BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a machine which will shave off an end of a standard industry bar of chocolate into thin shavings that are curled, and which curls have sufficient structural strength to be used for topping on ; ιes, cakes, for and other decorative items utilizing chocolate curls.

At the present time, chocolate bar shavings are manually made, by operators utilizing various types of knives that shave off curls from chocolate bars. This of course, is quite slow and time consuming, and does not provide for a precisely repeatable shaving thickness and curl. The use of chocolate shavings and various chocolate confectionery items is desirable because of taste and appearance, and thus a way of making the shavings on a uniform, automatic basis is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a machine for simultaneously cutting precise size and shape shavings off an end of a confectionery or candy type bar, such as a standard chocolate bar. The shavings curl as they are sliced off and for use in decorations of confectionery items. The machine supports a chocolate bar in the proper position, and has a gang of three knives that are positioned to shave off material from one end of the chocolate bar when the bar is moved across the knives. The two corners are shaved at a chamfer or angle, and the center section surface generally perpendicular to the longitudinal bisecting plane of the bar is shaved as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a partial side elevational view of an embodiment of a machine for forming chocolate shaving that spirals made according to the present invention, with parts broken for clarity;

Figure IA is a preferred form of the U-shaped channel;

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Figure 2 is a partial side elevational view of the machine shown in Figure 1 in a second position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1. with parts broken away for clarity; Figure 4 is a machine of a second embodiment for forming chocolate shaving spirals made according to the present invention, with parts broken away for clarity;

Figure 5 is a partial side elevational view of the machine shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a knife assembly; and

Figure 6A is a fragmentary view of a cut confectionery bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION An embodiment of a machine for shaving spirals from a confectionery bar, such as a chocolate bar is indicated generally at 200 in Figures 1-5 and includes a frame assembly having upright frame members 202 A and 202B. The upright frame members 202A and 202B are supported on a suitable base frame, not shown. The upright frame members 202A and 202B are spaced laterally apart when mounted on the base frame and include intermediate cross- members, not shown, to provide additional support. The upright frame members 202A and 202B support a support plate 204 that has guide rods or columns 206 mounted thereon. The guide rods 206 in turn support a slide plate 208. A cap plate 210 ties the rods 206 together at remote ends from the support plate 204. The main drive for the cutting and shaving action is provided from a motor 212 that drives a gear box 214 which has an output shaft that drives a crank arm 216. The crank arm 216 in turn is attached to a connecting rod or link 218. The connecting rod 218 is attached to a drive rod 224 that extends through a slot 220 (Figure 3) provided in the support plate 204. The drive rod 224 is connected to the slide plate 208 at a

remote end away from the connecting rod 218 with a rod end 226. The rod end 226 has a threaded shank that is locked into position on the slide plate 208 with suitable lock nuts. The slide plate 208 has four hubs or linear bearings 228 thereon that are slidably mounted over the guide rods 206. The motor 212 is powered to turn the crank arm 216 that drives the connecting rod or link 218. which moves the drive rod 224 and the slide plate 208 along the rods 206 through a horizontal stroke length. The link 218 is connected to the crank arm 216 through a suitable drive pin 230.

The slide plate 208 carries an upright confectionery bar feeder system 232 and moves the feeder system longitudinally along a generally horizontal path parallel to the guide rods 206. The confectionery bar feeder system 232 retains a confectionery bar 234, such as a chocolate bar, above a cutting apparatus 236, to be described below.

The confectionery bar feeder system 232 in the preferred embodiment illustrated is oriented vertically to take advantage of the weight of the confectionery bar 234. As illustrated, the confectionery bar feeder system 232 includes a generally U-shaped channel 240 that is secured to the slide plate 208. Support beams 242, 242 are also secured to the slide plate 208 and extend generally perpendicularly therefrom. An upright support column 244 is connected to the support beams 242, 242 at there remote ends and extends generally upright substantially parallel to the channel 240. A moveable generally U-shaped upright channel 246 is attached to a support plate 248 that in turn is connected with a hinge 250 to the support column 244. The fixed channel 240 and the moveable channel 246 are spaced apart to accommodate the standard confectionery bar 234, such as a standard chocolate bar. The standard chocolate bar is 1-3/8 inches thick, 10 inches wide.and 18 inches long. In the embodiment illustrated, the commercial size bar is split longitudinally to make a bar that is approximately 5 inches wide, 18 inches long, with a standard thickness of 1-3/8

inches. The five inch length makes a spiral, after curling, of approximately 3-1/2 inches long. The shavings take the shape of a long lazy spiral that has a curl in the range of 1/2 to 5/8 inch diameter in the curling section. The confectionery bar 234 is retained during the cutting stroke by spring tension developed between the U-shaped channels 240 and 246.

