Abstract: An additive manufacturing system is disclosed. The additive manufacturing system may include a plate having a plurality of print heads arranged in a grid and each configured to discharge a curable material, and at least one shuttle having a plurality of print heads arranged in a row and each configured to discharge a curable material. The additive manufacturing system may also include at least one cure enhancer associated with at least one of the plate and the at least one shuttle. The at least one cure enhancer may be configured to cure the curable material as the curable material is being discharged. The additive manufacturing system may further include at least one actuator configured to move at least one of the plate and the at least one shuttle during discharge of the curable material.

Abstract: A method and a system for manufacturing a mold for creation of complex objects by controlling and moving two end effectors of a robotic system is provided. The two end effectors have a flexible cutting element attached to, and extending between, the two end effectors. The method includes the steps of: defining at least one surface representing the inner surface of the mold; dividing the surface into a number of segments represented by planar curves on the surface; for each planar curve, calculating at least one elastic curve representing the planar curve; for each calculated elastic curve, calculating a set of data corresponding to placement and direction of the two end effectors for configuring the flexible cutting element to a shape corresponding to the calculated elastic curve; and sequentially positioning the end effectors according to each set of data. The flexible cutting element thereby cuts the mold from a block.

Abstract: An automated system and method for manufacturing a cone-shaped food product holder requires the coordinated use of a forming unit, a conveyor unit and a control unit. In their combination, the forming unit rotates a conically-shaped bake form at a constant angular velocity ?. Simultaneously, the conveyor unit advances a bread dough strip on a conveyor belt at a constant linear velocity v, for deposit of the bread dough strip onto the bake form. In order to account for the conical configuration of the bake form, the actions of the forming unit and the conveyor unit are coordinated by the control unit. Specifically, the control unit moves the conveyor unit with a predetermined rotation relative to the forming unit to form the food product holder on the forming unit for subsequent baking.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a food product folding apparatus for forming a triangular food product, generally including a folding section, and first, second, third and fourth actuator mechanisms. The folding section includes, first, second, third and fourth folding platforms. The first, second, third and fourth actuator mechanisms are configured to actuate rotation of respective first, second, third and fourth folding platforms into first, second, third and fourth fold positions to create first, second, third and fourth folds in the food product.

Abstract: An apparatus for the knotting of a dough strand into a desired form, particularly for the knotting of a dough strand into a pretzel form, wherein the dough strand subject to stretching of the dough strand length is knotted around a form element that provides the desired form for a dough strand with larger starting length than the actual length of the dough strand and/or the desired form with an increased form size, whereupon the form element that establishes the desired form is removed, at least partially, so that the dough strand that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for twisting elongated dough strips, comprising at least one pair of grippers, each arranged for gripping and respectively releasing one short side of a dough strip, and means for mutually rotating the grippers around an axis of rotation. In an embodiment, the device comprises a first conveyor for supplying dough strips oriented with their long sides perpendicular to the direction of conveyance wherein the width of the first conveyor is chosen smaller than the long sides of the dough strips so that the short sides of a dough strip protrude from the first conveyor, and a second conveyor for carrying off the twisted dough strips. The invention further provides a method for twisting an elongated dough strip.

Abstract: Apparatus for looping raw dough products, in particular strands of dough preshaped to produce pretzels, comprises a device for supplying the raw dough products—e.g. a conveyor—and a loop-forming device for looping the raw dough products, in order to produce pretzel-shaped raw dough products. This device comprises sensors for detecting the ends of the raw dough products for the purpose of controlling gripping devices of the loop-forming device. The sensors for detecting the ends of the raw dough products are designed as thermal imaging sensors.

Abstract: A food dough forming apparatus for joining together a first end face of a rod-shaped food dough and a second end face of another rod-shaped food dough, the apparatus including: deforming and facing means for deforming the food doughs so as to cause the first end face and the second end face to face each other; and joining means for joining together the end faces caused to face each other by the deforming and facing means.

