Abstract: A roller assembly for forming adjacent curved surfaces in a composite gap filler member includes a first roller supported by a first support member wherein the first roller rotates relative to the first support member about a first axis of rotation. A second roller is supported by a second support member wherein the second roller rotates relative to the second support member about a second axis of rotation. First support member is rotatable about a third axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation extends in a direction transverse to the first axis of rotation. Second support member is rotatable about a fourth axis of rotation. The fourth axis of rotation extends in a direction transverse to the second axis of rotation.

Abstract: To provide a noodle string treatment apparatus and treatment method capable of manufacturing instant noodles that are short noodle strings. The noodle string treatment apparatus of the present invention has: a cutting device having a rotary blade and cutting a batch of noodle strings into a predetermined length; and a control device for controlling a blade edge peripheral speed of the rotary blade, wherein the control device changes the blade edge peripheral speed of the rotary blade during rotation thereof.

Abstract: A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers.

Abstract: Noodles with hand-made quality consisting of thick and thin portions are processed by introducing a noodle belt between first and second cutting rolls 5 and 6 having first and second cutting blades 3 and 4 each formed by large and small diameter portions 3a, 4a and 3b and 4b, and spacers 7. The cutting rolls are relatively shifted in an axial direction such that the thick portion is formed by opposing large diameter portion and spacer and the thin portion is formed by opposing large diameter portion and small diameter portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for cutting a strand to a length with regard to a weight and to the use of such device in a method for producing a medicament dosage form of at least one piece composed of at least one medicament and at least one additive, the medicament and the additive being mixed and extruded from a die as a strand and the strand being cut into pieces of precise weight using the device.

Abstract: An apparatus configured for concurrently cutting, imprinting and piercing of a sheet of dough consisting of flour, water and yeast to produce imprinted loaves is disclosed. Arrays of molded frames each containing edged borders and an emboss pattern are placed onto the surface of a cylinder member configured for rotating onto a sheet of dough to simultaneously cut out loaves, imprint the loaves with the emboss pattern and pierce the loaf with pins. The emboss pattern contains areas raised above the surface of the cylinder member and recessed areas below that surface. The emboss patterns include a plurality of Coptic religious symbols that are imprinted onto the loaves to form a Korban used for ceremonial purposes. The emboss pattern is heated and initiates a par-baking process when the cylinder member engages the dough. The formation of the Korban loaves is completed by baking the loaves in the oven.

Abstract: A combined a toy which simply yet uniquely stamps and cuts off formed articles in a fun and interesting way utilizing cooperating rollers which employ a stamp and at least one angular projection defining a cutting edge on at least one roller. Two or more cooperating rollers are at a frame with each roller including a peripheral surface, one or more concentric ribs on the peripheral surface of each roller which cooperate to spiral around the length of each roller defining a molding surface which spirals around the peripheral surface of each roller, and a stamp on the molding surface of at least one roller. The driving mechanism rotates a gear mechanism which in turn rotates the two or more rollers that cooperate to stamp and cut off articles formed on the molding surface of the rollers.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to methods for manufacturing shaped, comestible articles. Multiple comestible articles are connected by flash, and stress lines in the flash surround the articles. The comestible articles are subsequently separated from the flash at the stress lines. Additional aspects of the present invention are directed to an intermediate comestible product. In certain embodiments, the intermediate comestible product comprises multiple articles, web-like flash connecting the articles, and stress lines formed in the flash and about each article.

Abstract: A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dough cutter for cutting a plurality of dough products from a dough sheet. The dough products are cut from the dough sheet into a defined geometrical shape and provide for easy pull-apart pastries once they are baked, cooked, or fried. The dough cutter consists of a plurality of dies, each containing a plurality of inner geometric cutouts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming and cutting a dough sheet into a plurality of generally spherically shaped, boule-type dough products in a continuous process. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum and a plurality of cutter molds disposed on the rotatable drum for engaging, shaping and severing dough from the sheet as the dough sheet moves along the dough travel path. Each of the cutter molds including a peripheral edge portion, a base portion and a curved, annular side wall defining a concave, generally bowl-shaped internal cavity, with the peripheral edge portion establishing a cutting edge for the cutter mold.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming, cutting and stamping a dough sheet into a plurality of uniformly stamped, imprinted dough pieces. The apparatus engages a leading portion of a dough sheet as it travels along a conveyor. The apparatus includes a drum rotatably disposed relative to the conveyor, a plurality of cutter molds disposed on the rotatable drum and a plurality of pattern imprinters formed within internal cavities defined by the plurality of cutter molds. Each of the cutter molds simultaneously cuts a dough piece received in the internal cavity and imprints on the dough piece to form a rounded edge roll. The pattern imprinter preferably has a star configuration for stamping the dough to form Kaiser-type rolls.