A bracket 250 is mounted to the U-shaped channel 240. A spring 252 having a first end connected to the bracket 250 and a second end connected to a bracket 253 mounted to the support plate 248 pulls the U-shaped channel 246 generally toward the U-shaped channel 240, wherein the support plate 248 and the U-shaped channel 246 pivot on the hinge 250. Referring to Figure 8, the spring tension developed by the spring 252 is sufficient to maintain the confectionery bar 234 vertically in the confectionery bar feeder system 232 against its own weight during the shaving operation to produce a confectionery curl 254. After the cutting apparatus 236 cuts the confectionery bar 234 to produce the curl or spiral 254, the confectionery bar feeder system 232 is returned to a position as shown in Figure 2. In this position, the confectionery bar 234 is adjusted for the next cutting stroke with an adjustment system 256. The adjustment system 256 is mounted to a support plate 258 that is attached to the upright support member 202A. The adjustment system 256 includes a support block 260 made from low friction material, such as polytetra- fluoroethylene (Teflon). The support block 260 is mounted to a support base 262, which has guide rods 264 extending generally away from support base 262 and through apertures 266 in the support bracket 258. An adjustment mechanism 268, such as a threaded rod having fine or narrowly spaced threads, is connected to the support base 262 and the support.plate 258. The support block 260 is adjusted with the adjustment mechanism 268 such that the support block 260 is always positioned below the confectionery bar feeder system 232 as it moves

longitudinally along the guide rods 206. By moving the support block 260 vertically through the adjustment mechanism 268, the thickness of the shaved curled or spiral is adjusted during the cutting stroke.

As described above, the spring 252 pulls the movable U-shaped channel 246 toward the fixed U-shaped channel 240 with sufficient force to retain the confectionery bar 234 there within against its own weight. When the confectionery bar feeder system is moved to the position shown in Figure 2 whereat the confectionery bar 234 is positioned above the support block 260, the movable U-shaped channel 246 is displaced outwardly from fixed U-shaped channel 240 so that the confectionery bar 234 can fall freely upon the support block 260, thereby adjusting the thickness of the next curl to be cut. The moveable channel 246 is displaced away from the channel 240 by a plate 263 that engages a threaded bolt assembly 265. The threaded bolt assembly is mounted to a support bracket 267 that is secured to the upright member 202A. Figure IA illustrates a preferred form of the U-shaped channel having confectionery bar gripping means indicated generally at 241. The gripping means 241 help secure the position of the confectionery bar 234 in order to prevent tipping or pivoting while the confectionery bar is being cut. The gripping means include a slightly upturned flange 243 at the lower edge of the center portion 245 of the U-shaped channel. The upturned flange 243 engages the side edge of the confectionery bar to prevent pivoting or upward movement, while still allowing the confectionery bar 234 to move downward for cutting. In the preferred embodiment, a second gripping flange 247 is positioned above the gripping flange 243. The second gripping flange 247 is formed from a single piece of material with a gripping portion 251 extending to engage the confectionery bar 234. The second gripping flange 247 projects through a slot 249 formed in the center portion 245 and has a mounting portion 255 that is secured to the back surface of the channel. Preferably, both of the U-shaped

channels 240 and 246 include the above described confectionery bar gripping means.

When the motor 212 rotates the crank arm 216 to begin the cutting stroke in a direction toward the position shown in Figure 1, the spring 252 contracts to develop a retaining force on the confectionery bar 234 with the U-shaped channels 240 and 246. Continued movement of the confectionery bar feeder system 232 to the positioned illustrated in Figure 2 causes the lower end of the confectionery bar 234 to engage the cutting apparatus 236.

The cutting apparatus 236 includes a shaver knife assembly 280 that engages the confectionery bar 234 to produce the shaved spiral or curl 254 during a cutting stroke. After the cutting stroke, the cutting apparatus 236 retracts or pulls the shaver knife assembly 280 away from the confectionery bar 234 in order that the lower end of the confectionery bar 234 does not contact the shaver knife assembly 280 while it is moving back to the support block 260. Referring to Figure 1, the shaver knife assembly 280 includes a knife 282. The knife 282 is mounted to a support bracket 284 that in turn is secured to a support plate 286. The support plate 286 connects to a bracket 288 mounted to the upright column 202B with a hinge 290. The hinge 290 allows the support plate 286 and shaver knife assembly 280 mounted thereon to generally move vertically.

Linkage 292 connected between the support ^" plate 286 and a stationary support 294 controls vertical displacement of the shaver knife assembly 280. The linkage 292 includes a first link 296 and a second link 298. The first link 296 is connected to the support plate 286 with a suitable connecting pin 300. At an end 302 opposite connecting pin 300, the first link 296 is joined to the second link 298 with a suitable connecting pin 304. The second link 298 is connected to the support plate 294 at an end opposite the junction between the first link 296 and the second link 298 with a suitable

