Abstract: A conveyor and picking tray assembly includes a conveyor frame mounting elongated upper and lower conveyors. The conveyors slope downward from their rear ends to their front ends. A picking tray frame adjacent to the front end of the conveyor frame mounts picking trays in general alignment with the upper and lower conveyors. The trays slope downward from one of their side edges to the other of their side edges in a direction transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the conveyors for the convenience of an operator working on an assembly line alongside the conveyor and picking tray assembly.

Abstract: A parts holder comprises a tray and a vertically extensible and retractable support for supporting the tray in selected vertically adjusted positions. A brace in the form of a foot rest is secured to the support beneath the tray in selected vertically adjusted positions independently of the tray.

Abstract: A method of producing a stress free sheet of dough having uniform height and width can be economically and conveniently used with a batch dough system. Individual dough batches are deposited into a retention hopper from which equal volumetric dough portions are sectioned by a pair of oppositely rotating co-acting cutters. Each cutter includes a number of blades which cooperate with corresponding blades on the opposing cutter to section the dough into portions. The dough portions are deposited onto an inclined conveyor positioned below the hopper so that a leading end of each dough portion overlaps a trailing end of the previous dough portion. A photo-electric detection device ascertains the trailing end of the previous dough portion and signals the cutters to section the next successive dough portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a stress free sheet of dough having uniform height and width can be economically and conveniently used with a batch dough system. Individual dough batches are deposited into a retention hopper from which equal volumetric dough portions are sectioned by a pair of oppositely rotating co-acting cutters. Each cutter includes a number of blades which cooperate with corresponding blades on the opposing cutter to section the dough into portions. The dough portions are deposited onto an inclined conveyor positioned below the hopper so that a leading end of each dough portion overlaps a trailing end of the previous dough portion. A photo-electric detection device ascertains the trailing end of the previous dough portion and signals the cutters to section the next successive dough portion. The overlapping dough portions are then formed into a dough sheet having uniform height and width by a pressing roller and a combination of side guide wedges and side pressing rollers.