Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing semi-moist meatballs. An illustrative embodiment provides a method of manufacturing generally spherical pet treats comprising: (a) providing a ground mix of proteinaceous material, flavor enhancers and preservatives to a portioning device that divides said mix into smaller portions of roughly uniform volume, (b) placing said portions on a first belt of a first conveyor moving at a first speed in a longitudinal direction, (c) periodically pressing said portions with a second belt of a second conveyor, where said second belt operates in a plane at a height above, and substantially parallel to, said first belt, said second belt moving at a second speed in substantially the same longitudinal direction as said first belt, while also oscillating back and forth in a lateral direction that is at an angle to said longitudinal direction, such that said portions are transformed into generally spherical shapes.

Abstract: A caterpillar traction apparatus (110), wherein two pairs of pulleys (122 & 123, 132 & 133) can be driven at different speeds, so that the linear member (40) being driven by the mechanism is subjected to either compression or extension forces.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing semi-moist meatballs. An illustrative embodiment provides a method of manufacturing generally spherical pet treats comprising: (a) providing a ground mix of proteinaceous material, flavor enhancers and preservatives to a portioning device that divides said mix into smaller portions of roughly uniform volume, (b) placing said portions on a first belt of a first conveyor moving at a first speed in a longitudinal direction, (c) periodically pressing said portions with a second belt of a second conveyor, where said second belt operates in a plane at a height above, and substantially parallel to, said first belt, said second belt moving at a second speed in substantially the same longitudinal direction as said first belt, while also oscillating back and forth in a lateral direction that is at an angle to said longitudinal direction, such that said portions are transformed into generally spherical shapes.

Abstract: The method and the device for manufacturing an acoustically effective foil stack (9) made of embossed foil webs (5e, 5f, 5g, 5h) is characterised by the fact that at least two foil webs lying over one another (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are embossed at the same time, are conveyed along different length conveying routes (W, W1, W2, W3), and then are brought together into a stack (9), and embossed foil webs (5e, 5f, 5g, 5h) arranged to be lying next to one another are laid down in an offset fashion due to the different length conveying routes (W, W1, W2, W3). A particularly advantageous-design of the embossing rollers (1a, 1b) provides foil webs which have knobs with a draped or folded type structure.

Abstract: This invention concerns a dough piece moulder comprising a dough piece sheeting station (20), a station transporting (14,16) sheeted dough pieces along an outgoing path, from the infeed (18) of the transproting station (14,16), located opposite the sheeting station (20) up to an intermediate point, through a station rolling (24) sheeted dough pieces and a return path, through a station shaping rolled dough pieces by elongating them, from the intermediate point up to the outlet of the transporting station located in the proximity of the infeed (18) and whereat the shaped dough pieces are delivered outside the moulder; a transfer station (46) arranged in the proximity of the intermediate point, actively transferring the rolled dough pieces from the outgoing path to the return path.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for the manufacture of plastic molded parts such as sheets, strips or the like which allows the continuous manufacture and largely ensures the avoidance of wastes. The arrangement according to the invention includes two revolving conveyor belts (9, 10) running parallel to each other and arranged at a distance of each other, sealed along their longitudinal edges by adjustable sealing members (16). A liquid plastic material, which is evenly distributed across the entire width of the conveyor belts (9, 10) is fed into the intake gap between the conveyor belts (9, 10) by a distributor means (6) comprising at least two containers (2) holding a monomeric component. The conveyor belts are placed in a chamber (22) in which the temperature required for solidification or polymerization of the liquid plastic material is achieved by heating means (25) while transported by the said conveyor belts (9, 10).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for stretching bread dough and the like comprising a rotating member that includes a plurality of planetary rollers that revolve along a circular orbit, a conveying device provided below said rotating member such that a first gap is provided, said first gap gradually decreasing from an inlet to an outlet for the bread dough, said conveying device including a plurality of rollers adapted so that the speed at which each roller rotates gradually increases from said inlet to the outlet for bread dough, and an arcuate plate provided below the rotating member and downstream of the plurality of rollers such that a second gap in which the bread dough is pressed by the plurality of rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for joining dough blocks to form a continuous dough sheet. The dough blocks are cut from a dough mass and drop into a space between first and second groups of rollers. The first and second groups of rollers include horizontally-paired rollers arranged in tiers and forming a substantially V-shaped space for receiving the dough blocks, with the uppermost pair of rollers being separated by a first horizontal gap which is wider than a second horizontal gap separating the lowermost pair of rollers. The first group of rollers are rotated in a direction (e.g., clockwise) which is opposite to that of the second group of rollers. In addition, the first group of rollers is alternately moved toward and away from the second group of rollers, thereby applying vibrations to the dough blocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for continuously and quantitatively supplying bread dough. The apparatus comprises a pressing structure that includes two movable members, one of which includes at least one roller or one belt conveyor, and the other of which includes at least one belt conveyor, the roller being adapted to rotate about its own axis to apply a force to pull bread dough downward and the belt conveyor being adapted such that a portion of its conveying surface contacting the dough moves downward to pull the bread dough downward.

