Abstract: Cooking and simultaneously forming a tostada or taco product in a cooking oil bath by inserting a pliable tortilla between adjacent molds when opened in a clamshell action, then closing the molds and conveying them through an oil bath and then opening the molds and removing the product. While cooking, the product is captured in the space between adjacent molds and permitted to cook into the desired shape. An interchange of conveyor carried molds is disclosed whereby the cooking equipment may process different product sizes and shapes.

Abstract: Cooking and simultaneously forming a tostada or taco product in a cooking oil bath by inserting a pliable tortilla between adjacent molds when opened in a clamshell action, then closing the molds and conveying them through an oil bath and then opening the molds and removing the product. While cooking, the product is captured in the space between adjacent molds and permitted to cook into the desired shape. An interchange of conveyor carried molds is disclosed whereby the cooking equipment may process different product sizes and shapes.

Abstract: Cooking and simultaneously forming a tostada or taco product in a cooking oil bath by inserting a pliable tortilla between adjacent molds when opened in a clamshell action, then closing the molds and conveying them through an oil bath and then opening the molds and removing the product. While cooking, the product is captured in the space between adjacent molds and permitted to cook into the desired shape. An interchange of conveyor carried molds is disclosed whereby the cooking equipment may process different product sizes and shapes.

Abstract: Cooking and simultaneously forming a tostada or taco product in a cooling oil bath by inserting a pliable tortilla between adjacent molds when opened in a clamshell action, then closing the molds and conveying them through an oil bath and then opening the molds and removing the product. While cooking, the product is captured in the space between adjacent molds and permitted to cook into the desired shape. An interchange of conveyor carried molds is disclosed whereby the cooking equipment may process different product sizes and shapes.

Abstract: Simultaneous slicing and washing of relatively firm raw vegetable or fruit products is accomplished in a vat of water into which a slicer apparatus is positioned such that the slices are formed and discharge directly into the water. An inclined takeout conveyor serves to receive the slices and remove them from the water. A circulating water current and fluid jets urge the slices to disperse onto the conveyor. A spray of water or air blast removes residual vegetable matter from the slice surfaces before leaving the takeout conveyor for further processing. Slicing and washing a vegetable in a flume volute where the slices are dispersed onto a takeout conveyor is disclosed where the water medium is collected in a tub and recycled back to flow in the flume to a level that covers the slicer's operative parts. The apparatus may be used for simultaneous slicing and cooking of raw vegetables where hot cooking oil is maintained in the system and recycled for reheating.

Abstract: Simultaneous slicing and washing of relatively firm raw vegetable or fruit products is accomplished in a vat of water into which a slicer apparatus is positioned such that the slices are formed and discharge directly into the water An inclined takeout conveyor serves to receive the slices and remove them from the water. A circulating water current and fluid jets urge the slices to disperse onto the conveyor. A spray of water or air blast removes residual vegetable matter from the slice surfaces before leaving the takeout conveyor for further processing. Slicing and washing a vegetable in a flume volute where the slices are dispersed onto a takeout conveyor is disclosed where the water medium is collected in a tub and recycled back to flow in the flume to a level that covers the slicer's operative parts. The apparatus may be used for simultaneous slicing and cooling of raw vegetables where hot cooling oil is maintained in the system and recycled for reheating.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for preparing a snack food product by baking and without the use of cooking oil, begins with preparation of potatoes, carrots, bananas, etc, into slices, which are surface de-watered before exposure to a high intensity heat source including infra red or open flame at about 1400 F. to blanch the slices and halt enzyme action before exposing the slices to hot, dry air impingement until the slices are reduced in moisture to about 10 to 35%, while the slices are maintained in a mono layer. Then the slices are aggregated into a pack and dried in hot dry air until the moisture content of the slices has been reduced to about 0.5 to 2%.The apparatus includes an insulated housing with a product conveyor belt extending therethrough. A combination of overhead infra-red burners and underneath open flame burners are positioned to create a high energy heat zone along one length of the belt.

Abstract: The apparatus for preparing a snack food product without the use of cooking oil includes an insulated housing with a product conveyor extending therethrough. A combination of overhead infra-infra red source and underneath open flame burners are positioned to create a high energy heat zone along one length of the belt. Air impingement scatter jets are positioned above and below a subsequent length of the belt and a superimposed hold down belt restrains the products from scattering. A dryer zone with fast moving hot dry air is provided to reduce the product moisture to a desired final end point.

