Abstract: A method for processing food product includes detecting non-metallic equipment fragments or pieces in the food product during processing by employing processing equipment or components fabricated of a material which comprises a non-metallic primary constituent and a detectable particulate metal constituent interspersed substantially throughout the primary constituent such that no substantial adverse effect on the formability, during manufacture, or structural integrity, during use, of the piece part results, and such that a fragment or piece of the composite material is detectable by use of means for detecting the particulate metal constituent

Abstract: A system for recovery of dairy product from a milk storage tank includes a recovery tank disposed to receive raw milk product from the storage tank, a fluid treatment section disposed to apply treated fluid to the storage tank to loosen residual milk solids from the storage tank and to provide a diluted milk fluid when the storage tank is emptied, and a filtering system disposed to receive the diluted milk fluid from the storage tank, filter the diluted milk fluid, and pass a treated fluid to the recovery tank.

Abstract: An ingredient feeder meters a selected amount of ingredient into a flowable food product including an enrobing chamber subtended by a blending tube. The blending tube houses an agitator assembly that moves the continuous flow of ingredient in both axial and radial directions as it mixes the ingredient with the flowable food product.

Abstract: A two-piece blade for use in a scraped surface heat exchanger comprising a larger plastic frame constructed of a plastic material component mixed with a metal component whose presence within a food product is detectable with conventional metal detecting equipment and a smaller metal edge that is substantially self-sharpening and replaceable.

Abstract: A freezing system for processing frozen edible product includes a freezing section, an inlet section, a product discharge section, and a recirculation section that selectively recycles processed product through at least a portion of the outlet section back to the freezing section.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing of ice cream confections, having constant-velocity confection pick-up function which is uninterrupted by pausing confection-drop function. A confection conveyor system having two cooperating conveyor sections has a constant-velocity confection-receiving station on the first conveyor section and a pausing confection-drop station on the second conveyor section. A serial stream of confections is obtained from a constant-velocity serial stream of confections on the first conveyor section at an intermediate transfer station between the two conveyor sections. At the confection-drop station located in the second conveyor section one confection is dropped on each lane of several parallel lanes on an off-line confection wrapper. The confections are dropped substantially without horizontal motion as received by the wrapper.

Abstract: A continuous motion machine for metering and loading groups of articles onto flat pads. The machine includes endless type infeed conveyors for advancing articles in a downstream direction to a dead plate and a row metering device intermediate the ends of the upper run of the infeed conveyor for retarding advance of the articles on the infeed conveyor and for releasing the articles one row at a time. An endless type overhead conveyor has flight bars pitched therealong and an inlet run extending downwardly toward the upper end of the infeed conveyor at a location downstream of the metering device and a lower run extending in the downstream direction above the infeed conveyor and above the dead plate. A pad conveyor is disposed below the dead plate and is operated to advance pads to a pad transfer passage intermediate the ends of the dead plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling articles in succession into horizontal groups of sidewise adjacent articles and for transferring the article groups to an unloading station. The apparatus includes a feed conveyor for feeding articles in succession to an article loading station, an endless pusher conveyor having an upper run extending forwardly along a generally horizontal path from the article loading station to a group unloading station, and first and second endless type control conveyors each having an upper run extending forwardly along the generally horizontal path from the loading station past the unloading station.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling cases with a plurality of articles while arranged in a predetermined pattern. The apparatus includes a pair of staging areas disposed on opposite sides of a first station. Each staging area accommodates a predetermined number of articles. Disposed in vertical alignment with and beneath the first station is a second station wherein a predetermined number of cases are disposed. Adjustably mounted above each staging area is a carrier having a plurality of article gripper members. When the predetermined number of articles are accommodated at the staging areas, the gripper members engage the articles and raise same to preliminary stations above the staging areas. While at each preliminary station the gripped articles are arranged in a row and a selected article is segregated from the row and moved relative thereto in a direction towards the other row of gripped articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping articles of the type wherein articles are advanced along an article path into a curtain of heat sealable wrapping material, and upper and lower jaw assemblies are sequentially moved laterally of the article path into positions at the trail side of the article and then forwardly along the article path in a sealing run. The lower jaw assemblies each include a pair of spaced clamping jaw members having a jaw opening therebetween and a rotary heat sealing and cutting member is mounted for movement into and out of the jaw opening as the lower jaw assemblies move past a zone intermediate the ends of the sealing run. The upper jaw assemblies include upper jaw carriers that are guided for movement in a fixed path along the sealing run and upper jaw members that are shiftable relative to the upper jaw carriers.