Abstract: A method for the production of a food item having a filling includes conveying a food item to a first filling station. The filling station has a first rotating stencil with a first plurality of filling discharge ports. At least one first filling segment is formed by discharging filling, through the discharge ports, onto the food item. The food item is conveyed to a second filling station. The second filling station has a second rotating stencil with a second plurality of filling discharge ports. At least one additional filling segment is formed by discharging filling, through the second plurality discharge ports, onto the food item wherein the at least one additional filling segment is disposed on the food item adjacent to the at least one first filling segment.

Abstract: A method for the production of a food item having a filling includes conveying a food item to a first filling station. The filling station has a first rotating stencil with a first plurality of filling discharge ports. At least one first filling segment is formed by discharging filling, through the discharge ports, onto the food item. The food item is conveyed to a second filling station. The second filling station has a second rotating stencil with a second plurality of filling discharge ports. At least one additional filling segment is formed by discharging filling, through the second plurality discharge ports, onto the food item wherein the at least one additional filling segment is disposed on the food item adjacent to the at least one first filling segment.

Abstract: A method for the production of a food item having a filling includes conveying a food item to a first filling station. The filling station has a first rotating stencil with a first plurality of filling discharge ports. At least one first filling segment is formed by discharging filling, through the discharge ports, onto the food item. The food item is conveyed to a second filling station. The second filling station has a second rotating stencil with a second plurality of filling discharge ports. At least one additional filling segment is formed by discharging filling, through the second plurality discharge ports, onto the food item wherein the at least one additional filling segment is disposed on the food item adjacent to the at least one first filling segment.

Abstract: A method of dosing a popping chamber with a predetermined quantity of bulk starch material comprises placing bulk material into a feed hopper, positioning a dosing plate and a shuttle plate into a charging position relative to the seal plate, and positioning the dosing plate and the shuttle plate into a dosing position relative to the popping chamber and to the seal plate. The dosing position is characterized by alignment of the dosing apertures and the shuttle apertures and misalignment of the seal plate apertures and the dosing apertures such that the bulk material retained in the dosing apertures in the charging position flows through the dosing apertures and the shuttle apertures into the popping chamber in the dosing position and bulk material is not flowable through the seal plate apertures into the dosing apertures in the dosing position.

Abstract: A method for the production of a food item having a filling includes conveying a food item to a first filling station. The filling station has a first rotating stencil with a first plurality of filling discharge ports. At least one first filling segment is formed by discharging filling, through the discharge ports, onto the food item. The food item is conveyed to a second filling station. The second filling station has a second rotating stencil with a second plurality of filling discharge ports. At least one additional filling segment is formed by discharging filling, through the second plurality discharge ports, onto the food item wherein the at least one additional filling segment is disposed on the food item adjacent to the at least one first filling segment.

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of sandwich baked goods having a high volume of filler includes conveying a bottom base cake, detecting the position of the base cake, and extruding a filler through a die aperture to form a ribbon in response to the detection of the position of the bottom base cake. In response to detection of the base cake, a signal or timing mechanism may activate a guillotine knife or blade to open the die aperture to allow filler to be deposited on the bottom base cake and to close the die aperture to sever or cut the ribbon to a predetermined dimension. The severing prevents further flow of the filler through the die aperture until the next bottom base cake is detected and the die aperture is again opened to allow filler to be deposited on the next bottom base cake.

Abstract: A cookie cup sandwich cookie having dissimilarly-sized base cakes is continuously produced by applying a layer of filler cream to a lower base cake and applying an upper base cake to the lower base cake so that the outer periphery of the upper base cake surrounds the layer of filler cream. The apparatus for the production of the sandwich cookies includes at least one rotary molder for producing lower base cakes and upper base cakes having different sizes, a filler cream depositor that deposits a layer of filler cream on each of the lower base cakes, and a conveyer system for transporting and at least substantially concentrically aligning the dissimilarly sized lower and upper base cakes.

Abstract: A dough extruder is disclosed that is configured to provide a continuous dough rope suitable for cracker products using a straight extended low friction compression chamber and a die plate oriented substantially perpendicular to a laminar flow of the dough. In one embodiment, the extruder can have a compressive force sufficient to extrude a plastic mass in a laminar flow in the range of about less than 120 psi; a compression chamber providing for an interior coefficient of friction in the range of about 0.2 and 0.35; and a die plate horizontally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the compressive force.