Abstract: Methods and systems of forming barbed sutures from blown films are provided. A method for forming a barbed suture includes providing a blown film, cutting slits into an outer edge of the blown film, and twisting the blown film such that the slits protrude from the twisted blown film to form a barbed suture. A system for forming a barbed suture includes a set of heating rollers configured for stiffening an outer edge of a blown film, a set of cutting rollers configured for forming slits in the outer edge, a set of twisting rollers configured for twisting the blown film into a suture, and a heat source to set the suture.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a rotary drive nozzle die machine for use with at least first and second dough extruders. The machine includes at least one rotatable nozzle having at least two openings for extruding at least two strands of dough therethrough, a first compression head for directing a first flow of a first type of dough under pressure from the first extruder toward the at least one rotatable nozzle and a second compression head for directing a second flow of a second type of dough under pressure from the second extruder toward the at least one rotatable nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the automated production of knotted dough products, in particular pretzels. Said device comprises: a shaping table (2) for horizontally supporting a U-shaped bent dough strand (46); a shaping tool (6) that can be activated to vertically support the U-shaped bent dough strand (46), the shaping table (2) and activated shaping tool (6) forming a common stop for the U-shaped bent strand (46); and a knotting head (9) for seizing the ends of the dough strand and for knotting said strand (46). According to the invention, the knotting head (9) can be displaced from a seizing position (48), in which the ends of the U-shaped bent dough strand (46) are seized, into an extension position (49), in which the dough strand is extended, then into a knotting position (51), in which the dough strand is knotted and finally into a placing position 52, in which the ends of the dough strands are placed on the central part of the dough strand.

Abstract: A tool for producing a rotor blade comprises at least one mold, and at least one supporting structure for the at least one mold. The mold is supported by a support structure, wherein the support structure is adapted such that a twist angle of at least one portion of the mold is adjustable. Further, a method for varying a twist angle of a rotor blade is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding and proving dough, including a pair of sheet rollers for providing a dough strip to a dough molder, a means for engaging and disengaging a retractable dough divider, the retractable dough divider when engaged separates the dough into dough portions as its exits the dough molder and a prover for recovering the dough portions. Also disclosed is a dough molder for a strip of dough including a conveyor having a first run spaced below a curling mat to curl the dough strip; the curling mat resting on at least the first run of the conveyor, the curling mat having a raised section which does not contact the first run.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods to produce various desired patterns (e.g., coils) via an electrospinning process where such desired patterns possess certain desired properties (e.g., desired electrical properties). In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for producing coiled fiber patterns at a rate of one turn of the coil in a set time period (e.g., about one microsecond). In another embodiment, the present invention relates to methods to produce “resonator structures” that are the basic element of artificial dielectrics. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to methods to produce coils with various specified diameters (e.g., about 10 microns) which can, among other things, enable the production of repeating patterns in a wallpaper-like array. In still yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to methods to hierarchical structures that offer mechanical support for various nanofibers.

Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing apparatus of a fiber-reinforced resin strand equipped with a roller offset angle adjusting device which can easily adjust roller offset angles of a pair of twisting rollers for twisting a fiber-reinforced resin strand, the device being simple in structure. An offset angle of a first twisting roller 11 can be adjusted by only rotating a first shaft roller support member 20 in the roller offset angle adjusting device LA of the manufacturing apparatus of a fiber-reinforced resin strand around the axis of a first driving shaft 24 which is orthogonal to a first roller support shaft 11a of the first twisting roller 11. Likewise, an offset angle of a second twisting roller 12 can be adjusted by only rotating a second shaft • roller support member 30 around the axis of a second driving shaft 34 which is orthogonal to a second roller support shaft 12a of the second twisting roller 12.

Abstract: Extruded, striped drinking straws are formed by coextruding at least two polymers of different color through a common extruder to form an elongated tube. An oscillator consisting of a pair of rolls supported for rotation about their central axes, extending normally to the extension of the tube, bear against opposed sides of the tube and are reciprocated in opposing directions so as to rotate the tube by a gear and spline mechanism. A straight puller draws the tube out of the extruder and through the twisting oscillator and a cutter forms the tube into straw lengths at the output of the puller.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for producing endless rolls of a resilient foodstuff, as well as a product in the form of a roll of hard cheese is provided. The method comprises supplying a layer (7) of the resilient foodstuff in a supply plane and against a first guide roller (20, 120), continuously deflecting the resilient foodstuff layer (7) by way of the first guide roller (20, 120) away from the supply plane, and continuously re-directing the deflected foodstuff layer (7) by way of a second guide roller (30, 130) toward the supply plane, so as to produce a roll of foodstuff; the apparatus comprises a supply mechanism (5) for supplying a layer (7) of the resilient foodstuff in a supply plane, a first guide roller (20, 120) against which the resilient foodstuff layer (7) can be supplied and for continuously deflecting the foodstuff layer away from the supply plane, and a second guide roller (30, 130) for continuously redirecting the deflected foodstuff layer (7) toward the supply plane.

Abstract: Devices that have the capability to simultaneously manipulate the curling screws of a lip rolling machine while it is in operation and lip rolling machines so modified.

