Configuration Of Cutting Implement Providing Shaping Cavity Patents (Class 425/298)
  • Patent number: 11040461
    Abstract: A blade assembly is disclosed. The blade assembly includes a mounting ring, at least two elongate cutting blades, and a substantially circular central support positioned substantially at the center of the mounting ring. Each cutting blade may have a proximal end connected to the mounting ring. Each cutting blade may extend from the mounting ring toward a center of the mounting ring. Each cutting blade may be twisted along a length of the cutting blade. A distal end of each cutting blade may be connected to the central support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: McCain Foods Limited
    Inventors: John Warren Aikens, David M. Rogers
  • Patent number: 10478004
    Abstract: A device for cooking proteins is provided. The device includes first and second pans. Each pan includes a base and an alignment wall. The bases each have a top surface with a non-stick coating. The alignment walls each include a cutout to provide a space for a food product to be disposed therein such that the top surface of the first and second pans cook a food product disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: G.S. Blodgett Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah J. Tresser, Sean M. Preavy, Daniel J. Swayze
  • Patent number: 9782038
    Abstract: An electric cooker comprising a lower housing; a lower die mounted on the lower housing; a hinge shaft; an upper housing pivotally mounted at a rear end via the hinge shaft to the lower housing to turn upward from the lower housing; an upper die mounted on the upper housing, a lower surface of the upper die being capable of being disposed on an upper surface of the lower die; an electric heater disposed in at least one of the lower housing and the upper housing and heating at least one of the lower die and the upper die from back to heat dough between the lower die and the upper die; and a hinge-shaft height adjusting unit changing a vertical position of the upper housing pivotally mounted via a hinge shaft by adjusting height of the hinge shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Suntec Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ogawa, Yasuo Wada
  • Patent number: 9033693
    Abstract: A unitary elastic mold and cutter combination configured to mold and cut moldable material is disclosed herein. The mold and cutter combination comprises an elastic mold cavity having an elastic bottom wall with an embossed inner surface and an elastic sidewall extending from and unitary with a perimeter of the bottom wall. An elastic cutting blade extends from and is unitary with the sidewall of the mold cavity and is configured to cut moldable material and maintain a substantially consistent perimeter upon cutting. The cutting blade comprises a cutting edge disposed between an inner cutting blade surface and an outer cutting blade surface. The mold and cutter combination may have an elasticity sufficient to release molded material therefrom by hand stretching, wherein the cutting edge, inner cutting blade surface, and the inner surface of the sidewall of the mold cavity are stretched by an amount sufficient to release the molded material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Dominic Palazzolo
  • Patent number: 9017058
    Abstract: A dough forming station for a device for forming a dough ring comprises a roller with a roller rotational axis and a plurality of dough forming inserts arranged on an outer lateral surface of the roller, a punch beam, which has a punch beam longitudinal axis, with at least one punch, wherein the dough ring is arranged for forming between the at least one punch and a dough forming insert, wherein a lifting drive is provided to displace the punch beam with the at least one punch along a stroke direction oriented perpendicular to the roller rotational axis, wherein the roller rotational axis and the punch beam longitudinal axis are oriented parallel to one another, and wherein a plurality of dough forming inserts arranged about the roller rotational axis along a rotational direction are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Neuenkirchener Maschinenfabrik Emil Kemper GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Lazis, Thomas Hagenhoff
  • Publication number: 20150037449
    Abstract: A molding element) of a mold for molding and vulcanizing a tire treadcontaining a molding surface intended to mold part of the tread surface of the tire and a complex blade of projecting from the molding surface, containing a body oriented mainly in a circumferential direction X and at least one U-shaped secondary branch facing towards this body, the secondary branch being oriented mainly in an oblique direction J, J making a non-zero angle ? with a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the circumferential direction X, the secondary branch in contact with the main body at two contact zones to delimit a cavity of length L, wherein the molding element has a main cutting means projecting from the molding surface, extending between two of its ends and running parallel to J, the length being less than the length L, and wherein the molding element has at least two secondary cutting means of height Hs extending from one of the ends of the main cutting means as far as one of the contact zones facing this end, and f
