Abstract: A method for manufacturing a food product includes depositing a first foodstuff; transporting the first foodstuff in a first driven direction; depositing a second foodstuff upon a portion of an upper surface of the first foodstuff; transporting the first foodstuff with the second foodstuff deposited thereupon in the first driven direction; separating the first foodstuff with the second foodstuff metered thereupon into a plurality of sheet segments; serially transporting each sheet segment of the plurality of sheet segments from the first driven direction to a second driven direction that is transverse to the first driven direction; compressing the serially transported sheet segments for forming a plurality of thickness segments including the first foodstuff and the second foodstuff that define an elongated, food product body; separating the elongated, food product body into a plurality of food product body units; and finishing the plurality of food product body units.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to press systems and methods for forming pliable material, such as dough, into a specifically-designed shape for allowing hand-stretching of the pliable material after pressed by the press system. In some examples, the press system may be manually operated, automatically or hydraulically assisted, and/or mechanically assisted. The press assembly of the press systems disclosed herein may include a press mold having a contoured or multifaceted shape designed to form a finished dough, such as a pizza crust, having a thicker central portion, a relatively thinned intermediate portion, and a thicker edge portion at a perimeter of the pizza crust.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for pressing at least one dough part, such as a croissant, comprising a conveyor, for conveying dough parts in a direction of movement; at least one press stamp, arranged movable with at least a component in a direction towards a surface of the conveyor for pressing the dough part and wherein the press stamp is further arranged movable with at least a component in the direction of movement of the dough part.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Abstract: A low cost vented hand operable food embosser/debosser for food items is used to emboss messages and/or decorative patterns on a variety of food items such as pizza dough or even ice cream. It can also be used on non-food items such as soap or wax. The message image member of the stamper is vented, with a hollow venting chimney above each image for venting excess food product away from the food product bearing the image. In addition the images are surrounded by a suppressing wall suppressing food product from being inadvertently squashed too much The venting chimneys above each letter are preferably curved, and the images are sharp at the edges with pointy tipped letters/images.

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.

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: The invention provides a method of forming an edible item. The method includes the step of forming dough into a substantially planar ribbon having a first height. The dough is at least partially elastic. The method also includes the step of permanently displacing a portion of the at least partially elastic ribbon to a second height greater than the first height with a cutting die. The inventive method can produce a cracker formed from sheetable dough. The inventive cracker includes a first portion of planar configuration and a second portion integrally formed with and raised from said first portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for marking, imprinting or applying a pattern, design or mark to a plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from a sheet of food product is described. In one aspect of the invention, a method may include the steps of supplying a sheet of food product, marking the plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from the sheet of food product, and dividing, at least partially, the individual pieces of food product from the sheet of food product. In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus may generally include a support frame, a cutting plate, and a marking head. The cutting plate preferably includes a plurality of cutting openings and an engagement surface capable of supporting and positioning a sheet of food product. The cutting openings preferably correspond to a plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from the sheet of food product.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for producing portions of food products in pieces, especially chunks of fresh meat, comprising at least one pump capable of outputting an approximately constant flow rate of food product in pieces, a tubular distributing pipe (2) connected to the delivery outlet of said pump, and comprising at least one delivery opening (22a, 22b), and cutting and shaping means (61) acting on the food product distributed by the outlet opening of the pipe to form portions (P1), said tubular pipe being equipped with a cutting system (3) comprising at least one cutting means, such as a flat oscillating blade (310a, 310b1 320a, 320b, 410), which traverses transversely from one side to the other of said main internal passageway in order to cut the food product into at least two layers and so produce textured portions (P1) of food products.

Abstract: Methods and equipment for forming beveled edge(s) around the core opening in a concrete block are disclosed. The formation of the beveled edge(s) minimizes feathering along the block edges that are beveled as the block is stripped from a mold. Any feathering that does occur is shifted away from the bottom surface of the block to allow the block to lay flat on other blocks when dry stacked in a wall.

Abstract: A card embossing system for embossing information onto a sheet of material prior to cutting individual cards from the sheet is disclosed. Information is embossed onto the sheet in a pattern of rows and columns. Information on adjacent columns is offset relative to one another. When individual cards are cut from the sheet, they are collected in a receiving tray having a plurality of cells arranged in a pattern of rows and columns such that adjacently stacked cards have embossing which is offset from one another. This prevents nesting of cards and allows for improved feeding from a hopper into a machine for further processing, such as printing or embossing individualized information on each card.

