Abstract: A dough container is described which consists of a spiral body stock winding of paperbased material, a liner bonded to the interior of the body and label bonded to the exterior surface of the body material. Each of these layers consists of a helically wound strip. The side edges of the body stock strip lie adjacent one another to form a butt joint and the liner is provided with a zigzag fold or pleat substantially in alignment i.e. beneath the butt joint in the body stock. Metal ends are crimped to each end of the can to form the top and the bottom. During opening, the pleat allows the dough which is usually under pressure to expand, separate the butt joint and then rupture the liner.

Abstract: A combined popping and shipping package for popcorn is described. The package is composed of a dual compartmented container, one compartment being relatively small and containing the charge of popcorn and fat ready to be popped. The larger compartment which is expansible communicates with the small compartment and is adapted to hold the popped kernels.

Abstract: Fat-containing beverages such as shakes for frozen storage and thawing by reconstitution are prepared by vigorously mixing edible fat in liquid state with an edible hydrophilic film former and water while the film former is in saturated solution to encapsulate the fat with the film former and produce a stable dispersion. Thereafter, additional water is added to dilute the dispersion to the consistency of the beverage being prepared and the diluted dispersion is mixed to produce a smooth uniform dispersion and overrun, and frozen to a hard solid mass. Several configurations of the frozen beverage especially adapted for rapid reconstitution by microwave energy are disclosed.

Abstract: In the dough proofing machine described a housing contains a conveyor extending in a tortuous path from one end to the other, a heater and steam injector positioned in the center of the housing. Transversely extending vertically disposed plenum walls are located on either side of the heater and extend all the way to the side walls of the apparatus. A blower is associated with the heater to direct the air flow downwardly into a distribution plenum located below the heater and openings are provided in the front and rear of the distribution plenum allowing the air to travel in two substantially balanced symmetrically arranged flow paths, one of which is directed forwardly and upwardly and the other rearwardly and upwardly thereby balancing the conditions of humidity and temperature substantially throughout the entire apparatus. An air flow controller introduces outside air and exhausts circulating air as conditions require.

Abstract: An automatic article surge accumulator is described which has an inlet for the articles, an outlet spaced from the inlet and a plurality of moveable shelves between the inlet and the outlet. Each shelf can store one or more of the articles. The shelves are moveable so that after one shelf is full, a new shelf shifts into position to receive one or more additional articles. Associated with the shelves is a device for shifting the articles to a releasing position so that they are able to move to the outlet when a demand is made for an additional article.

Abstract: A spiral wound can is described in which the body of the can is made up of a relatively heavy fiberboard base or body stock layer lined within by an oil and moisture impermeable barrier preferably formed from a laminate of aluminum foil and paper. The base body layer includes a helically extending separation line or butt joint bonded together by the liner and label which is bonded to the body stock by at least two broken or unbroken spaced apart strips of adhesive one of which is aligned over the butt joint and one of which is spaced from the butt joint. A circumferentially extending collar cut is made through the label near the can end to facilitate its removal. Printed indicia is located on the underside of the label between the strips of adhesive.

Abstract: Stacked pancakes or other farinaceous griddle food is described. Between adjacent pancakes is a layer of sugar syrup in a plastic but non-fluid condition and preferably whipped to provide a foam structure. The stack is packaged within a container such as a six sided box having an odor and flavor blocking exterior overwrap. A syrup barrier is provided on the inside of the box to prevent the syrup from soaking into the box.

Abstract: A package of popcorn which is ready for popping in a microwave oven of from about 600 to 1,400 watts capacity is composed of a flexible and expandable package e.g. a gussetted bag formed from paper. The package is sealed to permit internal pressure to develop to expand the bag so that the corn has sufficient space for the increased volume assumed after popping. The charge of popcorn in the bag is uniformly mixed with about 1 to 5 parts by weight of a shortening for each 8 parts by weight of corn. The shortening comprises an edible solid or liquid fat and the package contains salt for flavoring.

Abstract: A spiral wound can is described which comprises a body layer made of kraft paper or a relatively heavy fiberboard layer lined within by an oil and moisture impermeable barrier formed from a laminate of aluminum foil and paper. The body layer includes a helically extending separation line or butt joint held together by a label and a reinforcing tensile element in strip form. The liner has a peelable or separable adhesive joint between its helically extending edges aligned with and underlying the butt joint so that the butt joint will open as the edges of the liner peel apart after the reinforcing strip is removed. A discrete label covers both the reinforcing strip and the bodystock and is bonded to the bodystock by at least two broken or unbroken bonds of adhesive on opposite sides of the reinforcing strip. A circumferentially extending collar cut is made through the label and reinforcing strip to facilitate their removal.

Abstract: In the present invention the moisture content of foods is determined and controlled by moving the product continuously past one or both of two sensing devices; a nuclear magnetic resonance sensor and a vector impedance sensor which measures the impedance and phase angle resulting from the application of an alternating current of predetermined frequency. The resulting signals are fed to automatic data processing equipment for determining the moisture content as a function of the frequency in Hertz, the phase angle in degrees expressed from -90.degree. through 0.degree. to +90.degree., and optionally the impedance and the NMR liquid content. The resulting signal which varies as the moisture content is used to control the addition of water or solids to the material to thereby regulate its moisture content.