Abstract: A combined a toy which simply yet uniquely stamps and cuts off formed articles in a fun and interesting way utilizing cooperating rollers which employ a stamp and at least one angular projection defining a cutting edge on at least one roller. Two or more cooperating rollers are at a frame with each roller including a peripheral surface, one or more concentric ribs on the peripheral surface of each roller which cooperate to spiral around the length of each roller defining a molding surface which spirals around the peripheral surface of each roller, and a stamp on the molding surface of at least one roller. The driving mechanism rotates a gear mechanism which in turn rotates the two or more rollers that cooperate to stamp and cut off articles formed on the molding surface of the rollers.

Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pellet press (1), comprising a motor (3) having a motor housing (31) and a rotor (32) ar ranged rotatably therein, wherein the rotor (32) is designed as a hollow shaft, a pressing mechanism (2) having a pressing mold (21) and pressing rolls (22) arranged in said pressing mold (21), said rolls being fastened to a stationary shaft (4), wherein the stationary shaft (4) is arranged in the rotor (32) designed as a hollow shaft, and further comprising a mold holder (25) operatively connected to the pressing mold (21), wherein the mold holder (25) and the rotor (32) are connected to each other by means of a connecting means such that a transmission of a torque of the rotor (32) to the mold holder (25) is ensured, wherein the connecting means is a shaft-hub connection.

Abstract: A device is described for granulating plastic having a granulating head (1) and having a drivable cutter head (4), which cooperates with a perforated plate (2) and is arranged inside a housing (3), and which is movable along an axial guide made of guide spars (7) and guide sleeves (8), which are displaceable on the guide spars (7), and is attachable to the granulating. head (1) via locking units (9). In order to provide advantageous design conditions, it is proposed that the locking units (9) comprise latching wedges (11) mounted so they are displaceable transversely to the guide sleeves (8), which penetrate the guide sleeves (8) and the guide spar (7) in oblong holes (12, 13) in the locking position and are supported in the direction of the spar axis on one side on the guide sleeve (8) and on the other side on the guide spar (7).

Abstract: A method for making apertures in a web comprising providing a precursor web material; providing a pair of counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers, wherein a first roller comprises circumferentially-extending ridges and grooves, and a second roller comprises teeth being tapered from a base and a tip, the teeth being joined to the second roller at the base, the base of the tooth having a cross-sectional length dimension greater than a cross-sectional width dimension; and moving the web material through a nip of the counter-rotating, intermeshing rollers; wherein apertures are formed in the precursor web material as the teeth on one of the rollers intermesh with grooves on the other of the rollers.

Abstract: A machine utilized for producing and manufacturing a film, soft at touch, resilient and suitable at draining use. A film produced by such a machine, presents, at least, on one surface an essentially continuous pattern of micro-funnels three-dimensional (3D) directed in an essentially perpendicular way to the surface from which the micro-openings have origin. It presents also on the opposite surface a continuous pattern, composed by 3D macro-funnels directed in an essentially perpendicular way to the surface from which the macro-funnels have origin. The “micro-funnels” term, intend to describe a multitude of funnels non distinguishable by the human eye at a distance equal or higher than 450 mm. while the “macro funnels” term, intend to describe funnels clearly visible by the human eye at a distance higher than 450 mm.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for cutting compressible cellular polymers such as polyurethane foam, are characterized by a first die roller and a pressure roller, wherein both rollers define raised portions separated by recesses or depressions, and the raised portions on the first die roller register with the recesses of the pressure roller at a nip formed between the rollers. Portions of the polymer material extruded into the spaces between the raised portions of the first die roller are cut away, such that the cut product conforms substantially to the surface geometry of the first die roller, and the depth of cut is greater than with prior rotary cutting methods.

Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for continuous perforation of fabrics that comprise thermoplastic fibers. The process utilizes a combination of heat and pressure to perforate fabrics where the shape. size, and distribution of the individual fabric perforations is define solely by the design of the pattern embossing roll, In particular, the top side of the individual embossing points are not flat but rather have a raised peripheral edge so that the actual fabric contact area of the bond points is much less than total area circumscribed by each bond point. The small ratio of fabric contact area to total bond area concentrates the thermal and compressive forces in the embossing nip and allows a large perforation to be cut out of a fabric moving at high speed through the perforation nip.

Abstract: A chopping machine chops strands of thermoplastic material coming from a single die into sections having a predetermined length. The machine has a substantially cylindrical chopping wheel provided on its periphery with a number of uniformly distributed blades oriented about an axis of rotation. An anvil wheel wrapped in a plastic material is located adjacent the chopping wheel. The anvil wheel has a device for routing strands between the wheels, thereby drawing out and chopping the strands into sections. The device has two or more pins that project laterally from a face of the anvil wheel. The pins may be movable with respect to the face. A restart process using the chopping machine is also provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns an extrusion granulator for the granulation of plastic strands gripped by a pair of feed rollers and directed over a slideway in the direction of a cutting rotor with an opposing blade. A guided air stream directed onto the slideway, and deflected perpendicularly towards the cutting rotor by said slideway, impinges on the strands carried on the slideway with such a speed that the strands are held in a parallel orientation by the air stream.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for the continuous production of center-filled confectionery products. The apparatus may include an extruder for forming a continuous extrudate having a plurality of adjoined center-filled confectionery ropes. The apparatus may also include a forming device for forming individual confectionery pieces, and sealed center-filled confectionery pieces in particular. The apparatus provides improved coordination and control of extrudate formation and extrudate feed into the forming device. The apparatus and method of the present disclosure increases product output and reduces the amount of unacceptable product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming and cutting a dough sheet into a plurality of generally spherically shaped, boule-type dough products in a continuous process. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum and a plurality of cutter molds disposed on the rotatable drum for engaging, shaping and severing dough from the sheet as the dough sheet moves along the dough travel path. Each of the cutter molds including a peripheral edge portion, a base portion and a curved, annular side wall defining a concave, generally bowl-shaped internal cavity, with the peripheral edge portion establishing a cutting edge for the cutter mold.

Abstract: The invention provides a manufacturing apparatus of a pellet which has not quality deterioration and a great apparent specific gravity. The apparatus is provided with (a) bunching portions (16) bunching band-like long continuous material(s) (R) and/or a plurality of filamentous long continuous materials (R) to a narrow width so as to form a cord-shaped bunched material (R?), (b) compressing portions (22) having compressing rollers (50a, 50b) with an uneven outer surface and form a cord (S) by point compressing a twisted cord material (R?), (c) rotation portions (14) twisting the cord-shaped bunched material (R?) by relatively rotating the bunching portions (16) or the compressing portions (22) so as to form the twisted cord material (R?), and (d) a cutting portion (102) provided in an outlet side of the compressing portion (22) and cutting the cord (S) formed by the point compressing to a pellet shape.

Abstract: A sheet electrode with a predetermined thickness for an electric double layer capacitor is made by carrying out a roller rolling step in which a long sheet intermediate is made from a material containing a carbonaceous powder, a conductive assistant and a binder and thereafter. The sheet intermediate is passed between a pair of rolling rollers to be wound up by a winding section while being drawn out of a drawing section. The roller rolling step includes drawing the sheet intermediate out of the drawing section under a predetermined tension applied to the sheet intermediate, and controlling a widthwise position of the sheet intermediate immediately before the rolling rollers by an edge position controller, and winding the sheet intermediate rolled by the rollers onto a winding section while the winding section is applying a predetermined pressure to a rolling side drive roller located adjacent to the winding section and rotated at a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A machine and a method for forming composite materials are provided. The machine includes a frame and at least one forming beam attached to the frame, the at least one beam being arranged to align with a mandrel. The forming beam is pivotally segmented into at least two segments to conform to the shape of the mandrel, or alternately is bendable to conform to the shape of the mandrel. The mandrel is receivable within the frame in alignment with the forming beam. An apparatus is also provided to position a composite charge over the mandrel, and to position the mandrel within the frame. A further apparatus is provided to transport the mandrel, and to urge the mandrel toward the forming beam, forming a composite charge.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cutting expanded graphite sheet material, at least one cutting tool is urged against the sheet(s). The cutting tool has at least one ridge extending therefrom that includes a substantially tapered cross-section having sloping sides and an edge surface. At least a portion of the sheet material is displaced as the ridge is urged against the sheet. A region of the sheet material in contact with the ridge is compressed so that the density of the region reaches or exceeds the breaking density of the sheet.

