Device for inserting sticks into moulds for producing confectionery on a stick

Abstract

Moulds () which comprise mould cavities () which are arranged next to one another in rows and may be filled with confectionery mass (K) are arranged on a mould conveyor () one behind the other in the conveying direction (a) thereof. On a rotary body (), which may rotate stepwise about an axis of rotation () arranged parallel to the rows of mould cavities (), stick holders () are arranged at angular distances corresponding to the rotary steps. The stick holders () comprise rows of radial channels (), into each of which a stick (S) may be inserted radially from the outside inwards, such that the sticks (S) are held in a position in which they project radially away from the rotary body (). With each turn of the rotary body (), each stick holder () finds itself opposite a feeder () in a first rotational angle position, in order to take therefrom a row of sticks (S), and in a last rotational angle position opposite a row of mould cavities (), into each of which a stick (S) may be inserted by being pushed radially from the inside outwards out of its channel (). The rotary body () has an annular cross section, which leaves an annular space () free around a shaft member () defining the axis of rotation (). The radial channels () open into the annular space () and an ejector () common to all the stick holders () is arranged non-rotatably therein and comprises plungers () for pushing the sticks (S) out of the channels (). These plungers () enter the channels () directed towards a row of mould cavities () in each case when the rotary body () is at a standstill and are withdrawn back into the annular space () before the next step of the rotary body ().