Abstract: Marbleized cookie dough pieces are formed by independently feeding different color doughs into a common extrusion die, in which a rotating impeller is located. The impeller lards portions of each dough into the flow of the other to produce a spiral pattern in the extrudate which is sliced to produce spirally marbleized dough pieces.

Abstract: A textured protein product having a protein content of up to 80% is produced by mixing soy meal (grits, flakes or flour) with water containing a protein insolubilizing agent to prepare a homogeneous mass; forming from said mass discrete pieces of a desired configuration under temperature and pressure conditions which retain the proteins in the undenatured state and retain the protein and carbohydrate molecules thereof substantially in the original matrix relationship of the starting material; and cooking the pieces in water in order (1) to denature the proteins in situ whereby contiguous protein molecules interlock to form a three dimensional network structure throughout each of the pieces, and (2) to leach out soluble carbohydrates from within the protein structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for grouping articles in stacks of a predetermined number in which a wheel having serrated teeth picks off articles from the base of an infeed chute and places them on edge on a pair of inclined rails. The articles are held to the wheel by vacuum and are separated from the wheel by wedge members positioned adjacent the rails. A stack of articles builds on the rails and is slid into a conveyor bucket. After each predetermined number of articles is removed from the chute, a lever is actuated to hold the column of articles in the chute out of contact with the teeth to allow for advancement of the bucket conveyor.

Abstract: A masa sheeter having a sheeting roller provided with a plurality of hoops set in spaced circumferential grooves to carry scrap back into the sheeter infeed zone, a cutter acting against the roller to cut product pieces from the masa sheet between the hoops, and a tensioned flat rectangular wire band passing through said hoops and extending along the surface of the roller for peeling the product pieces from the roller.

Abstract: Extrusion apparatus including rotary shell having plural circumferential rows of extrusion orifices and a stationary inner member, defining with said shell, circumferential channels communicating with said orifices.

Abstract: A speed controlled conveyor system in which the motor driving an input conveyor is speed regulated to control the axial product pressure. This pressure is measured by the outward bowing of the column of articles as it moves along a downwardly curving chute connecting the conveyor and the loading device. A photocell arrangement measures the degree of displacement of the column and transmits a corrective electrical signal to a motor speed control device.

Abstract: A collating conveyor arrangement in which two conveyors have closely spaced parallel sections provided with dam mechanisms for forming articles into groups and alternately releasing the groups. An on-edge transfer conveyor is pivotally positioned above the parallel conveyor sections to selectively extend obliquely across one of the parallel sections to direct the groups formed on one conveyor into spaces between the groups formed on the other conveyor.

Abstract: A plurality of cruciform cutter members are arranged on a drum to define transverse and circumferential lines along which dough sheet scoring is effected. The members are formed with dough scoring edges along each of the arms thereof and a cutting element at the center to cut a piece from the dough sheet at each intersection of the scoring lines. Air passageways leading to the cutting elements are alternately connected to a vacuum source for removing the cut dough piece from the dough sheet and to a pressure source for removing to dough piece from the element.

Abstract: A load handling device for drawing a load up an inclined plane onto a pallet. The device comprises a winch arrangement mounted on a wheeled cart. The cart is provided with a pallet engaging member to be positioned against the side of the pallet which is opposite to the inclined plane.

Abstract: Continuously extruded strands of cheese are case hardened by a flow of air directed against the strands as they emerge from the die openings. The strands are periodically cut at the face of the die plate to form short strand pieces. The cutting blade moves within the air flow and the air impinging upon the strand pieces move the pieces away from the blade as they are cut.

Abstract: An expandable device for locking an annular member to a shaft for rotation therewith in which an annular body mounts on the shaft and carries a plurality of radially moveable bars overlying a single wall annular bladder lying against the surface of the body. The surface of the body is formed with annular raised ridges beneath each end of the bladder. A metal band formed with interlocking ends is secured around each end of the bladder to seal the ends of the bladder to the body.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling creme filled cookies during a period in which the filling is hardening. The cookies are formed of a pair of baked base cakes separated by a layer of creme filling material which is applied in a heated fluid state and hardens as it cools. The apparatus includes a cooling tunnel and a conveyor extending through the tunnel. The conveyor is segmented, each segment having a bottom wall and a pair of side walls which form an elongated trough to carry a continuous column of cookies through the cooling tunnel. The side walls of the segments are inclined outwardly to tangentially engage the edge of the base cakes and support the cookies in a vertical position.

