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COATED APPLE CONFECTION MAKING MACHINE

 

A cyclically operated coated apple confection making machine includes a handle stick storage hopper from which handle sticks are discharged one at a time at a first work station and are inserted automatically into handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices, carried by a main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier, by which the handle sticks are automatically inserted into apples carried by a movable endless or rotary turntable apple carrier at a second apple pick-up work station. If an apple is not picked up at the second and apple pick-up work station the handle stick is automatically ejected from the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device at a third work station. The handle sticks and attached apples are then moved through a caramel container in which they are rotated to coat the apples with a coating of caramel. The caramel-coated apples are then moved to a fifth work station where whey are lowered into and rotated in a first receptacle or tray for ground nuts so as to coat the caramel-coated apples with an outer coating of layer of ground nuts. The caramel-coated and ground nut-coated apples are then moved to a sixth work station at which the completed coated apple confections, with attached handle sticks, are discharged into a second receptacle or tray where they are given a further coating of ground nuts. The caramel container has a heating unit therebelow and the caramel container and its heating unit are automatically raised in small increments relative to the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices as the rotational cycle of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier embodied in the machine progresses so as to assure an adequate coating of caramel on the apples as the supply of caramel in the caramel container is consumed in use. A nut storage hopper has a nut-grinding mechanism therein and ground nut level-responsive means in the first ground nut receptacle or tray, which is responsive to the level of ground nuts therein, controls the operation of the nut-grinding mechanism in such a manner as to assure an adequate supply of ground nuts in the first ground nut receptacle or tray at all times.

Primary Examiner: Boler; James R.
 

We claim:

1. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection which includes a coated apple having a handle stick embedded therein comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a turntable carrier member rotatably mounted on the said supporting frame;

c. means for rotating the said turntable carrier member in the said supporting frame relative to and past a plurality of work stations where operations are to be performed by the said machine during a cycle rotation of the said turntable carrier member;

d. a plurality of handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices carried by and arranged at spaced intervals circumferentially around the said turntable carrier member for releasably gripping the said handle sticks and for holding an apple carrier thereby;

e. a handle stick storage hopper arranged adjacent the said turntable carrier member at a first one of the said work stations and adapted to hold a supply of the said handle sticks;

f. means for ejecting handle sticks one at a time from the said handle stick storage hopper into the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices as the latter are rotated sequentially by the said turntable carrier member into a position adjacent the said handle stick storage hopper at the said first work station;

g. a movable endless apple-holding carrier arranged adjacent said turntable carrier member for holding a plurality of apples in spaced relationship thereon;

h. a plurality of apple-holding devices arranged in spaced relationship on the said movable endless apple-holding carrier for releasably holding apples thereon;

i. means for movably mounting the said movable endless apple-holding carrier and the said apple-holding devices thereon adjacent the said turntable at a second one of the said work stations;

j. handle stick-inserting means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices at the said second one of the said work stations for sequentially inserting handle sticks carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices into the cores of apples held by the said apple-holding devices on the said movable endless apple-holding carrier; and

k. means for coating each of the said apples as carried and held by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices with an edible coating at another and coating one of said work stations during a cycle of rotation of the said turntable carrier member.

2. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 1 which includes

a. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices at a work station following the said second work station, and in advance of the said first coating work station, in a cycle of rotation of the said turntable carrier member, for automatically ejecting handle sticks from the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices in the event that an apple is not picked up by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices at the said second one of said work stations.

3. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 1 which includes

a. a container for an edible fluid coating material arranged adjacent the said turntable carrier member for holding a supply of an edible fluid coating material at the said coating one of said work stations; and

b. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices, in timed relationship with the said turntable carrier member, for lowering the said apples carried thereby on the said handle sticks into the said container for the said edible fluid coating material to coat each of the said apples with a coating of the said edible fluid coating material at the said coating work station during a cycle of rotation of the said turntable carrier member.

4. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 3 which includes

a. means for automatically raising the said container for the said edible fluid coating material in relatively small increments upwardly toward the said turntable carrier member and the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices mounted thereon as the supply of the said edible fluid coating material therein is consumed in use.

5. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 3 which includes

a. means disposed below the said container for the said edible fluid coating material for heating the said edible fluid coating material therein;

b. means for supporting the said container for the said edible fluid coating material and the said heating means therefor for movement in a generally vertical plane relative to the turntable carrier member and the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices carried thereby;

c. means for automatically raising the said container for the edible fluid coating material and the said heating means therefor in relatively small increments upwardly toward the said turntable carrier member and the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices carried thereby as the supply of the said edible fluid coating material in the said container therefor is consumed in use; and

d. means for guiding movement of the said container for the said edible fluid coating material and the said heating means therefor as the said container for the said edible fluid coating material and the said heating means are moved on the said supporting means therefor in use.

6. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 5 in which the said means for automatically raising the said container for the said edible fluid coating material and the said heating means therefor includes

a. hydraulic lifting means disposed below the said container for the said edible fluid coating material; and

b. means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the said hydraulic lifting means so as to raise the said container for the said edible fluid coating material and the said heating means therefor in relatively small increments as the said edible fluid coating material is consumed in use.

7. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 3 which includes

a. a receptacle for ground nuts arranged adjacent the said turntable carrier member at a second coating one of said work stations; and

b. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices at the said second coating one of said work stations, in timed relationship with the said turntable carrier member, for lowering the said apples, as coated with a coating of the said edible fluid coating material, into the said ground nut receptacle to coat the said apples with a coating of ground nuts over the said coating of edible fluid coating material thereon during a cycle of rotation of the said turntable carrier member.

8. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 7 which includes

a. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices at a final one of said work stations, in timed relationship with the said turntable carrier member, and beyond the said second and ground nut receptacle coating work station, for automatically ejecting the said apple confections with the said coating of edible fluid coating material and with the said coating of ground nuts thereon from the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices during a cycle of rotation of the said turntable carrier member.

9. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 7 which includes

a. means for rotating the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said apples held thereby in the said ground nut receptacle so as to coat the said apples with a coating of ground nuts over the said coating of edible fluid coating material thereon.

10. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 7 which includes

a. a storage hopper for nuts disposed adjacent the said turntable carrier member at the said second coating work station and above the said ground nut receptacle and having

1. a discharge outlet for discharging ground nuts from the said nut storage hopper into the said ground nut receptacle;

b. nut grinding means in the said nut storage hopper;

c. level responsive means in the said ground nut receptacle responsive to the level of ground nuts therein; and

d. means under control of the said level-responsive means for controlling the operation of the said nut-grinding means in the said nut storage hopper and the discharge of the ground nuts through the said discharge outlet from the said nut storage hopper into the said ground nut receptacle as the supply of ground nuts in the said ground nut receptacle is consumed in use.

11. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 10 in which the said nut-grinding means includes

a. power means;

b. power-transmission means operated by the said power means for operating the said nut-grinding means;

c. clutch means for controlling the operation of the said power-transmission means; and

d. means under control of the said level-responsive means in the said ground nut receptacle for controlling the said clutch means.

12. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection which includes a coated apple and handle stick attached thereto comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a main movable endless carrier member movably mounted on the said supporting frame and having a plurality of work stations arranged therealong;

c. means for moving the said main movable endless carrier member on the said supporting frame relative to and past the said work station;

d. a plurality of handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices carried by the said main movable endless carrier member and arranged at spaced intervals thereon;

e. each of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices including

1. a handle stick-gripping chuck unit for gripping and holding one of the said handle sticks;

f. a storage hopper for the said handle sticks arranged adjacent the said main movable endless carrier member at a first one of the said work stations;

g. means coacting in timed relationship with the said movable endless carrier member for ejecting handle sticks one at a time from the said handle stick storage hopper into the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit of each of the said handle stick-tripping and apple-holding devices at the said first one of the said work stations as the said apple stick-gripping and apple-holding devices are moved sequentially by the said main movable endless carrier member past the said first work station;

h. a movable endless apple carrier member arranged adjacent the said main movable endless carrier member at a second one of the said work stations;

i. means for supporting the said movable endless apple carrier member;

j. a plurality of apple-holding devices carried by the said movable endless apple carrier member and arranged at spaced intervals thereon for releasably holding apples therein;

k. means for moving the said movable endless apple carrier member in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member so as to bring the said apples held thereby sequentially into the path of movement of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices at the said second one of the said work stations during movement of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices by the said main movable endless carrier;

l. means coacting with the said main movable endless carrier and with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices arranged thereon at the said second one of the said work stations for inserting handle sticks held by the said handle stick-gripping chuck units of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices sequentially into the cores of apples releasably held by the apple-holding devices on the said movable endless apple carrier so as to withdraw apples from the said apple-holding devices and attach them to the said handle sticks held by the said handle stick-gripping chuck units;

m. a container arranged adjacent the said main movable endless carrier member in its path of travel at a coating one of said work stations for holding an edible fluid coating material; and

n. means coacting in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member and with the said apple stick-gripping and apple-holding devices thereon for sequentially lowering apples held by the said handle sticks in the said handle stick-gripping chuck units into the said container during movement of the said main movable endless carrier member to coat the said apples with a coating of the said edible fluid coating material.

13. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 12 which includes

a. means for sequentially rotating the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said apples held thereby after the said apples have been provided with a coating of the said edible fluid coating material to remove excess of the said edible fluid coating material therefrom.

14. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 12 which includes

a. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein, and in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier, at a work station between said second work station and in advance of the said coating one of said work stations for actuating the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit to release the said handle stick held thereby in the event that a handle stick held by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device and the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit embodied therein does not engage and pick up an apple at the said second one of said work stations.

15. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 14 which includes

a. a ground nut receptacle arranged adjacent the said main movable endless carrier member in its path of travel at the said second coating one of said work stations; and

b. means coacting with the said apple stick-gripping and apple-holding devices, and in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member, for sequentially moving the said apples held thereby, as coated with the said coating of edible fluid coating material, into and through the said ground nut receptacle to coat the said apples with a coating of ground nuts over the said coating of edible fluid coating material thereon.

16. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 15 which includes

a. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein, and in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member, for rotating the said apples in the said ground nut receptacle in contact with ground nuts therein to coat the said apples with a coating of ground nuts over the said coating of edible fluid coating material thereon.

17. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 16 which includes

a. a final receptacle for the coated apple confections arranged adjacent to and in the path of travel of the said main movable endless carrier member at a final one of the said work stations; and

b. means coacting with the said handle stick gripping and apple-holding devices, in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member, for ejecting the said coated apple confections and the said handle sticks attached thereto from the said handle stick-gripping chuck units into the said final receptacle for the said coated apple confections.

18. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection ad defined in claim 17 in which

a. the said final receptacle is adapted to hold a supply of ground nuts therein; and which includes

b. means for rotating the said final receptacle with the said coated apple confections therein to provide the said coated apples with a second and further coating of ground nuts.

19. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection which includes a coated apple having a handle stick attached thereto comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a main rotary turntable carrier member rotatably mounted on the said supporting frame, and including

1. a peripheral edge portion;

c. means for rotating the said main rotary turntable carrier member on the said supporting frame successively past a plurality of work stations disposed adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said main turntable carrier member;

d. a generally annular cam track member stationarily mounted on the said supporting frame and surrounding a generally coextensive with the said peripheral edge portion of the said main rotary turntable carrier member;

e. a plurality of handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices movably mounted on the said main rotary turntable carrier member at spaced intervals circumferentially thereon and for movement therewith and each including

1. a handle stick-gripping chuck unit adapted to receive and to grip a handle stick;

f. means for movably mounting the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein on the said main rotary turntable carrier member for movement in a generally vertical plane radially of and relative to the main rotary turntable carrier member and the said generally annular stationarily mounted cam track member;

g. a handle stick storage hopper for holding a supply of said handle sticks disposed adjacent the said main rotary turntable carrier member and the said stationarily mounted cam track member at a first on of the said work stations and having

1. a discharge outlet;

h. a first cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member;

i. cam follower means carried by each of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and engageable with the said first cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member for moving the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein upon and relative to the said main rotary turntable carrier and the said stationarily mounted cam track member successively into position to receive one of the said handle sticks from the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper at the said first one of the said work stations;

j. means for ejecting the said handle sticks one at a time from the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper successively into each of the said handle stick-gripping chuck units as the said handle stick-gripping chuck units are moved sequentially by the said main rotary turntable carrier member into registry with the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper at the said first one of said work stations;

k. a movable endless apple carrier member arranged adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said main rotary turntable carrier member at a second one of said work stations and having arranged thereon in spaced relationship

1. a plurality of apple-holding devices for releasably holding apples therein;

l. means for moving the said movable endless apple carrier in timed relationship with the said main rotary turntable carrier member so as to move the said apples carried thereby successively into a position adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said main rotary turntable carrier member at the said second one of said work stations;

m. a second cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member and engageable with the said cam follower means carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices for moving the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein relative to the said main rotary turntable carrier member and the said stationarily mounted cam track member into position to align the said handle sticks carried thereby successively with the cores of apples disposed in the said apple-holding devices on the said movable endless apple carrier member at the said second one of the said work stations;

n. means coacting in timed relationship with the said main rotary turntable carrier member at the said second one of the said work stations for moving each of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied thereby in a direction to insert the said handle sticks held thereby sequentially into the cores of apples releasably held by the said apple-holding devices at the said second one of the said work stations;

o. a container for holding a supply of an edible coating material for said apples disposed adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said rotary turntable carrier at a coating one of said work stations; and

p. a third cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member coacting with the said cam follower means carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices for lowering the said apples held thereby sequentially into and for moving them through the said container to coat each of the said apples sequentially with a coating of the said edible fluid coating material at the said coating work station during a cycle of rotation of the said main rotary turntable carrier member.

20. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 in which

a. the said third cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member coacts with the said cam follower means carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices to lower the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein and the said handle sticks and apples held thereby in a generally vertical plane into the said container at the said third work station for coating the said apples with a coating of the said edible fluid coating material in the said container.

21. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 in which

a. the said edible fluid coating material is caramel; and which includes

1. supporting means for the said caramel container;

2. means for movably mounting the said caramel container and the said supporting means therefor for vertical movement relative to and below the said main rotary turntable carrier member;

3. means for guiding the said caramel container and the said supporting means therefor during vertical movement thereof;

4. heating means carried by the said supporting means below the said caramel container and movable therewith for heating the said caramel container and the caramel therein; and

5. hydraulic means for elevating the said caramel container and the said heating means therefor in relatively small increments and in a generally vertical plane relative to the path of travel of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein and the said handle sticks and apples held thereby as the supply of caramel in the said caramel container is consumed in use.

22. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 which includes

a. means for raising the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein and the apples held thereby within the said container but above the level of the said edible fluid coating material therein after the apples have been coated with a coating of the said edible fluid coating material; and

b. means for rotating the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein and the apples held thereby within the said container but above the level of the edible fluid coating material therein to remove excess of the said edible fluid coating material from the said thus coated apples.

23. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 in which

a. the said movable apple carrier is in the form of a horizontally rotatable turntable carrier member including

1. a peripheral outer edge portion having the said apple-holding devices arranged at spaced intervals circumferentially therearound.

24. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection defined in claim 19 in which

a. the said movable apple carrier is in the form of

1. a movable endless apple carrier member having the said apple-holding devices arranged at spaced intervals therealong; and in which

2. each of the said apple-holding devices embodies

a. means for holding an apple with its core disposed in a generally vertical plane at the said second work station and adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said main rotary turntable carrier member; and which includes

3. cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member at the said second work station coacting with the said cam follower means carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices to move the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices relative to the said main rotary turntable carrier member and relative to the said stationarily mounted cam track member so as to move the said handle sticks held thereby into a generally vertical plane at the said second work station; and which includes

4. means operating in timed relationship with the said main rotary turntable carrier member and coacting with the said second cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member for lowering the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein and the said handle sticks held thereby relative to the said main turntable carrier member and in a generally vertical plane and inserting the said handle sticks sequentially into the cores of apples disposed in the said apple-holding devices on the said movable endless apple carrier member.

25. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 which

a. the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein are moved by the coaction of the said first cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member and the said cam follower means carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices into a generally horizontal position at the said first work station for the reception of a handle stick from the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper.

26. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 in which

a. the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein and the said handle sticks held thereby are moved by the coaction of the said second cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member and the said cam follower means carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices into a predetermined position, relative to the said main rotary turntable carrier member and relative to the said movable endless apple carrier member, at the said second one of said work stations for insertion of the said handle sticks into the cores of apples disposed in the said apple-holding devices on the said movable endless apple carrier.

27. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 which includes

a. a receptacle for ground nuts disposed at a fifth one of the said work stations adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said main rotary turntable carrier member and adapted to hold a supply of ground nuts and having

1. an open top; and

b. a fourth cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member coacting with the said cam follower means carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices, and in timed relationship with the rotation of the said main rotary turntable carrier member to move the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said chuck units embodied therein and the said handle sticks and the apples held thereby relative to the said main turntable carrier member and the said stationarily mounted cam track member and for automatically lowering the said apples into the said ground nut receptacle through the said open top thereof to coat the said apples with a coating of ground nuts over the said coating of edible fluid coating material thereon during rotation of the said main rotary turntable carrier member.

28. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 27 which includes

a. means coacting with the said main rotary turntable carrier member and with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices for rotating the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein and the said apples held thereby in the said receptacle for ground nuts to coat the said apples with a coating of ground nuts over the said coating of edible fluid coating material thereon.

29. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 28 which includes

a. a ground nut storage hopper arranged adjacent to and above the said ground nut receptacle for holding a supply of ground nuts and having

1. a discharge outlet passage therein for discharging ground nuts into the said ground nut receptacle;

b. nut-grinding means in the said discharge outlet passage of the said nut storage hopper for grinding nuts therein;

c. power means;

d. power transmission means driven by the said power means for operating the said nut-grinding means;

e. clutch means normally engaging the said power transmission means with the said nut-grinding means;

f. ground nut level-responsive means in the said ground nut receptacle responsive to the level of ground nuts therein; and

g. means responsive to the said ground nut level-responsive means in the said ground nut receptacle for disengaging the said clutch means from the said power transmission means for the said nut-grinding means when the level of ground nuts in the said ground nut receptacle reaches a predetermined level.

30. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 28 which includes

a. a final receptacle for the coated apple confections arranged at a sixth one of the said work stations adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said main rotary turntable carrier member;

b. a fifth cam means on the said stationarily mounted cam track member at the said sixth work station and coacting with the said follower means carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices to move the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said chuck units embodied therein and the said apple candy confections held thereby, relative to the said main rotary turntable carrier and the said stationarily mounted cam track member, into a generally vertical position above the said final receptacle for the said coated apple confections; and

c. means coacting in timed relationship with movement of the said main rotary turntable carrier member and with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and with the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein for releasing the said handle sticks and the said coated apple confections from the said handle stick-gripping chuck units and discharging them into the said final receptacle therefor at the said sixth one of the said work stations.

31. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 in which

a. the said movable endless apple carrier is in the form of a rotary apple-carrying turntable carrier member having

1. an upper surface; and in which

b. the said apple-holding devices are arranged in spaced relationship circumferentially on the said upper surface of the said rotary apple-carrying turntable member; and in which

c. the said means for moving the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein moves the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein downwardly in a generally vertical plane from a normally raised position above the said upper surface of the said rotary apple-carrying turntable carrier member into a lowered position relative thereto to insert the said handle sticks carried by the said handle stick-gripping chuck units vertically and sequentially into the cores of apples disposed in the said apple-holding devices on the said rotary apple-carrying turntable carrier member.

32. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 31 which includes

a. means for raising the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein from their said lowered position into their said normally raised position so as to lift the apples held thereby out of the said apple-holding devices for rotational movement with the said main rotary turntable carrier member.

33. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 32 which includes

a. handle stick-ejecting means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and with the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein in timed relationship with movement of the said main rotary turntable carrier member at a third one of the said work stations for ejecting the handle sticks from the said handle stick-gripping chuck units of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices in the event that the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein do not pick up an apple from one of the said apple-holding devices at the said second work station.

34. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 32 which includes

a. means arranged between the said second and third work station and including

1. means disposed in the path of travel of an apple carried by one of the said handle stick-gripping chuck units in advance of the said handle stick-ejecting means, relative to the path of travel of the said main rotary turntable carrier member engageable by an apple carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device and the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit embodied therein for moving the said handle stick-ejecting means out of the path of travel of the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit and an apple carried thereby if an apple has been picked up by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device and its handle stick-gripping chuck unit at the said second one of said work stations and is held by the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device as the latter is moved by the said main rotary turntable carrier member between the said second and third work stations.

35. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 33 which includes

a. a receptacle arranged at the said third work station for the reception of the said ejected handle sticks.

36. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 24 in which

a. each of the said apple-holding devices on the said movable endless apple-holding carrier embodies

1. means for releasably holding one of the said apples with the core thereof disposed in a generally vertical plane as the said handle stick is inserted into the core of the said apple by the said handle stick-inserting means.

37. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 in which

a. the said means for movably mounting the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein includes

1. means for pivotally mounting the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein on the said main rotary turntable carrier member for movement in a generally vertical plane radially of the said main rotary turntable carrier member and radially relative to the said generally annular stationarily mounted cam track member; and in which the said machine includes

b. means carried by the main rotary turntable carrier member for guiding each of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein during pivotal movement thereof radially relative to the said main rotary turntable carrier member and relative to the said generally annular stationarily mounted cam track member.

38. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 37 in which

a. the said means for movably mounting the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices includes

1. a first supporting arm member having

a. a radially inner end portion rigidly attached to the said main rotary turntable carrier member; the said first supporting arm member having

b. a radially outer end portion;

2. a guide member including a generally U-shaped body portion rigidly attached to the said radially outer end portion of the said first supporting arm member;

3. a second supporting arm member having

a. a radially inner end portion pivotally connected to the said generally U-shaped guide member;

b. said second supporting arm member being adapted to be moved into the said generally U-shaped body portion of the said guide member when in raised position; and

4. means for attaching the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device and the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit embodied therein to the said radially outer end portion of the said second supporting arm member.

39. A machine for inserting handle sticks into and coating an edible body comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a main movable endless carrier member movably mounted on said supporting frame and having a plurality of work stations arranged along the periphery thereof;

c. a stationary cam track member mounted on said supporting frame adjacent to and generally coextensive with the said main movable endless carrier member;

d. means for moving the said main movable endless carrier member successively past the said work stations;

e. a storage hopper for handle sticks arranged at a first one of the said work stations and having a discharge outlet for the said handle sticks;

f. a plurality of handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices movably mounted on the said main movable endless carrier at spaced intervals therealong for movement with the said main movable endless carrier and for movement in a generally vertical plane transversely relative to the path of travel of the said main movable endless carrier member;

g. means for movably mounting the handle stick-gripping and edible body holding devices on the said main movable endless carrier for movement relative thereto in a generally vertical plane transversely relative to the path of travel of the said main movable endless carrier member;

h. a first cam means on the said stationary cam track member arranged adjacent the said first work station;

i. cam means carried by each of the said handle stick-gripping and edible body holding devices and coacting with the said first cam means, and in timed relationship with the said movable endless carrier member, for moving each of the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices relative to the said main movable endless carrier member and in a plane transverse relative to the path of movement of the said main movable endless carrier member into a position to receive a handle stick from the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper;

j. means operating in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member for ejecting a handle stick from the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper sequentially into each of the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices at the said first work station;

k. a second movable endless carrier member disposed adjacent the said main movable endless carrier member at a second one of the said work stations;

l. a plurality of edible body-holding devices carried by the said second movable endless carrier member and arranged at spaced intervals thereon and each adapted to releasably hold a body of edible material;

m. a second cam means on the said stationary cam track member adjacent the said second work station;

n. the said second cam means coacting with the said cam means carried by the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices to move each of the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices and the handle sticks carried thereby sequentially into a position to insert one of the said handle sticks into each of the said edible bodies at the said second work station;

o. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices for moving the latter and a handle stick carried thereby to insert the said handle stick into the said edible body at the said second work station;

p. container for comestible material arranged adjacent the said main movable endless carrier member at a first coating one of said work stations; and

q. means operating in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member for moving each of the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices and the said edible bodies held thereby sequentially into and through the said container to coat each of the said edible bodies with a coating of the said comestible material at the said first coating one of said work stations.

40. A machine for inserting handle sticks into and coating an edible body as defined in claim 39 which includes

a. a second container for comestible material arranged adjacent the said main endless carrier member at a second coating one of said work stations; and

b. means operating in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member for moving each of the handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices and the said coated edible bodies with a second coating of comestible material over the said first coating of comestible material thereon.

41. A machine for inserting handle sticks into and coating an edible body, as defined in claim 40, in which the said means for movably mounting the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein on the said main movable endless carrier includes

a. a first supporting member rigidly attached to the said main movable endless carrier;

b. a second supporting member pivotally mounted on the said first supporting member;

c. a tubular sleeve member rigidly attached to the said second supporting member; and in which each of the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices includes

d. a shaft member slidably mounted in the said tubular sleeve member and having

1. an upper end or head portion; and in which said shaft member includes

2. a lower end portion having the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit attached thereto; and

3. resetting spring means on the said shaft member between the said tubular sleeve member and the said upper end or head portion of the said shaft member normally urging the said shaft member and the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit embodied therein into a raised position relative to the said tubular sleeve member.

42. A machine for inserting handle sticks into and coating an edible body as defined in claim 41 which includes

a. a sleeve member carried by and slidably mounted on the said shaft member, and having

b. a radially outwardly projecting flange portion; and

c. means coacting in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member for engaging the said radially outwardly projecting flange portion of the said sleeve member for slidably moving the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding device and the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit embodied therein on the said shaft member and relative to the said tubular sleeve member.

43. A machine for inserting handle sticks into and coating an edible body, as defined in claim 41, in which each of the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodies

a. a main and generally tubular body member rigidly attached to the said shaft member, and having

1. a handle stick-receiving cavity therein adapted to receive and hold a portion of one of the said handle sticks;

b. cam means carried by the said main generally tubular body member of the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit for releasably gripping and holding the said portion of the said handle stick disposed in the said handle stick-receiving cavity in the said main and generally tubular body member of the said chuck unit;

c. resilient means on the said main generally tubular body member of the said chuck unit normally urging the said cam means on the generally tubular body of the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding device into position to grip and hold the said portion of the said handle stick disposed in the said handle stick-receiving cavity of the said main generally tubular body member of the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit;

d. cam-releasing means movably mounted on the said main generally tubular body member of the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit for releasing the said cam means on the said handle stick-gripping and holding chuck unit from engagement with the said portion of a handle stick gripped and held thereby in the said handle stick-receiving cavity, including

e. a radially outwardly projecting flange member on the said main generally tubular body member of the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit; and

f. means coacting in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member for engaging the said radially outwardly projecting flange member on the said generally tubular body member for moving the said cam-releasing means to move the said cam means on the said generally tubular body member, against the action of the said resilient means, into position to release a handle stick gripped and held by the said cam means and the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit.

44. A machine for making edible confections which includes an edible body having a handle stick attached thereto, comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a movable endless carrier movably mounted on the said supporting frame and movable past a plurality of work stations in a cycle of operations thereof;

c. a handle stick storage hopper arranged at a first one of the said work stations and having

1. a discharge outlet;

d. a plurality of handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices mounted at spaced intervals on the said movable endless carrier;

e. means for moving the said movable endless carrier and the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices carried thereby sequentially past the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper, at the said first one of said work stations, in a cycle of movement of the said movable endless carrier;

f. means for ejecting handle sticks one at a time from the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper and inserting the said handle sticks into the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices at the said first work station; and

g. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices, at a second one of the said work stations, to insert the said handle sticks carried by the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices into edible bodies arranged at the said second one of the said work stations in a cycle of movement of the said movable endless carrier;

h. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices at a first coating one of the said work stations to coat the said edible bodies with a coating of comestible material in a cycle of operation of the said movable endless carrier;

i. a ground nut receptacle mounted on the said supporting frame at the said second coating one of the said work stations in the path of travel of the said movable endless carrier and the said handle stick-gripping and edible body holding devices carried thereby;

j. a nut storage hopper mounted on the said supporting frame and having a discharge outlet having communication with the said ground nut receptacle;

k. nut-grinding means in the said nut storage hopper for grinding nuts therein and discharging them through the said discharge outlet of the said nut storage hopper into the said ground nut receptacle;

1. means for operating the said nut-grinding means;

m. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices for moving the said edible bodies carried thereby into and through the said ground nut receptacle to coat the said edible bodies with a coating of ground nuts; and

n. means including level-responsive means arranged in the said ground nut receptacle and responsive to the level of ground nuts in the said ground nut receptacle for controlling the operation of the operating means for the said nut-grinding means.