Abstract: This dough shaping machine includes a station (20) for rolling out dough and a station (14, 16) for conveying the rolled out dough along an outward path from the entry of the conveyor station (14, 16) facing the rolling out station (20) to an intermediate point through a station for rolling up the rolled out dough and a return path through a station (44) for shaping the rolled up dough by elongating it from the intermediate point to the exit from the transfer point near the entry. It further includes, near the intermediate point, a station (46) for actively transferring the rolled up dough from the outward path to the return path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for bell-forming ends of thermally plasticized pipes, including a vise for blocking pipes having jaws which are mobile along a vertical plane, wherein the introduction and unloading of the pipes occurs tangentially to the plane. The machine is provided with a forming device having a pressurized-fluid forming chamber, internally containing a forming chuck. The forming chamber exhibits an elastic wall which is strengthened during the pressurization operation by rigid striking elements borne directly by the jaws of the vice, and is fed by a single pipe for feeding fluid for pressurization of the forming chamber and for cooling the chuck.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing first and second chemical compounds to be mixed for reaction, the first and second chemical compounds being extruded in respective first and second bands of semi-solid material and wherein one of the bands may be coated with a protective coating to prevent a chemical reaction between the epoxy resin and the curing agent until the epoxy resin and curing agent are kneaded together, the apparatus including a twisting section including a pair of endless belts which have portions overlying one another, the belts being oriented so that their axes extend at complementary angles relative to the direction of travel of an infeed conveyor belt which advances the juxtaposed bands of material through the twisting section which twists together the bands, producing an elongated, generally cylindrical product with first and second bands being wrapped helically upon one another.

Abstract: In order to guarantee substantially trouble-free operation when manufacturing sandwich elements on a double conveyor belt installation having a downstream cross cutter and cleaning device, the cleaning device disposed on a transport carriage i) is returned to the carriage of the cross cutter to pick up the next sandwich element, is braked and is then re-accelerated to a speed higher than the production speed, ii) is, after reaching a desired distance.

Abstract: An apparatus for flattening and, if desired, rolling of portioned dough pieces has a head machine that delivers dough pieces to conveyor belts by which the dough pieces are conveyed to a first endless running belt. This belt constitutes the support for a flattening station that flattens the dough pieces. By this first endless running belt the dough pieces are conveyed to a further endless running belt disposed below the first band said second band conveying the dough pieces back again towards the head machine. Thereby the overall length of the apparatus is shortened. The two belts constitute a further processing station for the dough pieces. If the two belts run with the same speed, the dough pieces are further flattened or, if the two belts show different speeds, the dough pieces are rolled.

Abstract: A calender for producing packing sheets, in particular packing sheets reinforced with synthetic fiber, has a large diameter heated cylinder, on which a packing sheet is formed and vulcanized, rotatably supported by spaced calender stands and driven by a direct current motor. An unheated cylinder of smaller diameter also driven by a direct current motor, is supported by the calender stands for rotation and for movement toward and away from the heated cylinder and is hydraulically pressed toward the heated cylinder as a pressure roller. The circumferential speed of each of the cylinders is sensed by a pick-up activated by uniformly spaced marks on the circumference of the cylinder and the thickness of the packing sheet on the heated cylinder is sensed by sensing the position of the shaft of the pressure roller.