Abstract: A sheet electrode with a predetermined thickness for an electric double layer capacitor is made by carrying out a roller rolling step in which a long sheet intermediate is made from a material containing a carbonaceous powder, a conductive assistant and a binder and thereafter. The sheet intermediate is passed between a pair of rolling rollers to be wound up by a winding section while being drawn out of a drawing section. The roller rolling step includes drawing the sheet intermediate out of the drawing section under a predetermined tension applied to the sheet intermediate, and controlling a widthwise position of the sheet intermediate immediately before the rolling rollers by an edge position controller, and winding the sheet intermediate rolled by the rollers onto a winding section while the winding section is applying a predetermined pressure to a rolling side drive roller located adjacent to the winding section and rotated at a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a shaped confectionery product of Bingham plastic rheology by cold extrusion wherein particles of the confectionery product are fed between counter-rotating form rolls having depressions corresponding to the desired product shape. The particles are compacted and compressed between the form rolls and fuse together to exit with a thin web of material interconnecting the shaped confectionery product. The release of the product from the roll surface is aided by induced differential motion between the rolls.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sheet embossing are disclosed that imparts the same strain on each side of the sheet independent of pattern pick-up. By balancing the plastic deformation at each surface the stresses in the formed material are well controlled and, in fact, greatly improve the sheet flatness, material internal stress, surface corrosion and other properties associated with this balanced process. Controlled sheet shape is important to the industrial handling of material on conveyers, spoolers, stackers and other transport devices. Current industrial practice often mandates the use of sheet levelers that reform the surface through a series of rollers that plastically force the material flat, however, not at controlled stress. With the invention, expensive levelers are often not necessary and, as such, the overall process becomes more efficient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing foamed thermoplastic resin pellets and method thereof. The manufacturing apparatus includes a cylindrical dice, a plurality of extrusion holes formed along a radial direction of the dice and communicated with a resin flow path formed at the dice, a guide symmetric with the extrusion holes and protrudingly formed at the whole or a portion of outer circumference surface along the longitudinal direction of the dice, an operation member slidably installed along the guide, and a cutting knife with penetration holes being formed along the longitudinal direction of the knife and being communicated with the extrusion holes, wherein both ends of the knife are fixed at the upper edge of the facing planes of the operation member, and its center in the traverse direction is downwardly curved such that it is contacted with the contact line of the extrusion holes. A foaming-rate regulating member is installed at the outer circumference surface of the dice.

Abstract: In a pastillation machine, an improved distribution system is provided. The distribution system comprises: a distribution bar having a bore extending therethrough, a series of holes located on an inlet surface of the bar, a series of slots located on an outlet surface of the bar, and a diffuser located in the bore of the bar, the diffuser being spaced between the inlet surface and the outlet surface. The series of holes of the distribution system aligns with flowable substance outlets of the pastillation machine. The pastillation machine can be used to form various hot liquid mixtures, including elemental sulphur and sulphur based fertilizers containing swelling clay matrix, and macronutrients (N, P, K) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn etc.).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bonding molded pieces including left and right molds, a sheet material setting mechanism for inserting sheet material acting as a bonding medium between the left and right molds, a sliding blade portion that has a cutting blade disposed at a front end thereof for cutting the sheet material, the cutting blade being formed so as to be along outer circumferential surfaces of the molded pieces on a left side of the right mold and the sliding blade portion being movable to left and right inside the right mold, a driving mechanism for moving the sliding blade portion to left and right, a sliding blade bearing portion formed on a right side of the left mold such that the blade bearing portion and sliding blade bearing portion are movable to the left and right inside the left mold, and a spring member for pressing the sliding blade bearing portion to the right.