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.

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 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.

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 machining apparatus for forming and cutting workpieces that can prevent the blade thereon from damages. The machining can also precisely form desired patterns on the workpiece and cut the workpiece to desired shape. The machining apparatus contains: a hydraulic cylinder having a stretchable rod at an upper end, means for adjusting a altitude of the hydraulic cylinder, which is engaged with the hydraulic cylinder at a lower portion thereof and means for restraining the hydraulic cylinder can move only vertically. For each operation the stretchable rod will extend to its full extension. Therefore there is no need to adjust the stretching distance for different workpieces. To avoid the damage of the mold blades by over-pressing the blades, a user can use the means for adjusting an altitude of the hydraulic cylinder to adjust the altitude of the hydraulic cylinder.

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).

Abstract: Complementary roof tiles for a staggered roof tile layout are provided by: (i) extruding and conveying a composite ribbon; (ii) demarcating the composite ribbon into an alternating succession of a first roof tile type and a second roof tile type by engaging the composite ribbon with an upstream cutting blade and a downstream cutting blade, such that each roof tile type is demarcated at an upstream tile edge by one of the cutting blades and at a downstream tile edge by the other of the cutting blades, and such that a selected one of the roof tile types includes a pair of cut-out portions demarcated along one of the upstream and downstream tile edges on opposite ones of the ribbon side edges; (iii) separating the succession of demarcated roof tile types into distinct roof tiles; and (v) curing the distinct roof tiles to form a set of cured roof tiles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming microstructures in the surface of polymeric web materials for use as optical memory substrates. The microstructures may be formed by laminating a hot stamper to a web of material with a selective time/temperature profile. The stamper may be heated to melt flow the surface of the web and stabilize before separation. The stamper may be carried by a support that is independent of the press. The web of polymeric material may be provided with a flow enhancer to improve image formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting an expanded graphite sheet comprises (a) urging at least one cutting tool against the sheet, the cutting tool having at least one ridge extending therefrom, the ridge comprising a substantially tapered cross-section having sloping sides and an edge surface; (b) displacing at least a portion of the material comprising the sheet as the ridge is urged against the sheet; and (c) compressing a region of the sheet in contact with the at least one ridge so that the density of the region at least reaches the breaking density of the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for smoothing out the surface weight distribution of one or multilayer mats containing lignocellulose and/or cellulose with a binding agent dispersed therein for manufacturing of shaped articles, in particular in the form of wood chipboard, wood fiberboard or the like, wherein at least one vertically adjustable reverse brushing unit which extends over the width of the web is associated with a mat carrier which is fed via at least one scattering head. This apparatus is characterized, above all, by the reverse brushing unit comprising at least one vertically adjustable brushing roller having flexible bristles of a plastic material such as polypropylene, Teflon or the like which cooperates with a cleaning brush or a cleaning strip.

Abstract: A method of forming consumer portions from a block of frozen foodstuff is described, in which similarly sized sections of the frozen block are removed by severing for shaping into the differently shaped consumer portions under pressure between tooling of a forming press. Each section is of a similar size and volume so that when the press is operated the severed section is formed into a consumer portion of known volume. Each consumer portion is ejected for further processing after the tooling separates. The surface of each severed section of frozen foodstuff is wetted with a liquid (typically water) just before the pressing operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of forming a multi-layer pad of a non-woven fiber batt and a foam layer having conforming convoluted surfaces and to a multi-layer pad incorporating a non-woven fiber batt and foam layer. The process of forming a non-woven batt layer and a foam layer having conforming convoluted surfaces comprises transporting each layer along its longitudinal dimension while compressing each layer along its lateral dimension. Concomitantly with compression, each layer is cut transversely along its lateral dimension to separate each layer into an upper segment and a lower segment and to provide conforming convoluted surfaces on the segments of each layer, the convoluted surfaces comprised of upstanding projections and depressions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making insignias with a raised design is capable of providing more aesthetic appearance to the insignias thus made. A base material consisting of a base sheet and a surface sheet overlaying the base sheet is prepared for making into an insignia. The base material is coating with a surface coating of decorative material. A bottom mold and an upper mold are used to press the base material to form raised design of patterns. The bottom and upper molds are coupled to a composite heating device including high-frequency induction and electric heating means for applying both high-frequency induction heat and electric heat to the base material while the upper molding is being pressed against the bottom mold. The upper mold is formed with a plurality of edge-defining blades for cutting an edge for the insignia, a plurality of pattern-defining blades for forming a pre-designed pattern on the insignia.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making insignias with a raised design is capable of providing more aesthetic appearance to the insignias thus made. A base material consisting of a base sheet and a surface sheet overlaying the base sheet is prepared for making into an insignia. The base material is coating with a surface coating of decorative material. A bottom mold and an upper mold are used to press the base material to form raised design of patterns. The bottom and upper molds are coupled to a composite heating device including high-frequency induction and electric heating means for applying both high-frequency induction heat and electric heat to the base material while the upper molding is being pressed against the bottom mold. The upper mold is formed with a plurality of edge-defining blades for cutting an edge for the insignia, a plurality of pattern-defining blades for forming a pre-designed pattern on the insignia.