connecting pin 306. Movement of the junction between the first link 296 and the second link 298 to opposite sides of a plane including connecting pin 300 and the connecting pin 306 causes vertical displacement of the shaver knife assembly 280. Referring to Figure 2, the shaver knife assembly 280 is lifted and brought into its cutting position by displacing the linkage 292 such that the connecting pin 304 is brought closer to the support block 260. The positioning mechanism can be a chain 305 or similar device that is connected to the connecting pin 304 and a drive bracket 310 which is mounted to the slide plate 208. Upper movement of the shaver knife assembly 280 is adjusted by a threaded bolt assembly 312 mounted to the support base 294, which engages the second link 298. For example, if the threaded bolt assembly 312 is adjusted to allow the second link 298 to assume a more inclined position, the shaver knife assembly 280 is lowered with respect to the confectionery bar 234. Whereas, if the threaded bolt assembly 312 is adjusted such that the second link 298 is substantially in line with the plane including the connecting pin 300 and the connecting pin 306, the shaver knife assembly 280 is at its maximum height. It is desired however, that the connecting pin 304 be slightly offset from the plane including the connecting pin 300 and the connecting pin 306 such that during the cutting stroke of the shaver knife assembly 280 the linkage 292 is less likely to retract the shaver knife assembly from the confectionery bar 234 to the position shown in Figure 8.

Once the cutting stroke is complete and the curl 254 is obtained, the shave knife assembly 280 is lowered or retracted so as not to contact the confectionery bar 234 upon its return stroke. In the embodiment illustrated, a drive bracket 320 is connected to the slide plate 208 and has a portion 322 which will contact the first link 296 when the cutting of the confectionery bar 234 is complete. The drive bracket 320 drives the linkage 292 such that the connecting

pin 304 is moved from its position shown in Figure 2 to a position shown Figure 1 that is on an opposite side of the plane including the connecting pin 300 and the connecting pin 306.

A second threaded bolt assembly 324 on a side opposite the threaded bolt assembly 312 and attached to the support base 294 engages the second link 298 to prevent further movement of the linkage 292. With adjustment of the threaded bolt assembly 324, the lower position of the retracted shaver knife assembly 280 is obtained.

A shield 330 is mounted proximate to the cutting apparatus 236 in order to direct shaved confectionery spirals or curls away from the cutting apparatus 236 and to a desired collection location.

Although the shaver knife assembly 280 has been illustrated with a single cutting knife 282, it is to be understood that a plurality of cutting knives can be mounted to the support plate 286. Referring to Figure 6, a knife assembly 283, which is further described in US-A-5,226,353 and which is hereby incorporated by reference, includes a first edge cutting knife 285, a second edge cutting knife 287, and a third edge cutting knife 289. The knives 285 and 287 are for cutting shavings and curls from the chamfer edges 271 A and 27 IB of a standard chocolate bar 271 shown in Figure 6 A. The knife 289 is used for cutting a shaving from the center portion 271C of the end edge surface, which is perpendicular to the plane 271D of the bar 271.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Like the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 3, the second preferred embodiment includes a confectionery bar feeder system 340. The confectionery bar feeder system 340 is similar to the feeder bar system 232 described in the previous embodiment; however, the present feeder bar system 340 includes two feeder stations 342 and 344 that retain confectionery bars 346

and 348, respectively. Each feeder bar station 342 and 344 includes a fixed generally U-shaped channel 350 mounted to a slide assembly 352 that is guided on rods 354 in a manner as previously taught.

Opposed to each fixed U-shaped channel 350 is a movable generally U-shaped channel 356. The moveable U-shaped channel 356 is mounted to a support plate 358 that in turn is hinged to a fixed plate 360 with a hinge 362. A spring 359 located between the support plate 358 and the fixed plate 360 applies pressure to each corresponding confectionery bar to retain it within the feeder station. The confectionery bar feeder system 340 is moved longitudinally along the guide rods 354 to positions above corresponding support blocks 360, one of which is shown in Figure 5, that are used to set the cutting thickness, in a manner as previously described, for each cutting stroke. When the confectionery bar feeder system 340 is substantially positioned above each corresponding support block 360, the springs 359 are compressed by a bracket 362 attached to the U-shaped movable channels, thereby releasing the confectionery bars and allowing each confectionery bar to be supported by the corresponding support block. Threaded bolt assemblies 364 mounted to a support plate 366 adjust displacement of the moveable channels 356. Upon movement of the confectionery bar feeder system 340 away from the support blocks 360 and toward knives of a cutting apparatus 370, the movable channels 356 clamp upon the confectionery bars to retain their position against their own weight.

The cutting apparatus 370 is similar to the cutting apparatus 236 described in the previous embodiment. The cutting apparatus 370 includes a shaver knife assembly 372, one of which. is shown in Figure 5, for each cutting station. At least one knife 374 is used in each shaver knife assembly and is mounted to a common support plate 376 that in turn is hinged with a hinge 378

to the upright support column. A linkage 380, similar to the linkage 292 of the previous embodiment, is connected between the support plate 376 and a support base 382 moves the support plate 376 and the shaver knife assemblies 372 vertically to a position in order to cut the confectionery bars, while retracting them to lower positions in order that the knifes do not contact the confectionery bars during their return stroke to the support blocks. As with the cutting apparatus described above, a chain 384 is used to position the linkage 380 and, thus, the shaver knife assemblies 372 in a cutting position before the cutting stroke is initiated, while a drive bracket, similar to bracket 320 of the previous embodiment, engages the linkage 380 to lower the support plate 376 and the shaver knife assemblies 372 to the retracted position.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.