Abstract: The pillow cutter of a food product extrusion system is provided with motor driven roller means designed to pull filled, or unfilled, extrusions, including hollow tubes, or ropes, of extruded food material from the extrusion die head. The ropes are then cut in various shapes such as square, diamond or triangle pillows, sticks or bars. The roller means constitute rotatable base rollers sized to effect telescopic assembly with removable, interchangeable, tubular, cylindrical cutter sleeves engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeves with variable cutting patterns so the user of the system can optionally change the cutting patterns by selective choice of cutter sleeves.

Abstract: A strip casting device (2) has a casting container (14) from which through a casting gap (15) two different masses (12, 13) of a material flowable with the addition of heat are poured out as a strip (3) onto a cooling device (4). The second mass (13) is at the same time ejected by way of injection nozzles (21, 22) into the region of the casting gap (15) into the casting flow of the first mass (12). The injection nozzles are preferably movable in various directions.

Abstract: An unwinding machine (10) with forming cylinders (11, 12, 13) has bearing blocks (26, 27) in which the forming cylinders (11, 12, 13) are supported. The bearing blocks (26, 27) are disposed in recesses (32) of partition walls (25, 25a) of the unwinding machine (10) and are secured by means of clamping devices (35). Furthermore, the forming cylinders (11, 12, 13) are coupled to a common drive motor (15). The unwinding machine (10) according to the invention permits a simple exchanging of the forming cylinders (11, 12, 13).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for perforating a web of material intended to form an outer casing sheet of absorbent articles. As the web is advanced, the web is first provided with a large number of mutually separated cuts in the nip defined between raised plateaus on a matrix cylinder and circumferentially extending knife-edges of a cutting cylinder. The web is then deformed transversely to its plane at parts which border on each cut. The invention also relates to a perforated outer casing sheet which includes recesses in the form of mutually adjacent elongated channel-like grooves.

Abstract: A sliced food product such as a cheese product or meat product having a design or figure cut or otherwise formed therein. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the design or figure is cut entirely or substantially through the slice so that the design or figure may be removed from a surrounding peripheral portion of the slice. A method and apparatus for forming the figure or design are also disclosed. The preferred method and apparatus employ a rotary figure cutter which cuts entirely through the slice to outline a pattern or figure, and which cuts or penetrates partially through the slice to form details of the figure by embossing or indenting design components on the slice. The slice is preferably wrapped in film prior to the figure cutting operation, and the figure cutter performs its function without cutting or tearing the film wrap. The rotary figure cutter preferably comprises a pair of rotary dies between which each slice passes as the design is formed thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for forming open ended, cone-shaped snack products includes a rotary cutter (28) having opposed, counterrotating rollers (30) each formed by multiple cutting discs (36) axially spaced on a mandrel (34) by spacers (38). A dough sheet formed by a sheet forming device (12) is conveyed to a slitting device (24) which slits the dough sheet into multiple pairs of dough strips. The dough strips are conveyed on a conveyer (26) towards the rotary cutter (28). The first dough strips of each pair pass over the end of the conveyor (26), and twisted 90° as they pass over sheaves (44, 56, 60) and pass between stationary guides (42) to the first roller (30) while the second dough strips of each pair pass over the end of the conveyor (26), are twisted 90° as they pass over sheaves (46, 58, 62) and pass between the stationary guides (42) to a second roller (30). The pair of dough strips are drawn under tension through the nip of the rollers (30) in a face to face stacked orientation.

Abstract: A dough transfer hopper and method for partitioning dough pieces having a precise volume from a dough mass is disclosed. The dough transfer hopper includes a hopper assembly having a pair of inwardly angled end walls and a pair of arcuate side walls defining an upper and lower opening. A cutting assembly is operatively disposed within the lower opening and includes a pair of cutters which operate in a counter-rotating manner to partition a dough piece having a precise volume from a dough mass and deposit the dough piece on a horizontal conveyor assembly. The horizontal conveyor transports the dough piece to an inclined conveyor assembly. The inclined conveyor assembly includes a pair of counter-rotating conveyor belts for transporting the dough piece from the horizontal conveyor to a transfer conveyor assembly for further processing.

Abstract: Shaped articles of fat-containing confectionery material are formed by extruding a fat-based confectionery material under pressure so that it passes to and through a flow-constriction and a die so that the material subjected to extrusion and the extrudate from the die are in a non-pourable state and so that the material subjected to extrusion plastically deforms and so that the extrudate is plastically deformable, and then while the extrudate is plastically deformable, extrudate is placed in a molding tool and pressed to shape an article which then is demolded, or extrudate is fed to a nip of counter-rotating rollers having depressions which upon passage of the extrudate in the nip between the rollers shape the extrudate.

