Configuration Of Cutting Implement Providing Shaping Cavity Patents (Class 425/298)
  • Patent number: 6530767
    Abstract: The invention provides for the manufacture of food products. In one preferred form, methods and apparatus are provided for cutting individual confectionery products from a slab or strip of product material into a product with a particular silhouette. In another form, the invention provides methods and apparatus for both cutting and forming individual confectionery products from strips or ropes. The process can be used for simply forming products from pre-cut segments or other blanks of confectionery material, including imparting a relatively precise texture, finish or detail to such products. The products may, but need not, be subsequently enrobed in chocolate or another coating. The confectionery material may also include candied fruit bits, dry fruits, nuts, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
  • Publication number: 20030020202
    Abstract: A method for forming tear lines in the rear side of an automobile interior article having a cover portion being developed from which an airbag inflates. When either an automobile interior article body having an integrally molded surface portion or an automobile interior article surface portion is to be molded, the mold is opened after tear line forming projections are moved forward and backward with the mold closed. Thus, the tear lines can be formed at the molding time without any visible extrusion marks of the tear line forming projections on the front surface side (the design face).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Ueno, Akiyoshi Nagano, Kazumichi Shigeno, Kenichi Furuta, Tatsuo Yamada, Kenji Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6506041
    Abstract: Disclosed is a perogie maker for producing individual perogies from a single layer of dough. The perogie maker consists of round, hollow cylinders attached to one another at the ends of the cylinders by rotatable hinges. The cylinders have alternating raised and lowered notches, and a ridge surrounding the outside of at least part of the cylinder which is capable of cutting through dough. When handles attached to the cylinders are brought together the raised notches close on lowered notches and a layer of dough is folded as such to produce sealed perogies, with excess dough being trimmed by the ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Inventor: Iolanda Dupak
  • Patent number: 6431849
    Abstract: The invention provides for the manufacture of food products. In one preferred form, methods and apparatus are provided for cutting individual confectionery products from a slab or strip of product material into a product with a particular silhouette. In another form, the invention provides methods and apparatus for both cutting and forming individual confectionery products from strips or ropes. The process can be used for simply forming products from pre-cut segments or other blanks of confectionery material, including imparting a relatively precise texture, finish or detail to such products. The products may, but need not, be subsequently enrobed in chocolate or another coating. In still other embodiments, the confectionery material may comprise grains of a puffed cereal. In some instances, a matrix of plasticizable material holds the grains together and the confectionery material may also include, in addition to the puffed cereal, candied fruit bits, dry fruits, nuts, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
  • Patent number: 6431848
    Abstract: A dough divider including a hopper with a lid and a press plate vertically slidable within the hopper. The hopper is adapted to accept dough between the lid and the press plate, and the press plate is adapted to move towards the lid in order to compress the dough between the press plate and the lid within the hopper. The dough divider further includes a two part pressure relief system including a reversible cylinder assembly and at least one pressure relief opening. The reversible cylinder assembly is connected to the press plate and adapted to move downward in order to allow the press plate to move towards a bottom of the hopper when pressure applied to a top of the press plate from the dough within the hopper reaches a predetermined level. The pressure relief opening is adapted to relieve pressure within the hopper between the press plate and the lid by allowing the dough to escape from the hopper through the pressure relief opening when the press plate has reached the bottom of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Oliver Products Company
    Inventor: Bernard L. Petersen
  • Patent number: 6325952
    Abstract: A machine for continuously making gaskets and similar flat products. Sheet gasket material is fed from a roll and through tooling that successively: cuts the outline, separates the center scrap, then separates the gaskets from the remaining sheet stock waste. The cutting tool rotates. The center scrap and the gaskets may be removed by rotating tooling or by vacuum and air pressure, respectively. Design and fabrication of such a machine, especially the cutting roller, is made possible by state of the art CAD software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventors: James K. Jarrett, Michael A. Rathbone
  • Patent number: 6247914
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Bengt Lindquist, Stefan Areskoug, Anders StrĂ¥lin
  • Patent number: 6242027
