Abstract: A warewasher such as a domestic dishwashing machine has a first recirculating path for recirculating wash and rinse fluids through nozzles which spray the fluid onto food ware items in the wash chamber of the warewasher. Fluid is also circulated from the wash chamber through a soil collecting circuit which conducts fluid to a soil collector where soil is filtered from the fluid before it is returned to the wash chamber. The soil collector quickly removes food soil debris from the fluid on its first passage through the soil collecting circuit and holds it for discharge into the warewasher drain system when the fluids are subsequently drained from the warewasher. A drain pump impeller is used to perform the dual functions of draining liquid from the chamber and recirculating fluid through the soil collecting circuit.

Abstract: A combination drain pump/disposer is used with a vessel such as a dishwasher and includes a housing defining an impeller cavity, an inlet above the housing which communicates with the vessel, a pump outlet extending through a side wall of the cavity and communicating with the drain line, and a waste impeller positioned within the cavity. The impeller includes a disc-shaped base substantially parallel to and spaced slightly above the floor of the cavity, a plurality of soil-sizing orifices, an upstanding rim extending about a periphery of the base and including an inner wall defining a plurality of radially-extending, substantially vertical cutting edges and an outer wall defining a plurality of radially-extending, substantially vertical pumping vanes, and at least one breaker tooth extending upwardly from the base and positioned inwardly of the rim.

Abstract: A rack-type high capacity warewashing machine is designed to cleanse and sanitize foodware in a cycle time of the order of one minute and to accomplish sanitizing by heating the foodware with fresh hot water sufficiently to kill residual bacteria thereon. The method of operation of the machine includes a final rinse period in which fresh water at a temperature of at least 180.degree. F. (82.22.degree. C.) is sprayed over the foodware to remove residual soil and to heat the foodware surfaces to at least 160.degree. F. (71.11.degree. C.), followed by a dwell period in which the wet heated foodware is maintained in a substantially closed humid atmosphere to prolong the time during which the foodware surfaces remain above bacteria killing temperature and to cause a build-up of Heat Unit Equivalents to at least 3600.

Abstract: A food material slicing machine has a housing, a cutter mounted in the housing, a hopper pivotally mounted to the housing for receiving food material when the hopper is in a first position remote from the cutter and being pivotable to a second position in alignment with the cutter so that the food material in the hopper can be fed to the cutter, and a cutter cover plate connected to the hopper for movement with the hopper for covering the cutter when the hopper is in the first position, where it is loaded with food material, and for uncovering the cutter when the hopper is moved to the second position in alignment with the cutter. An actuator is mounted to the hopper for use in manually pivoting the hopper and cover plate therewith. A pusher plate is connected to the actuator and mounted in the hopper for pushing food material in the hopper into the cutter. A hopper cover plate is fixed to the housing and covers the otherwise open hopper when it is in the second position in alignment with the cutter.

Abstract: A combined weighing scale and label printer for weighing a packaged commodity (15) includes a scale (10), a keyboard (60), a display (70), a controller (40) and a label printer (30). Memory means (170) within the controller contains a commodity name and other relevant product information. The operator may interrogate the memory means by a keyboard entry at any time to obtain a human-readable verification of the commodity name prior to printing a label (80). Since the commodity name may be longer than the individual elements which comprise the display means, the commodity may be displayed in a rotating or running fashion from right to left.

Abstract: A meat grinder includes a bone chip remover in which the bone chips are removed at a radially outer region of the grinding plate through a single tangential opening substantially in the plane of rotation of the knife in response to intermittent operation of a valve. Knife blades which have substantial axial depth perpendicular to the plate are curved rearwardly to the direction of rotation, to apply an outward force component or pumping to chips which do not pass through the grinding plate, have terminal ends which sweep about a region radially outwardly of the perforated region of the plate, at a non-grinding or non-perforated region, behind which the chips are trapped and rotated about with the rotation of the knife blades for intermittent purging.

