 Central axis

[0037] 5 Lollipop

[0038] 6 Transfer means, take-out wheel

[0039] 7 Drum

[0040] 8 Transportation means

[0041] 9 Additional forming drum

[0042] 10 Stick supply

Claims

Patent claims:1 . Lollipop production device (1), with a drum (7) that rotates around a central axis (4) and that comprises a plurality of moulds (3) at its circumference, a supply of lollipop material strand (2) to the moulds (3), wherein the moulds (3) form individual pieces of lollipop material into the desired shape of the lollipop head and a stick insertion means, which inserts a stick into each lollipop head, characterized in, that the lollipop material strand (2) is guided along a helical path around the drum (3).

2. Lollipop production device (1) according to claim 1 or the preamble of claim 1 , wherein the moulds (3) are provided along a circular ring at the circumference of the drum and that the drum has an axial extension, characterized in, that the lollipop material strand is supplied to the drum (7) at a different axial location than the axial location of the ring of the moulds.

3. Lollipop production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims or the preamble of claim 2, characterized in, that relative to the axial extension of the drum (7), the lollipop strand supply is on one side of the ring of the moulds, while the stick insertion means are on the opposite side.

4. Lollipop production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in, that the circle segment of the drum along which the mould is filled with lollipop material is > 180°, preferably > 210° and even more preferably > 250°.

5. Lollipop production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in, that it comprises a take-out wheel (6), which removes the lollipops from the moulds of the drum at an take-out position.

6. Lollipop production device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in, that it comprises an additional forming drum (9).

7. Method to produce a lollipop with a device according to one of claims 1 -6, characterized in, that lollipop heads are processed along a path > 180°, preferably > 210° and even more preferably > 250°.

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