Abstract: A processing chamber for processing products and having different processing conditions in different chamber zones, a single continuous conveyor extending through the chamber from one end to the other, unit supports supportable on the conveyor for moving units from one end to the other, a first unit movement system to move units through the chamber at a predetermined first speed, a second unit movement system for moving units through the chamber at a predetermined second speed, engagement devices interengageable between the unit supports and the first movement system, or the second movement system, selectively, and a control to control the first and second movement system for selective timed operation.

Abstract: A machine for making cookies for removably mounted cylinders that spread the dough on a conveyor belt and the dough is automatically formed into cookies. Mechanism for sprinkling material are positioned so that the particulate material falls on the surface where the dough is going to be deposited and on the cookies themselves. A trap for the excess of the particulate material is provided by routing the conveyor belt appropriately. This allows using that particulate material again.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the fullness of a compactor waste receiving container utilizes the back pressure generated by the compacted waste for determining the fullness of the container. The compactor ram is stopped when in the forward compacting position and the pressure exerted by the waste on the ram is monitored for thereby determining the fullness of the container. The system further includes a timer for monitoring the time required for displacement of the ram. Should the ram fail to attain the waste compacted position within a pre-determined time period then the hydraulic system is shut down and an indicator is lit in order to show to the operator that the container is full.

Abstract: An upper portion of each power screw of a refuse compactor is covered by a protective sleeve to insulate the threads of the screw from refuse. The upper end of the sleeve is loosely retained to the ram to move longitudinally with the ram while yielding to any pivoting of the ram during its downstroke under load. The protective sleeve additionally tends to distribute lubrication along the threads of the power screw during cycling of the ram. A protective skirt mounted to the frame of the compactor insulates a lower portion of the power screw from refuse.

Abstract: A trash compactor is disclosed which has a wheeled bin within a trash compactor cabinet. The bin is adapted to contain a trash bag and the trash compacted therein and then may be withdrawn partially from the cabinet so that a handle may be inserted downwardly into vertical apertures in the front of the bin. A fixed pin and latches provide a reaction means to secure the handle in a downward position in the bin front, and this also secures the front wheels of the bin in a downward position of a lost motion between the front wheels and the bin. The wheeled bin may then be completely removed from the cabinet and wheeled to the disposal site. The container front may be unlatched and hinged forwardly and downwardly so that the trash bag may be pulled horizontally out of the wheeled bin for ready removal.

Abstract: A press machine has a frame; a horizontal input shaft rotatably carried by the frame and rotationally driven by a driving system; a cam means including at least one cam mounted on the input shaft; a cam follower means including a cam follower slide embracing the cam and mounted on the frame for free vertical movement, the cam follower slide being adapted to be moved reciprocatingly up and down in accordance with the rotation of the cam; a movable die portion fixed to the lower end of the cam follower slide; and a stationary die portion provided on the bottom of the frame for cooperation with the movable die portion. The cam has a contour which approximates a spherical regular polygon such as a spherical triangle, having 2n+1 apices (n being an integer) which are rounded, the surfaces of the sides of the spherical regular polygon being formed by the same curve.

Abstract: A cooking rack (10) for placement on a cooking surface, such as an existing shelf or tray in an oven. The cooking rack has a plurality of perforations (14) for receiving securing pins 20. A cooking utensil is placed on or under the cooking rack (10) and the securing pins (20) are placed in the perforations (14) to extend above and/or below the rack (10). In this manner the pins (20) are placed around the cooking utensil to prevent it from sliding. The securing pins (20) can also extend below the cooking rack (10) and engage the cooking surface to prevent the cooking rack from moving relative to the cooking surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bucket for compactable products comprising a compaction member mobile in rotation about an axis rigidly connected to the bucket bottom and situated in the lower portion of the compaction member. According to the invention, the compaction member has a shape such that it bears against at least a portion of the wall of the bucket substantially parallel to one direction and is articulated at its other end about an axis situated in the bucket bottom, off-set toward the center of the bucket and substantially parallel to that one direction, its upper end comprising at least a coupling with a pulling and/or pushing member possibly independent of the bucket. The invention is applicable to buckets, notably so-called "multi-buckets", in order to increase their transportation capacity in the case of compactable products.

Abstract: A feed roller is usually rotated at a high speed; a return roller is fitted to a return shaft rotated at a low speed through a one-way clutch; a rocker roller driven at a high speed is brought into press-contact with the return roller so that the return roller is rotated at a high speed in accordance with the high speed rotation of the rocker roller thereby performing the primary tightening operation for a band; then, the return roller is engaged with the return shaft by the function of the one-way clutch when the rotational speed of the return roller coincides with that of the return shaft, thereby performing the secondary tightening operation with a strong pulling force. The strapping machine having the above mentioned construction provides noiseless and speedy operations for strapping the band around a package.

Abstract: Food press has a cooking plate which is carried by a handle. A skirt surrounds the top and sides of the cooking plate and is floating with respect to the cooking plate. The cooking plate has sufficient thermal mass so that, when it is heated on a food grill surface for hamburgers, for example, and is thereafter placed on top of a frozen hamburger patty on the grill surface, the cooking plate has sufficient heat therein to cook the top of the hamburger patty while the grill surface is cooking the bottom of the hamburger patty.A non-stick surface is created on the cooking plate by hard anodizing the cooking plate, coating it with shortening and then heating the cooking plate at about 575.degree. F. for about 20 to 30 minutes to produce a golden brown colored non-stick surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating food quickly and efficiently include a modified, steam-heating apparatus having a special cup holder with a suitable cup for use with the holder. This cup suitable for use with a cup holder is used to steam heat pasta, sauces and other foods, to thereby bring the foods up to eating temperature very quickly. This cup is designed to be temporarily secured to the steamer by a spring loaded, firm holding device which permits the steam to be injected at the edge of the cup.