Abstract: A machine and method for forming a spring coil in a length of hollow, cylindrical thermoplastic tubing comprises clamping the ends of a predetermined length of cylindrical thermoplastic tubing between first and second opposing spaced clamping members. In the machine, these clamping members include aligned first and second sections of a mandrel. These first and second clamping members then are rotated relative to one another by a predetermined amount selected to be slightly in excess of 360°, while the mandrels are simultaneously moved toward one another, to shorten the distance between the ends of the length of tubing, while the coil is formed. At the end of this relative rotation, the mandrel sections engage one another. The clamped tube, with the coil now formed around the mandrels, is rotated and simultaneously heated to the thermosetting temperature of the tubing. After a sufficient time to establish thermosetting of the coil, the heat is removed. Rotation continues while the tube is cooled.

Abstract: A method of producing a substantially regular cylindrical body that consists of a deformable material, especially a sintered metal blank. The blank is provided with an interior helical recess. The blank is first produced with a substantially linear course of the interior recess, for example by extrusion. The body is cut to a defined length and is subjected to a rolling movement by a friction surface while being supported across its entire length on a support. The speed of the rolling movement changes in a linear and continuous manner across the length of the body, thereby regularly twisting the body.

Abstract: A machine for making cones from baked wafers utilizes roll-up mechanism in the form of a roll-up mandrel and a roll-up form. A multiplicity of such mechanisms is carried by a chain along an endless path. Each roll-up mechanism can have a frame on which the roll-up mandrel and roll-up form is mounted.

Abstract: A method for automated forming of a knot in a strand of dough includes providing a spacer element having an outer surface and an integral channel, and forming around this outer surface a loop from a first part of the strand. A second part of the strand is then positioned such that at least an end of the strand extends into the channel, crossing a virtual plane passing through the loop, and the spacer element is withdrawn from the loop of dough such that the strand remains in the form of a knot. A device for implementing the method typically includes a work surface with at least one aperture, a mechanical manipulator for gripping and manipulating the dough, and a displacer element aligned with the aperture and movable in a direction roughly perpendicular to the working surface to displace an end of the strand through the plane of the loop of dough to form a knot.

Abstract: An twisted pretzel producing apparatus has a conveyor with a surface for receiving and transporting a rope of dough. An anvil engages the rope of dough so that continued conveyor movement form a curved dough portion. A twister assembly grabs the two ends of the rope of dough and rotates to form a twisted section of dough. The twister assembly includes a set of plungers that press the two ends against the curved portion to form a twisted pretzel. The exact location and degree to which the ends are pressed against the curved portion are randomly varied so that each pretzel has a different appearance as occurs with pretzels made by hand.

Abstract: In addition to a feeding structure for pieces of dough and a removal device, the device for the production of pretzels displays a working platform, a stand with a holding device and two grippers set up on its underside, a structure for measuring the position of the pieces of dough, and a structure for the control of the grippers. In addition to the working platform, retaining clips that can be transported lengthwise from the pieces of dough with sensors assigned to them are provided in the area taken up by the ends of the pieces of dough before the looping process; the sensors are independent of one another and can be transported independently of the end of the piece of dough until they have reached the end of the piece of dough, after which the retaining clips are closed to grasp the piece of dough at a definite place.

Abstract: A method, process and apparatus for generating complex shapes without the use of dies, molds, or other fixed tooling. A continuous length or flow of a malleable or fluent material is provided to a forming apparatus which shapes the material, producing a contiguous series of smoothly blended, properly contoured portions of the desired shape. The formation of a shape relies on continuous control of shape-determining variables: the instantaneous cross-section of the shape in a virtual transition surface between the formable and formed material, the rate-of-change of cross-sectional dimensions between sequential cross-sections, the instantaneous angle of movement of the material at any point on the cross-section in the transition surface, and the rate of movement away from the transition surface of the just-stabilized portion of the shape. The material is stabilized as these shape-determining variables achieve the proper values in each portion of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing pretzels is provided, which increases production and reduces waste. The apparatus includes a stationary platform onto which strands of dough are deposited. Adjacent to the platform is a conveyor belt with projections that pull the center of the dough strands off the platform in a direction normal to the strands' longitudinal axis. A pair of sensors, preferably mounted on the platform evenly spaced from the centerline of the conveyor belt, detect the ends of the dough strands as they begin to be pulled off the platform. As each sensor detects its corresponding end of the dough strand, a corresponding holding clamp grips that end, thereby centering the dough relative to the conveyor belt. A pair of moveable grippers rotatable about a common central vertical axis are mounted above the conveyor belt to grasp the ends of the dough strand, twist the ends and deposit the ends on the center portion of the dough strand to form a pretzel.