45. A machine for making edible confections as defined in claim 44 in which

a. the said level-responsive means is responsive to a predetermined desired level of ground nuts in the said ground nut receptacle for operatively disengaging the said operating means for the said nut-grinding means from the said nut grinding means.

46. A machine for making edible confections as defined in claim 45 which includes

a. means urging the said operating means for the said nut-grinding means into operative and driving engagement with the said nut-grinding means when the level of ground nuts in the said ground nut receptacle falls below the said predetermined desired level.

47. A machine for inserting handle sticks into and coating an edible body, as defined in claim 42, in which

a. the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit embodies

1. a main generally tubular body member having

a. a plurality of radially arranged flexible resilient handle stick-gripping jaw members formed therein and normally urged apart under the force of their own innate resiliency and providing therebetween

b. a handle stick-receiving cavity adapted to receive a portion of one of the said handle sticks therein;

b. a sleeve member slidably mounted on the said main generally tubular body member of the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit for slidable movement over the said flexible, resilient handle stick-gripping jaw members to move the said flexible, resilient handle stick-gripping radially inwardly into position to grip and hold a portion of one of the said handle sticks in the said handle stick-receiving cavity; said sleeve member having thereon

c. a radially extending flange portion; and

d. means coacting in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier member and engageable with the said radially extending flange portion on the said sleeve member for moving the said sleeve member on the said main generally tubular body member of the said handle stick-gripping chuck unit to move the said flexible, resilient handle stick-gripping jaw members radially inwardly into position to grip and hold the said portion of one of the said handle sticks disposed in the said handle stick-receiving cavity.

48. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 31 in which each of the said apple-holding devices includes

a. a supporting bracket member, including

1. an arm portion attached to the said rotary apple-carrying turntable carrier member; and in which the said supporting bracket member includes

2. an upright supporting arm member;

3. a pair of shafts rigidly mounted in spaced relationship on the said upright supporting arm member;

4. a sleeve member rotatably mounted on each of the said shafts;

5. a gear fastened to each of the said sleeve members and said gears being in meshing relationship with each other;

6. an apple-gripping and holding member attached to each of said sleeve members and each of the said apple-gripping and holding members having

a. an upwardly extending apple-gripping arm portion, and said apple-gripping arm portions being adapted to grip and hold an apple therebetween; and

7. spring means carried by the said upright supporting arm member of the said supporting bracket and normally urging the said upwardly extending apple-gripping arm portions toward each other and into apple-gripping and holding position so as to releasably grip and hold an apple therebetween.

49. A machine for making coated apple confections, or the like, as defined in claim 48, which includes

a. means for mounting the said apple-holding device on the said rotary apple-carrying turntable carrier member with the said apple-gripping arm portions extending generally horizontally so as to hold an apple therebetween with its core extending in a generally horizontal plane.

50. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 31 in which each of the said apple-holding devices includes

a. a supporting bracket member, including

1. an arm portion attached to the said rotary apple turntable carrier member, and in which the said supporting bracket member includes

2. an upright supporting bracket portion;

3. a pair of slidable supporting members slidably mounted in spaced but generally parallel relationship on the said upright supporting bracket portion;

4. means for slidably mounting the said supporting arm members on the said upright supporting bracket portion;

5. a pair of supporting arm members arranged in spaced relationship and each attached to and carried by one of the said slidable supporting members;

6. a flexible, resilient apple-gripping cup member carried by each of said pair of supporting arm members and arranged in spaced relationship, and said flexible, resilient cup members being adapted to grip and hold an apple therebetween; and

7. spring means carried by the said means for slidably mounting the said supporting members and normally urging the said slidable supporting members and the said supporting arm members and the said flexible, resilient apple-gripping cup members carried thereby toward each other and urging the said flexible, resilient apple-gripping cup members into position to releasably grip and hold an apple therebetween.

51. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 in which

a. each of the said apple-holding devices on the said movable endless apple-holding carrier is disposed with its longitudinal axis extending generally horizontal; and which embodies

1. bracket means for mounting the said apple-holding devices on the said movable endless apple carrier with the cores of the apples disposed in a generally horizontal plane as the said handle stick is inserted into the core of the said apple by the said handle stick-inserting means.

52. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 19 in which

a. the said movable endless apple carrier is in the form of an endless chain carrier member having the said apple-holding devices mounted at spaced intervals therealong; and in which

b. each of the said apple-holding devices on the said endless chain carrier embodies

1. means for holding an apple therein with the core of the apple disposed in a generally horizontal plane as the said handle stick is inserted therein by the said handle stick-inserting means.

53. A machine for making coated apple confections which include a coated apple having a handle stick attached thereto, comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a movable endless carrier movably mounted on the said supporting frame and movable past an apple pick-up work station in a cycle of operations of the machine;

c. a plurality of handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices carried by the said movable endless carrier and mounted at spaced intervals thereon and each adapted to hold and to carry a handle stick held thereby into position to pick up an apple at the said apple pick-up work station;

d. a movable endless apple carrier movably mounted at the said apple pick-up work station and having mounted at spaced intervals thereon

1. a plurality of first apple holding members each adapted to releasable hold an apple;

2. a second apple-holding member movably mounted in each of said first apple-holding members and movable relative thereto, and each adapted to support an apple in one of the said first apple holding members;

e. each of the said second apple holding members having a depending portion movably mounted in and extending below the said first apple holding member; and

f. means for sequentially engaging and raising each of the said depending portions of the said second apple holding members and the said second apple holding members thereon so as to move each of the said second apple holding members upwardly in and relative to the said first apple holding member and thereby move the apple held thereby upwardly toward and into engagement with a handle stick held by one of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices at the said apple pick-up work station.

54. A machine for making coated apple confections comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a main movable endless carrier movably mounted on the said supporting frame;

c. a plurality of handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices carried by and arranged at spaced intervals on the said main movable endless carrier;

d. means for sequentially moving the said main movable endless carrier and the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices carried thereby into position at an apple pick-up work station in a cycle of operations of the said machine;

e. a movable endless apple carrier;

f. a plurality of apple-holding members carried by the said movable endless apple carrier and arranged at spaced intervals thereon;

g. means for movably supporting the said movable endless apple carrier and the said apple-holding members carried thereby;

h. means for moving the said movable endless apple carrier and the said apple-holding members carried thereby sequentially into position at the said apple pick-up work station in timed relationship with movement of the said main movable endless carrier and the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices carried thereby; and

i. means for sequentially raising the apples held in and by said apple-holding members upwardly relative to the said apple-holding members and toward the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices so as to move each of the said apples into engagement with one of the said handle sticks held by one of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices at the said apple pick-up work station.

55. A machine for making coated apple confections as defined in claim 54 in which

a. each of the said apple-holding members is generally cup-shaped in form; and in which

b. the said means for raising the said apples upwardly in and relative to the said apple-holding members includes

c. a second apple-holding member movably mounted in each of the said generally cup-shaped apple-holding members and each adapted to hold an apple in one of the said generally cup-shaped first apple-holding members; and

d. means for raising the said second-named apple-holding members upwardly in and relative to the said generally cup-shaped apple-holding members and toward the said handle sticks carried by the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices.

56. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection which includes a coated apple having a handle stick attached thereto comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a main rotary turntable carrier member rotatably mounted on the said supporting frame;

c. means for rotating the said main rotary turntable carrier member on the said supporting frame successively past a plurality of work stations including an apple pick-up work station and a coating work station disposed adjacent the said main rotary turntable carrier member;

d. a plurality of handle stick gripping and apple-holding devices movably mounted on the said main rotary turntable carrier member at spaced intervals circumferentially thereon and for movement therewith and each including

1. a handle stick-gripping chuck unit adapted to receive and to grip a handle stick;

e. means for movably mounting the said handle stick gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein on the said main rotary turntable carrier member for movement in a generally vertical plane radially of and relative to the main rotary turntable carrier member;

f. a movable endless apple carrier member arranged adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said main rotary turntable carrier member at the said apple pick-up work station and having arranged thereon in spaced relationship

1. a plurality of apple-holding devices for releasably holding apples therein;

g. means for moving the said movable endless apple carrier in timed relationship with the said main rotary turntable carrier member so as to move the said apples carried thereby successively into a position adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said main rotary turntable carrier member at the said apple pick-up work station;

h. means coacting in timed relationship with the said main rotary turntable carrier member at the said apple pick-up work station for moving each of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied thereby in a direction to insert the said handle sticks held thereby sequentially into the cores of apples releasably held by the said apple-holding devices at the said apple pick-up work station;

i. a container for holding a supply of an edible coating material for said apples disposed adjacent the said peripheral edge portion of the said rotary turntable carrier at the said coating work station;

j. screw means for supporting the said containers for movement in a vertical plane;

k. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices for lowering the said apples held thereby sequentially into and for moving them through the said container to coat each of the said apples sequentially with a coating of the said edible coating material at the said coating work station during a cycle of rotation of the said main rotary turntable carrier member;

l. means coacting with the said screw means for raising the said container in a generally vertical plane relative to the path of travel of the said handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the said handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein and the said handle sticks and apples held thereby as the supply of edible coating material in the said container is consumed in use.

57. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 56 in which

a. the said means coacting with the said screw means for raising the said container includes

1. means for intermittently raising the said container in relatively small increments as the supply of edible coating material in the said container is consumed in use.

58. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 56 in which

a. the said means coacting with the said screw means for raising the said container includes

1. means for continuously raising the said container as the supple of edible coating material in the said container is consumed in use.

59. A machine for making a coated apple or like confection as defined in claim 56 in which

a. the said means for coacting with the said screw means includes

1. means for raising and lowering the said container.

60. A machine for making edible confections, each of which includes an edible body having a handle stick attached thereto, comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a movable endless carrier movably mounted on the said supporting frame and movable past a plurality of work stations in a cycle of movement thereof;

c. a handle stick storage hopper arranged at a first one of the said work stations and having

1. a discharge outlet;

d. a plurality of handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices movably mounted on the said movable endless carrier at spaced intervals thereon for movement with and for movement upon and relative to the said movable endless carrier;

e. each of the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices including

1. handle stick-gripping and holding means for frictionally gripping and holding one of the said handle sticks;

f. means for moving the said movable endless carrier so as to move the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices carried thereby sequentially past the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper, at the said first one of said work stations, in a cycle of movement of the said movable endless carrier;

g. means for ejecting handle sticks one at a time from the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper into frictional gripping engagement with the said handle stick-gripping and holding means in the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices at the said first one of said work stations;

h. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices and with the said handle stick-gripping and holding means embodied therein, at a second one of the said work stations, to move the said handle stick-gripping and edible body holding devices and the said handle sticks carried thereby upon and relative to the said movable endless carrier to insert the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices into edible bodies arranged at the said second one of the said work stations in a cycle of movement of the said movable endless carrier;

i. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices and with handle sticks held thereby for coating edible bodies carried by the said handle sticks with a coating of comestible material at a fourth and coating one of the said work stations; and

j. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices and with the said handle stick-gripping and holding means embodied therein for releasing the said handle stick-gripping and holding means from frictional engagement with an unloaded handle stick held thereby and for ejecting the said unloaded handle stick from a corresponding one of the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices at a third one of the said work stations and prior to the time the said unloaded handle stick would reach the said fourth and coating one of said work stations in a cycle of movement of the said movable endless carrier if the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding device and the handle stick carried thereby fail to pick up one of the said edible bodies at the said second one of the said work stations.

61. A machine for making edible confections, each of which includes an edible body having a handle stick attached thereto, comprising

a. a supporting frame;

b. a main movable endless carrier movably mounted on the said supporting frame and movable past a plurality of work stations in a cycle of movement thereof:

c. a handle stick storage hopper arranged at a first one of the said work stations and having

1. a discharge outlet;

d. a plurality of handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices movably mounted on the said main movable endless carrier at spaced intervals thereon for movement with and for movement upon and relative to the said main movable endless carrier;

e. means for moving the said main movable endless carrier so as to move the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices carried thereby sequentially past the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper, at the said first one of said work stations, in a cycle of movement of the said main movable endless carrier;

f. means for ejecting handle sticks one at a time from the said discharge outlet of the said handle stick storage hopper into the said handle stick-gripping and edible body holding devices at the said first one of said work stations;

g. an auxiliary movable endless carrier arranged adjacent to the said main movable endless carrier at a second one of the said work stations;

h. a plurality of edible body-holding devices carried by and arranged at spaced intervals on the said auxiliary movable endless carrier and each adapted to receive and to hold one of said edible bodies for movement independently of the said main movable endless carrier and into registry with the said second one of the said work stations;

i. means for moving the said auxiliary movable endless carrier and the said edible body-holding devices and edible bodies carried thereby relative to and in timed relationship with the said main movable endless carrier and the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices carried thereby so as to move the said edible body-holding devices and edible bodies carried thereby sequentially into registry with the said second one of the said work stations in a cycle of movement of said main movable endless carrier; and

j. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices at the said second one of the said work stations to move the said edible body-holding devices and the said handle sticks carried thereby upon and relative to the said main movable endless carrier to insert the said handle sticks carried by the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices into edible bodies held by said edible body-holding devices carried by the said auxiliary movable endless carrier at the said second one of the said work stations in a cycle of movement of the said main movable endless carrier.

62. A machine for making edible confections, each of which includes an edible body having a handle stick attached thereto, as defined in claim 61, which includes

a. means coacting with the said handle stick-gripping and edible-body holding devices for moving the said handle stick-gripping and edible body-holding devices and the handle sticks and edible bodies carried thereby, relative to the said auxiliary movable endless carrier, in a direction to withdraw the said edible bodies out of the said edible-body holding devices on the said auxiliary movable endless carrier after the said handle sticks have been inserted into the said edible bodies at the said second one of the said work stations.

OBJECTS

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved coated apple confection making machine which cyclically and automatically during one rotational cycle of a main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier performs sequentially a number of different operations namely: (1) discharges handle sticks one at a time from a handle stick storage hopper and inserts them automatically at a first work station, one at a time, into handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices carried by the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier; (2) inserts the handle sticks automatically, one at a time, at a second work station, into the cores of apples carried by a movable endless apple carrier disposed adjacent the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier; (3) ejects the handle sticks automatically from the handle stick-gripping and holding devices at a third work station, in the event that a handle stick, for any reason, fails to pick up an apple at the second and apple pick-up work station; (4) moves the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the apples held thereby one at a time into a position above a caramel container vat or tank into which the apples are lowered and in which they are rotated to coat the apples with a coating of caramel; (5) raises the caramel-coated apples above the level of the caramel in the caramel container vat or tank and rotates them to remove any excess of the caramel coating on the apples; (6) moves the caramel-coated apples and attached handle sticks to a fifth work station where the caramel-coated apples are lowered into a receptacle for ground nuts and rotated therein to provide them with a coating of ground nuts over the caramel coating; and (7) then moves the caramel-coated and ground nut-coated apples and attached handle sticks to a sixth and final work station above a second ground nut receptacle or tray into which the coated apple confections are discharged and given an additional coating of ground nuts, whereupon the thus finished coated apple confections are ready for removal, sale and consumption.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the new cyclically rotated coated apple candy confection making machine novel handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices each embodying a handle stick-gripping chuck unit for releasably gripping a handle stick, and novel means for ejecting the handle sticks automatically one at a time from a handle stick storage hopper and inserting them into the handle stick-gripping chuck units of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the new coated apple confection making machine novel movable endless apple carrier means for moving apples cyclically into an apple pick-up work station adjacent the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier, and novel means for moving the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein past the apple pick-up station and for automatically inserting the handle sticks one at a time into the cores of apples at the apple pick-up work station so that the apples will be carried on their attached handle sticks by the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices, and the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier, through succeeding operations in a cycle of operation of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for automatically ejecting handle sticks from the handle stick-gripping chuck units of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices after the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices have moved past the apple pick-up work station and before they reach the caramel coating work station in the event that a handle stick fails, for any reason, to pick up an apple at the apple pick-up work station.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in the new coated apple confection making machine novel handle stick-gripping devices and handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied therein, and novel means cooperating therewith for (a) gripping the handle sticks; (b) inserting the handle sticks into the cores of apples at the apple pick-up work station; (c) holding the handle sticks and attached apples while they are lowered into and rotated in the caramel container; (d) holding the handle sticks and attached apples while they are raised above the level of the caramel in the caramel container vat or tank and are rotated to remove excess caramel coating thereon; (e) holding the caramel-coated apples and attached handle sticks while they are moved into and rotated in a receptacle for ground nuts to provide them with a coating or layer of ground nuts; (f) holding the caramel-coated and ground nut-coated apples while they are moved into a discharge position; and (g) ejecting the finished caramel-coated and ground nut-coated apple candy confections into a receptacle or tray at the final work station in the operation of the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in the new coated apple confection making machine novel means for cyclically raising the caramel container or vat or tank and the heating unit therefor in small increments as the apples and attached handle sticks are moved sequentially through the caramel container or vat or tank, and the level of the caramel therein drops in use, so that an adequate coating of caramel will be applied to each apple as it is moved into and rotated in the heated caramel container or vat or tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the new coated apple confection making machine novel means for automatically supplying ground nuts from a nut storage hopper to a ground nut receptacle or tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the new coated apple confection making machine novel means for controlling the operation of a nut-grinding device located in the nut storage hopper in response to the level of ground nuts in a ground nut receptacle or tray so that an adequate supply of ground nuts will always be present in the said ground nut receptacle or tray.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a coated apple confection machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the new coated apple confection making machine;

FIG. 1B is a front elevational view of the new coated apple confection making machine with certain of the parts shown in FIG. 1 omitted;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the new machine;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary broken central vertical sectional view on line 2A--2A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B is a fragmentary sectional detail on line 2B--2B in FIG. 2 of the cam track and main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier embodied in the new machine;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the generally annular stationary cam track member embodied in the present invention, and which is partially illustrated in FIG. 2B;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the stationary cam track shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and showing its relationship to the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier embodied in the new machine;

