Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an apparatus for filling a central open space in a jar. The apparatus includes a base, an indexing station including a magazine, a blade, and a first actuator, a filling station including cartridges, and a second actuator. The magazine is rotatably mounted to the base. The platform of the cutting station is configured to receive a whole cucumber at a loading area and is incrementally indexed to reposition the whole cucumber from the loading area to a cutting area above the blade. The first actuator is configured to urge the whole cucumber through the blade and cut the whole cucumber into spears. The spears drop into and are held by one of the cartridges. The second actuator is configure to push at least one of the spears out from the cartridge into the central open space of the jar.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an apparatus for forming a rolled food product, generally including a transport section and a rolling section. The transport section is configured to receive a food product in an unrolled configuration. The rolling mechanism includes rolling elements positionable between an active position in which the rolling elements are disposed over at least a portion of the transport section, and a retracted position in which the rolling elements are actuated away from the transport section. The transport section is configured to feed the food product in the unrolled configuration to the rolling mechanism. The rolling mechanism is configured to roll the food product into a partially rolled food product. Rolling of the partially rolled food product into a fully rolled food product is completed by the transport section.

Abstract: An automated sandwich wrapping system is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an automated sandwich wrapping system includes a folding subassembly having a plurality of folding plates to inwardly fold side portions of sandwich wrapping paper extending past ends of a sandwich, a roller subassembly having at least one roller to rotate the sandwich to wrap the sandwich, and a controller preprogrammed to control and coordinate operation of the folding subassembly and the roller subassembly. The folding plates move between an idle position and an active position.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an apparatus for filling a central open space in a jar. The apparatus includes a base, an indexing station including a magazine, a blade, and a first actuator, a filling station including cartridges, and a second actuator. The magazine is rotatably mounted to the base. The platform of the cutting station is configured to receive a whole cucumber at a loading area and is incrementally indexed to reposition the whole cucumber from the loading area to a cutting area above the blade. The first actuator is configured to urge the whole cucumber through the blade and cut the whole cucumber into spears. The spears drop into and are held by one of the cartridges. The second actuator is configure to push at least one of the spears out from the cartridge into the central open space of the jar.

Abstract: A folding platform includes a base, first folding flap, lift arm, and lift arm linkage. The first folding flap is rotatably connected with the base and facilitates the folding of a food item placed on the folding platform. The lift arm linkage is rotatably connected with the base and the lift arm to operatively lift the lift arm and allow the lift arm to rotate in a first rotational direction, and includes a spring that engages the lift arm linkage and the lift arm, and biases the lift arm in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The lift arm is capable of rotating a first rotational distance, and rotating a second rotational distance greater than the first rotational distance without bending or breaking when the lift arm contacts an obstruction. The lift arm automatically returns to its normal position due to the bias force of the spring.

Abstract: A folding platform includes a base, first folding flap, lift arm, and lift arm linkage. The first folding flap is rotatably connected with the base and facilitates the folding of a food item placed on the folding platform. The lift arm linkage is rotatably connected with the base and the lift arm to operatively lift the lift arm and allow the lift arm to rotate in a first rotational direction, and includes a spring that engages the lift arm linkage and the lift arm, and biases the lift arm in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The lift arm is capable of rotating a first rotational distance, and rotating a second rotational distance greater than the first rotational distance without bending or breaking when the lift arm contacts an obstruction. The lift arm automatically returns to its normal position due to the bias force of the spring.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a food product folding apparatus for forming a triangular food product, generally including a folding section, and first, second, third and fourth actuator mechanisms. The folding section includes, first, second, third and fourth folding platforms. The first, second, third and fourth actuator mechanisms are configured to actuate rotation of respective first, second, third and fourth folding platforms into first, second, third and fourth fold positions to create first, second, third and fourth folds in the food product.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an apparatus for forming a rolled food product, generally including a transport section and a rolling section. The transport section is configured to receive a food product in an unrolled configuration. The rolling mechanism includes rolling elements positionable between an active position in which the rolling elements are disposed over at least a portion of the transport section, and a retracted position in which the rolling elements are actuated away from the transport section. The transport section is configured to feed the food product in the unrolled configuration to the rolling mechanism. The rolling mechanism is configured to roll the food product into a partially rolled food product. Rolling of the partially rolled food product into a fully rolled food product is completed by the transport section.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a food product folding apparatus for forming a triangular food product, generally including a folding section, and first, second, third and fourth actuator mechanisms. The folding section includes, first, second, third and fourth folding platforms. The first, second, third and fourth actuator mechanisms are configured to actuate rotation of respective first, second, third and fourth folding platforms into first, second, third and fourth fold positions to create first, second, third and fourth folds in the food product.

Abstract: A folding platform includes a base, first folding flap, lift arm, and lift arm linkage. The first folding flap is rotatably connected with the base and facilitates the folding of a food item placed on the folding platform. The lift arm linkage is rotatably connected with the base and the lift arm to operatively lift the lift arm and allow the lift arm to rotate in a first rotational direction, and includes a spring that engages the lift arm linkage and the lift arm, and biases the lift arm in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The lift arm is capable of rotating a first rotational distance, and rotating a second rotational distance greater than the first rotational distance without bending or breaking when the lift arm contacts an obstruction. The lift arm automatically returns to its normal position due to the bias force of the spring.