Abstract: Module builder having a generally rectangular framework with an open top side and with spaced apart side walls and spaced apart front and rear walls. The rear wall is formed by a door movable between open and closed positions. A carriage is mounted on the framework for movement longitudinally of the framework between the front and rear walls. A motor is provided for causing movement of said carriage between the front and rear walls. A tramper mechanism is carried by the carriage and has a tramper foot. A hydraulic actuator is provided for moving said tramper foot vertically within said framework for forming a module of material which is dumped into the framework. Wheels are mounted on opposite sides of said framework to permit the module builder to be transported from one location to another. The side walls have upwardly and outwardly flared portions so that imaginery vertical lines depending from the outer upper margins of the side walls clear the wheels on the sides of the rectangular framework.

Abstract: An improved automatic skewered food roaster is disclosed. The roaster disclosed herein is of the type including right and left heat sources vertically disposed in an opposite relation with respect to each other, and an endless chain for transferring skewered food spacedly secured thereon in the clockwise direction and in which the roasting is done while the skewered food is transferred from upward to downward by the endless chain. The improvement comprises right and left infrared heaters disposed in the place of the right and left heat sources; and right and left heat reserving plates spacedly disposed in an opposite relation with respect to each other in order to permit the skewered food to pass through the space. An opening adapted to serve as an inlet for the skewered food is defined by the heat reserving plates at their upper ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a predetermined load is placed upon an article prior to securing the article being strapped such as to hold said article together. The apparatus disclosed provides a means for controlling the drive force used to apply pressure to said article before strapping. In the preferred embodiment, an electric motor is mounted on a frame which allows the motor's displacement, relative to the frame of the strapping mechanism caused by the reactional torque of the motor applying force to the article prior to strapping. The measurement of the displacement of the motor relative to the stationary frame is monitored by an electrical apparatus, the output of which is compared to a predetermined value of desired force, thereby switching operation of said motor upon reaching the predetermined force.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically turning hot dogs upon a conventional griddle which has an easily attachable and detachable motor drive unit and continuously turns the hot dogs and cooks them properly on the griddle. The turner has a grid which slidably rests upon the griddle and has a plurality of laterally elongated openings for receipt of the hot dogs. A portable, detachable drive unit rests upon a surface which is adjacent to the griddle. A releasable coupling means drivingly, but detachable connects the drive unit to the grid for driving the grid in longitudinal reciprocation so that the hot dogs are rotated in alternate directions for even cooking.

Abstract: A holder for roasting poultry comprises a detachable drip pan and a first bent wire element interlocking with a second bent wire element whose ends are attached to the circumference of the drip pan and curve inwardly and upwardly to a vertical plane relative to the drip pan. The first wire element being longer than the second wire element has a sine-like top curve having a low point which is crossed by the apex of the second bent wire element.

Abstract: In a coffee percolator having a brewing section, different operating positions are controlled by a control piston driven by a motor by the action of suitable control means. The control piston moves through a coffee meal supply opening and a coffee-grounds flushing opening, both of which are provided in said brewing section, for selectively or contemporaneously opening and closing these openings in the different operating positions. In a brewing position the control piston closes both openings, so that an overpressure is generated within the brewing section. Subsequent to the brewing operation this overpressure is relieved in a relief position by opening the flushing opening while said supply opening remains closed. The relief position is succeeded by a flushing position, in which the supply opening is likewise opened, so that the exhausted coffee-grounds can be flushed out.

Abstract: Coffee machine on which a boiler, heated by an electric heating source, is connected by a top and bottom pipe respectively to two inlets on a distribution chamber, the latter having an exhaust outlet, a water outlet connected to a ground coffee filtering cup, and a steam outlet. A selecting device is mounted in mobile manner inside the said distribution chamber for enabling selective communication between the water and exhaust outlets, while at the same time disabling the said heating source, between the bottom pipe and the water outlet, and between the top pipe and the steam outlet.

Abstract: In this cooking extruder the nozzle head (12) is disposed in a nozzle plate (10) and the passage (34) through which the material for the envelope body is supplied extends at an angle to the axis of a filling tube (42) through which the filling material is introduced into the extruded envelope body. When clogging occurs during production the filling tube (42) can be withdrawn from the nozzle head (12) and replaced by a new filling tube. The front end of the filling tube (42) is led between forming rolls (66, 68) and serves as abutment for said rolls. This makes it possible to form the surface of the envelope body with a pattern or bake said surface locally or over the entire periphery. In the nozzle head (12) a baffle plate (30) is disposed with the aid of which a uniform distribution of the material supplied for the envelope body may be achieved. An annular space between a lining tube (28) in the hollow mandrel (22) and the filling tube (42) may be subjected to suction extraction.

Abstract: A hydraulically driven die carrier for a power press, the carrier comprising a bolster for carrying a die; a set of wheels supporting the bolster for horizontal rolling movement to position the die horizontally; a separate hydraulic drive motor for each of the wheels; a plurality of hydraulic lift cylinders for moving the bolster vertically relative to the wheels; and a hydraulic control system for operating the hydraulic drive motors and lift cylinders for horizontal rolling and vertical movement of the die carrier, the control system including a supply pump having two separate outputs for providing separate sources of pressurized hydraulic fluid for the hydraulic drive motors and for the lift cylinders; a reservoir of hydraulic fluid connected to the pump; valve means for connecting and disconnecting the separate sources of hydraulic fluid and the respective drive motors and lift cylinders; and means for locking the lift cylinders in their raised positions while the cylinders are disconnected from the suppl