Machine for forming chocolate shaving spirals
AssigneeBake Star, Inc.
InventorDouglas R. Hanson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for automatically shaving a large bar of chocolate for forming a thin chocolate shaving that curls into a spiral, for use for decorative purposes. The machine has cutters that will cut an end of a chocolate bar in three separate spirals, on each stroke of the cutter. The chocolate bar is moved a desired distance for new cuts. The knives are partly curved in cross section and have cutting edges that are angled to insure a smooth separation of a thin shaving to form the curl around the curvature of the individual knife. The chocolate temperature is important in cutting, and generally is maintained in the range of 88 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The machine itself can be placed in a suitable environment or chamber to maintain that temperature.
Claims24
A cutter apparatus for shaving ends off a confectionery bar comprising:
- a support for holding a confectionery bar, said confectionery bar having a surface that extends in a reference direction of a desired length and having a lateral thickness perpendicular to such direction;
- a shaver knife assembly slidably mounted relative to said confectionery bar and moveable in said reference direction in a cutting stroke while in engagement with the confectionery bar, said shaver knife assembly including at least one knife that has an edge cutting along the confectionery bar and oriented to form a curl from the shaving as the knife moves along the confectionery bar, said knife having a curved back position for guiding the curl;
- means for retracting the shaver knife assembly in a direction away from the confectionery bar and returning the shaver knife assembly to an original starting position for a new cutting stroke;
- and
- means for advancing the confectionery bar to a cutting position after each cutting stroke.
A cutter apparatus for shaving ends off a confectionery bar, comprising:
- a frame;
- a support mounted on the frame for holding a confectionery bar, said confectionery bar having a surface of a desired length that extends in a reference direction and having a lateral thickness perpendicular to such direction;
- a shaver knife assembly slidably mounted on the frame relative to said confectionery bar and moveable in said reference direction in a cutting stroke while in engagement with the confectionery bar, said shaver knife assembly including at least one said knife formed and oriented for guiding a shaving made in the cutting stroke into a curled shape;
- means for driving the shaver knife assembly in a reciprocal path;
- and
- means for advancing the confectionery bar toward the knife as the knife reciprocates.
A machine for shaving ends off a confectionery bar comprising:
- a first frame support for holding a reciprocating shaver knife assembly slidably mounted relative to first frame and moveable in a reference direction in a cutting stroke;
- a unitary subframe mounted on said first frame;
- means on said subframe for mounting a confectionery bar adjacent to the shaver knife assembly;
- means on the subframe for advancing the confectionery bar to a cutting position after each cutting stroke;
- means for mounting the subframe to the first frame comprising a hollow tube on the first frame, said hollow tube having an end surface, said subframe having a subframe surface resting on the end of the tube;
- a pilot location on the subframe for fitting inside the tube;
- and
- a releasable clamp for clamping the subframe surface to the end surface of the tube for supporting the subframe in position.
A cutter apparatus for shaving ends off a confectionery bar comprising:
- a support for holding a confectionery bar, said confectionery bar having a surface that extends in a reference direction a desired length and having a lateral thickness perpendicular to such direction;
- a stationary frame;
- a shaver knife assembly mounted to the frame for cutting said confectionery bar along said reference direction in a cutting stroke while in engagement with the confectionery bar, said shaver knife assembly including a knife that has an edge cutting along the confectionery bar and oriented to form a curl from the shaving as the knife cuts the confectionery bar;
- and
- means for causing relative movement between the confectionery bar and the shaving knife assembly such that the knife cuts the confectionery bar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.