Abstract: Packages to be wrapped, weighed and labeled are fed into an infeed station of a wrapping and weighing machine from an operator's position. The packages are automatically wrapped and returned to a weighing scale positioned above the infeed station at the operator's position where the packages are weighed and a label is printed adjacent the weighing scale and within convenient reach of the operator. The label is then manually applied by the operator as the wrapped and weighed package is removed from the scale. Since the scale is within convenient reach of the operator, packages which are too large to be wrapped by the machine, or which need to be repriced due to mark-down or the like, can be manually weighed and labeled or relabeled from the operator's position.

Abstract: A food product slicer includes a rotating blade and a carriage for supporting the food product. The carriage is mounted for lateral motion along a linear path to bring the food product into contact with the blade. A drive motor is selectively connected to the carriage for movement of the carriage along the path. In accordance with a method of automatically operating the slicer, the carriage is moved along the path by the motor to a predefined reference position nearest the operator. A motor position count is initialized, and during all motor energization, a count is generated corresponding to incremental movement of the carriage along its path. The motor is energized for a count to move the carraige to a position corresponding to a start of a slicing stroke. The motor is then energized for a count sufficient to move the carriage to a second position corresponding to a completion end of the slicing stroke.

Abstract: A gas-fired convection oven comprises a cooking cavity having a centrifugal fan mounted on a rear wall thereof. A vertical shroud mounted adjacent to the fan forms a narrow heat exchanging chamber within the cavity. A heat exchanger comprising a generally U-shaped hollow tube extends within the heat exchanging chamber and is provided with outwardly directed jets on the leg portions thereof. A power jet burner surrounded by a secondary air passageway conduit communicate with an inlet into the heat exchanger. Means for baffling secondary air at the inlet to the heat exchanger provides for generally balanced flow of combustion products within both legs of the heat exchanger facilitating energy efficiency in the heating of the cooking cavity.

Abstract: An elevator package wrapping machine comprises a film gripper for initially drawing fixed lengths of film into the machine. While the film is held by the film gripper and side clamps, a package is elevated into the film such that the height of the package draws a first addition to the film drawn by the gripper, if required. Film side and rear underfolders fold the lateral edges of the film and the rear edge of the film extending from the film source under the packages, respectively. A film cutter is provided for severing the film from its source as the packages are being wrapped, and the cutter is controlled such that the timing of its operation is based on package length. By timing the operation of the film cutter to correspond to package length, a second film addition may be drawn by the rear underfolder during package wrapping, if required.

Abstract: A collapsible elevator for a package elevating wrapping machine comprises a base member, a package supporting member and a pair of spring-biased rods. The rods resiliently engage the package supporting member to maintain it in a package elevating position relative to the base member, yet permit it to be resettably collapsed relative to the base member upon exertion of a defined force on the package supporting member. The package supporting member comprises a top plate and two downwardly extending spaced supports which have notches in their lower ends for receiving the spring-biased rods. The supports define surfaces which taper inwardly toward the top plate to facilitate resetting the elevator. An electrical switch is coupled to the base member and a switch actuating rod is coupled to the package supporting member and adapted to activate the electrical switch upon collapse of the elevator.

Abstract: A method for positioning articles to be processed by a machine is performed by apparatus comprising first and second article guide members which convergently extend into an article entryway along which articles are conveyed. The guide members are spring biased into an article positioning orientation across at least a portion of the entryway and maintained in that article positioning orientation by first and second levers extending beneath the article entryway and including an interlock. The interlock releases the article guide members only upon an article contacting both of the guide members. The interlock comprises a release slot and at least one locking notch extending from one side of one end of the slot on one lever and a pin for engaging the slot and locking notch on the other lever.

Abstract: A refrigerated appliance for use as a salad bar includes an enclosure having a refrigeration unit mounted therein and a cooled food storage compartment. An upper wall of the storage compartment is provided with openings for receiving a plurality of foodstuff containers having bottom wall surfaces which extend into the compartment. An air inlet opening from the refrigeration unit is disposed proximate to the upper wall of the compartment and cool air issuing therefrom is directed at the exposed wall surfaces of the containers. To concentrate the air flow at the containers a duct surrounds the air inlet opening and is spaced closely from the containers. A free end of the duct is open to the storage compartment for circulation of the air through the compartment.