Abstract: A manifold assembly for feeding dough through a plurality of dies simultaneously under substantially equal pressure, includes a longitudinally-extending manifold having an inlet end for receiving dough under pressure, an outlet end defining a plurality of extruder dies, and a top, a bottom and sides connecting the inlet and outlet ends. A chevron-shaped dough guide intermediate the inlet and outlet ends distributes the dough to the sides thereof, the guide being configured and dimensioned to distribute the dough to the dies simultaneously under substantially equal pressure. Preferably, the manifold top is concave, and the guide does not extend to the concave top, so some of the dough can pass between the guide and the concave top.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a web achieves relaxation of the web in the machine direction during and/or after heat-treating, by changing the shape of the side edge of the web in the longitudinal plane from a substantially non-linear zone to a substantially linear zone.

Abstract: A device (24) for aligning with a feeding line (8) of a moving transfer conveyor (3) and for bending a round elongated dough piece (13) randomly placed on the moving transfer conveyor for transfer, comprising a pair of stoppers (26, 26) symmetrically arranged in a funnel-shape above the moving transfer conveyor (3) so that the dough piece (13) can be moved to a central position between the stoppers (26) and (26). The stoppers are rotatable to bend the dough piece (13) and movable to release it on the moving transfer conveyor.

Abstract: A device for charging a filling material (6) with respect to pieces of dough (1) transferred on a transfer conveyor (2) comprising detectors (3) mounted on the transfer conveyor, the detectors being adapted to detect transverse shifts of the pieces of dough on the transfer conveyor and to generate signals representative of the amounts of the shifts; a filling-charging mechanism (4) disposed downstream of the detectors, the filling-charging mechanism having discharging nozzles (48) mounted movably in the transverse direction; and a control device (7) for receiving from the detectors the signals representative of the amounts of the shifts and controlling the discharging nozzles to move transversely amounts equal to the respective amounts of the shift.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing various shapes of bread that includes a device for forming a continuous sheet of bread dough, a roller for winding up the sheet of bread dough traveling on a horizontal conveyor from one of its sides into a bar of bread dough, the conveyor causing the bar to fall from its downstream end, and a cutter for cutting the falling dough body into dough pieces by squeezing it with flat surfaces of the cutter, according to its preset weight or length.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing croissants with fillings includes a filling-depositing stage for depositing a filling on a croissant dough piece that is being conveyed in a downstream direction, a rolling-up preparation stage positioned downstream of the filling-depositing stage for raising the croissant dough piece at its leading edge and simultaneously turning the leading edge backward to be folded in the upstream direction to thereby cover the filling, and a rolling-up stage positioned downstream of the rolling-up preparation stage for rolling up the croissant dough piece.

Abstract: A method, process and apparatus for generating complex shapes without the use of dies, molds, or other fixed tooling. A continuous length or flow of a malleable or fluent material is provided to a forming apparatus which shapes the material, producing a contiguous series of smoothly blended, properly contoured portions of the desired shape. The formation of a shape relies on continuous control of shape-determining variables: the instantaneous cross-section of the shape in a virtual transition surface between the formable and formed material, the rate-of-change of cross-sectional dimensions between sequential cross-sections, the instantaneous angle of movement of the material at any point on the cross-section in the transition surface, and the rate of movement away from the transition surface of the just-stabilized portion of the shape. The material is stabilized as these shape-determining variables achieve the proper values in each portion of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing crisp, long term preservation, small loaves on an industrial scale including a forming machine having a feeder assembly, a molding station and a forming station laid sequentially to each other. The feeder assembly includes a plurality of parallel, sequentially-laid driven roll pairs, a gap between corresponding roll pairs decreasing in width from the most upstream roll pair to the most downstream roll pair. The molding station includes first and second counter rotating driven rolls, the first roll having a plurality of mold cavities uniformly distributed across its skirt, and the second roll having a smooth surface skirt, the rolls being mounted in pressure contact with each other. The forming station includes a folder device.

Abstract: The apparatus for extruding a paste like product on to a horizontal board or plate while moving the plate relative to the extruder, and subsequently overturning the plate to deliver the configured extrudate to a removal conveyor.