Abstract: An improved method of combining active ingredients with polyvinyl acetate for use in chewing gum results in significantly less degradation of the active ingredients. After the polyvinyl acetate and one or more active ingredients have been mixed together in an extruder, the mixture is extruded through a die to form a sheet-like extrudate. The sheet like extrudate is then cooled using a series of three chilled compression rolls. The extrudate is pinched between adjacent chilled compression rolls and both surfaces of the extrudate maintain contact with at least one of the chilled compression rolls for a period of time. The extrudate is thereby cooled swiftly and thoroughly, resulting in reduced degradation of the active ingredients.

Abstract: A flat extrusion method for manufacturing especially multilayer panels and device for working the method. The method consists of the following method steps: simultaneous addition of mixtures by mixing and spreading devices (1) into a perpendicular conically tapered shaft (A, B) formed by circulating compression belts (13, 14); compression of the mixture by the conical design of shaft (B), followed by traversing a section (C) in which the compression belts are arranged parallel to one another and at a distance which corresponds to the thickness of the finished panel strand; curing of the mixture in the downstream calibrating section (3).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing a dough roll by rolling up a dough piece. The apparatus has a moving means that includes a holding roller and an endless belt supply device, and a rolling up mechanism having upper and lower endless belt devices. The belt of the upper endless belt device moves rearwardly, and the belt of the lower endless belt device moves forwardly at a speed higher than that of the upper endless belt device. When a dough piece is fed to the apparatus the leading end begins to be rolled at the upstream ends of the upper and lower endless belt devices while its trailing end stays between the belt of the endless belt supply device and the holding roller. Therefore, the leading end moves at a speed which equals the difference between the speeds of the upper and lower endless belt devices while the trailing end moves at the same moving speed as that of the belt of the endless belt supply device.

Abstract: A bread molder for working dough between convergent runs of driven endless roller-mounted upper and lower belts has the lower belt carried by an adjustment frame which can be moved to vary the spacing between the two belts. A pair of side shaping arms can be inserted closely between the two belts to limit the lateral expansion of the dough being worked. A delivery plate on the belt adjustment frame extends below the upper belt to receive and deliver a dough piece worked between the two belts, and a series of spaced parallel splitter blades are mounted for simultaneous advance between divisions in the delivery plate for dividing the worked dough into sections.

Abstract: An apparatus for stretching a plastic raw material such as bread dough. By providing a plurality of conveying assemblies which is adapted to be driven at respective different speeds and driven forwardly or backwardly, and a roller mechansim positioned above the conveying assemblies, an effective stretching of the plastic material fed between the rollers of the roller mechanism and the conveying path of the conveying assemblies is performed. The plastic material is fed from either direction of the conveying path to simply repeat the stretching operation.

Abstract: Pyrogenically prepared silicic acid is compressed by a rotary filter equipped with a pressing band.

Abstract: Device permitting the continuous lengthening of lumps of dough or of sections thereof, of about one and a half to twice their initial length, without any manual intervention either at the input or the output.

Abstract: Apparatus is shown for mixing and dispensing an epoxy adhesive. An epoxy resin and its associated curing agent are simultaneously loaded from separate cartridges into a length of flexible PVC tubing, part of which is contained between a rotor and a stator. Bearings, mounted rotatably about the rotor, engage and travel along the tubing as the rotor is revolved, each bearing compressing the tubing at its point of engagement. The tubing, repeatedly compressed and released by each bearing in succession, kneads the epoxy resin and curing agent into a homogeneous mixture. From the tubing, the epoxy mixture is deposited on a moving carrier tape and forms a continuous bead. Downstream, a control tape is spaced apart from the carrier tape and moves in the opposite direction. As the bead encounters the control tape, the control tape removes part of the bead material from the carrier tape and plastically forms the remaining mixture into a film of a uniform thickness substantially less than the bead diameter.