Abstract: A masa dough sheeting process is disclosed which eliminates the use of at least one stripper wire or doctor blade wherein the dough is worked between pinch rolls rotating at selected, infinitely varying speed ratios enabling controlled differential adhesion characteristics between the dough material being sheeted and the surfaces of the rolls. Compensation against compressive forces created during product cutting which tend to shrink cut product size is realized through readily variable cutter roll speeds with respect to the speeds of the front roll upon which the cutting occurs.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for preparing a snack food product by baking and without the use of cooking oil, begins with preparation of potatoes, carrots, bananas, etc, into slices which are surface de-watered before exposure to a high intensity heat source including infra red at about 1400 F. to blanch the product and halt enzyme action before exposure to hot, dry air impingement until reduced in moisture to about 10 to 35%, while maintained in a mono layer. Then the slices are aggregated into a pack and dried in hot dry air until the moisture content has been reduced to about 0.5 to 2%.The apparatus includes an insulated housing with a product conveyor extending therethrough. A combination of overhead infra-red burners and underneath open flame burners are positioned to create a high energy heat zone along one length of the belt. Air impingement scatter slots are positioned above and below a subsequent length of the belt and a superimposed hold down belt restrains the products from scattering.

Abstract: A sheeter machine and process is disclosed which eliminates the use of at least one stripper wire or doctor blade wherein the dough, including masa, is worked between pinch rolls rotating at selected, infinitely varying speed ratios enabling controlled differential adhesion characteristics between the dough material being sheeted and the surfaces of the rolls. Variable cutter speed ratios acting with the front roll enable control of the cut product size.

Abstract: A bedding foundation comprises a pair of elongated rigid metal side rails, a pair of elongated rigid metal end rails, the side and end rails being fixed to each other and arranged to form a rectangle. A plurality of elongated rigid metal cross rails are fixed to and extend across the rectangle in spaced parallel relationship to one another. The side and end rails are joined together by insertion of an end of a respective side and end rail into respective channels of a corner joint having two open-ended channels formed therein at right angles to each other. The foundation rails comprise a top portion with a pair of side portions depending from the top portion defining a generally U-shaped channel with the top portion. Foundation covering is preferably attached to the foundation by tacking it to the metal rail or to a penetrable material carried within the side and end rail channels, or by using an elongated wedge to fix the covering within these channels.

Abstract: An oven and method for cooking solid foods. The oven comprises an elongated housing divided into tandem cooking zones each with separate cooking and heating chambers. Food products are carried on a vapor perious conveyor through the cooking chambers as a distinct cooking process vapor is recirculated in each zone at different rates between the heating and cooking chambers. In one zone, the process vapor is circulated generally laterally of the conveyor over the food in a turbulent mode and then recirculated for reheating in a path parallel to the conveyor.

Abstract: A frame for a spring assembly has a plurality of parallel transverse cross rails with mounting slots that form openings through the top portion of the cross rail. Springs are firmly secured to the cross rails by inserting foot portions of the springs into the mounting slots by a simple press fit.

Abstract: A tire bead-breaker having a jack stanchion adapted for substantially vertical use, a jack body mounted on the stanchion for substantially vertical movement therealong, a wheel support associated with and movable with the body and extending outwardly substantially horizontally therefrom, the support having a substantially planar bed for supporting a wheel in substantially horizontal posture with a portion of the tire tread juxtaposed the stanchion such that the side wall thereof faces substantially upwardly, a butting device affixed to the stanchion above the support and being adapted to engage a tire side wall adjacent the tire rim to break the tire bead from the rim in response to upward movement of the body and support and a wheel supported thereon.

Abstract: An oven and method for cooking solid foods. The oven comprises an elongated housing divided into tandem cooking zones each with separate cooking and heating chambers. Food products are carried on a vapor pervious conveyor through the cooking chambers as a distinct cooking process vapor is recirculated in each zone at different rates between the heating and cooking chambers. In one zone, the process vapor is circulated generally laterally of the conveyor over the food in a turbulent mode and then recirculated for reheating in a path parallel to the conveyor.

Abstract: A squid processing machine supports and specially positions a squid. The squid is treated by being severed into three longitudinally separate tentacle, eye or head, and body portions. The tentacle portion is released into one zone and the eye portion is released into another zone. The body portion is impaled on a peg and is rotated and subjected to external water jets that remove the skin, which is discarded, and to internal water jets that remove the viscera, which are discarded. The remaining body portion is ejected from the peg and is directed away from the treatment portion of the machine.