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Compagnie Generale des Establissments Michelin
    Inventors: Frédéric Perrin, Shuichi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8944800
    Abstract: A kitchen tool applies texture to gnocchi or gnocchetti. The kitchen tool has a bottom surface defining a plurality of parallel longitudinal ridges. Serrations on the longitudinal ridges help the longitudinal ridges to grip a ball of dough. A cross ridge is generally normal to the longitudinal ridges and depends below the longitudinal ridges. Sides depend below the cross ridge and the longitudinal ridges. The kitchen tool may be a part of a kit that also includes a dry dough mix. A method of using the tool also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Richard R. Riggio
  • Patent number: 8940349
    Abstract: In a process for producing half-shells (2) which are made from a dough for bakery products and are characterized by an annular orifice rim (6) with a finished surface, by producing a wafer sheet (1) comprising a plurality of half-shells (2) connected to one another by an interconnecting wall (4), by forming and baking said dough in a mold with the use of a mold formed by two complementary plates (12, 14) having respective front surfaces which, as a result of the fitting together of the two plates, can define a forming cavity having a shape generally corresponding to that of said wafer sheet (1), a mold is used wherein the front forming surface of at least one of said plates has shaped portions (26) which project towards the front surface of the other plate (12) and which can define, in the dough that is subjected to baking in the forming cavity, a notch (24) in the interconnecting wall (4) adjacent each half-shell (2), wherein the plates can be fitted together in an initial position in which the forming cavit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Soremartec S.A.
    Inventors: Enrico Bartolucci, Rino Durio
  • Patent number: 8936461
    Abstract: A design transfer device comprising an elastic planar wall having a first side surface and a second side surface is disclosed herein. An elastic cutting blade is unitary with the elastic planar wall and extends directly from the first side surface of the elastic planar wall. The elastic cutting blade is continuous and is configured to cut a design from a moldable material. The elastic cutting blade has an inner side surface and an outer side surface with a cutting edge therebetween. The cutting edge is disposed at a substantially constant distance, from the first side surface of the elastic planar wall, throughout its perimeter. A method of using the design transfer device is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Dominic Palazzolo
  • Patent number: 8926306
    Abstract: A food product press having a mold base, a press assembly having a plurality of press bodies, and blade spaces between the press bodies, a plurality of blades slidable within the blade spaces, and a blade operating mechanism for moving the blades relative to the press bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Peter Harrison
  • Patent number: 8911225
    Abstract: [Problem] To suppress the deviation of a synthetic resin to be fed to a metal mold and to enable the to-be-compression-molded synthetic resin to be easily molded into a shape of a pre-molded article that is to be molded. [Means for Solution] A female mold 31 includes a moving rod 34 and female mold body 33 surrounding the moving rod 34, the female mold body 33 forming a cavity 33a that is opened upward, the moving rod 34 moving up and down between a normal position and an elevated position above the normal position, and when a synthetic resin 8 is to be fallen down from the a synthetic resin cutting/holding unit 14, the moving rod 34 moves to the elevated position so that the synthetic resin 8 falls down on the upper surface of the center member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Asano, Norihisa Hirota, Jotaro Nagao
  • Patent number: 8790108
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a press plate actuating system, particularly for driving a lower thermoforming plate (6, 60) when thermoplastic films are molded into products. The system is comprised of two eccentric axles (1 and 2; 10 and 20), a long and a short one, that promote the vertical movement of the lower plate (6, 60) and the cutting of a thermoplastic film (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: Jorge Lakatos
  • Patent number: 8647104
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Ron Tillman
  • Patent number: 8622729
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoff Suski, Frank Konkle, Peter A. Huberg, Ed Francis
  • Patent number: 8622730
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoff Suski, Frank Konkle, Ed Francis, Peter A. Huberg
  • Patent number: 8602766
    Abstract: Rotary forming devices and methods of using the rotary forming devices for producing products such as filled and unfilled “pillow” shaped products. In an embodiment, the invention provides a device comprising a housing comprising a die plate defining a plurality of outlets. The housing defines an inlet. A race plate is attached to the die plate. The race plate circumscribes the outlets of the die plate. A forming wheel is rotatably attached to the die plate. A motor assembly is attached to the forming wheel. The motor assembly is constructed and arranged to rotate the forming wheel in a hypocycloid motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Colin Muscroft