Abstract: Apparatus for twisting dough comprises juxtaposed conveyor surfaces, each comprising a plurality of laterally spaced-apart conveyor belts moveable in parallel adjacency, each belt of each conveyor surface being juxtaposed with a belt of the other conveyor surface, thus forming a plurality of laterally spaced-apart belt pairs. The juxtaposed conveyor surfaces thus form a conveying passageway. A belt in a belt pair moves at a higher speed than the other belt in that pair, and the speed of the two belts is such that a substantially cylindrical object disposed across adjacent belt pairs is rolled between the adjacent belt pairs as it is being conveyed along the passageway. The speed of the individual belts of the adjacent belt pairs is such that the net velocity along the passageway imparted to the object is the same at each of the belt pairs, but is also such that a greater rotational speed is imparted at one belt pair relative to that at the adjacent belt pair.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the oscillating pinch roll assembly or web handling apparatus includes a rotatable spindle having an input which accepts the tubular web. A pinch roller is mounted at the input. A plurality of rollers are circumferentially disposed around the pinch roller and the axis of rotation of those rollers is parallel to the center line of the tubular web. A turning bar is disposed in the interior of the spindle and turns the flattened web exiting the pinch rollers 90 degrees and feeds the horizontal web to a first roller of the plurality of rollers disposed at the periphery of the spindle. The traveling web always passes over this first roller. By rotating the spindle in an oscillatory manner about the center axis of the tubular web, the horizontally traveling, flat web is wound and unwound around the outer periphery of the spindle and is fed to a fixed idler roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for stretching a plastic raw material having viscoelasticity, such as bread dough or confectionery dough. A linear motor or built-in motor is provided relative to rollers which pass around an endless roller path. A drive power of the motors for the advancement of the rollers is effectively transmitted by the friction of the rollers with the raw material or rails so as to simply rotate the rollers around their axes and along an endless roller path, thereby performing effective stretching of the plastic raw material.

Abstract: A device for shaping pieces of dough-like material into a generally spherical shape includes a fixed support defining a wall and a support base and a rotatable disc having an inner peripheral surface facing said support wall. The fixed support and rotatable member define a truncated, V-shaped groove in transverse cross section. A lower conveyor includes a run extending over the base and through the groove. An upper conveyor includes a run which extends over the top of the groove. The rotatable disc and conveyor are driven at different relative speeds so that a piece of material conveyed through the groove by the lower conveyor belt is formed into a generally spherical shape. A plurality of such devices are supported on a common frame which may be positioned in line to receive a plurality of pieces of dough which are arranged in spaced, parallel rows.

Abstract: A control system for a continuously operating press, for the manufacture of chipboard, molded laminated plastic and the like, having two endless revolving forming belts which advance opposite each other in a pressing section, between which a starting material is compressed in the pressing section and each of which belts is provided with a separate drive, one of the drives being a lead drive equipped with a speed control for holding the belt velocity constant, in which there is provided a torque controller for comparing the torque of the lead drive with the torque of the other drive and providing an output which regulates the torque of the other drive such that the torques of the two drives always retain an adjustable ratio between each other over the entire torque range; and a further speed control for the belt drive which is not operating as the lead drive which is set higher than the speed control of the lead drive and which is adapted to be adjusted along with the speed control of the lead drive, with the

Abstract: There is disclosed herein powder densifying apparatus comprising a pair of opposed gas-permeable belts arranged to either side of a common axis so as to define a generally convergent densifying zone between their adjacent faces. The belts are multiply supported spanwise by a plurality of opposed spaced apart support rolls, each opposed pair of rolls defining a densifying station therebetween. The gas-permeable belts are driven toward the convergent end of the densifying zone at substantially equal speeds while powder material to be densified is fed into the divergent end of the densifying zone at a rate sufficient to maintain a substantially complete fill thereof.

Abstract: A device for making batches of bread paste ready for the oven comprising a member deforming each risen batch of paste into elongated slabs, a folding mechanism receiving slabs from said member for folding the front and rear portions on the central portion and a conveying section for conducting away the folded piece of paste transversely of the direction of folding, the improvement is that the folding mechanism comprises two normally adjacent carriers adapted to reciprocate along a common path, the movement of the hindmost lagging with respect to that of the foremost carrier so that through the space formed between the carriers, first the central portion drops onto the subjacent conveying section, after which the front and end portions are folded onto the central portion.

