Abstract: A product multiplying system or a multiplier may divide a product into a plurality of units and may increase a number of units of the product that may be released into a receptacle. The product multiplying system or a multiplier may increase the number of units of the product by a factor of two and may not jam the products. The product multiplying system or a multiplier may match a rate of cuts per minute of a first divider and a second divider. A first set and a second set of a plurality of diagonal channels may guide the product toward a center discharge guide and toward an outside discharge guide, respectively. Additionally, the product may be divided and rounded prior to being transferred to the multiplier where the product may be dusted.

Abstract: A vane powered rotor system or a vane powered rotor may utilize a servomotor and may gently extract, meter, and extrude a product under low pressure. The system or rotor may maintain original product properties of the product during portioning or separation of the product. The system or rotor may include a first group of cavities that may become filled with the product, as the vane powered rotor continuously rotates. The product may be discharged through a second group of cavities opposite the first group of cavities. The first and second group of cavities may be arranged laterally about opposing sides of the vane powered rotor.

Abstract: A product multiplying system or a multiplier may divide a product into a plurality of units and may increase a number of units of the product that may be released into a receptacle. The product multiplying system or a multiplier may increase the number of units of the product by a factor of two and may not jam the products. The product multiplying system or a multiplier may match a rate of cuts per minute of a first divider and a second divider. A first set and a second set of a plurality of diagonal channels may guide the product toward a center discharge guide and toward an outside discharge guide, respectively. Additionally, the product may be divided and rounded prior to being transferred to the multiplier where the product may be dusted.

Abstract: A system to make a bread loaf includes means for moving continuously pans along a predetermined path, each pan including at least one cavity sized and configured for making a bread loaf. Means conditioning continuously a batch of unconditioned dough reduces the size of air pockets therein to form a conditioned dough. Means continuously extrude the batch of conditioned dough at a controlled volumetric feed rate and at a controlled pressure to provide a constant stream of conditioned dough that is continuously cut into individual packets. The entire batch is converted into individual packets of conditioned dough corresponding to a predetermined number of bread loaves to be produced from the batch, with all the packets deposited individually in cavities of the pans.

Abstract: A system to make a bread loaf includes means for moving continuously pans along a predetermined path, each pan including at least one cavity sized and configured for making a bread loaf. Means conditioning continuously a batch of unconditioned dough reduces the size of air pockets therein to form a conditioned dough. Means continuously extrude the batch of conditioned dough at a controlled volumetric feed rate and at a controlled pressure to provide a constant stream of conditioned dough that is continuously cut into individual packets. The entire batch is converted into individual packets of conditioned dough corresponding to a predetermined number of bread loaves to be produced from the batch, with all the packets deposited individually in cavities of the pans within 10-20 minutes after mixing ingredients that make the batch.