  • Patent number: 8535039
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Evans, James W. Finkowski, Gene A. Russel
  • Patent number: 8469690
    Abstract: Mandrel supported IV tubing is inserted within a mold of a mold assembly to heat the IV tubing and form a tapered end of the tubing. The tip of the tubing extending beyond the tapered end of the tubing is severed by the mandrel bearing against the mold to lodge the tip in an outlet of the mold. Cooling air is introduced to the mold assembly to cool the mold and to create a flow of turbulent air about the outlet of the mold to extract the severed tips. The turbulent air is exhausted through a channel, pipe and fitting into a collection chamber and causes translation of the severed tip to and into the collection chamber. Sensors may be incorporated to sense the translation of the severed tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Engineering & Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph G. Augustine
  • Patent number: 8454871
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of creating a lustrous surface in opaque materials using ridge angles, and valleys of varying depths cut, imprinted or pressed into the opaque material. The combination of the light reflecting ridges, angles to reflect more or less light, and a shadow effect arising from a combination of the valley depths and the angle of the ridges allows one to use light and shadow to create a pattern or series of patterns in the opaque materials. These patterns are created using a process whereby a design is first created, then cut into a master blank using some type of manual or computer-aided method. Next, this pattern is inlaid, pressed, or imprinted into a blank panel composed of the opaque material. In some embodiments, this opaque material is allowed to set, thus creating a finished article of manufacture in the form of a panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas R. Schrunk
  • Patent number: 8356988
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming wallboard panels having recessed edges along all four edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: John S Conboy
  • Patent number: 8292609
    Abstract: A machine for shaping dough pieces from a batch of risen dough placed in a holding pan includes a set of tools that can move between a number of positions for activating different tools for sequentially applying them to the dough, the pan and the set of tools being placed in a relative motion whereby respectively approaching or moving away from one another. The set of tools includes a tool for controlled spreading of the dough inside the pan for rendering its thickness uniform while essentially preserving its initial volume; a tool for shaping/dividing the dough into distinct dough pieces, equipped with partition walls that, between them, define receptacles for the shaping of dough pieces the shape of these partition walls in each receptacle being provided for progressively drawing an upper surface layer of the dough and pushing back the remainder of the dough into said layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Bongard
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Guinard, Denis Regnier, Yves Gerber, Andre Bezet
  • Patent number: 8123991
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming wallboard panels having recessed edges along all four edges which process involves passing an unfinished length of wall board through a lateral recess forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: John S Conboy
  • Patent number: 8057212
    Abstract: A forming machine that quickly compacts hollow materials and automatically recycles the materials includes molds, each of which is provided with a feeder having a hollow hole. An opening of the feeder is exactly located at a hollow position of a food product to be formed, and an upper end of the hollow feeder is connected with recycling tubes coming from a feed tank. When a cope and a nowel compact and form the materials into the hollow food products, the feeders will automatically push upward remainders at hollow places of the food products that are stacked constantly, enabling the remainders to enter into the feed tank along the recycling tubes, so as to achieve effects of quickly compacting and processing the materials and automatically recycling the remainders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Wen-Di Chiang
  • Patent number: 8043547
    Abstract: A device and method for forming a groove pattern in a light-guiding plate for obtaining high luminance and decreasing processing time, thereby improving yield. The device has a tool unit including a tool guide and a head which is further provided with a heating plate disposed below the tool unit; a stamper disposed under the heating plate; and a plurality of cutting tools extending from a lower side of the stamper at fixed intervals, for forming a plurality of groove patterns in a surface of the light-guiding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Ho Hwang
  • Patent number: 7874829
