Abstract: A method and apparatus for cheese block forming with vacuum separated tower sections is disclosed for use in producing large blocks of compressed cheese without having to halt delivery of cheese curd into the tower while discharging a block of cheese. The cheese block former has an upper tower section with an interior area for receiving a mixture of curd and whey under a negative pressure, and a lower tower section, also under a vacuum, for separating the whey from the mixture and pressing the remaining curd into a block of cheese. A vacuum separator is disposed between the upper and lower tower sections to allow the upper and lower sections to remain in fluid communication and, additionally, to allow different pressures therein. The vacuum separator thus provides for a continuous cheesemaking process.

Abstract: An air/liquid mix regulator is disclosed for use in a frozen confectionary dessert dispensing machine. The mix regulator regulates the amount of liquid and air entering the freezing chamber of the frozen dessert machine. The regulator has a single aerator tube having both an air inlet passage and a liquid inlet passage which are least partially divided. The aerator tube has different liquid inlet openings at each end so that it is invertible and usable with differing liquid viscosities. The aerator tube is engageable with a base section of the regulator and has a check valve therein to prevent the backflow of aerated mix into the storage chamber to prevent frothing and foaming in the storage hopper. The single check valve is located in an area of the base section that takes advantage of the relatively warmer liquid in the storage hopper to prevent freezing and sticking of the check valve.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plurality of two piece wear buttons that insert into the blade of a guillotine and protect the surface of the guillotine as it slide in U-shaped channels within a cheese block forming unit. Each wear button comprises a male portion and a female portion, each portion configured to fit into opposite sides of a through bore drilled in the surface of the guillotine blade. The male portion is provided with an outwardly tapered extension or neck which snaps into an inwardly tapered recess defined within a cylindrical member on the female portion of the button. Each portion is also provided with a lip such that when the male portion and the female portion are joined together within the through bore, the lips overlay the through bore and inhibits product from seeping into the through bore.

Abstract: Multiple columns of cheese curd are simultaneously compressed and cut into blocks of cheese by feeding curd into the top perforated tubular linings hanging freely within hollow towers, all towers positioned on a single, enclosed sanitary housing. A negative pressure is maintained in each tower to draw curd into the tower. Each pillar of curd is supported by a single guillotine blade closing off the bottom of all the towers and located within the sanitary housing. Each perforated, freely hanging lining is spaced apart from the wall of its tower to form a drainage passage for whey pressed out from the curd by the weight of the superimposed pillar. The guillotine blade is then withdrawn and each pillar of curd is lowered by an elevator into a cheese form positioned below each tower and within the housing. The guillotine blade is then returned to its closed position, so as to cut off a block of curd from each pillar.

Abstract: A frozen comestible freezer with a freezing chamber, a receiving chamber, and a tank of liquid comestible fed to the receiving chamber through an aerator proportioner which provides the correct proportion of liquid comestible and air for the freezing chamber. The aerator proportioner further contains means for isolating pressure exerted by the comestible product in the chamber from the combined pressures exerted by the liquid comestible and atmospheric pressure of air admitted into the receiving chamber, and thereby minimize backflow concerns brought about by pressure imbalance.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a mixing paddle assembly which may be used with a variety of mixing devices, but which is especially useful with devices which include a motorized carriage adapted to move along a beam spaced above an elongate mixing vat. Depending from the carriage are a pair of shafts, and within the carriage a separate motor is adapted to move the shafts upwardly and downwardly as the carriage moves along the beam. The mixing paddles of the present invention are affixed to the end of such shafts. The improved paddle assemblies of the present invention include a pair of plastic blades mounted to a blade assembly which includes laterally extending, stationary pegs residing in arcuate slots of pivotably supported end plates, so that the blades may be freely rotated on supporting shafts to be angled differently on the forward and return passes of the paddles. The supporting shafts extend substantially normal to the axis of the respective depending shaft.

Abstract: A decanter and sanitary pump assembly for dispensing metered quantities of liquid. The pump assembly is mounted inside the decanter, and the entire apparatus is quickly and easily disassembled for cleaning, thus making it particularly useful for dispensing food products. The outlet of the pump assembly projects downwardly from an overhanging section of the decanter to allow convenient placing of a liquid receiving container beneath the outlet.

Abstract: A soft-serve freezer operates in a first mode, with both the auger and compressor operating, and a second energy saving mode in which only the refrigeration compressor operates. The control circuit monitors the power level to the auger to control the consistency of the mix. When the mix achieves a selected consistency, the auger discontinues its mixing function. Signal lights are provided to indicate when it is necessary to actuate the auger to obtain the desired consistency prior to dispensing the product and indicate that the mix has achieved the desired consistency.

Abstract: A drink dispenser spigot comprises a barrel, a valve plunger, a stem for the plunger, and a spout opening in the barrel. A splash deflector collar about the stem is movable therewith. As the spigot is opened by withdrawing the plunger so that it passes over the spout opening to dispense drink, the splash deflector at least partially blocks splashing of the drink through the spout opening and into the barrel. Some drink splash may enter the barrel but the splash deflector has a wiper flange which will wipe interior surfaces of the barrel as the plunger moves toward closed position and wipe drink splash from the inside of the barrel and out through the spout opening.