Abstract: Device for producting conical cases from strips of dough, wound on a carrier, with a first supply ascending under belt for these strips, a second supply belt, the end of the first belt, and winding units each movable at a right angle to said second belt, and each with a detachable carrier on a rotary core.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling a pastry product of the type comprising a pastry sheet unit and a film sheet unit which are adapted to be rolled together so that in the finished roll the film sheet unit is substantially interposed between the adjacent layers of the pastry sheet unit, the film sheet unit and pastry sheet unit each having a leading edge and trailing edge. In one aspect the apparatus is adapted to direct and apply the film sheet unit to a surface of the pastry sheet unit at a film application station so that the leading edge of the film sheet unit overlies and is disposed rearwardly of the leading edge of the pastry sheet unit. In another form of the apparatus it is characterised by transport means for transporting the pastry past the film application station whereafter the units are transferred to delivery means which presents the units to the rolling means the direction of travel of the transport means being at right angles to that of the delivery means.

Abstract: In an apparatus for forming a row of zigzag coupling elements, a winding unit includes a guide plate having a guide hole through which a monofilament is supplied onto a periphery of a continuously rotating die wheel. The guide plate is driven by two separate drive mechanisms, for lateral reciprocating movement and tangential reciprocating movement, respectively, with respect to the die wheel periphery so that the guide hole traces a horizontal figure-eight curve to thereby wind the monofilament alternately around a pair of rows of circumferentially staggered pins, on the die wheel periphery.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an invention that belongs to the technical field of mines or equipment for bakeries and relates, in particular, to a machine for forming unbroken rings, or similar, of dough out of strips of moistened and kneaded flour.The technical problem that has to be solved is how to construct a machine of this nature which, despite being simple and of a relatively reduced volume, is able to handle contemporaneously many strips of dough and, above all, has the ability to prevent the strips from undergoing force harmful to the formation of dough of a particular shape, for example an unbroken ring.

Abstract: A comestible extruding apparatus including a pressure chamber having an outlet, a hollow extrusion die journaled in the outlet, and a hollow seal force fit in the outlet and having a neck extending slidably into the hollow die, the neck and die combining to define a rotary seal for the comestible.

Abstract: A method of and means of winding close wound helical coils of a thermoplastic monofilament material is proposed wherein, in order to avoid secondary twist in the resultant coil, the coil, after having been wound and heat set under controlled conditions on a first part of a mandrel, is twisted in a direction tending to close the individual turns of the coil during the cooling thereof while passing along and/or from the end of a second part of the mandrel to a twist arresting means arranged in spaced apart disposition relative to such end.

Abstract: A machine assembly for producing lengthy rolls of bakery products such as biscuits and the like, wherein the machine includes an inlet work station having a device for forming a plurality of separate bars of dough and the machine also includes an outlet work station having a device for forming a continuous spiral in each of the bars of dough with the spirals interlocking to form a braided roll of dough. The machine assembly further includes a conveyor assembly for transporting the bars of dough between the inlet and outlet work stations while kneading and rolling the bars into their final configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a strip of briquets issuing from a briquetting machine into individual briquets by bending the briquet strip both longitudinally and transversely to break the connections between adjacent briquets. The apparatus includes a carrying conveyor having arcuate, waveform or sawtooth conveyor slats and a conforming conveyor having conveyor slats with a cross section which mates with that of the carrying conveyor. The conforming conveyor forces the briquet strip to conform to the slat configuration of the first conveyor and to pass around a pivot means which breaks or separates the strip into individual briquets.

Abstract: A continuous fiber reinforced pultruded rod-like reinforcing element is disclosed. This rod-like element includes at least one groove and/or protrusion along its length, with the continuous reinforcing fibers in the protrusions or surrounding the grooves generally conforming to the pattern of the outer surface of the rod. Preferably, the protrusions and/or grooves form a generally helical pattern on the surface of the rod. The rods formed by the instant invention have utility in reinforcing such structures as concrete, mine roofs, plastics and the like. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for producing these stock materials.

Abstract: A column of striated soap extruding from a plodder nozzle is subjected to torque for obtaining spiral striations in the final soap bar.

Abstract: A plurality of groups of mandrels are arranged for movement successively through a plurality of workstations with each group being worked on at a station while other groups are being worked on simultaneously at other stations to produce continuously automatically groups of retractile cords. Cordage is fed from a supply into clamping engagement with each of the mandrels in the group in a cord-loading position and then wound in a plurality of spaced-apart convolutions on each of the mandrels of that group after which the wound cords are severed from the cordage supplies. The wound cords are advanced incrementally through a heating zone, wherein the cords are exposed to radiant heating supplemented by preheating of the mandrels while cordage is being wound on the next successive groups of mandrels.