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming adhesive strips from an adhesive sheet. The apparatus may generally comprise a first forming wheel, a second forming wheel, and a cutting wheel including a plurality of circumferential grooves. The cutting wheel can be positioned in proximity to the first and second forming wheels to define a first formation interface with the first forming wheel and a second formation interface with the second forming wheel. The cutting wheel can be operable to receive at least a portion of the adhesive sheet and rotate to force at least a portion of the adhesive sheet through the first formation interface and the second formation interface such that the adhesive sheet is at least partially cut by at least one of the circumferential grooves at both the first and second formation interfaces to at least partially form the adhesive strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary L. Kirkendall
  • Patent number: 7695269
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for degating is provided for separating excess molding material from encapsulated electronic packages while the electronic packages are located in a molding system. At least one holding device is coupled to a mold of the molding system, which is located such that excess molding material is molded onto at least a portion of the holding device during molding. A locking feature on the portion of the holding device locks the excess molding material such that the holding device may hold the excess molding material molded onto it to forcibly separate the excess molding material from the encapsulated electronic packages after molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: ASM Technology Singapore Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: See Yap Ong, Si Liang Lu, Zheng Yu Gao, Swee Huat Lee
  • Patent number: 7464631
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shape forming device for use with dies to provide cut, punched and embossed objects made from a variety of media. The shape forming device includes a housing that contains at least one pair of rollers oriented substantially parallel to one another, a power supply, electrically connected to the pair of rollers to drive their rotation so as to permit the feeding of a die between the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: John Nottingham, John Spirk, Patrick Brown, Robert Dorsey, Trevor Jackson, Carolyn McNeeley
  • Patent number: 7448863
    Abstract: An ice-carving machine comprises a framework, an ice block positioning system, at least one feeding system, and at least one heating mold. The ice block positioning system is fixed on the workbench of the framework for positioning the ice block to be processed. The feeding system drives the heating mold to heat and press the ice block in a mold cavity with a predetermined shape. By the pressure and heat of the heating mold, the ice block is made into the shape identical to the shape of the mold cavity, thus simplifying the process of carving ice blocks, and also saving carving time and cost, being especially suitable for a mass production of ice sculptures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventor: Wu Chang Yang
  • Publication number: 20080175947
    Abstract: A cut structure for a mold apparatus (100), which the cut structure is configured for being connected to a mold cavity (210), includes a first hole (42), a cut punch (48) and a draw pin (49). The first hole is configured to communicate with the mold cavity. The cut punch is movably received in the first hole for cutting a portion of a molded product. The cut punch defines a second hole (486); and the draw pin is movably received in the second hole of the cut punch. The draw pin has a wedge cutout (492) configured for drawing the portion of a molded product from the mold apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., SUTECH TRADING LIMITED
    Inventors: DIAN-HONG WEI, CHIN-PAI LIN
  • Publication number: 20080075802
    Abstract: A molding system for provided which is configured for molding a substrate comprising a plurality of individual carriers each of which is pre-cut into a shape of a memory card device and connected to a frame of the substrate by narrow tie bars. A molding plate is configured to receive the substrate, and a cavity plate configured to be clamped to the molding plate further comprises a plurality of molding cavities each constructed in the shape of the said carriers. The cavities are operative to create molded packages onto the carrier conforming to a shape of the memory card device without need for further forming of the molded compound after molding. Additionally, a nozzle on the surface of each cavity is operative to introduce molding material into the cavity in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a plane of the substrate placed on the molding plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Lap Yu Chan, Chun Yu Li, Si Liang Lu, Teng Hock Eric Kuah
  • Patent number: 7335009
    Abstract: A detachable roller mold press includes two rollers that can rotate relative to each other. The rollers are securely fastened to a predetermined location, which can drive a press mold or a knife mold plate. The roller mold press of the present invention is detachable so as to save storage space. The detachable roller mold press includes a roller mechanism, a chassis, a bottom cover and two bridges. The roller mechanism includes two rollers that can rotate relative to each other. The front and the rear portions of the chassis include an opening. The opening and the two rollers form a space for allowing a knife mold or a press mold plate to move therein. By rotating the two rollers, one can move the knife mold or the press mold plate to rapidly carve or engrave on a piece of paper or a piece of cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Chia Shun Lee