Abstract: A device for splicing the free ends of a wire belt comprised of pivotally interlocked laterally extending zigzag-shaped and longitudinally spaced apart wires or strips. The zigzag shape of each wire or strip results in each end of the belt having longitudinally extending laterally spaced apart loops with laterally extending sections which are disposed in complementary relationship with the space between loops in the opposite belt end. The splicer is composed of a metal strip having a plurality of laterally spaced apart hook portions corresponding with the loops and projecting integrally from the edge in staggered relationship with similar hook portions at the other edge of the strip. The hook portions engage and form a pivotal connection with the laterally extending sections in the adjacent free ends of the belt.

Abstract: A comestible freezer has a freezing barrel with a cold wall, an input end and an output end and a feeder therewithin having a ribbon auger flight helix and a stationary blending bar within the helix. A portion of the ribbon auger flight helix has an outward twist or skew diverging from a radial plane through the axis of the helix and outwardly toward the barrel wall whereby to exert a component of thrust on the comestible toward the cold wall. A portion of the ribbon also has an inward twist or skew diverging from the radial plane and inwardly toward the blending bar whereby to exert a component of thrust on the comestible toward the bar.

Abstract: Liquid such as water or whey is removed from soft particulate food solids such as Cottage cheese curd utilizing a pressing belt for high speed gradual compression without significant damage to the food solids. This is accomplished by compressing the food solids in a variable cross-sectional area separation zone between a belt and a support surface such as a foraminous drum and regulating the cross-sectional area of the zone in response to changes in thickness of food solids in the zone to maintain substantially constant pressure of the belt on the food solids to avoid damaging pressure on the food solids. When the food is Cottage cheese curd, accelerated absorption of cream dressing can be obtained by adding the dressing to the curd after discharge from the separation zone before the curd completely expands from the compressed state so that the expanding curd sucks up the cream dressing as it expands.

Abstract: A frozen comestible freezer has a freezing chamber, a receiving chamber, and a tank of liquid comestible which is fed to the receiving chamber through an aerator proportioner which provides the correct proportion of liquid comestible and air for the aerator. The aerator proportioner has a feed tube solely for liquid comestible and an air tube solely for air. The tubes are mounted on a multi-level plug in the passage between the tank and the receiving chamber. The plug has a high level portion and a low level portion. The air tube extends through the high level portion of the plug and the liquid comestible feeding tube extends downwardly from the low level portion of the plug. A finger grip is provided on the high level portion of the plug. The low level portion of the plug constitutes a liquid comestible sump.

Abstract: Apparatus for blending materials having different consistencies such as a cream dressing and cottage cheese curd. A cylindrical container having a flat bottom is supported with its central axis at an angle of 30.degree. to 60.degree. but usually preferably about 45.degree. from horizontal and vertical. A motor driven shaft extends from the top toward the bottom of the cylinder with its axis parallel to the central cylinder axis but offset into the half of the cylinder which lies below its axis. The shaft carries upper and lower flat mixing blades which are nominally 180.degree. apart and are axially spaced and the opposite blades are at such angles relative to the shaft axis that the blades swing through a range of angles between vertical and horizontal as they orbit about the shaft axis.

Abstract: The freezing chamber of a frozen or semi-frozen confection freezer has a mixing rotor having a shaft which extends through an opening in a wall. The seal between the shaft and wall comprises an elastomeric cup having a rim engaged with the wall about said opening. The cup has a hub engaged with the shaft and a yieldable skirt between the hub and the rim. The hub has a socket which receives a metal ring with an oblique wear surface. An O-ring is engaged between a fillet on the shaft and the oblique wear surface on the ring whereby the cup is self-centering with respect to the shaft, notwithstanding any tendency of the shaft to nutate.

Abstract: A tank level indicator having a mounting sleeve and a floating indicator rod slidably mounted in the sleeve. The sleeve has an inner wall from which projects inwardly a series of circumferentially spaced guide pads with gaps therebetween. The pads guide and space the indicator rod with respect to the inner wall. The remainder of the sleeve interior is free of such pads to leave a substantial clearance space between the inner wall of the sleeve and the indicator rod.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating liquids from soft particulate food solids, especially for cottage cheese. A tensioned belt is partially wrapped around a foraminous drum to compress a layer or bed of food particles advancing on the exterior of the drum wall through a separation zone beneath the belt. The belt run opposite the drum wall is free to flex and yield and to expand and contract the cross-sectional area of the separating zone, depending upon the thickness of the bed of food particles in said zone. Accordingly, delicate such particles will not be damaged or broken up into small particles, as would happen if a thick bed is forced through a zone of fixed cross-sectional area. Moreover, pressure is maintained on the bed when it is thin. A belt tightener is provided which will maintain a desired tension on the belt so that the belt will always exert a predetermined desired pressure on the bed.

Abstract: A soft-serve freezer operates in a first mode, with both the auger and compressor operating, and a second energy saving mode in which only the refrigeration compressor operates. The control circuit monitors the power level to the auger to control the consistency of the mix. When the mix achieves a selected consistency, the auger discontinues its mixing function. Signal lights are provided to indicate when it is necessary to actuate the auger to obtain the desired consistency prior to dispensing the product and indicate that the mix has achieved the desired consistency.