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for manually portioning pizza dough disks having a calibrated volume and suitable for mechanical final spreading. The apparatus includes a support member fastened to a base plate, a circular lower plate arranged in a substantially horizontal configuration onto which the dough is to be placed, and a circular upper plate arranged in a substantially horizontal configuration coaxial with the circular lower plate and having of a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the circular lower plate. A device for moving the circular lower and upper plate towards each other to a predetermined final distance which corresponds to a desired thickness of a dough disk is provided, as well as a cutting element having a sleeve with a cutting edge for removal of excessive dough emerging radially from an annular space between the circular lower and upper plates, and a moving mechanism for axially moving the sleeve relative to the circular lower and upper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Leonardo Grieco
  • Patent number: 6231330
    Abstract: The invention provides for the manufacture of food products. In one preferred form, methods and apparatus are provided for cutting individual confectionery products from a slab or strip of product material into a product with a particular silhouette. In another form, the invention provides methods and apparatus for both cutting and forming individual confectionery products from strips or ropes. The process can be used for simply forming products from pre-cut segments or other blanks of confectionery material, including imparting a relatively precise texture, finish or detail to such products. The products may, but need not, be subsequently enrobed in chocolate or another coating. In still other embodiments, the confectionery material may comprise grains of a puffed cereal. In some instances, a matrix of plasticizable material holds the grains together and the confectionery material may also include, in addition to the puffed cereal, candied fruit bits, dry fruits, nuts, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
  • Patent number: 6217309
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Kraft Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Chris Jens, Leon Alberto Espinel, Gilbert George Fryklund
  • Patent number: 6213751
    Abstract: A forming plate for a bakery machine is provided having a working surface area on an upper side with an array of forming bowls provided concentrically in circles thereon. The bowls each have a system of concentric annular edges beginning at an outside and extending to a center. From each annular edge there extends, in the direction towards the center, an annular flank oriented perpendicular to the underside of the forming plate. This flank is divided into two sequential annular ramp sections via an intermediate transition zone. The annular ramp section which extends from the annular edge viewed in the direction away from the center has an angle of inclination (&agr;1) which is greater than the angle of inclination (&agr;2) of the immediately following annular ramp section. This achieves an acute-angled, knife-like shaping of the ramp sections which follow on from the annular edge, as well as from a considerable height of the annular edge above the flank base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Karodur-Wirkteller GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Heinz Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6177037
    Abstract: A method of forming a slit in a reseal element having an outer surface defined by a proximal end thereof, a semi-spherical inner surface portion defined by a dome region of the proximal end, and an annular inner surface portion which circumvents the semi-spherical inner surface portion. The method is accomplished through the use of a cutting assembly which includes a locator plate having a locator cavity disposed therein, a cutting core, a support fixture, and a blade member. The method comprises the initial step of inserting the reseal element into the locator cavity of the locator plate. Thereafter, the dome region of the reseal element is pre-stressed by the contact of the support fixture thereagainst, with the blade member then being advanced upwardly through the proximal end of the reseal element to form the slit therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Bruno Franz P. Mayer
  • Patent number: 6159403
    Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing a sealant containing tire tube, which is capable of simply opening a sealant filling hole without use of any specialized jig, and a vulcanizing die therefor. A vulcanizing die includes an upper die, a lower die, and a filling hole opening device. The filling hole opening device includes a linear actuator, a drive shaft, and a cutter. The lower die has a cutter passage which passes through the vulcanizing die from outside to inside, and a cut piece recovery passage which extends from the outside of the vulcanizing die to a portion, near the inner opening end, of the cutter passage. The drive shaft of the linear actuator is inserted in the cutter passage, and the cutter is fixed to one end of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Yamagiwa
  • Patent number: 6098426
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for forming glass article from sheet glass. More specifically the apparatus comprises a mold, a plunger being cooperative alignment with the mold, wherein the mold and the plunger form a cavity exhibiting the shaped of the glass article, an outer trimmer for separating the glass article from the surrounding excess sheet glass, and an inner trimmer for forming the aperture in the glass article, and the method involves forming the aperture during the hot-forming process, therefore eliminating a post-formation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: James G. Anderson, Edwin Q. Giles