Abstract: A conveyor indexing mechanism for a bakery production line includes a variable speed motor, a conveyor, a number of baking pans, a dough packet drop mechanism, a sensor, and a timing generator. The conveyor moves the baking pans under the dough packet drop mechanism at a base speed and a ramp-up speed based on input from the sensor and timing generator. The sensor senses pan pockets in the baking pans which causes the motor to assume the base speed. The timing generator periodically causes the motor to assume the ramp-up speed. The indexing mechanism ensures that a row of pan pockets will be below the dough packet drop mechanism so that a row of dough packets will consistently fall therein with maximum throughput. The absence of any clutch or brake reduces wear, as does the continuous motion of the drive train, which prevents backlash in the gear components. A programmable controller receives system inputs and instructs an inverter to change the motor speed.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for manufacturing different shaped bakery products, such as hamburger and hot dog buns, includes a dough packet feeder (18) which advances to an exit station (22) in a step-wise manner rows of dough packets having a first shape. A roller gate (20) positioned at the exit station (22) to receive the rows of dough packets exiting the dough packet feeder (18) includes a first roller member (20a ) having three rows of receptacles (20b ) spaced apart from each other 120.degree. and each sized to receive an individual dough packet having the first shape. A bakery pan indexing feeder (26) advances in a step-wise manner bakery pans (60) or(62) into which the dough packets are deposited by a moving carrier member (52) positioned between the roller gate (20) and the bakery pan indexing feeder (26). The moving carrier member (52) has a receiving end onto which the rows of dough packets are deposited after leaving the roller gate (20) and an exit end where the dough packets leave the moving carrier member.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing bakery products is disclosed where an individual dough packet 26 is deposited in a pan 24 made of magnetic material. Endless belts 16 and 18 including magnets 62 has a portion thereof in a path along which the pans 24 are advanced by conveyor belts 12 and 14. The pans 24 are magnetically coupled to the belts 16 and 18, and a sensor 20 is positioned along the path nearby a position Y where an individual dough packet 26 is deposited in a pan at this position.. The sensor 20 provides a control signal upon a pan 24 moving to this position. A motor 22 having a brake 70 and a clutch 72 drives the belts 16 and 18, and a pan 24 held by the belts is advanced upon actuation of the clutch and stopped upon actuation of the brake. A control circuit 80 includes a signal generator that provides a timing signal indicating that a dough packet 26 has been deposited in a pan 24.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for advancing bakery pans in in step wise fashion along a production line. The machine includes an arm carrying spaced apart indexing fingers having rollers at their lower ends. The arm is mounted on an indexer carriage which may be raised or lowered so that the rollers will contact the trailing lip of an individual pan. The arm moves reciprocally with each cycle of the production line, raising the arm to allow the pan to be advanced one step or interval, which is equal to the distance between fingers, and then lowering the arm to bring the next in line finger into contact with the trailing lip of the pan.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for manufacturing bakery products wherein a main drive motors powers feeding means for advancing rows of individual dough packets step-wise along an assembly line to a Ferris-wheel type conveyor including rows of cups into which individual dough packets are deposited row by row. The Ferris-wheel type conveyor is driven by the main drive motor to advance the rows of cup means step-wise row by row. The novel machine includes an inclined table with a surface over which the individual dough packets slide as the dough packets are advanced by the feeding means to the Ferris-wheel type conveyor. The table terminates at a lower end thereof near the Ferris-wheel type conveyor. A gate comprising a roller member with receptacles is positioned to receive the individual dough packets as the packets fall off the table member and into aligned receptacles. The roller has three rows of receptacles, with each row spaced apart from adjacent rows by 120.degree.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for advancing bakery pans in a step wise fashion along a production line. A rotary indexer having three radially extending arms mounted on a common shaft and spaced apart 120.degree. relative to adjacent arms is used to advance the pans step-wise one cup at a time. Each arm has distal ends at which rollers are mounted which engage the upper portion extending about the perimeter of each cup. A single stroke air cylinder has a wedge mounted to its piston. The wedge engages a cam assembly mounted on the shaft to which the rotary indexer is mounted. Retraction of the wedge allows the pans to push against the rotary indexer to rotate it. The wedge returns to a position to stop rotation of the shaft, only allowing the shaft to rotate through a 120.degree. turn. The pan moves step-wise along the assembly line path into a position to receive a dough packet from a conveyor that deposits dough packets into the cups.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for moving bakery pans in a stepwise fashion to enable rows of cups in the pans to be filled with dough packets. The rows of cups are spaced apart a predetermined distance which will vary depending upon the type of bakery product being made. The pans are carried by a converter and an indexing device is used to prevent these pans from being moved by the conveyor until individual rows of cups are filled with dough packets. The indexing device includes a helical arm mounted on a shaft which is removably coupled to an indexing motor that revolves the shaft through a 360.degree. turn and then momentarily stops to enable the cups to be filled with dough packets. The flights of the arm are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing between rows of cups, with each flight having an edge which will engage a raised lip along the perimeter of the pan. The edge of the flight bearing against the lip of the pan prevents the pan from moving until the arm is rotated.

Abstract: A tooth cleaning, polishing and gum massaging device having a pair of fingers attached to extend on opposite sides of the teeth to be cleaned and supporting a cleaning thread which extends from one finger to the other and between the teeth, the surface of which are to be cleaned. There is an operating element which causes the fingers to move up and down relative to the teeth and for moving the cleaning thread back and forth in sideward directions, thus moving the cleaning thread up and down relative to the in-between surfaces of the teeth and moving the thread sidewardly, thus moving the cleaning thread in a plurality of directions.

Abstract: A bread packaging device having a stack of bags supported on a table and into which freshly baked bread or the like is inserted for packaging. The apparatus has means whereby when the stack of bags has been exhausted, the wicket and remnant parts are removed and a new stack of bags installed in its place, this being done automatically and without delay so as not to interfere with the movement of the loaves of bread along the conveyor leading from the oven.