Abstract: A label transfer arm having a central axis and comprising a socket body with a transfer nozzle rotatably mounted therein engages labels delivered to a label pickup station and transfers them to a label delivery station. An applicator head strips the labels from the transfer arm and moves them along a fixed path from the label delivery station to a package labeling station to apply the labels to packages. Transfer arm guiding rails are positioned on either side of the label transfer arm for engaging an eccentric collar attached to the transfer nozzle to thereby orient the transfer nozzle into a fixed angular orientation about the central axis of the transfer arm when the transfer arm is at the label delivery station. An operator-controllable selector ring is rotatably mounted to the socket body of the arm and is freely rotatable between selected locations defined by detents.

Abstract: An energy efficient scale using a load cell for weight detection and a power supply for powering the load cell at one or another of three different current levels. The highest current level provides accurate weight indication. The intermediate current level provides only a signal indicating the presence of a package on the scale. The lowest current level is sufficient only for keeping the load cell electrically centered. If a package is placed on the scale while the load cell is receiving current at the intermediate level, then a resulting package detection signal causes the scale to switch to full operating current.

Abstract: A spray system is disclosed for forming directed streams of liquid under pressure. A supply conduit having an open end and a manifold communicating with a plurality of spray nozzles and having an inlet conduit with an open end cooperate for insertion of the inlet conduit into the supply conduit to connect the manifold to the supply conduit, the manifold is placed near the supply conduit in a predetermined but misaligned position. A plate having a slot defines at least a portion of a pair of cam surfaces and a wash arm formed on the manifold defines a cam follower. Rotation of the inlet conduit about its central axis causes the cam follower to contact and cooperate with the cam surfaces to produce lateral force along the inlet conduit, thereby forcing the same into fluid-tight engagement with the supply conduit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for package labeling is incorporated into a packaging machine wherein packages to be wrapped and labeled are conveyed from a package input station to a package wrapping and labeling station whereat an elevator raises packages into sections of wrapping material which are then wrapped about the packages. A label supply delivers labels for the packages to a label delivery station, and a label applicator is positioned over the elevator for receiving the labels from the label delivery station and applying them to sections of wrapping material prior to packages being wrapped therein. The labeling arrangement is best adapted for use in a packaging machine wherein the wrapping material is stretch film, and the sections of wrapping material are prestretched prior to application of labels thereto.

Abstract: A recirculating-type deep fat fryer has a generally rectangular tank, a heat exchanger externally of the tank and a pump and tubing for recirculating fat from an inlet at the tank bottom, through the heat exchanger and to an outlet which is just below the upper level of fat and essentially midway between the sides of the tank. A deflector is provided adjacent the outlet to divert fat returning through the outlet along the side walls and throughout the tank to provide a "forced" horizontal convection. A pair of food-containing baskets are immersed in the fat with space between the baskets and between the outer sides of the baskets and adjacent walls of the tank. Convection results in heated fat being essentially uniformly distributed around the sides of both baskets and through the food, resulting in more uniform, even frying.

Abstract: A dishwashing machine and a method for washing ware therewith are disclosed. The machine includes a wash chamber, a tank for holding a cleansing liquid, a spray system including a selectively operable pump for spraying ware to be cleaned with liquid from the tank, and a heater for heating the liquid within the tank. The heater is regulated to maintain the liquid substantially at a first predetermined temperature whenever the pump is operating, and to maintain the liquid substantially at a second predetermined temperature greater than the first temperature whenever the pump is not operating.

Abstract: A fat recirculating system with an external, gas-heated heat exchanger for a deep fat fryer is disclosed. The use of such a system necessitates recirculation also of cleaning solution and rinse water through inaccessible plumbing of the recirculation system whenever fat is to be replaced. To remove residual water droplets from the plumbing after rinsing, a "dry cycle" is utilized. The dry cycle includes intermittent application of heating and cooling of the empty heat exchanger, resulting in a substantial reduction in start-up time when the fryer is refilled and operation again commenced.