Abstract: A device for cooling and granulating strands of plastic which emerge in molten form from dies (3) before being fed, either directly or via a chute (22) which can be positioned underneath the dies and has a cooling water supply, to a subsequent flow channel (1) which has at least one device for producing a stream of coolant. From the flow channel (1) the strands (4) are fed into a granulator (16) which is provided with at least one blade system comprising a rotating shearing blade (13) and a counterblade (12) and used for granulating the strands (4). The device is without a pair of feed rollers as an assembly belonging to the granulator (16) but has a pair of draw-off rollers (20, 21) at the end region of the flow channel (1).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing shredded food products, such as cheese, is disclosed. The method and apparatus permits the production of cheese shreds to be accomplished in a unified operation wherein a sheet of cheese is produced and that sheet of cheese is cut to desired dimensions directly from the casting line. An arrangement of the invention may comprise a sheet former, a casting line, and a shredding assembly, all of which function as a single unit. The shredding assembly, itself a unique arrangement, first slices the incoming sheet of cheese into ribbons, and then cuts each of these ribbons to length. The sheet of cheese may be sliced into ribbons by passing the cheese through a pair of rollers having grooves or slots machined into their surfaces, the width of the slots corresponding to the desired width of the cheese ribbons. The cheese ribbons are presented to a plurality of transversely mounted elongate blades, each of which revolves about a common axis.

Abstract: Product to be supplied in an ordered manner is supplied to the upstream end of an apparatus according to the invention, the bottom of which is substantially closed by a base plate that leaves only the extreme, downstream end of the apparatus open. The apparatus includes a belt-like structure composed of plates that are alternatingly apertured and non-apertured. Transverse partitions define compartments for receiving product at the upstream portion of the apparatus, the bottom portions of the compartments being bounded by the lower portion of the belt structure which, in turn, moves across the base plate. Product falls into the apertures in the apertured plates by means of gravity and pressure exerted by flexible lips located at the lower edges of the transverse partitions. The configuration ensures complete filling of the apertures in the apertured plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing shredded food products, such as cheese, is disclosed. The method and apparatus permits the production of cheese shreds to be accomplished in a unified operation wherein a sheet of cheese is produced and that sheet of cheese is cut to desired dimensions directly from the casting line. An arrangement of the invention may comprise a sheet former, a casting line, and a shredding assembly, all of which function as a single unit. The shredding assembly, itself a unique arrangement, first slices the incoming sheet of cheese into ribbons, and then cuts each of these ribbons to length. The sheet of cheese may be sliced into ribbons by passing the cheese through a pair of rollers having grooves or slots machined into their surfaces, the width of the slots corresponding to the desired width of the cheese ribbons. The cheese ribbons are presented to a plurality of transversely mounted elongate blades, each of which revolves about a common axis.

Abstract: Fried food products are produced by feeding a dough to a nip between a pair of contrarotating rollers arranged with their curved surfaces in contact with each other, and each of the rollers has grooves indented into its curved surface. The rollers push the dough into the grooves and form the dough into a lattice comprising an array of ridges imparted to the dough by one of the rollers, which ridges are spaced apart from and extend in substantially the same direction as each other, and an array of ridges imparted to the dough by the other roller, which ridges are spaced apart from and extend in substantially the same direction as each other. The direction in which the ridges of one array extend are at an angle to that of the other array so that the ridges of one array intersect the ridges of the other, and the contacting portions of the curved surfaces of the rollers form apertures in the dough between the intersecting ridges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling waste composite materials. The method includes prechopping cured waste composite materials into manageably sized strips, conditioning the prechopped strips into resin particulate and loose fibers having a length of approximately one-half to one and one-half inches, mixing the resin particulate and loose fibers with an uncured resin, and placing the resultant mixture into a mold having a forming surface contoured to form a composite part. The strips of the composite material are conditioned by running them through a conditioner that includes a high-speed rotating blade. The rotating blade includes a plurality of angled cutting tips that chop up the waste composite material into loose fibers and resin particulate. The resin particulate and loose fibers pass through holes in a cylindrical screen that surrounds the cutting blade and cutting tips.