Abstract: Rapid and accurate determination of the fat, moisture, and protein content of meat products such as beef or the like is obtained by exposing a sample to microwave energy for a period of time sufficient to achieve a relatively constant chemical analysis in the residue. During heating on a weighing device, a substantial portion of the moisture in the sample is vaporized and a substantial portion of the fat is melted and collected in a separate container which is maintained below the sample but off of the weighing device. By monitoring the time rate of change of weight loss in the sample until it reaches a predetermined value and terminating cooking, a relatively constant chemical analysis of the residue is achieved. Collection of rendered fat off of the weighing device avoids erratic fluctuations in weight readings caused by spattering, dripping, and explosions of the melted fat in the collection container.

Abstract: A dishwasher such as a domestic dishwashing machine has a first recirculating path for recirculating wash and rinse fluids through nozzles which spray the fluid onto food ware items in the wash chamber of the warewasher. Fluid is also circulated from the wash chamber through a soil collecting circuit which conducts fluid to a soil collector which is separate from the wash chamber and recirculating path. The soil collector removes food soil from fluid passing therethrough and holds it for discharge into the dishwasher drain system when the fluids are drained from the dishwasher.

Abstract: A label applicator device for applying a label to the surface of a substantially rectangular package in a selected orientation includes a package conveyor for presenting a package at an applicator station, control means for manually selecting a first or a second label orientation, and applicator means. The applicator means is responsive to a control means and receives a label at an output station. The applicator means applies the label to the surface of the package in a first orientation with respect to the package or in a second orientation with respect to the package. The second orientation is rotated approximately 90.degree. with respect to the first orientation. The applicator means includes a cam and cam follower arrangement which provides for rotation of a portion of an applicator head which engages each label.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a representative average weight reading is disclosed, based on a series of weight readings from a scale subject to vibrations. Signals are generated at regular intervals, representative of the weight readings from said scale. Each new weight signal is compared with the previous weight signal, and one of two alternative labels is assigned to each new weight signal according to whether it is greater or less than the previous weight signal, and the opposite of the previous label is assigned if the signals are equal. The weight signals occurring in a weight averaging interval, which extends from a label change in one direction to the next label change in the same direction, are then averaged.

Abstract: A label printer for printing both human readable and machine readable indicia on the end label in a strip of perforated label stock includes a drum printer providing printing at a print station and label advancing rollers for advancing the label stock from a supply through the print station. Human readable indicia are printed on the end label during this advancement. Label tensioning rollers are provided on the opposite side of the print station from the label advancing rollers and engage the end label after a portion of the label has been transported past the print station. When the label tensioning rollers have engaged the end label, the machine readable indicia are printed on the label, as well as any additional human readable indica. The label tensioning rollers provide for tensioning of the label during printing of the machine readable indicia so as to enhance the resolution of the printed indicia.

Abstract: A printer system for printing upon labels mounted on a web of release material, includes a stationary reel support upon which a supply reel and a take up reel are mounted for free rotation thereon. A printer is mounted adjacent a supply path extending from the supply reel to the take up reel, and a web drive arrangement is provided for engaging the web and transporting the web past the printer. A reel actuating arrangement, such as an inertial arm, is provided for applying a web unreeling force to the web of material adjacent the supply roll, which force is dependent upon and varies with the radius of the supply roll. A clutch is interposed between the supply reel and the take up reel for rotating the take up reel as the web is unreeled from the supply roll mounted on the supply reel such that substantially the same amount of web of release material is wound onto a take up roll on the take up reel as is unreeled from the supply roll.

Abstract: A commodity key for use in connection with radiation sensitive encoding devices provides a unique pattern of radiation identifying the type and/or unit price of a commodity in a computing scale. The key has an elongated body (10) with a code area (20) formed of a frangible plastic material opaque to the radiation used in the encoding device. The code area has a first plurality of insets or blind holes (21) in one side thereof, and a complementary second plurality of insets or blind holes (25) in the opposite side. The sets of insets are individually adjacent and aligned to define potential radiation transmissive openings through the code area, and the insets in one set are somewhat larger than the insets in the other set. The material (27) dividing adjacent insets thus is readily frangible in response to pressure exerted thereon through the smaller of the adjacent insets to form effective radiation transmissive openings, thereby facilitating on-site encoding of a key.