FIGS. 5 to 13, inclusive, are transverse sectional detail views on lines 5--5, 6--6, 7--7, 8--8, 9--9, 10--10, 11--11, 12--12 and 13--13 in FIG. 4 showing the configuration of the risers and dwells in the stationary cam track member shown in FIGS. 2B, 3 and 4 at the locations indicated;

FIG. 14 is a chart related to the timing chart shown in FIG. 91, showing the various operations which are performed by the new machine in one cycle of rotation of 360.degree. of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier which is embodied in the invention;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the supporting frame embodied in the new machine;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the supporting frame shown in FIG. 15, as seen from the bottom in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an end elevational view of the supporting frame of the new machine as seen from the right hand end in FIGS. 15 and 16;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a movable endless or rotary turntable apple carrier embodied in the machine;

FIG. 19 is an elevational view of a typical form of an apple-holding device mounted on and carried by the movable endless or rotary turntable apple carrier shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the apple-holding device shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a central vertical sectional view of the apple-holding device shown in FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 on line 21--21;

FIG. 22 is a reduced central sectional view of the apple-holding device shown in FIGS. 19 to 21, inclusive, with an apple disposed therein;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary elevational view of the handle stick storage hopper and the means for ejecting the handle sticks one at a time from the handle stick storage hopper and for inserting them into the handle stick-gripping chuck units of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices as the latter are rotated by the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the handle stick storage hopper and the handle stick ejecting and inserting means shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view of the handle stick ejecting and inserting means shown in FIGS. 23 and 24;

FIG. 25A is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of parts of the handle stick ejecting and inserting means shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 26 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the handle stick ejecting and inserting means ejecting a handle stick from the handle stick storage hopper and inserting it into the chuck unit of one of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary elevational view of the handle stick storage hopper and a part of the handle stick ejecting and inserting means shown in FIGS. 23, 24, 25, 25A, 26 and 27;

FIG. 28 is a sectional plan view, on line 28--28 in FIG. 23, showing part of a cam mechanism embodied in the new machine for controlling the operation of the handle stick ejecting and inserting means;

FIG. 29 is a sectional plan view, on line 29--29 in FIG. 23, showing part of the handle stick storage hopper and of the handle stick ejecting and inserting means;

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, of the handle stick storage hopper and of a device associated therewith for keeping the handle sticks in proper alignment as they are ejected from the handle stick storage hopper;

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on line 31--31 in FIG. 23, showing part of the handle stick storage hopper and of a rotary impeller device mounted therein;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of one of the apple stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units which are mounted on the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier and of the supporting means for pivotally mounting the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices on the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier;

FIG. 33 is a central longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, of the parts shown in FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is an enlarged sectional top plan view on line 34--34 in FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is an elevational view of one of the handle stick-gripping chuck units embodied in the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device shown in FIGS. 32, 33 and 34, and showing the parts circled in FIG. 33, with the handle stick-gripping cam mechanism embodied therein in effective or handle stick-gripping position;

FIG. 36 is a bottom plan view of the handle stick-gripping chuck unit as shown in FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is an elevational view of the handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIGS. 35 and 36 with the handle stick-gripping cam mechanism shown in open or retracted or handle stick-releasing position;

FIG. 38 is a bottom plan view of the handle stick-gripping chuck unit as shown in FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a central vertical sectional view of the handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIGS. 35 to 38, inclusive, with the handle stick-gripping cam mechanism shown in effective or handle stick-gripping position;

FIG. 40 is a bottom sectional plan view on line 40--40 in FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is a fragmentary central vertical sectional view of the handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIGS. 35 to 40, inclusive, and showing a handle stick gripped and held thereby, and showing the handle stick-gripping chuck unit attached to the supporting and operating shaft of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device;

FIG. 42 is an elevational view of one of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units and the supporting and operating means therefor as they appear at the second or apple pick-up work station and after a handle stick has been inserted into the core of an apple;

FIG. 43 is a fragmentary elevational view of the handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIGS. 35 to 41, inclusive, with the handle stick-gripping cam mechanism in open or retracted and handle stick-releasing position;

FIG. 44 is an elevational view of the handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIGS. 35 to 43, inclusive, and showing a part of the mechanism for lowering the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device and attached chuck unit and a handle stick held thereby so as to insert the handle stick into the core of an apple at the second or apple pick-up work station;

FIG. 45 is an elevational view showing part of the mechanism embodied in the new machine for lowering the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and attached chuck unit and handle stick held thereby so as to insert the handle stick into the core of an apple at the second or apple pick-up work station;

FIG. 46 is an elevational view of the lowering mechanism shown in FIG. 45;

FIG. 47 is a top plan view of the lowering mechanism shown in FIGS. 45 and 46;

FIG. 48 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the means embodied in the new machine for ejecting a handle stick from the chuck unit of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device in the event that it does not pick-up an apple at the second and apple pick-up work station;

FIG. 49 is an elevational view of the parts shown in FIG. 48 as seen from the right hand side thereof;

FIG. 50 is a top plan view of the parts shown in FIGS. 48 and 49;

FIG. 51 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the operation of the means embodied in the new machine for releasing a handle stick from the handle stick-gripping chuck unit of the apple stick-gripping and apple-holding device at the third work station, in the cycle of operations of the machine, if the handle stick fails, for any reason, to pick up an apple at the apple stick pick-up station;

FIG. 52 is a view on line 52--52 of FIG. 50, partly in section and partly in elevation;

FIG. 53 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the parts illustrated in FIGS. 48, 49, 50 and 52 in retracted position;

FIG. 54 (see sheet 14) is an elevational view of the means embodied in the new machine for lowering the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device and attached chuck unit and the apple held thereby into the caramel container tank or vat to provide the apple with a coating of caramel;

FIG. 55 (see sheet 16) is a fragmentary elevational view of certain of the parts shown in FIG. 54;

FIG. 56 is a fragmentary elevational view of the parts shown in FIG. 55, as seen from the right hand side in FIG. 55;

FIG. 57 is a top plan view of the parts shown in FIGS. 55 and 56;

FIG. 58 is a central longitudinal sectional view on line 58--58 in FIG. 55;

FIG. 59 is a transverse sectional view on line 59--59 in FIG. 55;

FIG. 60 is a transverse sectional view on line 60--60 in FIG. 55;

FIG. 61 is a sectional detail view on line 61--61 in FIG. 55;

FIG. 62 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device and an apple carried thereby moved into position over the caramel container vat or tank at the fourth or caramel-coating work station;

FIG. 63 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device and the apple carried thereby moved from the horizontal position in which they are shown in FIG. 62 into a vertical position and with the apple lowered into the caramel container vat or tank;

FIG. 64 is a top plan view of a spinning mechanism embodied in the new machine for spinning the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and the caramel-coated apples held thereby to remove excess caramel from the apples after the caramel coating operation;

FIG. 65 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the spinning mechanism shown in FIG. 64;

FIG. 66 is a sectional view on line 66--66 in FIG. 64 illustrating part of the spinning mechanism shown in FIGS. 64 and 65;

FIG. 67 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing one of the apple stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and supporting arm structure therefor and attached handle stick-gripping chuck unit and a caramel-coated apple held thereby being rotated by the spinning mechanism shown in FIGS. 64, 65 and 66 to remove excess caramel from the apple after the caramel-coating operation, and showing the relationship of the cam follower on the aforesaid supporting arm structure to the stationary cam track member;

FIG. 68 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing one of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and attached chuck unit and a caramel-coated apple held thereby being moved into position over a first ground nut tray or receptacle preliminary to provide a coating of ground nuts on the caramel-coated apple, and showing the relationship of the cam follower on the supporting arm structure for the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device to the stationary cam track member;

FIG. 69 is a view of the parts shown in FIG. 68 with the parts moved into position to lower the caramel-coated apple into the first ground nut tray or receptacle to provide a coating of ground nuts thereon;

FIG. 69A is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the means for rotating the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device so as to rotate the caramel-coated apple held thereby in the first ground nut receptacle or tray;

FIG. 70 is a central vertical sectional view, on line 70--70 in FIG. 2, of a second rotatable tray or receptacle for ground nuts and into which the caramel-coated and ground nut-coated apples are discharged to receive a further coating of ground nuts and for removal for consumption at the completion of a cycle of operations of the new machine;

FIG. 70A is a fragmentary sectional view of certain of the parts shown in FIG. 70;

FIG. 71 is a view of one of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices and attached chuck units and the supporting arm structure therefor and showing a caramel-coated and ground nut-coated apple being discharged into the second ground nut tray or receptacle shown in FIG. 70;

FIG. 71A is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, of a part of the means embodied in the invention for opening the handle stick-gripping chuck unit to discharge a caramel-coated and ground nut-coated apple therefrom, as shown in FIG. 71;

FIG. 72 is an elevational view of the caramel container vat or tank and the heating means and hydraulic raising and lowering mechanism therefor;

FIG. 73 is a top plan view of the caramel container vat or tank shown in FIG. 72;

FIG. 74 is an end elevational view of the parts shown in FIG. 72, as seen from the right hand side in FIG. 72;

FIG. 75 is a vertical sectional view, on line 75--75 in FIG. 72, showing the caramel container vat or tank and the heating unit therefor and the hydraulic lifting mechanism therefor in raised position;

FIG. 76 is a detail sectional view, on line 76--76 in FIG. 72 of the guiding mechanism for guiding the caramel container vat or tank and the heating unit therefor during vertical movement thereof;

FIG. 77 is a sectional plan view, on line 77--77 in FIG. 72 showing parts of the hydraulic raising and lowering device for the caramel container vat or tank and the guiding means therefor;