Abstract: Synthetic foam compressed between a pattern roller and a smooth compression roller is driven against a cutting edge closely adjacent and tangent to the pattern surface but spaced from the compression roller to reproduce a three dimensional pattern roller surface on the foam sheet. Three dimensional patterns of arbitrary geometries including sharp edged, flat surfaced geometric solids can be reproduced on a foam surface.

Abstract: Tooling for facing a wall includes a plurality of cavities which are formed by four blades, each of the cavities corresponding to various brick sizes. Six lines of interconnected cavities are attached to a cross beam. Adjacent cavities and lines are spaced from another by a predetermined dimension. Unset settable building material is mixed with appropriate colouring and waterproofing agent and is applied to a wall to form an outer layer. The surface thereof is sponged to produce a brick like surface relief. The tooling is pressed into the outer layer to impress a pattern resembling brickwork. Unset material is sucked from the joint line space between adjacent cavities and the layer is allowed to set. Then, mortar is added to the joint line. Once the mortar has set, the final outer layer has a true brick finish that resembles a real brick wall. The unset settable material can be applied to damaged or wood walls so that a true brick finish can be given to a wall in a quick, simple and cost effective manner.

Abstract: A continuous rotary method for surface shaping of resilient material such as synthetic foam. Three dimensional surface geometries of well defined and arbitrary shapes are obtained by pressing foam against a die roller to compress some foam portions to a reduced thickness against raised portions of the die and extrude other foam portions into depressions of the die, and cutting away the extruded portions. The compressed portions return to an uncompressed state after passage against the die roller and form raised areas on the foam surface around depressions corresponding to the cut away portions of foam.

Abstract: An iris dilator includes a body formed of an expansile material being expandable from a dehydrated first size and shape to a hydrated second size and shape. When hydrated, the dilator has a shape complementary to an inside diameter of the iris and a size sufficient to dilate the iris. In addition, a mammalian iris may be dilated by inserting the at least partially dehydrated iris dilator described above into a position radially inwardly from the iris where, in the presence of bodily or surgical fluids, the dilator hydrates and expands to engage and dilate the iris. An apparatus for deforming the dilator to facilitate insertion in use includes top and bottom surfaces which engage top and bottom sides of the dilator, respectively, at least one depression member for forming a depressed area on an edge of the dilator and at least one retainer member for retaining a non-depressed area on the edge of the dilator.

Abstract: A distinctive method for contouring a fibrous web includes the steps of (a) providing a fibrous web which defines an interconnected series of appointed article segments along a length dimension of said web, and (b) conveying said web at a selected speed along an appointed machine direction. The method also includes the step of (c) removing predetermined quantities of fibers from selected regions of said fibrous web with a moving, outer peripheral scarfing surface, which is movable along a selected movement direction. The scarfing surface is constructed to provide each of the article segments with a selected contoured basis weight which varies along the length dimension of said segment in a selected correspondence with a predetermined scarfing pattern. The scarfing pattern is provided by the outer peripheral scarfing surface and is variably patterned along the movement direction of the scarfing surface.

Abstract: A process for the production of a gasket is described, in which at least on one side and at least on all bearing points in the use case a three-dimensional sealing surface complimentary to the deflection of the surfaces to be sealed is permanently shaped prior to assembly, as well as a tool for performing the process. An assembly pattern is produced in such a way that a plastically deformable material is fixed between the surfaces to be sealed. A negative copy or form of the assembly pattern is produced on the circumferential surface and the gasket is produced accompanied by the rolling of the stamping roller.