Abstract: A warewasher such as a domestic dishwashing machine has a first recirculating path for recirculating wash and rinse fluids through nozzles which spray the fluid onto food ware items in the wash chamber of the warewasher. Fluid is also circulated from the wash chamber through a soil collecting circuit which conducts fluid to a soil collector where soil is filtered from the fluid before it is returned to the wash chamber. The soil collector quickly removes food soil debris from the fluid on its first passage through the soil collecting circuit and holds it for discharge into the warewasher drain system when the fluids are subsequently drained from the warewasher. A drain pump impeller is used to perform the dual functions of draining liquid from the chamber and recirculating fluid through the soil collecting circuit.

Abstract: A switch for controlling an electric circuit has a sealed housing and a slidable actuator mounted therein for external manual operation of the switch through a diaphragm. A switch mechanism, mounted within the housing, has an electromagnet, a plurality of pairs of contacts for controlling external electric circuits, a pair of control contacts for controlling the power to the electromagnet, and an armature movable in response to energizing and deenergizing of the electromagnet. When the actuator is pulled outwardly, a projection thereon closes the control pair of contacts, energizing the electromagnet, and causing the armature to close the remaining pairs of contacts and hold closed the control pair. Pushing the actuator inwardly opens the control contact pair, which deenergizes the electromagnet and thereby opens the other pairs of contacts.

Abstract: A printer system for printing upon labels mounted on a web of release material, includes a stationary reel support upon which a supply reel and a take up reel are mounted for free rotation thereon. A printer is mounted adjacent a supply path extending from the supply reel to the take up reel, and a web drive arrangement is provided for engaging the web and transporting the web past the printer. A reel actuating arrangement, such as an inertial arm, is provided for applying a web unreeling force to the web of material adjacent the supply roll, which force is dependent upon and varies with the radius of the supply roll. A clutch is interposed between the supply reel and the take up reel for rotating the take up reel as the web is unreeled from the supply roll mounted on the supply reel such that substantially the same amount of web of release material is wound onto a take up roll on the take up reel as is unreeled from the supply roll.

Abstract: A self steering blade guide for a band saw, including a support block which can be rigidly fixed to the frame structure adjacent the blade and which supports a steering block having a blade receiving slot with side surfaces adjacent the flat sides of the blade and engagable therewith upon the sideways deflection of the blade, and a mounting connection between the steering block and the support block for permitting pivotal movement of the steering block about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of the blade, the axis being adjacent to or forward of the cutting edge so that the blade will pivot about the axis with the steering block when deflected, and through action on the blade by the material being cut the blade will automatically be returned to its normal position parallel to the direction of feed of the material through the blade.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is used in combination with a dishwasher of the type having a sump, a washing spray assembly, a circulating pump which pumps washing fluid from the sump through the washing spray assembly, a rinsing spray assembly, a source of fresh rinsing water which flows through the rinsing assembly, a booster heater for heating the rinsing water to a predetermined temperature and a drain line for draining excess washing solution from the sump. The heat recovery system includes a heat exchanger in which fresh rinsing water flows in heat exchange relation with the excess washing solution from the sump before the rinsing water reaches the booster heater. A rinse valve controlling the flow of rinsing water cooperates with a pump located on the drain line so that the rinsing water and the washing solution flow through the heat exchanger at only preselected times during the operating cycle of the dishwasher.

Abstract: A tension adjustment for a band saw having a band saw blade (30) encircling upper and lower band wheels (26, 28) disposed on opposite sides of the cutting table (12), with the lower band wheel (28) and the drive motor (66) being supported by a housing (50) which is pivotally mounted to the frame structure (10) of the band saw and which can be moved toward and away from the upper band wheel (26) by means of a threaded rod (84) extending between the frame (10) and the housing (50) so that the tension in the band saw blade can be adjusted by pivotal movement of the housing (50) supporting the lower band wheel (28).

Abstract: In a band saw (10) particulaly adapted for cutting meat, blade scrapers (25, 26) remove debris from the band saw blade (18) and throw it laterally and forward of the blade (18) into an enclosure (40), which can be removed without the use of tools for cleaning and for disposing of the collected debris. The location of the blade scrapers (25, 26) is slaved to the location of the saw blade (18) to automatically maintain the proper relationship for most efficient debris removal without adjustment.