Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuously producing elongated siding panels is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor, a plurality of mold plates, and a die for extruding a sheet of material onto the mold plates. The mold plates are formed of a rigid material and positioned adjacent one another and supported by the conveyor for forming the elongated siding panels. Each of the mold plates has an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion with an intermediate portion therebetween. The intermediate portion has an aesthetic pattern for imparting the pattern to the sheet of material with the adjacent mold plates having different aesthetic patterns. The lower edge portion has a lower leg extending substantially perpendicular from the intermediate portion defining a horizontal plane and a projection portion between the lower edge portion and the intermediate portion extends beyond the horizontal plane for imparting a jagged pattern to the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of treating food items having muscle protein and a product produced by the inventive apparatus and method. The inventive method preferably utilizes the inventive apparatus to (a) continuously press the food items using a pliable material which conforms to and at least partially surrounds the food items when pressing and/or (b) infuse the food items with a treatment liquid preferably by impacting the food items while they are at least partially suspended in the solution.

Abstract: A pump assembly includes a cam member arranged to rotate about an axis, and a piston pump having a cylinder body with a biased piston drivingly displaceable within the cylinder body and engageable with the cam member such that rotation of the cam member corresponds to reciprocating movement of the piston. The pump assembly is arranged for use in a food cutting machine for transporting cooling fluid from a reservoir to at least one bearing arrangement provided to support a rotating shaft.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuously producing elongated siding panels is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor, a plurality of mold plates, and a die for extruding a sheet of material onto the mold plates. The mold plates are formed of a rigid material and positioned adjacent one another and supported by the conveyor for forming the elongated siding panels. Each of the mold plates has an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion with an intermediate portion therebetween. The intermediate portion has an aesthetic pattern for imparting the pattern to the sheet of material with the adjacent mold plates having different aesthetic patterns. The lower edge portion has a lower leg extending substantially perpendicular from the intermediate portion defining a horizontal plane and a projection portion between the lower edge portion and the intermediate portion extends beyond the horizontal plane for imparting a jagged pattern to the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A cutting head mounting and supporting ring assembly having an interlocking joint arrangement for mounting the cutting head on a food slicing machine. The ring assembly includes a support ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending flange segments having a flange end portion inclined relative to the axis thereof, and a mounting ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending protrusions having a protrusion end portion inclined relative to the axis thereof. The flange and protrusion surfaces of the flange segments and the protrusions are complementary shaped and arranged to mutually engage face-to-face to define scarf type joint connections when they are interdigited.

Abstract: A sheet of plastics material is continuously extruded onto the upper run of an endless conveyor which carries aluminum vacuum mold plates each defining a cavity with a shingle pattern. The sheet is progressively vacuum-formed into the mold plate cavities, and opposite longitudinal upper and lower portions of the sheet are progressively vacuum-formed, with traveling plug assist in one embodiment, to define shingle panels with hook-shaped lower portions and upper portions defining grooves for receiving the lower portions. The upper portion of the sheet is punched with longitudinally spaced slots to form a nailing flange, and the sheet is then cut laterally at longitudinally spaced intervals to produce elongated siding panels each having integrally connected shingle panels. The shingle panels may have different bottom configurations or profiles and are interchangeable.

Abstract: An improved cutting head for a food product on a slicing machine including upper and lower mounting rings, a plurality of cutter support segments connected to the mounting rings, a cutting blade attached to a front edge portion of each cutter support segment, and opposed first and second pivot pins extending from upper and lower portions of the cutter support segment and through the upper and lower mounting rings. Each of the pivot pins are positioned at a location closely adjacent to a forward edge of the cutter support segment and substantially near a cutting edge of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A food product cutting apparatus that makes a substantially horizontal cut through food product being delivered in a substantially vertical direction. The food product is delivered to a cutting device through an internal passage of at least one feed member above the cutting device. A force is applied to the food product traveling downward through the internal passage so as to push the food product against a first wall of the feed member. The apparatus is configured to improve product flow by configuring the passage of the feed member to have a cross-sectional shape defined by two offset, overlapping diameters. The apparatus is also configured for improved safety by ensuring that the cutting device is properly secured before electrical power is available for driving the cutting device.

