Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including programs encoded on computer storage media, for transferring comestibles between conveyors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for cutting flatbread. One of the systems includes a lifting platform configured to move in a first direction to remove a flatbread stack from a conveyor along an axis, which conveyor transports the flatbread stack along a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis; a transport arm configured to a) move in a first direction along the longitudinal axis to remove the flatbread stack from the lifting platform, and b) move in a second direction along the longitudinal axis to place the flatbread stack on a cutting pedestal; and the cutting pedestal configured to receive the flatbread stack from the transport arm and to support the flatbread stack for a subsequent cutting operation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a comestible loader with flatteners that pivot and translate. One of the methods includes receiving, by a comestible loader, a comestible through an opening defined in a loader frame of the comestible loader and onto a surface; and pivoting and translating a first flattener and a second flattener to a pre-press position to permit the first flattener and the second flattener to position the comestible approximately at a target position on the surface.

Abstract: A comestible processing machine including a loader plate comprising a plurality of spaced apart openings passing through the loader plate, a first flattener and a second flattener pivotably attached to the loader plate at each of the openings, a sensor configured to detect a comestible disposed within one or more of the plurality of openings, and an actuator coupled to the loader plate and configured to assist in removal of the comestible from the one or more of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for removing a non-conforming comestible from a counter-stacker. One of the methods includes receiving, on an upper conveyor included in a counter-stacker, a first comestible; transferring, by the counter-stacker that includes a stacking frame and a stacking platform and while the first comestible substantially maintains its shape, the first comestible through an aperture defined within the stacking frame and onto the stacking platform; creating, by the counter-stacker, a stack of comestibles that includes the first comestible and has a threshold quantity; receiving, on the upper conveyor, a second comestible; rotating, by one or more actuators included in the counter-stacker that are coupled to the stacking frame, the stacking frame to cause the second comestible to fall onto a lower conveyor; and removing, by the lower conveyor, the second comestible from the counter-stacker.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a dough pressing system includes means for coupling a cover to a pressing platen, wherein the cover can reduce the wear caused to the pressing platen by the heat and pressure used to process one or more products. The cover optionally can be configured to be removably attached to the pressing platen with vacuum pressure. In some implementations, one or more spacers are placed between the cover and the pressing platen. The thickness of the spacers can adjust the thickness and diameter of products processed by the pressing platen. For example, to increase uniformity among products pressed together in a press cycle, the spacers can have different thicknesses that correspond with the location of the spacer in the pattern of dough balls.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a dough pressing system includes means for coupling a cover to a pressing platen, wherein the cover can reduce the wear caused to the pressing platen by the heat and pressure used to process one or more products. The cover optionally can be configured to be removably attached to the pressing platen with vacuum pressure. In some implementations, one or more spacers are placed between the cover and the pressing platen. The thickness of the spacers can adjust the thickness and diameter of products processed by the pressing platen. For example, to increase uniformity among products pressed together in a press cycle, the spacers can have different thicknesses that correspond with the location of the spacer in the pattern of dough balls.

Abstract: A dough forming apparatus comprising a lower support frame, a lower pressing platen coupled to the lower support frame, and an upper pressing platen assembly positioned above the lower pressing platen. The upper pressing platen assembly further comprises a backing structure, an upper backing platen coupled to the backing structure, and a pressing plate removably coupled to the upper backing platen by vacuum or electromagnetic means. Means for heating the pressing plate, and shims for adjusting the flatness of the pressing surface are provided. A conveyor supported by the lower support frame is positioned to pass between the lower pressing platen and the upper pressing platen assembly. A method of adjusting the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In some implementations, a banded discharge removes or rejects comestibles from a production line when the comestibles have a diameter less than a minimum value. The banded discharge may include two or more support members and each pair of adjacent support members may be spaced apart a distance W. When a comestible with a diameter about the same as or less than the distance W moves onto the banded discharge, the banded discharge may remove the comestible from the production line. For example, the comestible may fall between two adjacent support members.

Abstract: In some implementations, a banded discharge removes or rejects comestibles from a production line when the comestibles have a diameter less than a minimum value. The banded discharge may include two or more support members and each pair of adjacent support members may be spaced apart a distance W. When a comestible with a diameter about the same as or less than the distance W moves onto the banded discharge, the banded discharge may remove the comestible from the production line. For example, the comestible may fall between two adjacent support members.

Abstract: A dough forming apparatus for flatbread products, the apparatus having: a loading station; a pressing station; a discharge station; and a conveyor belt passing through the loading station, the pressing station and the discharge station; wherein the discharge station further comprises a heated discharge platen.