  • Patent number: 6074589
    Abstract: A tool for cutting and shaping a lower edge of a profiled unfinished concrete roofing tile manufactured using the extrusion method, having a tool holder, a cutting insert provided with a cutting edge, and a template. To create a tool which has a significantly increased useful life for cutting and shaping an unfinished concrete roofing tile, the invention teaches that the tool holder and the template are realized in one piece in the form of a support body with a recess for the adhesive and positive connection of the cutting insert, that the cutting insert is made of tungsten carbide and is fastened in the recess by means of adhesive, and that the cutting insert is in contact by means of its upper edge with at least one projection of the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Braas GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Rapp, Heinrich Stephan, Frank Wojtalewicz
  • Patent number: 6039907
    Abstract: To postform the region of transition between the initial part and the end part of a section piece forming a closed frame and applied to window glass (1) by extrusion, use is made of a mould (14) which pivots about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the extruded section piece and which is situated in the region of the surface of the window glass (1). The axis of pivoting of the mould (14) coincides with the cutting ridge (15) of a protrusion (16) which limits the calibrated cavity of the mould (14) on the internal face of the extruded section piece. As the mould (14) pivots, the excess polymer material is pushed back in the direction of the periphery of the window glass and beyond this periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Saint Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Helmut Krumm, Florenz Kittel, Rolf Koette, Ralf Motzheim
  • Patent number: 5984656
    Abstract: The forming surface of a forming mold (5) for postforming of a shaped cord (2) in the shape of a frame extruded onto a glass (1) is slightly curved in the direction of the length of shaped cord (2). In the final position of forming mold (4) during the postforming operation, lateral edges (11, 12) are thus slightly above the surface of shaped cord (2). This avoids the creation of imprints in the form of lines or edges on the shaped cord, and a smooth transition is achieved between the postformed length of the shaped cord that attaches there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Florez Kittel, Helmut Krumm
  • Patent number: 5945196
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a screen useful for forming three-dimensional films, the screens and the three-dimensional films produced using those screens are disclosed. In forming a screen, a substrate material is applied to a base. A predetermined amount of portions of the substrate are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the substrate. A screen material is applied to the patterned substrate material. A predetermined amount of portions of the screen material are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the screen material. The predetermined pattern in the screen defines a plurality of first perforations in the screen material. The substrate material is removed from the screen material, such that second perforations are formed in the screen, whereby each first perforation is in communication with an adjacent second perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Tredegar Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Rieker, Edward R. Cook
  • Patent number: 5897887
    Abstract: A machine for the formation of tablets of cosmetic product includes feeding device for a cosmetic product in powder to a movable conveyor belt, so as to form a layer of cosmetic product that is not levelled, levelling means of the layer of cosmetic product that is not levelled, placed downstream from said feeding means of the cosmetic product, to form a layer of levelled cosmetic product, and portioning and compression means of the layer of cosmetic product for the formation of tablets of cosmetic product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Aktiengsellschaft fur Geld- und Kapitalanlagen
    Inventor: Adrian Haeberli
  • Patent number: 5871783
    Abstract: The invention provides for the manufacture of food products. In one preferred form, methods and apparatus are provided for cutting individual confectionery products from a slab or strip of product material into a product with a particular silhouette. In another form, the invention provides methods and apparatus for both cutting and forming individual confectionery products from strips or ropes. The process can be used for simply forming products from pre-cut segments or other blanks of confectionery material, including imparting a relatively precise texture, finish or detail to such products. The products may, but need not, be subsequently enrobed in chocolate or another coating. The confectionery material may also include candied fruit bits, dry fruits, nuts, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
  • Patent number: 5811145
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that can always and continuously cut and discharge a constant amount of bread dough, regardless of its properties, from a mass of bread dough in a hopper. The apparatus is characterized by projections (5,6) mounted on pairs of opposing rotating cutting blades (4,4') disposed in a bottom opening of the hopper (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Morikawa
  • Patent number: 5795521