Abstract: A butt splicing unit for cutting a web running from a depleting roll and splicing the end of a supply web to the cut end of the running web. The unit includes a rectangular stationary knife and two moveable knife members below and on each side of the stationary knife. Each of the moveable knives cooperate with one of the knife edges formed by the lower corners of the stationary knife. Above the stationary knife, is a pair of vacuum plates for holding the end of a supply web. Each of the knife members includes a body having a vertical leading surface facing in the direction of the running web. Each of the leading surfaces are provided with vacuum ports for holding the lower portion of a strip of tape thereto. A knife blade is mounted at the top of each of the knife members and a recess is provided between one end of the blade and the body to receive the upper portion of the tape strip to hold it out of contact with the running tape.

Abstract: The splicer successfully lap splices web material being drawn from a roll under low tension. A central stationary knife member extends transversely of the web and splicing carriages on either side of the stationary knife are slideably mounted to be moved perpendicular to the web toward and away from the knife member. Each carriage includes a roller for directing the web past the splicing mechanism, a knife blade for cooperating with the knife member to cut the web, a clamping pad for engaging the side of the knife member for clamping web therebetween during a splice, and a pressure pad for impacting against the pad of the other carriage to press the webs to opposite sides of a strip of adhesive tape to form the splice.

Abstract: A conveyor system for grouping columns of articles into spaced group each containing a predetermined number of articles. The columns of articles are fed onto a conveyor having an extendable noser arrangement at the output end which is positioned over the input end of a second conveyor. The noser arrangement is extended to interrupt the flow of articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor and provide a space on the second conveyor between successive groups of articles. The articles are transferred to the second conveyor as the noser arrangement retracts. A photo-electric device counts the articles as they are transferred and actuates the noser extending mechanism when the predetermined count is reached.

Abstract: A continuous column of articles, which are individually non-uniform in weight, is divided into a series of column segments each of which has a uniform predetermined weight. The articles in the continuous column are fed by an infeed conveyor onto an intermediate conveyor one at a time. The belt of the intermediate conveyor is carried by the platform of a scale so that the cumulative weight of the articles on the intermediate conveyor is monitored. When the weight reaches a predetermined value, a pusher is activated to push the group onto an outflow conveyor which is parallel to the intermediate conveyor and is driven in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The process of milling wheat to produce a large proportion of coarse farina in which double tempered wheat is passed through a series of four identical sets of deeply and coarsely corrugated break rolls run sharp to sharp. The output of each roll is separated in size ranges. Substantially oversized particles from each break roll set are fed into the next break roll set in the series. Slightly oversized particles are fed through corrugated rolls to slightly reduce the size thereof, and to remove bran coat therefrom. Properly sized particles are air purified to remove bran particles and oversized bran particles are passed through additional breaking roll operations to further separate any endosperm particles therefrom.

Abstract: An expandable device for locking an annular core to a shaft for rotation therewith in which an annular body mounts on the shaft and carries a plurality of radially movable bars overlying a single-wall annular bladder lying against the surface of the body. The bars are positioned side by side around the circumference of the body and are interconnected by linking members to limit radial movement. An annular notched band is secured to the body of each end of the bars and engages recesses therein to transmit torque between the bars and the body. Pressurized air is introduced between the bladder and the surface of the body to force the bars radially outward to grip the core.

Abstract: The method of forming flat dough pieces for producing flat perforated crackers by placing a thin continuous sheet of cracker dough on a fabric belt and cutting the dough with a die which cuts circles in the dough sheet and simultaneously presses the cut out dough sections against the fabric belt with sufficient force to cause them to adhere thereto. The die also cuts the dough sheet into longitudinal strips and scores the strips to define individual product pieces. The dough strips are lifted off the fabric belt and thus separated from the cut out dough sections which are subsequently removed from the belt by a scraping blade.