  • Patent number: 7331776
    Abstract: An impression device for food items. More particularly, the present invention is a stamping device designed to create images upon a variety of foods for decoration and/or marketing purposes. The stamper device of the present invention has the general appearance of a traditional rubber stamp, with large knob at the top to quickly adjust the depth of embossings. Small wings beside the knob provide an instant feature for orientation and comfortable ergonomic grip. The device provides both an emboss-only mode, and emboss-and-cut simultaneously mode, much in the manner of a cookie cutter. A simple snap means located at the bottom of the device functions to change such modes. Under the base of the device is a “socket set” style snap-in stamping die. As is the case with the roller device, the stamper device may be utilized for: 1) standard messages and images; 2) snap-in letters, which allows the user to assemble his or her own custom message; or 3) custom logos, messages, and images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Gourmet Impressions, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Ben Errera
  • Patent number: 7328652
    Abstract: A dough dispensing apparatus (100) comprises a container (1,1?) for receiving and holding dough and a dough transfer device (3,3?) for receiving dough from the container and for transferring the dough to a depositing station (4,5) at which the dough is deposited onto a conveying means (12) for further processing steps to be carried out on the dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Irish Baker Inventions Limited
    Inventor: Ronan McNamee
  • Publication number: 20070278710
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for degating is provided for separating excess molding material from encapsulated electronic packages while the electronic packages are located in a molding system. At least one holding device is coupled to a mold of the molding system, which is located such that excess molding material is molded onto at least a portion of the holding device during molding. A locking feature on the portion of the holding device locks the excess molding material such that the holding device may hold the excess molding material molded onto it to forcibly separate the excess molding material from the encapsulated electronic packages after molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: See Yap ONG, Si Liang LU, Zheng Yu GAO, Swee Huat LEE
  • Patent number: 7210920
    Abstract: A special tabbed pattern is integrated into a series of forms. The forms may be cookie cutters adapted to cut baked dough or other material set to desired density to provide a series of panels corresponding to the cutters. Alternatively, the forms may be molds, e.g, adapted to receive melted chocolate which is allowed to cool and set to form a series of panels corresponding to the molds. The panels are adapted to be joined together to form a decorative structure. The tabs are sized and positioned to provide a dovetail joint along each edge of the structure. The protruding tabs or ends are of a slightly smaller dimension than the notches that they fit inside of to provide a secure fit. This self-interlocking design allows each individual piece of the structure to be fitted together, one at a time, while maintaining an acceptable degree of stability throughout the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Inventor: Debra A. Kolz
  • Patent number: 7112053
    Abstract: A roll forming apparatus having a shaft member for supporting a head member above a baking container housing a dough mass. The head member can include a plurality of arms with corresponding guide blades disposed therein for contacting a peripheral wall of the container. A tension assembly is mounted about the shaft member for adjusting movement and an outward force of each of the guide blades. Upon insertion in a baking pan, the head member's arms and guide blades divide the dough into a plurality of dough lobes without damaging the container. In a roll forming process, a rack is provided for receiving and transporting the roll forming apparatus over the container. A securing assembly is mountable about the shaft member for permitting the shaft member to resiliently pivot toward a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to the rack after the container pivotally displaces the head member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7029261