FIG. 78 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of the guiding mechanism for guiding the caramel container vat or tank during vertical movement thereof;

FIG. 78A is a schematic view illustrating the hydraulic circuit embodied in the new machine for operating the hydraulic raising and lowering mechanism for the caramel container vat or tank and the heating unit carried thereby;

FIG. 79 is a perspective view of the ground nut storage hopper and of the ground nut tray or receptacle embodied in the invention and showing part of the control mechanism for the nut-grinding mechanism which is arranged in the nut storage hopper;

FIG. 80 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on line 80--80 in FIG. 79;

FIG. 81 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, on line 81--81 in FIG. 2, illustrating parts of the ground nut level-sensing device embodied in the invention for controlling the operation of the nut-grinding mechanism in the nut storage hopper;

FIG. 81A is a detail view of the ground nut level responsive device and of the microswitch control unit therefor, embodied in the new machine, for controlling the operation of the nut-grinding mechanism in the nut storage hopper;

FIG, 81B is a fragmentary detail view similar to FIG. 81 but showing the movable switch member of the microswitch unit and the ground nut level-responsive device in the position which these parts assume when the supply of ground nuts in the auxiliary ground nut storage hopper is at a predetermined desired level;

FIG. 82 is a fragmentary perspective view of the nut storage hopper and the nut-grinding mechanism arranged therein, and showing part of the control mechanism for the nut-grinding mechanism;

FIG. 83 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, on line 83--83 in FIG. 82, showing the nut-grinding mechanism and the power transmission means and clutch mechanism therefor, and showing parts of the control means for the clutch mechanism of the nut-grinding mechanism;

FIG. 84 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view showing part of the nut-grinding mechanism, and part of the control mechanism therefor and showing the power transmission means and clutch mechanism for the nut-grinding mechanism in engaged or driving position;

FIG. 85 is a view of the parts shown in FIG. 84 but showing the power transmission means and clutch mechanism for the nut-grinding mechanism in disengaged or idling position;

FIG. 85A is a transverse sectional detail view on line 85A--85A in FIG. 85, showing part of the clutch mechanism for the power transmission means for the nut-grinding mechanism;

FIG. 86 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of the nut-grinding mechanism shown in FIGS. 80 to 85, inclusive, and FIG. 85A;

FIG. 87 is a transverse sectional view of the parts of the nut-grinding mechanism shown in FIG. 86;

FIG. 88 is a perspective view of parts of the clutch mechanism which is embodied in the power transmission means for the nut-grinding mechanism shown in FIGS. 80 to 85, inclusive, 85A, 86 and 87;

FIG. 89 is a schematic view illustrating certain parts of the power transmission means and driving mechanisms embodied in the new machine;

FIG. 89A is a schematic view illustrating the power transmission means which operates the means, shown in FIGS. 64 to 67, inclusive, for spinning off excess caramel from the caramel-coated apples after the caramel-coating operation;

FIG. 90 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical control and operating circuits embodied in the new machine;

FIG. 91 is a timing chart, related to the chart shown in FIG. 14, showing the various operations which are performed during a 360.degree. cycle of rotation of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier embodied in the machine and the parts carried thereby;

FIG. 92 is an elevational view of a modified form of a handle stick-gripping chuck unit embodied in the invention, as shown in closed or handle stick-gripping position;

FIG. 93 is a top plan view of the modified form of handle stick-gripping chuck unit as shown in FIG. 92;

FIG. 94 is a central longitudinal sectional view on line 94--94 in FIG. 93;

FIG. 95 is an elevational view of the modified form of handle stick-gripping chuck unit illustrated in FIGS. 92 to 94, inclusive, showing the handle stick-gripping jaws thereof in open or handle stick-releasing position;

FIG. 96 is an end elevational view of the modified form of handle stick-gripping chuck unit as shown in FIG. 95, as seen from the right hand end thereof;

FIG. 97 is an end elevational view of the modified form of handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIGS. 92 to 96, inclusive, but showing the handle stick-gripping jaws in closed position;

FIG. 98 is a transverse sectional view on line 98--98 in FIG. 95;

FIG. 99 is a transverse sectional view on line 99--99 in FIG. 95;

FIG. 100 is a side elevational view of a second modified form of handle stick-gripping chuck unit embodied in the invention and showing the handle stick-gripping jaws thereof in open or handle stick-receiving position;

FIG. 101 is an end elevational view of the modified form of handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIG. 100, as seen from the right hand end in FIG. 100;

FIG. 102 is an elevational view of the modified form of handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIGS. 100 and 101 showing the handle stick-gripping jaws embodied therein in closed or handle stick-gripping position;

FIG. 103 is an end elevational view of the second modified form of handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIGS. 100 to 102, as seen from the right hand end in FIG. 102;

FIG. 104 is a central longitudinal sectional view on line 14--104 in FIG. 101, illustrating the second modified form of handle stick-gripping chuck unit shown in FIGS. 100 to 102, inclusive, but showing the handle stick-gripping jaws in open or handle stick-receiving position;

FIG. 105 is a transverse sectional view on line 105--105 in FIG. 104;

FIG. 106 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a first modified form of apple-holding device which is embodied in the invention and showing the same mounted on the movable endless or rotary turntable apple carrier and showing an apple in position for a handle stick to be inserted into the core thereof while the core of the apple is disposed in a horizontal position;

FIG. 107 is an elevational view of the first modified form of apple-holding device shown in FIG. 106, as seen from the left hand side in FIG. 106;

FIG. 108 is a view on line 108--108 in FIG. 106, partly in section and partly in elevation;

FIG. 109 is a view on line 109--109 in FIG. 106, partly in section and partly in elevation;

FIG. 110 is an elevational view of a second modified form of apple-holding device embodied in the invention for holding apples in a position on the movable endless apple or rotary turntable apple carrier with the cores of the apples disposed in a horizontal position so that the handle sticks may be inserted horizontally into the cores of the apples;

FIG. 111 is an end elevational view of the modified form of apple-holding device shown in FIG. 110, as seen from the left hand side in FIG. 110;

FIG. 112 is a vertical sectional view on line 112--112 in FIG. 110;

FIG. 113 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, on line 113--113 in FIG. 110;

FIG. 114 is an elevational view of the second modified form of apple-holding device shown in FIGS. 110 to 113, inclusive, and showing a handle stick being inserted into the core of an apple while the core of the apple is disposed in a horizontal position;

FIG. 115 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a third modification of an apple-holding device for holding an apple on the movable endless or rotary turntable apple carrier with the core of the apple disposed in a horizontal position and showing one of the apple stick-gripping and apple-holding devices inserting a handle stick into the core of the apple from a horizontal position;

FIG. 116 is a top plan view of the third modified form of apple-holding device shown in FIG. 115;

FIG. 117 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a modified form of the movable endless apple carrier embodied in the invention and showing apple-holding devices mounted thereon for holding apples in a position such that the handle sticks may be inserted into the cores of the apples while the cores of the apples are disposed in a horizontal position;

FIG. 118 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the new machine for raising the apples upwardly into engagement with the handle sticks;

FIG. 119 is a side elevation, partly in cross section, on line 119--119 in FIG. 118;

FIG. 120 is a plan view of the parts shown in FIGS. 118 and 119;

FIG. 121 is a vertical sectional view on line 121--121 in FIG. 118;

FIG. 122 is a sectional view on line 122--122 in FIG. 118;

FIG. 123 is a sectional view on line 123--123 in FIG. 118;

FIG. 124 is a perspective view of a modification of the means embodied in the invention for raising and lowering the caramel tank;

FIG. 125 is a sectional plan view on line 125--125 in FIG. 124;

FIG. 125A is a sectional view on line 125A--125A in FIG. 124;

FIG. 126 is a view similar to FIG. 125 but showing the parts in engaged position;

FIG. 127 is a perspective of another modification of the means embodied in the new machine for raising and lowering the caramel tank;

FIG. 128 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 127;

FIG. 129 is a rear elevational view, partly in section, on line 129--129 in FIG. 128;

FIG. 130 is a plan view of the drive mechanism embodied in the modification shown in FIGS. 127 to 129, inclusive;

FIG. 131 is a sectional view on line 131--131 in FIG. 129;

FIG. 132 is a sectional plan view on line 132--132 in FIG. 129;

FIG. 133 is a sectional view on line 133--133 in FIG. 129;

FIG. 134 is a sectional view on line 134--134 in FIG. 129; and

FIG. 135 is a sectional view on line 135--135 in FIG. 127.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE MACHINE

A typical and preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, and 2B to 91, inclusive, of the drawings, wherein it is generally indicated at 125 (FIGS. 1, 1A, 2 and 2A) and comprises a preferably portable wheel or caster-bearing supporting frame 126 (FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 15, 16 and 17) which includes a main and upper body frame portion 127, which supports most of the operating parts of the new machine 125, and a lower end frame portion 128 which supports a movable endless or rotary turntable apple carrier 131 (FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B, 2 and 2A) which is embodied in the new machine, and as will be described hereinafter. A main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129 is rotatably mounted on the main and upper body portion 127 of the supporting frame 126, and a plurality of handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130 and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units 138 are mounted on the peripheral edge portion of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129, at spaced intervals circumferentially therearound.

An inclined tub-shaped apple supply hopper 606 is stationarily mounted above the movable endless or rotary turntable carrier unit 131, by means of a supporting means in the form of a fixed bushing 607 which is mounted in the lower portion 128 of the supporting frame 126 and projects upwardly through a centrally arranged opening in the rotary endless apple turntable carrier 131 (FIG. 1). The apple supply hopper 606 has an inclined discharge chute 608 from which the apples 133 may be picked manually by a workman and inserted one at a time into the apple-holding devices 132 on the rotary endless apply turntable carrier 131 (FIG. 1).