Abstract: An automated sandwich wrapping system is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an automated sandwich wrapping system includes a folding subassembly having a plurality of folding plates to inwardly fold side portions of sandwich wrapping paper extending past ends of a sandwich, a roller subassembly having at least one roller to rotate the sandwich to wrap the sandwich, and a controller preprogrammed to control and coordinate operation of the folding subassembly and the roller subassembly. The folding plates move between an idle position and an active position.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a multi-stage rotary food product folder apparatus for forming a folded food product, generally including a drive system, a cam system and a platform system. The drive system includes at least one motor and a shaft. Rotation of at least one cam of the cam system can be driven by the shaft of the drive system. The platform assembly can be secured to a platform. The platform can be rotatably driven by the drive system. The cam system engages the platform assembly to fold the folded food product.

Abstract: A folding platform includes a base, first folding flap, lift arm, and lift arm linkage. The first folding flap is rotatably connected with the base and facilitates the folding of a food item placed on the folding platform. The lift arm linkage is rotatably connected with the base and the lift arm to operatively lift the lift arm and allow the lift arm to rotate in a first rotational direction, and includes a spring that engages the lift arm linkage and the lift arm, and biases the lift arm in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The lift arm is capable of rotating a first rotational distance, and rotating a second rotational distance greater than the first rotational distance without bending or breaking when the lift arm contacts an obstruction. The lift arm automatically returns to its normal position due to the bias force of the spring.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a multi-stage rotary food product folder apparatus for forming a folded food product, generally including a drive system, a cam system and a platform system. The drive system includes at least one motor and a shaft. Rotation of at least one cam of the cam system can be driven by the shaft of the drive system. The platform assembly can be secured to a platform. The platform can be rotatably driven by the drive system. The cam system engages the platform assembly to fold the folded food product.

Abstract: A container filling device is provided for filling a container with desired headspace. The container filling device includes a siphon and a funnel having a bottom region configured to engage a container. The siphon extends through an opening in the bottom region and a sidewall such that a first end of the siphon has a first elevation and a second end of the siphon has a lower elevation than the first elevation. The bottom region is provided with an opening for the outflow of liquid from the receiving area into the container. Excess liquid flowing into the container beyond a desired headspace escapes from the container through the siphon. A liquid filler system can be provided with a frame, a plumbing system, and an alignment system for engaging and disengaging the container filling device with the container.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a destacking device for dispensing planar food products, such as tortillas, from a stack bottom. In some embodiments of the invention, the device includes a frame and a carriage assembly configured for linear reciprocation with respect to the frame. The carriage assembly has a drum that rotates in response to linear reciprocation of the carriage assembly, and a suction lip is positioned proximal a wall of the drum. A stack of tortillas can be disposed on the suction lip, and a negative pressure is applied to close the suction lip and “suck” a bottommost tortilla against the lip. A movable arm has a leading edge for cooperating with the suction lip to separate the bottommost tortilla from a next bottommost tortilla. The drum rotates the suction lip and tortilla, and the vacuum is released to allow the tortilla to fall downwardly onto an endless belt.

Abstract: An improved platform for use with a conveyor system used in the automated formation of folded food products such as burritos, taquitos and the like. The platform includes a substantially planar base and an articulated flap having pivotally connected upper and lower members. The articulated flap rotates with respect to the base to fold the shell of the food product once. The upper member of the articulated flap rotates with respect to the lower member to create a pinch-like subsequent fold in the previously folded shell, which secures the filling within the initial enclosure. The platform may also include additional, rigid flaps for making additional folds after the upper member makes the pinch-like fold. Once the final fold is made, the partially-folded food product may be securely transferred to the mechanism for finalizing the folding and production thereof.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention includes an indexing feeder for feeding the elongated food articles, a first slicing station and a second slicing station disposed along the indexing feeder for slicing the food articles into slabs, and a container conveyor system for delivering containers to receive the slabs. The articles are placed individually into winged troughs ("flights") carried by the indexing feeder and the feeder is advanced by two flight spacings in each slicing cycle. The second slicing station is displaced from the first slicing station by an odd number of flights. Each slicing station further includes an indexing turret with a number of self-centering chucks disposed around the periphery of the turret. The turret is rotated in such a way so as to allow a food article to be inserted into each chuck as the chuck rotates past the indexing feeder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a predetermined amount of material into a predetermined position on each of a series of moving trays while avoiding spillage of the product onto other portions of the trays. A conveyor lifts the material from a supply bin and deposits the material onto a shaker pan. The shaker pan delivers the material in an even flow on to a rotating turntable having a plurality of radially extending gutters thereon. The turntable directs the material to flow along the gutters and into a plurality of hoppers disposed at the periphery of the turntable. The hoppers are rocked to distribute the product evenly within each hopper. Once a hopper is full, any excess material falls onto a drip tray which returns the material back to the supply bin. The filled hoppers are rotated above the trays, which are moving on a conveyor, and release the material onto a predetermined area of the trays by means of funnels mounted adjacent to each hopper.

Abstract: Equally spaced pusher bars moving continuously around a closed path individually engage open top containers and push them in single file through a filling region where they are filled with liquid flowing freely in a continuous sheet from an elongated discharge edge extending along the path above the open tops of the containers. A separate deflecting unit is adjustably attached to each pusher bar, each deflecting unit having an upwardly convex wedge-shaped deflecting surface. The deflecting units move with the containers through the filling region, and the deflecting surfaces divide the continuous sheet of flowing liquid into a number of separate streams directed into the interiors of the respective containers, thereby preventing the liquid from contacting the external surfaces of the containers.