Abstract: A knife roll assembly for a meat tenderizer includes a plurality of disc-shaped knife blades, each having a peripheral cutting edge and a central shaft-receiving opening. Each of the blades defines a cluster of holes extending through the blade between the opening and the blade periphery. The blades are supported in groups by several molded members that also maintain a predetermined spacing between adjacent blades. The molded material extends radially between adjacent pairs of blades from the central opening and beyond the holes, terminating short of the cutting edges. The molded material further passes through each hole of the blades of a group to define one of a plurality of unitary blade modules, each module including the blade support member and the group of blades interconnected by the member. The modules are placed on a shaft by passing the shaft through the central openings of the blades with the modules disposed with their end surfaces in mutual contact.

Abstract: A spray system is disclosed for forming directed streams of liquid under pressure. A supply conduit having an open end and a manifold communicating with a plurality of spray nozzles and having an inlet conduit with an open end cooperate for insertion of the inlet conduit into the supply conduit to connect the manifold to the supply conduit, the manifold is placed near the supply conduit in a predetermined but misaligned position. A plate having a slot defines at least a portion of a pair of cam surfaces and a wash arm formed on the manifold defines a cam follower. Rotation of the inlet conduit about its central axis causes the cam follower to contact and cooperate with the cam surfaces to produce lateral force along the inlet conduit, thereby forcing the same into fluid-tight engagement with the supply conduit.

Abstract: A gas convection oven includes a heating chamber having a gas combustion chamber formed therein and a blower positioned within the combustion chamber for circulating air through the heating and combustion chambers. The blower defines a low pressure inlet centrally of the combustion chamber for receiving air from the heating chamber and forcing it through the combustion chamber back into the heating chamber around the outer edges of the combustion chamber. A gas burner extends into the combustion chamber and includes a distally-mounted diverter for dividing and directing flame and combustion products into two different directions. A bifurcated heat exchanger defines first and second tubular passages which are aligned with and encompass the blower and define inlets aligned with the two different directions for receiving the combustion products from the burner.

Abstract: An improved film cutter for severing sheets of soft stretch film which is drawn in a plane into a wrapping machine from a continuous source of such film comprises a first elongated knife blade extending laterally across the plane defined by the film and having a serrated cutting edge facing the film. A knife bracket extends laterally across the opposite side of the film plane and forms a channel such that the first knife blade may be moved or inserted into the channel to sever the film. The knife bracket comprises an elongated first member, with a knife mounting bar secured thereto and spaced therefrom to define the channel. The knife mounting bar includes a flange extending away from the channel and toward the film oriented at an acute angle to the knife mounting bar such that the extended edge of the flange forms a thin film contacting edge of the channel.

Abstract: Labels are positioned within selected labeling regions on packages processed by a packaging system or carried by a package conveyor by means of horizontally shifting a package labeler relative to packages to be labeled in response to package dimensions which define the edges of the packages. Label positioning is illustrated in an integrated packaging machine wherein packages are weighed, wrapped and labeled. Packages are weighed at an input tray of the machine and at least one horizontal package dimension is measured and represented by package signals as a package is transported to an elevator, which raises the package into a section of wrapping material which is then wrapped about the package as one or more labels are applied. A price labeler positioned over the elevator generates price labels for the packages in response to weight signals. A label applicator also positioned over the elevator receives and applies labels to the packages as they are being wrapped.

Abstract: A shift-error adjuster is incorporated into a substantially parallelogram guiding frame or flexure of a platform load cell to permit adjustment of the flexure to compensate for off-center loading of a scale incorporating the platform load cell. First and second vertically oriented end sections are interconnected by upper and lower deflection sections to form the parallelogram flexure. First and second reduced thickness bending portions are formed into the upper end of one of the end sections to define first and second axes which are perpendicular to one another. Vertically oriented adjusting screws are associated with each of the reduced thickness bending portions to effect bending of the end section about the first and second axes to thereby adjust the vertical spacing between the interconnections of that end section and the upper and lower deflection sections.