Ice Cream Sandwich-Making Machine

Abstract

An improved wrapping apparatus for an ice-cream sandwich-making machine comprises an oscillating arm and cam which drives a horizontal slider plate connected to a frame, and a pusher unit connected to an air cylinder; an improved paper feeder system, including separate paper and knife drives, air compression springs, and a paper low sensor; and a hinged exit tray.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An improved wrapping assembly for an ice cream sandwich-making machine, comprising:
 a primary paper roller and a secondary paper roller coupled together to a roller drive, and a knife roller separately coupled to a knife drive, wherein said rollers dispense paper for wrapping sandwiches;   a plurality of air-compression springs disposed to exert pressure on said primary and secondary rollers, wherein said springs are disposed to exert a higher pressure on said primary roller than on said secondary roller;   a paddle disposed to pivot about a central member as paper is dispensed from said primary roller;   an air cylinder connected to said paddle; and   one or more sensors connected to said air cylinder, wherein as said paper is dispensed and said paddle pivots about said central member, said air cylinder is compressed, and said sensors detect said compression.   
     
     
         10 . A method for dispensing sheets of paper for wrapping ice cream sandwiches in an ice cream sandwich-making machine, comprising:
 providing a primary paper roller and a secondary paper roller coupled together to a machine drive;   providing a knife roller coupled to a knife drive;   dispensing paper from said first paper roller past said knife roller through said secondary roller;   rotating said knife roller to produce a cut sheet of said paper; and   after said cut sheet is produced, reversing said primary roller.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 exerting pressure on said primary and secondary rollers through a plurality of air-compression springs.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 monitoring a supply of said paper to determine when said supply has reached a predetermined lower limit.