    Abstract: A moldless method for commercially producing intravenous catheters which are formed with geometrically identical catheter bevels. The method includes positioning an unbeveled catheter mounted on a central cylindrical support between first and second bevel profile blades. Each bevel profile blade has a blade surface in the shape of bevels to be imparted to the surface of the catheter, including a relatively steep bevel angle blade surface at the distal end of the catheter, which is the end to be inserted into a patient, and an adjacent relatively shallow bevel angle blade surface. The blade surfaces of the first and second bevel profile blades are positioned on opposite sides of the unbeveled catheter along a first axis. The first and second bevel profile blades are heated, and are translated in opposite directions towards the unbeveled catheter along a second axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Julien C. Mathieu
  • Patent number: 5720991
    Abstract: A device to form different shaped raviolis includes multiple uniquely outlined cutting and crimping ribs, surrounding finger ejection holes, and an extrusion die plate hand support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventors: Janet Gildersleeve, Ronald M. Popeil, Alan L. Backus
  • Patent number: 5681605
    Abstract: A pretzel stick having a hollow portion along a longitudinal center is prepared by baking a material which consists essentially of 100 parts by weight of grain flour, 5-50 parts by weight of saccharides, 5-60 parts by weight of oils and fats, and 0-60 parts by weight of starch. The preparation process of the pretzel stick comprises the steps of preparing the material, extruding the material through a ring nozzle so that the extruded material has a cylindrical shape with a hollow portion along the longitudinal center thereof, baking the extruded material, cutting the baked material to a constant length, and injecting a filling material having an adjusted viscosity into the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Lotte Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Takemori, Toshinobu Tsurumi, Masahiro Takagi, Shunichi Terasaki
  • Patent number: 5676982
    Abstract: A lozenge candy cutting machine includes a drum with an array of cutter elements thereon that engage on dough web conveyed to the drum. A row of cutters cuts lozenges from the dough web. Each cutter element has an ejector that discharges the lozenge after cut and while the next group of cutters is already cutting another group of lozenges from the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventors: Reinhardt W. Duchow, Carl E. Eyman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5643617
    Abstract: The invention provides and apparatus for scaling and molding dough which comprises a hopper for the dough and a scaling and molding station which is in flow communication with the hopper so that a portion of the dough can be moved from the hopper to the scaling and molding station. The scaling and molding station has at least one aperture forming assembly at its exit which operates to mold the dough portion by rolling it along its internal walls and to pinch off and eject a dough piece from the apparatus. Preferably, the scaling and molding station has a plurality of stacked aperture forming assemblies which function sequentially. The apparatus may be configured to produce several molded dough pieces simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: Gunther Burtscher
  • Patent number: 5549467
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a batch of dough includes a housing that supports a conveyor, a press, and a cutter. The apparatus further includes a drive motor for the conveyor and press. Upon the placement of a batch of dough on the conveyor, the conveyor feeds the batch of dough to the press. The press squeezes the batch of dough against the conveyor to compress it into a thin flat sheet. After the batch of dough has been compressed, the conveyor feeds the flat thin flat sheet to the cutter. The cutter includes an elliptically shaped cutting edge so that, as the flat thin sheet of dough passes underneath the cutter, the cutter cuts ellipses of dough for delivery to a baking device. The motor forms part of a chain drive system that drives the conveyor in an endless loop and, further, drives the press to compress the batch of dough into the thin flat sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventor: George A. Schultz
  • Patent number: 5499914
    Abstract: A kit and method for forming a decorative, three-dimensional object in which a die or template initially forms a two-dimensional sheet of material, following which the sheet, which is larger in size than the size of a three-dimensional mold, is placed in the three-dimensional mold. The material thereafter hardens to form a three-dimensional member such as a pastry shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Inventor: Pamela J. Rist
  • Patent number: 5498148
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a sheet of material, e.g., dough or masa, from a supply of the material includes a pair of rotatable rollers that define therebetween a gap into which is input a dough mass and out of which is produced a dough sheet. Fluctuations in the size of the roller gap are sensed by detecting changes in the position of one of the rollers, which changes are input to a servo system that automatically corrects the position of the one roller so as to maintain the proper gap size. The one roller is movably mounted in scissor-like fashion and is easily driven by a servo motor. A cutter is provided which presses against one of the rollers to cut individual dough portions from the sheet. The ends of the cutter are subjected to a bending moment which induces a camber in the cutter. This prevents the central portion of the cutter from bowing away from the roller and ensures uniform pressure between the cutter and roller, even for applications with an extremely long cutter and rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Ouellette, Carolyn E. Broyles, Barry F. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5498381
