Lollipop mould bar

Abstract

A multiple cavity moulding apparatus for making candies 127 on a stick 125. The apparatus comprises a mould carrier having two parts 130, 135 which move between closed and open positions. The carrier

Description

The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of lollipops (candies on a stick) and to equipment used for making confectionery mounted on a stick intended for sucking or licking. Multiple cavitied lollipop making machines are known, for example as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which opposed mould halves 10, 20 are shown, each formed from metal and providing a plurality of mould cavity halves 12, 22. In use the mould is closed (Figure 2) and liquid candy is poured into the mould cavities, where it sets solid around the stick 25 to form the edible part 27 (Figure 1). Then the mould is opened to allow ejection of lollipops 30 (Figure 1). The problem with this style of mould is keeping the mould cavity halves ridged and aligned so that the mould still closes with the minimum of gapping; otherwise liquid candy will leak. The leakage problem is exacerbated when complex three-dimensional shapes are to be moulded using cast moulds. Machining of mould is possible but this is not cost-effective for three-dimensional shapes. The present invention seeks to provide improvements in or relating to lollipop moulding. An aspect of the present invention provides a multiple cavity moulding apparatus for making candies on a stick, the apparatus comprises a mould carrier having a first part and a second part movable with respect to each other between a closed and an open position, each of the parts comprises a plurality of respective mould rebates, the mould rebates receive mould halves such that when the first and second halves are moved together a plurality of complete mould cavities for receiving molten candy are formed. The mould halves may comprise a plurality of mould cavity halves, with corresponding cavities halves provides by an opposing mould half. The mould halves may be formed from cast metal, such as aluminium. There is a limitation on the length of aluminium castings if accuracy is to be maintained. In other embodiments cast plastics material or machined metal material mould halves may be used. The first and second mould carrier parts may be formed from cast metal, such as steel or aluminium. In other embodiments cast plastics material, or machined metal carrier parts may be used. The mould cavities may define three-dimensional shapes. In some embodiments the mould cavities define complex, complete three-dimensional fruit shapes. In some embodiments the mould halves are detachably attachable to the carrier parts. This gives the opportunity to change mould cavities. The first and second mould carrier parts may be joined together for hinged movement. In some embodiments one of the parts is static and the other of the parts moves to open and close the moulds. In other embodiments both parts move. In some embodiments the first and second parts are hinged together. The mould may be biased to the closed position and movable to the closed position. A spring may be provided for returning the mould to a closed position. A further aspect provides a multiple cavity lollipop mould apparatus comprising a mould bar, in which multiple separate mould cavity-bearing halves (e.g. castings) are fitted to a common bar and in which the mould bar moves to open and close moulds. The mould bar may have rebates for receiving mould halves. The mould may be configured to produce complete three-dimensional fruit shapes. The present invention also provides an automated lollipop making machine (in some instances, it is referred to as lolly making machine or sticky-pop machine) comprising one or more apparatus or moulds as described herein. The machine may comprise an automatic stick depositor for placing sticks into mould cavities. A further aspect provides a multiple cavity moulding apparatus, the apparatus comprises a mould carrier having a first carrier part and a second carrier part, the mould carrier is movable between a closed and an open position, each of the carrier parts comprises a plurality of respective mould rebates, the mould rebates receive mould halves such that when mould carrier is moved to the closed position a plurality of complete mould cavities are formed. In some embodiments the apparatus is configured for receiving high temperature (for example up to 80 degrees or up to 100 degrees) liquid product which sets in the moulds. For example, the apparatus may be configured for food products such as jellies, chocolates or hard candies. Different aspects and / or embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together. Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein. Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate. The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and / or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Figures 3 to 7 show a mould bar 105 formed in accordance with the present invention. The bar 105 comprises a first (elongate) carrier part 130 and a second (elongate) carrier part 135. Each of the parts 130, 135 has a plurality (in this embodiment three are shown) of rebates 140. The rebates 140 receive aluminium castings 145 (or mould halves) each of which has a plurality of cavity halves 150. Castings 145 are arranged in an opposed configuration along respective carrier parts 130, 135. As illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B, the mould bar 105 is movable between a closed position (Figure 3 and Figure 5) and an open position (Figure 6). In the closed position the carrier parts are brought together, which brings the opposed castings together to form complete mould cavities. Thereafter liquid candy can be poured / injected into the cavities. Sticks can be deposited into the cavities before, during or after liquid introduction, following which the liquid sets hard around the sticks. The mould can then be opened to allow removal / ejection of formed lollipops. In this embodiment a spring 155 is used to bias the mould bar to the closed position. In this embodiment the carrier part 140 remains static and substantially vertical, and the carrier part moves (in this embodiment by around 45 degrees, but in other embodiments, for example, 35 to 55 degrees of movement may be used). In other 5 embodiments both carrier parts move with respect to each other. In the embodiment shown the mould cavities form different shapes (spherical and 3D fruit shapes). In other embodiments all cavities produce the same shape. In some embodiments all cavity halves in the same casting are substantially the same. In other 10 embodiments castings have multiple different cavity halves. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications 15 can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A multiple cavity moulding apparatus for making candies on a stick, the apparatus comprises a mould carrier having a first part and a second part movable with respect to each other between a closed and an open position, each of the parts comprises a plurality of respective mould rebates, the mould rebates receive mould halves such that when the first and second halves are moved together a plurality of complete mould cavities for receiving molten candy are formed.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the mould halves comprise a plurality of mould cavity halves.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the mould halves are formed from cast metal, cast plastics material, or machined metal.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first and second mould carrier parts are formed from cast metal, cast plastics material or machined metal.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mould cavities define three-dimensional shapes.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mould cavities define complex three-dimensional fruit shapes.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mould halves are detachably attachable to the parts.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first and second mould carrier parts are joined together for hinged movement.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one of the carrier parts is static and the other of the carrier parts moves to open and close the moulds, or in which both carrier parts move.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first and second parts are hinged together.

11. A multiple cavity lollipop mould comprising a mould bar, in which multiple separate mould cavity castings are fitted to a common bar and in which the mould bar moves to open and close the mould.

12. A mould as claimed in claim 11, in which the mould bar has rebates for receiving castings.

13. A mould as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, in which the mould is configured to produce complete three-dimensional fruit shapes.

14. An automated lollipop making machine comprising one or more apparatus or moulds as claimed in any preceding claim.

15. A machine as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an automatic stick depositor for placing sticks into mould cavities.

Images