Abstract: Transmission systems in which a driven sprocket is driven by way of a chain by a driving sprocket which is driven by drive means at a constant speed of rotation, oscillating or reciprocating idler sprockets for superimposing on the constant speed of rotation drive a periodic, cyclic motion changing the speed of rotation of the driven sprocket, which periodic cyclic motion increases the length of the portion of said chain extending between the exit side of said driven sprocket and the entrant side of said driving sprocket while shortening by a corresponding amount the length of the portion of said chain extending between the exit side of said driving member and the entrant side of said driven member during one-half cycle of said cyclic motion and vice versa during the other half cycle of said cyclic motion, and duel wire-mesh belt compaction modules for the wetout of glass fiber rovings and sheet molding compound paste between thermoplastic polymer films sandwiched between two wire-mesh belts horizontally movi

Abstract: A method for straightening elongated articles such as sausage links. A pair of horizontal endless belt conveyors operate at slightly different speeds. The lower belt conveyor has a greater length than the upper belt conveyor so that the end of the lower conveyor projects beyond the corresponding end of the upper conveyor. Chilled sausage links are conveyed upwardly by an elevator and deposited on the projecting end of the lower conveyor and passed between the belts. As the sausage links pass between the belts, they are rotated to thereby straighten the links.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing fiberboard and the like from fibrous sheeting material by the dry method, in which the fibrous sheeting material is advanced from a forming station while supported on a perforated endless belt to a pressing station where it is compressed to desired thickness and compactness. During the advancement of the sheeting material from the forming station to the pressing station, air is evacuated from the fibrous material by suction from beneath the endless belt while the sheeting is being simultaneously subjected to a preliminary compression, without disturbing the fiber orientation therein, but sufficient to render the sheeting material self-supporting during its further advancement to the pressing station, from which it is passed to cutting station for subdivision into board units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for straightening elongated articles such as sausage links. The apparatus includes a pair of horizontal endless belt conveyors that operate at slightly different speeds. The lower belt conveyor has a greater length than the upper belt conveyor so that the end of the lower conveyor projects beyond the corresponding end of the upper conveyor. Chilled sausage links are conveyed upwardly by an elevator and deposited on the projecting end of the lower conveyor and passed between the belts. As the sausage links pass between the belts, they are rotated to thereby straighten the links.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously stretching dough for cakes, bread and the like, comprising a plurality of freely rotatable stretching rollers progressing along a closed orbit comprising a lower straight portion, and a dough transport device positioned thereunder and facing the lower straight portion of the orbit leaving a space between the stretching rollers progressing on the lower straight portion of the orbit and the upper surface of the dough transport device sufficient to permit the pass of dough to be stretched, the dough transport device comprising at least a portion of an intake belt conveyor and one or more positively driven transport rollers disposed in series downstream of the intake conveyor, with or without at least a portion of a further downstream belt conveyor.

Abstract: In a molding apparatus employing opposed endless belt conveyors to mold a non-rigid material into a rigid material, the problem of one conveyor being driven at a slightly greater speed than the other conveyor to produce harmful shear stresses within the molded product is avoided by driving both conveyors at generally the same speed during start-up until the rigid product extending between the two conveyors will tend to drive the slower conveyor at the speed of the faster conveyor, at which point the drive for the slower conveyor will be disconnected. One-way clutches may be placed in the drive of both conveyors so that it does not matter which conveyor is slower, or a one-way clutch may be placed in the drive of only one conveyor and the other conveyor constructed so that it will inherently tend to run faster than the one conveyor, or a selectively releasable coupling, such as a clutch, may be placed in the drive of one conveyor so that the drive of the one conveyor may be disconnected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming dough and dough pieces to a thickness of as little as 1 mm. The apparatus generally comprises a plurality of powered externally rotated rollers spaced above a plurality of moving conveyor belts. The dough is pressed and stretched without breaking by the action of said rollers and said conveyor belts.

Abstract: A multiple-roll calender for producing thermoplastics films, in which, viewed in the direction of working, a penultimate roll is spaced from the roll which immediately precedes it so that for a period as it travels from said preceding roll to the penultimate roll the material being calendered is not in contact with any of the rolls, and said penultimate roll and a final roll which together define a final working gap, are provided with drive means whereby they can be driven at varying speeds independently of the other rolls.A guide roller may be provided to guide the material centrally into the final working gap or a pull-off roller or pair of pull-off rollers and a constant pressure roller may be provided to guide the material to the final working gap. Alternatively a pull-off roller and a scraper device, defining with the penultimate roll a gap which narrows in a downstream direction may be provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming dough and dough pieces to a thickness of as little as 1 mm. The apparatus generally comprises a plurality of powered externally rotated rollers spaced above a plurality of moving conveyor belts. The dough is pressed and stretched without breaking by the action of said rollers and said conveyor belts.