Abstract: A dough forming apparatus comprising a lower support frame, a lower pressing platen coupled to the lower support frame, and an upper pressing platen assembly positioned above the lower pressing platen. The upper pressing platen assembly further comprises a backing structure, an upper backing platen coupled to the backing structure, and a pressing plate removably coupled to the upper backing platen by vacuum or electromagnetic means. Means for heating the pressing plate, and shims for adjusting the flatness of the pressing surface are provided. A conveyor supported by the lower support frame is positioned to pass between the lower pressing platen and the upper pressing platen assembly. A method of adjusting the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a dough pressing system includes means for coupling a cover to a pressing platen, wherein the cover can reduce the wear caused to the pressing platen by the heat and pressure used to process one or more products. The cover optionally can be configured to be removably attached to the pressing platen with vacuum pressure. In some implementations, one or more spacers are placed between the cover and the pressing platen. The thickness of the spacers can adjust the thickness and diameter of products processed by the pressing platen. For example, to increase uniformity among products pressed together in a press cycle, the spacers can have different thicknesses that correspond with the location of the spacer in the pattern of dough balls.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a dough pressing system includes a cover coupled to a pressing platen, wherein the cover can reduce the wear caused to the pressing platen by the heat and pressure used to process one or more products. The cover optionally can be configured to be removably attached to the pressing platen with vacuum pressure. In some implementations, one or more spacers are placed between the cover and the pressing platen. The thickness of the spacers can adjust the thickness and diameter of products processed by the pressing platen. For example, to increase uniformity among products pressed together in a press cycle, the spacers can have different thicknesses that correspond with the location of the spacer in the pattern of dough balls.

Abstract: In some implementations, a cooler reduces the temperature of pressed dough balls after the pressed dough balls have been baked in an oven. The cooler may include multiple cooling conveyors arranged in a vertical stack with adjacent conveyors transferring the pressed dough balls in opposite directions. The cooler may include a safety release turnaround between each of the adjacent cooling conveyors to move the pressed dough balls between the adjacent conveyors in the cooler.

Abstract: In some implementations, a cooler reduces the temperature of pressed dough balls after the pressed dough balls have been baked in an oven. The cooler may include multiple cooling conveyors arranged in a vertical stack with adjacent conveyors transferring the pressed dough balls in opposite directions. The cooler may include a safety release turnaround between each of the adjacent cooling conveyors to move the pressed dough balls between the adjacent conveyors in the cooler.

Abstract: In some implementations, a banded discharge removes or rejects comestibles from a production line when the comestibles have a diameter less than a minimum value. The banded discharge may include two or more support members and each pair of adjacent support members may be spaced apart a distance W. When a comestible with a diameter about the same as or less than the distance W moves onto the banded discharge, the banded discharge may remove the comestible from the production line. For example, the comestible may fall between two adjacent support members.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a dough pressing system includes means for coupling a cover to a pressing platen, wherein the cover can reduce the wear caused to the pressing platen by the heat and pressure used to process one or more products. The cover optionally can be configured to be removably attached to the pressing platen with vacuum pressure. In some implementations, one or more spacers are placed between the cover and the pressing platen. The thickness of the spacers can adjust the thickness and diameter of products processed by the pressing platen. For example, to increase uniformity among products pressed together in a press cycle, the spacers can have different thicknesses that correspond with the location of the spacer in the pattern of dough balls.

Abstract: A dough forming apparatus comprising a lower support frame, a lower pressing platen coupled to the lower support frame, and an upper pressing platen assembly positioned above the lower pressing platen. The upper pressing platen assembly further comprises a backing structure, an upper backing platen coupled to the backing structure, and a pressing plate removably coupled to the upper backing platen by vacuum or electromagnetic means. Means for heating the pressing plate, and shims for adjusting the flatness of the pressing surface are provided. A conveyor supported by the lower support frame is positioned to pass between the lower pressing platen and the upper pressing platen assembly. A method of adjusting the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for combining delivery of objects from a first transport conveyor (34) and a second transport conveyor (40), comprising a first continuous discharge conveyor (36), a second continuous discharge conveyor (42) which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis; means for pivoting the second discharge conveyor about the longitudinal axis between a lower position in which the discharge ends of the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor are adjacent, and an upper position in which the discharge ends of the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the objects therebetween; and means for synchronizing the pivoting means with discharge of the objects from the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor.