Abstract: Rotary molding apparatus particularly for use with "soft"-type baking doughs and like media includes, in combination with a rotary die roll which carries molding cavities in its outer surface, a feed roll for forcibly filling the molding cavities with media from a supply hopper, and media-trapping retention means disposed adjacent the die roll between the feed roll and a take-off conveyor which receives the molded media from the cavities and conveys the shaped media away for further processing. The media-trapping retention means keeps the shaped "soft" media within the molded cavities as the die roll rotates toward the take-off conveyor, and the take-off conveyor preferably is disposed in complementary wrapping engagement with and along at least the lower extremities of the die roll. In its most preferred form the media-trapping retention means includes a shoe with a curved face which is resiliently biased against and in sliding contact with the outer surface of the die roll.

Abstract: A positive-displacement volumetric metering depositor particularly but not exclusively useful in food production equipment has a continuously-rotating cylinder with a diametrically-disposed metering piston or plunger having the general form of an elongated, relatively narrow rectangular geometric solid of a desired height which moves cyclically across the diametral cylinder passage during its rotation to receive a measured volume of media at the top of cylinder rotation and discharge such volume at the bottom of cylinder rotation. Cams and cam followers control such cyclic piston movement, and are adjustable to vary the volume of the measured charge by changing the relative positions of a pair of complementary component piston parts together defining the composite metering piston.

Abstract: A volumetric metering apparatus which provides a continuous succession of accurately metered deposits of baking dough or other flowable media. Media is fed into a cavity in the apparatus. The cavity is in fluid communication with an outlet. A valve is disposed in the cavity so as to define first and second chambers therein. The valve is movable between a first position where the first chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet and a second position where the second chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet. A piston device disposed in the cavity and operatively associated with the valve alternatingly discharges media from each chamber when the chamber is in communication with the discharge orifice.

Abstract: A device for shaping pieces of dough-like material into a generally spherical shape includes a fixed support defining a wall and a support base and a rotatable disc having an inner peripheral surface facing said support wall. The fixed support and rotatable member define a truncated, V-shaped groove in transverse cross section. A lower conveyor includes a run extending over the base and through the groove. An upper conveyor includes a run which extends over the top of the groove. The rotatable disc and conveyor are driven at different relative speeds so that a piece of material conveyed through the groove by the lower conveyor belt is formed into a generally spherical shape. A plurality of such devices are supported on a common frame which may be positioned in line to receive a plurality of pieces of dough which are arranged in spaced, parallel rows.

Abstract: A depositing apparatus for the manufacture of shaped food product includes a hopper having an open top for receiving a prepared mix. Feed rollers positioned within the lower end of the hopper force mix through an extrusion die assembly. The die assembly includes an elongated plate defining a plurality of apertures and supporting a plurality of dies in coaxial relationship with the apertures. A variable restrictor is supported at each of the apertures for varying the effective open area or flow area of the apertures. The flow area may be varied to compensate for variations in weight, consistency or volume of the mix so that relatively uniform weight shapes are deposited onto a conveyor passing underneath the feed hopper. The variable restrictor includes a pair of opposed plates having edges configured in a complementary fashion to the cross-sectional shape of the die. A drive is operably connected to each of the plates so that they may be moved towards and away from each other into the aperture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming shaped potato products are disclosed, pursuant to which a die roll is disposed adjacent an opposed, coacting, counter-rotating feed roll. The feed roll includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending grooves and the die roll defines a plurality of circumferentially extending longitudinally spaced, continuous grooves. The grooves on the die roll have opposed sidewalls which include alternating laterally zig-zag excursion so that strips of dough shaped therein have a crinkle configuration. A woven cotton belt is supported below the die roll and an adjustably positioned resilient pressure roll biases the belt into contact with a portion of the periphery of the die roll. A potato dough is forced into the grooves by the feed roll and compressed by the belt and pressure roll. When it separates from the die roll, the belt creates a suction which extracts a continuous strip of shaped food product from the die roll.

Abstract: A plurality of compressible chambers dispense measured amounts of dough through one or more nozzles suspended universally from the bottom of each chamber for swivel movement relative thereto. The nozzles are interconnected by a plate movable in a plane to jointly rotate the nozzles simultaneously in a circuitous manner as the dough is dispensed to provide a predetermined swirl design of the dough as it is dispensed on the moving conveyor. The plate includes openings through which the nozzles extend and are universally connected. The movement of the plate is responsive to a rotating cam which eccentrically drives a follower on the plate to dictate the preselected swirl design.