Abstract: An improved cutting head for a food product on a slicing machine including upper and lower mounting rings, a plurality of cutter support segments connected to the mounting rings, a cutting blade attached to a front edge portion of each cutter support segment, and opposed first and second pivot pins extending from upper and lower portions of the cutter support segment and through the upper and lower mounting rings. Each of the pivot pins are positioned at a location closely adjacent to a forward edge of the cutter support segment and substantially near a cutting edge of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A cutting head mounting and supporting ring assembly having an interlocking joint arrangement for mounting the cutting head on a food slicing machine. The ring assembly includes a support ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending flange segments having a flange end portion inclined relative to the axis thereof, and a mounting ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending protrusions having a protrusion end portion inclined relative to the axis thereof. The flange and protrusion surfaces of the flange segments and the protrusions are complimentary shaped and arranged to mutually engage face-to-face to define scarf type joint connections when they are interdigited.

Abstract: A food product cutting apparatus that makes a substantially horizontal cut through food product being delivered in a substantially vertical direction. The food product is delivered to a cutting device through an internal passage of at least one feed member above the cutting device. A force is applied to the food product traveling downward through the internal passage so as to push the food product against a first wall of the feed member. The apparatus is configured to improve product flow by configuring the passage of the feed member to have a cross-sectional shape defined by two offset, overlapping diameters. The apparatus is also configured for improved safety by ensuring that the cutting device is properly secured before electrical power is available for driving the cutting device.

Abstract: A sheet of plastics material is continuously extruded onto the upper run of an endless conveyor which carries aluminum vacuum mold plates each defining a cavity with a shingle pattern. The sheet is progressively vacuum-formed into the mold plate cavities, and opposite longitudinal upper and lower portions of the sheet are progressively vacuum-formed, with traveling plug assist in one embodiment, to define shingle panels with hook-shaped lower portions and upper portions defining grooves for receiving the lower portions. The upper portion of the sheet is punched with longitudinally spaced slots to form a nailing flange, and the sheet is then cut laterally at longitudinally spaced intervals to produce elongated siding panels each having integrally connected shingle panels. The shingle panels may have different bottom configurations or profiles and are interchangeable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of treating food items having muscle protein and a product produced by the inventive apparatus and method. The inventive method preferably utilizes the inventive apparatus to (a) continuously press the food items using a pliable material which conforms to and at least partially surrounds the food items when pressing and/or (b) infuse the food items with a treatment liquid preferably by impacting the food items while they are at least partially suspended in the solution.

Abstract: A sheet of plastics material is continuously extruded onto the upper run of an endless conveyor which carries aluminum vacuum mold plates each defining a cavity with a shingle pattern. The sheet is progressively vacuum-formed into the mold plate cavities, and opposite longitudinal upper and lower portions of the sheet are progressively vacuum-formed, with traveling plug assist in one embodiment, to define shingle panels with hook-shaped lower portions and upper portions defining grooves for receiving the lower portions. The upper portion of the sheet is punched with longitudinally spaced slots to form a nailing flange, and the sheet is then cut laterally at longitudinally spaced intervals to produce elongated siding panels each having integrally connected shingle panels. The shingle panels may have different bottom configurations or profiles and are interchangeable.

Abstract: An elongated siding panel and a longitudinally extending panel attachment and support strip have overlapping edge portions with longitudinally spaced slots receiving corresponding hook-shaped tabs to form loose positive connections. The slots have a length longer than the tabs to provide for limited longitudinal movement of the panel relative to the support strip. The panel and strip are preferably formed from an extruded flat strip of semi-rigid plastics material, and the continuously formed panel and support strip are progressively notched and punched at longitudinally spaced intervals to form the slots and tabs and expansion slots. The notched and punched support strip is progressively severed from the panel, twisted on a longitudinal axis, and the tabs are progressively inserted into the slots for hooking the overlapping edge portion of the panel.

Abstract: A glass fiber reinforced building panel is made by extruding molten first and second webs of polymer compounds through spaced die openings, positioned a glass fiber mat between the first and second webs, pressing the webs and mat together, and cooling to form a building panel. The building panel of the invention has improved fire retardance and better field cutting and sawing performance compared with conventional, unreinforced building panels.

Abstract: An elongated siding panel and a longitudinally extending panel attachment and support strip have overlapping edge portions with longitudinally spaced slots receiving corresponding hook-shaped tabs to form loose positive connections. The slots have a length longer than the tabs to provide for limited longitudinal movement of the panel relative to the support strip. The panel and strip are preferably formed from an extruded flat strip of semi-rigid plastics material, and the continuously formed panel and support strip are progressively notched and punched at longitudinally spaced intervals to form the slots and tabs and expansion slots. The notched and punched support strip is progressively severed from the panel, twisted on a longitudinal axis, and the tabs are progressively inserted into the slots for hooking the overlapping edge portion of the panel.