    Abstract: A dough divider including a hopper with a lid, latch assembly and press plate. The lid has an open and closed position. The latch assembly is adapted to maintain the lid in the closed position when activated and to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position when deactivated. The press plate is vertically slidable within the hopper, with the hopper being adapted to accept dough between the lid and the press plate. The press plate is adapted to be driven towards the lid in order to compress the dough between the press plate and the lid within the hopper. The latch assembly is automatically activated to maintain the lid in the closed position while the press plate is being driven towards the lid. The latch assembly is automatically deactivated to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position after the dough has been compressed and divided within the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Oliver Products Company
    Inventor: Perry R. DeYoung
  • Patent number: 6997697
    Abstract: A press for making a patty includes a substantially flat panel to contact the product to be pressed into a patty. An upstanding member is affixed to the panel. A weight member or “mould” surrounds the upstanding member. The weight member is moveable along the upstanding member between a first position where the weight member overlies the panel to facilitate the application of force to the product and a second position where the weight member is spaced from the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventors: Loukritia Balkos, Nikolas G. Balkos, Konstantine G. Balkos, Elena Balkos
  • Patent number: 6988880
    Abstract: Apparatus for highly reliably cutting a rubber strip (12) even when reinforcement cords are embedded therein, and for shaping the upper surfaces of the trailing end of a resultant rubber band member (15) and the leading end of the remaining rubber strip (12) to have a slope inclined with a small angle relative to the general plane of the rubber strip (12) or rubber band member (15). An anvil (20) and a press cutter/shaper (39) are arranged opposite to each other, and a cutting blade (38) is gradually inserted into an anvil groove (22), with at least one surface (38a, 38) of the blade (38) pressed against a periphery (22a) of the anvil groove (22). The cutting blade (38) protrudes from the boundary between inclined a pair of shaping surfaces (34, 35) towards the anvil 20, and has a cutting blade angle (F) that is smaller than angle (G) between the inclined shaping surfaces (34, 35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Adachi, Takao Urayama
  • Patent number: 6929460
    Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is disclosed including a plurality of dough cutting members (6), each of which is adapted for cutting a desired shape out of a strip of dough. Each dough cutting member is spaced apart from an adjacent cutting member by a predetermined distance so that when each cutting member cuts a dough cut-out from the strip of dough, there is a relatively narrow web (101) of waste dough produced in the region between adjacent dough cutting members. There is also a waste dough web removing apparatus (50) which has a plurality of fingers (51, 52, 53) for urging the waste dough web upwardly for separation from the dough cut-outs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Irish Bakery Inventions Limited
    Inventor: Ronan McNamee
  • Patent number: 6863520
    Abstract: The auger scoop is a handheld, cordless appliance for scooping frozen substances that has three components: an auger unit, a power unit, and a wall-mountable charger unit. The auger unit consists of a cylindrical tube having a flat, angled blade slightly recessed within the lower end and an angled butt plate at the upper end. The auger unit features a shaft extending from the upper end which is inserted into the power unit. The power unit consists of a rechargeable battery pack, a housing, and a motor and drive assembly that are activated by a switch on the external housing. When activated, the power unit rotates the tube, thereby rotating the blade and allowing the auger unit to bore into the frozen substance. The charger unit features a plug with which it is connected to a wall socket, an AC to DC converter, and a receptacle for the power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Craig A. Stiles
  • Patent number: 6849225
    Abstract: The present invention is a mould and a method of moulding a plastic component using the mould that enable the manufacturer of a moulded component (45) which has an external covering. The method of moulding comprises either locating a pre-formed component (41) into a first part of the mould or vacuum forming a thin film (40) into a mould cavity. A first mould part (15) has a mould cavity into which the pre-formed component (41) is placed or the thin film (40) is vacuumed formed into. The method continues by partly closing a second part of the mould (25) into the first part of the mould (15) and injecting molten plastic (34) onto the surface of the pre-formed component (41) or thin film (40). The second mould part (25) is then fully closed to force the molten plastic (34) to fill the resultant mould cavity (36). This bonds the molten plastic to either the pre-formed component (41) or the thin film (40) to form the final shape of the moulded component (45).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Schefenacker Vision Systems Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Robert William Gilbert, Duncan William Nash
  • Patent number: 6780000