Abstract: A process for forming a two compartmented fiber dough can comprising forcing a thermoplastic cup into the lower part of a container, inserting a duct close to the cup and filling the same with icing, forcing a divider plate into engagement with the cup and the inside wall of the can so as to form a triple seal, introducing a dough product on the opposite side of the divider and sealing the open end of the container with a top closure, and allowing the dough to proof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for processing wheat in an aqueous medium to separate the endosperm from the husk wherein the starch granules of the endosperm are maintained in an intact, ungelatinized form and the gluten protein of the endosperm is maintained in a dispersible and substantially undenatured state. The aqueous medium is innoculated with a harmless micro-organism which selectively grows in each of the processing steps and thereby excludes the growth of pathogenic organisms in the system. The endosperm obtained from this process can be used as a baking ingredient after concentration or drying or it can be separated into its starch and gluten components.

Abstract: Shortening chips composed, for example, of lard or hydrogenated vegetable oil are prepared by continuously depositing melted shortening on a moving endless chilling surface which is held at a temperature sufficiently low to congeal the shortening as a film on the chilling surface. After the shortening has congealed, it is removed continuously. At a suitable location between the removal point and the point at which the shortening is applied, water is applied to the surface of the chilling element to form a film which as the chilling element advances becomes interposed between the freshly applied shortening and the chilling surface.

Abstract: Packages supported upon a pallet or slip sheet are stabilized and held securely together by a sleeve or tube of an open mesh thermoplastic heat shrinkable net enclosure that extends around the periphery of the load and usually is open at the top and bottom. The sleeve and loaded pallet or slip sheet is exposed to a source of heat to shrink the sleeve about the load of packages to thereby hold them in place. The openings in the net permit free circulation of air and the degree of prestretch given to the horizontal and vertical fibers controls horizontal and vertical shrinkage of the sleeve.

Abstract: A spiral wound can is described in which the body of the can is made up of a relatively heavy fiberboard base or body layer lined within by an oil and moisture impermeable barrier formed from a laminate of aluminum foil and paper. The heavy base layer includes a helically extending separation line or butt joint bonded together by the liner and a reinforcing tensile element in the form of a reinforcing strip. A discrete label covers the reinforcing strip and the body stock and is bonded to the body stock by at least two broken or unbroken lines of adhesive on opposite sides of the reinforcing strip. A circumferentially extending collar cut is made through both the label and the reinforcing strip to facilitate their removal. In one form of the invention, the reinforcing strip is bonded more strongly to the label than to the body and is removed when the label is removed. In another form of the invention, the label is not bonded to the reinforcing strip and is removed first.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for inserting separator plates into cans and tamping them into place within the can body. A plurality of insertion heads are provided each with a vacuum supply for holding one of the separator plates on its free end. The can bodies are guided in succession to the apparatus and a positioning device such as a star wheel is provided for engaging each of the can bodies and aligning each can body with the longitudinal axis of the insertion head. Relative motion is then established between the can body and the insertion head along its longitudinal axis in the proper direction to transfer the separator plate into the can body. The vacuum is then released and the can is dropped away from the insertion head.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for separating blocks of dried fruit composed of individual fruit pieces such as raisins which are bonded or cohered to one another. One or more pairs of rotating high friction surfaces, such as rolls having rubber projections on their surfaces, are mounted on a framework such that the fruit pieces pass between the surface pairs, being conducted downward sequentially through the pairs when more than one pair is employed, and are separated into individual fruit pieces by the action of the differential speed of the surfaces.

Abstract: The invention deals with a trim removal system for equipment used in cutting biscuits from a continuously moving strip of dough. The cutter consists of an endless conveyor entrained over a pair of spaced sprocket assemblies positioned beneath the advancing dough sheet. Dough cutting rings project upwardly from the conveyor. As the dough is advanced it is pressed onto the rings. A biscuit size piece passes through the center of each ring and is deposited in a container positioned to receive it. The trim removal belt is provided with a multiplicity of holes of just the proper size to fit over the rings so that the upper run of the belt rests in contact with the upper surface of the conveyor. Guides are provided for bringing a belt into engagement with the upper run of the conveyor at an oblique angle and for raising the belt and trim from the surface of the conveyor at a predetermined oblique angle. The trim is then returned for remixing with fresh dough.

Abstract: A fiber can is described which includes a body composed of a relatively thin liner and a much heavier sheet of body stock covered by a temporary reinforcing sheet or inner label which is enclosed within a display label that encircles the container to provide at least one spirally wound convolution so that the display label partially overlaps itself at least enough to cover the temporary reinforcing sheet and can be removed without disturbing the temporary reinforcing sheet. The container can be used for a variety of products such as fresh dough and other foods, juices, lubricating oils, etc. A circular cut or tear strip is provided to facilitate removal of the display label and in some cases the opening of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coring potatoes which comprises the supporting framework upon which is mounted a potato coring knife and a conveyor for transporting potatoes toward the knife and through the plane of the knife. The framework has an inlet end and the conveyor is mounted between the coring knife and the inlet end of the framework. A drive means such as a motor is mounted on the framework and connected to the conveyor for running the conveyor in the proper direction to transport the potatoes to the coring knife. The conveyor includes potato contacting members adapted to engage the potatoes and advance them toward the knife. The coring knife is of annular or endless configuration with an opening in its center. As the potatoes are forced through the plane of the knife by the conveyor, the center or core portion is removed. The potatoes are then transferred to a potato core holding guide with at least one bore therethrough defining a pocket which is open at each end.