Abstract: Thin snack chips having a curved or wave shape are obtained by forming, shaping or curling baked chips into a curved or wave configuration before they become too cold and rigid so as to result in breakage during forming. The essentially flat, malleable baked chips, still hot from baking in an oven may be continuously transported on a conveyer belt into a nip or gap formed between the conveyer belt and a rotating forming roller to curve or curl the malleable baked chips around the roller. The malleable baked chips are subjected to a guided curtain of air to cool and set the chips in a curved or wave configuration and to remove or blow the curved or wave chips off of the rotating forming roller onto the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Thin snack chips having a curved or wave shape are obtained by forming, shaping or curling baked chips into a curved or wave configuration before they become too cold and rigid so as to result in breakage during forming. The essentially flat, malleable baked chips, still hot from baking in an oven may be continuously transported on a conveyer belt into a nip or gap formed between the conveyer belt and a rotating forming roller to curve or curl the malleable baked chips around the roller. The malleable baked chips are subjected to a guided curtain of air to cool and set the chips in a curved or wave configuration and to remove or blow the curved or wave chips off of the rotating forming roller onto the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of sandwich baked goods having a high volume of filler includes conveying a bottom base cake, detecting the position of the base cake, and extruding a filler through a die aperture to form a ribbon in response to the detection of the position of the bottom base cake. In response to detection of the base cake, a signal or timing mechanism may activate a guillotine knife or blade to open the die aperture to allow filler to be deposited on the bottom base cake and to close the die aperture to sever or cut the ribbon to a predetermined dimension. The severing prevents further flow of the filler through the die aperture until the next bottom base cake is detected and the die aperture is again opened to allow filler to be deposited on the next bottom base cake.

Abstract: A cookie cup sandwich cookie having dissimilarly-sized base cakes is continuously produced by applying a layer of filler cream to a lower base cake and applying an upper base cake to the lower base cake so that the outer periphery of the upper base cake surrounds the layer of filler cream. The apparatus for the production of the sandwich cookies includes at least one rotary molder for producing lower base cakes and upper base cakes having different sizes, a filler cream depositor that deposits a layer of filler cream on each of the lower base cakes, and a conveyer system for transporting and at least substantially concentrically aligning the dissimilarly sized lower and upper base cakes.

Abstract: A cookie cup sandwich cookie having dissimilarly-sized base cakes is continuously produced by applying a layer of filler cream to a lower base cake and applying an upper base cake to the lower base cake so that the outer periphery of the upper base cake surrounds the layer of filler cream. The apparatus for the production of the sandwich cookies includes at least one rotary molder for producing lower base cakes and upper base cakes having different sizes, a filler cream depositor that deposits a layer of filler cream on each of the lower base cakes, and a conveyer system for transporting and at least substantially concentrically aligning the dissimilarly sized lower and upper base cakes.

Abstract: Thin snack chips having a curved or wave shape are obtained by forming, shaping or curling baked chips into a curved or wave configuration before they become too cold and rigid so as to result in breakage during forming. The essentially flat, malleable baked chips, still hot from baking in an oven may be continuously transported on a conveyer belt into a nip or gap formed between the conveyer belt and a rotating forming roller to curve or curl the malleable baked chips around the roller. The malleable baked chips are subjected to a guided curtain of air to cool and set the chips in a curved or wave configuration and to remove or blow the curved or wave chips off of the rotating forming roller onto the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Thin snack chips having a curved or wave shape are obtained by forming, shaping or curling baked chips into a curved or wave configuration before they become too cold and rigid so as to result in breakage during forming. The essentially flat, malleable baked chips, still hot from baking in an oven may be continuously transported on a conveyer belt into a nip or gap formed between the conveyer belt and a rotating forming roller to curve or curl the malleable baked chips around the roller. The malleable baked chips are subjected to a guided curtain of air to cool and set the chips in a curved or wave configuration and to remove or blow the curved or wave chips off of the rotating forming roller onto the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A continuous case packer for receiving an ongoing stream of cases and containers and causing the containers to be deposited into the cases. The cases are fed on a conveyor assembly comprising an in-feed section, a staging section, and an out-feed section. The staging section and out-feed section are mechanically linked by sprocketing and each includes lugs for positively driving the cases received therein. The lugs are timed for continuous operation of receipt of cases from the staging area, filling of the cases, and removal of the cases from the case out-feed section. The case in-feed section includes a unique case stop and brake mechanism allowing for rapid movement of the incoming cases while providing for separation of the lead case to be fed to the staging section.

Abstract: A case lift apparatus having a case receiving platform and a powered lift cylinder operatively connected to the platform to raise and lower the same, and a pair of endless extensible belts operatively journalled on the platform in spaced parallel relation, with a horizontal course positioned slightly above the upper surface of the platform for support of cases on said platform and a lower course positioned below the platform; and a driving roll means below the platform to engage and drive the belts when the platform is at or approaching its lowered position.

Abstract: A packing case flap opener apparatus for use on a packing case moved through a fixed course and wherein a control or travel cylinder is positioned to move parallel to the carton axis; the cylinder controls the position of a shaft operatively secured thereto and extending out to position a flap opening device which, in turn, engages an associated control member so that as the control cylinder is moved along on its axis of movement, the flap opening device is brought into engagement with both the leading and then later the trailing flap of a case for opening same by controlled flap opening action.