Abstract: Webs are provided with edge knurls whose effective height varies along the length of the web in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a device which can form a lid for a cup. This apparatus is for thermoforming a plastic sheet of material into a plurality of production sheets. Each sheet has a partible port section, which has integrity against passage of fluid, yet which is partible under mechanical pressure so as to open and allow the passage of fluids. The lid structure with a breakaway port is formed by an apparatus including an oven for heating the production piece, mold assembly that has a mold formed as a female cavity with a plurality of grooves formed around the cavity surface and a pressure box assembly that has an open position and a closed position. The breakaway port in the lid structure is formed as a female cavity with accordion-like grooves therearound which expand to engage the outside of the straw. This eliminates escape of the fluid through the breakaway port when the straw is inserted.

Abstract: A device for cutting and engaging a doughy material having a deformable consistency, forming a material, transferring the shape from a first location to a second location and disengaging the shape. The device includes a cutting edge carried by a housing for cutting an outline of the shape, a plunger for positively engaging a cut surface of the material to aid in transferring the material from a first location to a second location, recesses and raised shapes located on the plunger for imprinting an exposed surface of the material and aiding in engaging the material, and a handle connected to the plunger for manually actuating the device.

Abstract: A distinctive apparatus for contouring a fibrous web includes a supplying mechanism for providing a fibrous web which defines an interconnected series of appointed article segments along a length dimension of the web. A conveying mechanism moves the web at a selected speed along an appointed machine direction. A scarfing mechanism removes predetermined quantities of fibers from selected regions of the fibrous web. The scarfing mechanism is constructed to provide each of the article segments with a selected contoured basis weight which varies at least along the length dimension of the segment in a selected correspondence with a predetermined scarfing pattern. The scarfing pattern is provided by an outer peripheral surface of the scarfing mechanism, and the pattern is configured to have a selected variation at least along a movement direction of the scarfing mechanism.

Abstract: A cutting and forming device for an apparatus for making buns has a base plate, a rotary annular disc and of die pieces combined under the rotary annular disc and on the base plate such that they can be moved by an operating mechanism, to have their front cutting tips gather closely together or retract thus cutting and forming dough into buns.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing molding members, for instance for automobiles, wherein an elongate shaped body is prepared from synthetic resin material either by an extrusion process, or by an injection process and is subjected to a controlled heating so as to soften the interior resin material while preserving the hardness of the outer surface portion. A cutter blade is advanced into the shaped body while it is subjected to the controlled heating, whereby the outer surface portion is urged and deformed inwardly to form a smooth end surface in continuous connection with remaining outer surface of the molding member.

Abstract: An arcuate mold element for use in a rotary dough molder having a plurality of depressions with perimeters defining the outlines of foodstuffs. The bottoms of each of the depressions having an arcuate surface with at least one raised ridge which lies entirely within the depression.

Abstract: In the production of ceramic plates, the wet uncured extruded clay substrate is cut into plate shaped pieces by vertically reciprocating punching knives disposed about at least a portion of a plate shaped area. A pressure plate is mounted within the punching knives and vertically movable against spring forces therewithin so as to maintain downward pressure against the substrate material during the plate cutting operation. Chamfered plate edges are formed by special chamfering knives adjustably mounted at the edge of the pressure plate. The chamfering knives depend from the pressure plate and extend outwardly into contact with and inside wall surface of the punching knives so as to avoid undesirable burrs at the plate edge and also to permit convenient adjustment of the chamfering knives to compensate for wear.

Abstract: A roof tile (9) having contoured interlocking regions (20) along its side edges is provided with a plurality of relatively shallow closely spaced, longitudinally extending grooves on its upper surface (19) and optionally upwardly extending grooves on its lower end face (21). An improved appearance on a roof is obtained, and through the provision of dark brown streaks on a light brown base a roof tile may be given a wooden appearance. In a process and apparatus for the manufacture of such tiles, a slipper compressing tile forming material is provided with closely spaced ridges which form the grooves on the tiles.

Abstract: An apparatus for making buns has a bun forming unit which includes a housing receiving a rotatable plate having a central circular opening, and die pieces of elongate shape provided on the plate substantially in a radial direction. The die pieces are pivoted at their intermediate portions to the top inner side of the housing, and engage at their outer ends with the plate. The inner portions of the die pieces extend into the opening of the plate and each of them are provided with a cutting edge and a forming face at their inner tapered end. The die pieces can move to and from a forming position upon an intermittent motion of the plate within a limited angle.