    Abstract: Methods for forming a strip of thermoplastic material by punch clamping are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Milsco Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James R. Lorbiecki, Susan J. Lutz
  • Patent number: 5498433
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a sheet of material from a supply of the material includes a pair of rotatable rolls that define a gap which forms the material into a sheet. The size of the roll gap is maintained constant during the sheeting operation despite forces exerted on the apparatus caused by inconsistencies in the material being sheeted. The apparatus has a force-applying mechanism which applies a selected amount of force against one of the rolls to bias the one roll toward the other roll, the amount of force being sufficient to overcome any force exerted on the apparatus by the material during sheeting, which forces would otherwise result in variations in the size of the roll gap and the thickness of the resulting product. The one roll is movably mounted in scissor-like fashion and is acted on by the force-applying mechanism in a direction which biases the one roll against the other roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward L. Ouellette
  • Patent number: 5472654
    Abstract: A manually operable device that is used to cut a synthetic material and also singe the end of this newly cut material to prevent it from unravelling. This tool incorporates a separate crimping assembly, cutting assembly, and burning assembly for each of these steps. The crimping assembly holds the material in place during the cutting and burning stages and also aids in fusing the melted ends of the material into a uniform mass. The cutting assembly cuts the material where desired, trims any stray fibers from the cut and/or fused end, and also removes any excess burn from this fused end. The burning assembly, connected to a reservoir, burns a flammable fluid so as to burn or singe the material placed thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Margaret A. Crawford
  • Patent number: 5435956
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for degating an injection mold high aspect ratio injection mold plastic article includes a pair of spring biased mold inserts locatable against opposed sides of a runner following initial mold opening movement and wherein one of the pair of mold inserts has a cutting edge and a first operative position engageable with the part following solidification thereof for supporting the part within the mold along an edge portion thereof that is joined to the runner; and wherein the other of the pair of mold inserts has a cutting edge that cooperates with the cutting edge of the one mold insert following mold opening to cut the runner from the part during the ejection of the solidified part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Textron Acustar Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold F. McCrory
  • Patent number: 5409367
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting a sheet of dough and delivering a cut dough portion to a surface of a pan. A cutting ring having a cutting edge is positioned on an upper surface of a pan. A sheet of dough above at least a surface of the pan is pressed against the upper cutting edge to fall onto the dough receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Lewandowski, James R. Evans, Randall D. Jessup
  • Patent number: 5388390
    Abstract: A dough cutting and packing apparatus for cutting a sheet of dough into dough pieces and transferring the dough pieces to containers. A cutting unit is defined by a plurality of cutting plates having dough retaining openings. The sheet of dough is partially sheeted into the dough retaining openings by an initial compressor roll which is spaced from an upper surface of the cutting plates. A terminal compressor roll contacts the upper surface of the cutting plates, and acts to sheet a remaining portion of the dough sheet into the dough retaining openings to divide the dough sheet into a plurality of dough pieces retained in the openings. The initial compressor roll is driven at a peripheral rate of speed that exceeds an instantaneous liner rate of speed of the cutting unit. The terminal compressor roll is frictionally driven via contact with the cutting plates such that a peripheral rate of speed of the terminal compressor matches the linear rate of speed of the cutting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: James W. Finkowski, William L. Murphy, Steven K. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5388489
    Abstract: A dough-processing system for dividing a dough sheet into multiple separate portions and transporting each portion in a predetermined direction. A rotary cutter, having a multiplicity of cutting dies affixed thereon, divides the dough sheet. The cutting dies have an exterior peripheral cutting edge for cutting the linear dough sheet into two or more linear portions for further processing on standard conveyor systems and an interior peripheral cutting edge for cutting an interior portion from the snack-piece dough. The rotary cutter includes an internal helical auger rigidly affixed to an external cylindrical mandrill having first and second ends and having a multiplicity of cutting dies affixed thereon. The rotary cutter has an ever-increasing diameter funnel path for transporting the interior cut portion of the snack-piece dough into the interior of the rotary cutter and thereupon the helical auger transports it out to the side of the rotary cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Miles J. Willard