A plurality of apple-holding devices 132 are mounted on the peripheral edge portion of the movable endless or rotary turntable apple carrier unit 131 at spaced intervals circumferentially therearound (FIGS. 1, 1A, 2 and 18 to 22, inclusive). Each of the apply-holding devices 132 is adapted to releasably hold an apple 133 which is removed from the discharge chute 609 and each of which apples are adapted to be picked up by one of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130 and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units 138 at a second and apple pick-up work station, and carrier thereby, during a cycle of rotation of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129, through following work stations at which the apple is provided with a coating of comestible material, such as caramel, or the like, and with one more additional coatings of comestible material, such as ground nuts, such as ground peanuts, or the like.

A handle stick storage hopper, generally indicated at 134 is mounted on an extension 135 of the main and upper body portion 127 of the supporting frame 126 and is adapted to hold a supply of wooden or like apple-holding sticks 136, each of which has a sharpened or apple-piercing end portion 137 (FIGS. 41, 42 and 44) which is adapted to be inserted into the core of an apple 133 so as to provide a handle for holding the apple as it is being moved by the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device 130 and attached handle stick-gripping chuck 138, on the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129, through the caramel-coating and ground nut-coating work stations, and to hold the finished apply candy confection while it is being eaten by the consumer.

Each of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130 includes a handle stick-gripping chuck unit 138 (FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 26, 32, 33, 35 to 44, inclusive, 51, 61, 63, 67, 68, 69 and 71) which is adapted to grip and to hold one of the handle sticks 136 and to hold an apple 133 mounted on the handle stick 136, during the various operations performed by the machine.

The new machine 125 includes means, generally indicated at 397 (FIGS. 1, 1A, 23, 24, 25, 25A, 26, 27, 28 and 29), and including a handle stick-ejecting and inserting push rod member 199, for ejecting handle sticks 136, one at a time, from the handle stick storage hopper 134 and inserting them sequentially into the handle stick-gripping chuck units 138 of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130, at the first work station in the operation of the new machine 125 and in the cycle of rotation of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129 (FIGS. 14 and 91). During this handle stick ejecting and inserting operation, at the first work station in a cycle of operations of the machine, the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130, and attached chuck units 138 are pivoted on and relative to the main movable or endless rotary turntable carrier 129 into a generally horizontal position, as in FIG. 26, by cam structures embodied in the machine, and after a handle stick has been inserted into the chuck unit 138 the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device 130 and its attached chuck unit 138, and the handle stick 136 held thereby, are carried by the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129 to the second or apple pick-up work station (FIGS. 14 and 91). During this movement between the first or handle stick ejecting and inserting work station and the second or apple pick-up work station (FIGS. 14 and 91) the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device 130 and attached chuck unit 138, and the handle stick 136 held thereby, are pivoted on and relative to the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129, by cam structures embodied in the machine, into an upright or generally vertical position, for insertion of the handle stick 136 into the core of an apple 133 at the second or apple pick-up work station (FIGS. 14 and 91).

The new machine 125 also includes means, generally indicated at 139 (FIGS. 42, 43, 45, 46 and 47) which will be described hereinafter, for lowering the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device 130, and the handle stick-gripping chuck unit 138 embodied therein, and a handle stick 136 held thereby, at the second or apple pick-up work station so as to insert the handle stick 136 into the core of an apple 133 disposed in one of the apple-holding devices 132 on the movable endless or rotary turntable apple carrier 131, at the second or apple pick-up work station in the operation of the new machine 125, and in a cycle of rotation of the main movable endless or rotary turntable apple carrier 129 (FIGS. 14 and 91).

The new machine 125 further includes means, generally indicated at 140 (FIGS. 48 to 51, inclusive), and which will be described hereinafter, for ejecting an unloaded handle stick 136 from the handle stick-gripping chuck unit 138 of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device 130 in the event that the handle stick 136 fails, for any reason, to pick up an apple 133 at the second and apple pick-up work station (FIGS. 14 and 91) during a cycle of rotation of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129 and the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130 carried thereby (FIG. 52).

A heated caramel container tank or vat, generally indicated at 141, is provided for holding caramel or like comestible coating material for coating the apples 133, and a hydraulic operating means or unit 142, and a hydraulic operating circuit therefor (FIG. 78A) are provided for raising the heated caramel container tank or vat 141 in small increments, of about one-sixteenth inch as the supply of caramel or like comestible coating in the caramel container tank or vat 141 is consumed in use so as to assure that each apple will be provided with an adequate coating of caramel during operation of the machine (FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 62, 63, 67 and 72 to 78, inclusive, and 78A). A heating unit 143 (FIGS. 1B, 72, 74 and 75) is disposed below the carmel container tank or vat 141 for heating the caramel therein.

In the use of the new machine 125, as the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130, and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units 138, and the apples 133 held thereby are rotated, by the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129, each of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130 and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units 138, and the apples 133 carried thereby, are sequentially moved or pivoted on the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129 by cam structures embodied in the machine, from an upright or vertical position, as at the second or apple pick-up work station, and as at the third or handle stick reject station, into a generally horizontal position above the caramel container vat or tank 141, as in FIG. 62, at the fourth or caramel-coating work station (FIGS. 14 and 91). The handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device 130, and attached handle stick-gripping chuck unit 138, and the apple 133 carried thereby, are then lowered, by a mechanism which will be described hereinafter, so as to lower the apple 133 into the caramel or like comestible coating 144 in the caramel container tank or vat 141 so as to provide the apple with a coating of caramel or like comestible material 144, at the caramel-coating or fourth work station, in a cycle of rotation of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129 (FIGS. 14 and 91).

After the apple 133 has been provided with its first coating of caramel or like comestible coating 144 the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device 130, and attached handle stick-gripping chuck unit 138, and the caramel-coated apple 133 carried thereby, are then raised above the upper level of the caramel or like coating 144 in the caramel container tank or vat 141, into a position, as in FIG. 67, wherein the handle stick-gripping chuck unit, the handle stick 136, and the caramel-coated apple 133 carried thereby, are rotated or spun by an apple-rotating or spinning means, which is generally indicated at 145 (FIGS. 2, 64 to 67, inclusive), to remove excess of the caramel or like coating 144 from the apple 133, at the fifth work station (FIGS. 14 and 91).

As the cycle of rotation of the movable endless or rotary carrier 129, and the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130 and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units 138, and the caramel coating apples 133 carried thereby, continues, each of the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130 and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units 138 and the caramel-coated apple 133 held thereby is s sequentially moved, by the cam structure embodied in the machine, into a generally horizontal position with the caramel-coated apple 133 disposed above a first ground nut receptacle or tray 146 (FIGS. 1B, 2, 68 and 69), which is rotatably mounted on the main and upper body portion 127 of the supporting frame 126 adjacent the peripheral edge portion of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129, at the sixth or first ground nut-coating work station (FIGS. 14 and 91). The ground nut receptacle or tray 146 is adapted to hold a supply of ground nuts such as peanuts, cocoanuts, or like comestible coating material 147, and as the cycle of rotation of the main movable endless or rotary turntable carrier 129 and the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding devices 130, and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units 138 carried thereby continues, each of the caramel-coated apples 133 is lowered into and is moved through and is rotated in the first ground nut receptacle or tray 146 so as to provide each of the caramel-coated apples 133 with a coating of ground nuts, such as ground peanuts, or like comestible coating. During this operation the caramel-coated apple 133 is rotated in the rotating first ground nut receptacle or tray 146 by means which coacts with the handle stick-gripping and apple-holding device 130, and attached handle stick-gripping chuck unit 138, to rotate the handle stick 136 and the apple 133 carried thereby.

A second ground nut receptacle or tray 148 (FIGS. 1A, 70 and 71) for the finished apple candy confections is rotatably mounted on an extension 149 on the main and upper body portion 127 of the supporting frame 126, at the seventh and final work station in the machine 125, and as the cycle of rotation of the main movable endless carrier or turntable 129, and the handle stick-gripping devices 130 and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units 138 carried thereby continues, each of the handle stick-gripping devices 130 and attached handle stick-gripping chuck units 138 and the caramel-coated and ground nut-coated apples 133 carried thereby are sequentially moved or pivoted into a generally vertical position, as in FIG. 71, by the cam structure embodied in the machine, whereupon the handle stick-gripping chuck unit 138 is actuated by means generally indicated at 398 (FIGS. 71 and 71A), to release the coated apple confection 133 and attached handle stick 136 which are thus discharged by means 398 (FIG. 71A), into the rotatable receptacle or tray 148 for the coated apple confections. The receptacle or tray 148 is adapted to hold a supply of ground nuts, or like comestible coating, so that when the caramel-coated and ground nut-coated apples 133 are discharged into the receptacle or tray 148 they may be given a further and supplemental coating of ground nuts, which may be desirable, particularly if the first coating of ground nuts has been adequate or the caramel coating on the apples 133 has not fully dried.

The new coated apple confection making machine 125 includes a nut storage hopper 150, which is mounted on the main and upper body portion 127 of the supporting frame 126, above the first ground nut receptacle or tray 146, and an auxiliary ground nut hopper 151 is arranged within the first ground nut receptacle or tray 146 below the nut storage hopper 150 and in communication therewith (FIGS. 1, 1B, 2, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 83).

The nut storage hopper 150 has a discharge throat 152 which opens at its lowe