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided herein for making a plurality of spherical products, e.g., meat balls. The apparatus includes a base. A tray support platform is mounted on the base for tethered buffetted motion with respect to the base. A tray having an upper non-stick surface is mounting on, and is held to, the tray support platform. A grid consisting of an array of compartments constituted by a plurality of intersecting walls and having an open bottom is supported on the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: Peter Huszcz
  • Publication number: 20040142063
    Abstract: A special tabbed pattern is integrated into a series of forms. The forms may be cookie cutters adapted to cut baked dough or other material set to desired density to provide a series of panels corresponding to the cutters. Alternatively, the forms may be molds, e.g, adapted to receive melted chocolate which is allowed to cool and set to form a series of panels corresponding to the molds. The panels are adapted to be joined together to form a decorative structure. The tabs are sized and positioned to provide a dovetail joint along each edge of the structure. The protruding tabs or ends are of a slightly smaller dimension than the notches that they fit inside of to provide a secure fit. This self-interlocking design allows each individual piece of the structure to be fitted together, one at a time, while maintaining an acceptable degree of stability throughout the assembly process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Debra A. Kolz
  • Publication number: 20040142062
    Abstract: In a dough stripping assembly and method, stripping elements are supported in relatively spaced relation on the sheeting machine with an edge of the crosspieces parallel to and abutting an outer surface of the roller. As the roller turns, the stripping element scrapes shaped dough from the roller and leaves a remaining web of dough adhered to the roller. With many cut patterns, the crosspiece separates a portion of the web from the roller as well. However, the portion of the web that remains adhered to the roller pulls the separated portion of the web along with the adhered portion. Thus, the separated portion of the web is permitted to move past the stripping elements and continues to move with the outer surface of the roller and is returned with the rest of the web to a point upstream of the sheet forming pinch point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Herrera
  • Publication number: 20040028767
    Abstract: A dough dispensing apparatus (100) comprises a container (1,1′) for receiving and holding dough and a dough transfer device (3,3′) for receiving dough from the container and for transferring the dough to a depositing station (4,5) at which the dough is deposited onto a conveying means (12) for further processing steps to be carried out on the dough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Ronan McNamee
  • Publication number: 20040028766
    Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is disclosed including a plurality of dough cutting members (6), each of which is adapted for cutting a desired shape out of a strip of dough. Each dough cutting member is spaced apart from an adjacent cutting member by a predetermined distance so that when each cutting member cuts a dough cut-out from the strip of dough, there is a relatively narrow web (101) of waste dough produced in the region between adjacent dough cutting members. There is also a waste dough web removing apparatus (50) which has a plurality of fingers (51, 52, 53) for urging the waste dough web upwardly for separation from the dough cut-outs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Ronan McNamee
  • Publication number: 20030091759
    Abstract: A blow molded article includes an outer wall and an article retaining feature projecting outwardly therefrom. The article retaining feature includes a distal wall and a side wall connecting the distal wall and the outer wall of the blow molded article. The side wall is generally orthogonal to the outer wall of the blow molded article, and an inner surface is defined at least partially by inner edges of the side wall, the distal wall and the outer wall of the blow molded article. The side wall has a hole integrally molded therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Grinnall, Duane Franzen, Terry Lucky
  • Publication number: 20030049341
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Jarvis Warner
  • Patent number: 6530771
    Abstract: A cutter carriage for moving a rotary cutter between a front side of the back roller and a back side of the back roller. The preferred system has a pair of guide rods located on the left and right side plates of the sheeting head. The rotary cutter is held at either end by pivot arms. Each arm, in turn is attached to a carriage side piece that slidingly engages one of the guide rods. The two side pieces are joined into a single cutter carriage by an elongate member parallel to the rotary cutter. Each carriage is equipped with a cutter engagement system that moves the pivot arms and attached rotary cutter into an operational position in relation to the sheeting head. When the rotary cutter is serviced, the engagement system is released allowing the pivot arm to move the rotary cutter away from the sheeting head roller, and the cutter carriage is slid along the guide rods making the rotary cutter readily accessible from the rear side of the sheeting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Casa Herrera, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald B. Clark