    Inventor: Kyle E. Dayley
  • Patent number: 5370516
    Abstract: A machine for the production of seating components having a plurality of movable press centers which are moved about by a track to a plurality of workstations where different manufacturing operations are performed. The track is equipped with transfer capability to selectively bypass one or more of the workstations to enable different components to be made simultaneously using different methods. The track can further move a press center off line for repair without interrupting the operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Brunsman, Eric Klebba, Lawrence J. Riley, Michael N. Walkowski
  • Patent number: 5342188
    Abstract: A device (10) for crimping and cutting dough ropes into pillow-shaped longitudinal lengths is disclosed including a cutting roller (12) and an anvil roller (14). The peripheries (22, 24) of the rollers (12, 14) include a plurality of axially extending, spaced, parallel, linearly straight lands (26, 30) separating, forming, and defining a plurality of grooves (28, 32) therebetween. Compressible tubes (46) are stretched between end plates (36) located on the opposite axial ends of the cutter roller (12) and positioned in each of the grooves (32) thereof. The tubes (46) are compressed in the grooves (32) by the dough ropes as they are being crimped and cut by the abutment of the lands (26, 30) of the rollers (12, 14) together and expand and force the pillow-shaped longitudinal lengths of dough from the grooves (32) when the lands (26, 30) of the rollers (12, 14) separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 5340298
    Abstract: A divider assembly for removable attachment to a dividing and rounding machine, the assembly including a divider blade formed into a circular geometric pattern, with relatively movable plugs fitted into the openings of the geometric pattern, the blade being affixed to a divider plate having openings and the plugs projecting through the openings. The top ends of the plugs are fitted through a plug plate and have reduced diameter shanks for engagement into keyhole-shaped openings in a lock plate. Two knobs are threadable into the respective plates to hold the entire assembly together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Dutchess Bakers' Machinery Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Beatty, Jeffery A. Nyquist, Kenneth Ropp
  • Patent number: 5306133
    Abstract: A dough-processing system for dividing a dough sheet into multiple separate portions and transporting each portion in a predetermined direction. A rotary cutter, having a multiplicity of cutting dies affixed thereon, divides the dough sheet. The cutting dies have an exterior peripheral cutting edge for cutting the linear dough sheet into two or more linear portions for further processing on standard conveyor systems and an interior peripheral cutting edge for cutting an interior portion from the snack-piece dough. The rotary cutter includes an internal helical auger rigidly affixed to an external cylindrical mandrill having first and second ends and having a multiplicity of cutting dies affixed thereon. The rotary cutter has an ever-increasing diameter funnel path for transporting the interior cut portion of the snack-piece dough into the interior of the rotary cutter and thereupon the helical auger transports it out to the side of the rotary cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Miles J. Willard
    Inventor: Kyle E. Dayley
  • Patent number: 5259750
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a sheet of dough and delivering a cut dough portion to a surface of a pan. A cutting ring having a cutting edge is positioned on an upper surface of a pan. A sheet of dough above at least a surface of the pan is pressed against the upper cutting edge to fall onto the dough receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Lewandowski, James R. Evans, Randall D. Jessup
  • Patent number: 5240401
    Abstract: A machine for producing lollipops 3 having a rotatable die ring 6 with radial press rooms 11 into which cut sugar pieces 1 are fed from inside the die ring and from which the completed lollipops 3 are discharged outwardly, with assistance of centrifugal force. Pivotal flaps 16 are provided to prevent escape of the cut sugar pieces from the cavities of movable shear blades 7 after the cut sugar pieces have been successively fed into the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Inventor: Hendricus A. J. M. Derckx
  • Patent number: 5204125
    Abstract: A dough-based product is formed by a machine which has a reciprocable punch die and cutter fitted to the die positioned above an upper run of a conveyor, the die having a centrally disposed die surface which extends to a peripheral die surface channel positioned adjacent the cutter. The machine also has at least one set of a plurality of rollers, which are positioned beneath the conveyor upper run and arranged on a rotatable disc so that the at least one set forms a spiral configuration so that when the punch die reciprocates towards a dough product transported by the upper run, the dough product is pressed, formed and cut by the punch die and cutter, in cooperation with the rollers, into pieces having a thickened rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Hans K. Larsen
  • Patent number: 5173234
    Abstract: According to the invention, calibrated rings are obtained by superficially vulcanizing extruded or profiled extrudate at the exit of an extrusion head (T), then by cutting this vulcanized extrudate into portions by means of a conical cutting device (C), subsequently by butting the two ends, in the respective form of a conical tip and a funnel, of each portion (t) together under hot conditions and under a controlled pressure, in order to obtain a ring blank which is then engaged between the half-cavities of a mold (Mo), where it undergoes shaping and vulcanization by the heating of the latter and thereafter deburring as a result of a shearing action produced by a push device (D) causing the half-cavities to slide in the closed position in the frame of the mold, before causing the opening of the latter by means of a device (G) and the release of the calibrated and superficially clean ring obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Eropol Finance et Developpement
    Inventor: Blaise F. Figuereo
  • Patent number: 5145690
    Abstract: The meat duct (6) is equipped with a gate (17) to cut the meat supply at intervals and with a plate (14) to regulate the passage of the meat (7). The sheet material paper rolls (9, 10) to wrap the hamburger have respective inertial brakes (26) and sensors (25) which, when the paper runs out, touch the core (23) of the roll and stop the machine. One of the paper strips bears a series of marks (20) which, as they pass through the cell (21), cause the pressing die mechanism (11) to operate. In addition, there is a rod (40) which separates the chopped meat end contiguous to the hamburger, and another rod (41) which, when it ascends due to an obstruction, touches a microswitch and stops the machine. The paper scraps left over are driven by a pneumatic system (35) to a container (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Industrias Gaser, S.L.
    Inventor: Narcis G. Riubrugent
  • Patent number: 5092208
    Abstract: A hot knife assembly for cutting excess organic polymeric material from a thermal forming mold includes a blade-like knife in the form of a thin flat plate having an inner edge connected to a heater and an outer edge with a cutting surface thereon. The thin flat plate has two flat surfaces substantially encapsulated by a refractory wedge. The refractory wedge in formed silicone material and extends coextensive and adjacent the blade-like knife for preventing stringing or re-welding of the cut material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Roberto Rosa-Miranda
  • Patent number: 5085571
    Abstract: A mold for forming a container from a sheet of deformable material has upper and lower mold parts with die surfaces in conforming relation to one another. Upper and lower keys, each having a shear surface, are mounted in said upper and lower mold parts, respectively, so that the shear surfaces confront each other to form an opening in the container as the mold parts close. At least one of said keys is mounted so that its shear surface pivots on a plane normal to the motion of the closure of the mold parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Dolco Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne Congleton
  • Patent number: 5063839
    Abstract: A cutting die includes a plurality of cutters arranged for cutting an ordered array of different size dough pieces from a sheet of dough. The dough pieces are cut from the sheet such that the array of different size dough pieces has a substantially uniform weight distribution throughout its length and width such that all of dough pieces can be uniformly baked. The cutting die includes a plurality of cutters arranged in a set of two parallel subsets of different size cutters arranged in descending order by size. The set of cutters are arranged in series to form a repeating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Nabisco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. McFeaters, Daniel A. Koppa, Theodore P. Babiak
  • Patent number: 5028228
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a dental root canal filling point is provided, wherein provision is made of a rotary member having its outer processing surface in the form of a curved plane in parallel with its axial direction and adapted to be rotated at a predetermined speed and a moving member in which at least its processing surface is located in parallel with the processing surface of the rotary member and adapted to move at a speed substantially identical with a peripheral speed of the rotary member in the same direction as the rotational direction of the rotary member in a gap portion in which a minimum distance is defined between the processing surfaces of the rotary member and moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignees: G-C Dental Industrial Corp., Nimikagakukogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Ubukata, Hisao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 5022843
    Abstract: Pyrohy makers usually comprise ordinary stamp out plastic molds or multiple molds, both of which often present difficulties in sealing the pyrohies and/or releasing same from the molds. Alternatively they include two or more moveable pieces which are expensive to produce and often difficult or awkward to operate. The present device is a circular cut out device with a depending outer rim which both cuts out and seals in one operation. It is designed to use on a sheet of dough upon which the filling is placed and the edge of the dough is then flipped over the filling whereupon part of the mold is engaged over the flipped portion to cut and seal the pyrohy in a substantially semi-circular configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: 303576 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventor: Loretta Secondiak