Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including programs encoded on computer storage media, for transferring comestibles between conveyors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for cutting flatbread. One of the systems includes a lifting platform configured to move in a first direction to remove a flatbread stack from a conveyor along an axis, which conveyor transports the flatbread stack along a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis; a transport arm configured to a) move in a first direction along the longitudinal axis to remove the flatbread stack from the lifting platform, and b) move in a second direction along the longitudinal axis to place the flatbread stack on a cutting pedestal; and the cutting pedestal configured to receive the flatbread stack from the transport arm and to support the flatbread stack for a subsequent cutting operation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including programs encoded on computer storage media, for transferring comestibles between conveyors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a comestible loader with flatteners that pivot and translate. One of the methods includes receiving, by a comestible loader, a comestible through an opening defined in a loader frame of the comestible loader and onto a surface; and pivoting and translating a first flattener and a second flattener to a pre-press position to permit the first flattener and the second flattener to position the comestible approximately at a target position on the surface.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using a continuous conveyor belt. One of the systems includes a conveyor belt adapted to move a plurality of comestibles and having i) a first edge, ii) a second edge opposite the first edge, iii) a first row of apertures that is substantially parallel to the first edge, and iv) a second row of apertures that is substantially parallel to the second edge.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using a continuous conveyor belt. One of the systems includes a conveyor belt adapted to move a plurality of comestibles and having i) a first edge, ii) a second edge opposite the first edge, iii) a first row of apertures that is substantially parallel to the first edge, and iv) a second row of apertures that is substantially parallel to the second edge.

Abstract: A comestible processing machine including a loader plate comprising a plurality of spaced apart openings passing through the loader plate, a first flattener and a second flattener pivotably attached to the loader plate at each of the openings, a sensor configured to detect a comestible disposed within one or more of the plurality of openings, and an actuator coupled to the loader plate and configured to assist in removal of the comestible from the one or more of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for cutting flatbread. One of the systems includes a lifting platform configured to move in a first direction to remove a flatbread stack from a conveyor along an axis, which conveyor transports the flatbread stack along a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis; a transport arm configured to a) move in a first direction along the longitudinal axis to remove the flatbread stack from the lifting platform, and b) move in a second direction along the longitudinal axis to place the flatbread stack on a cutting pedestal; and the cutting pedestal configured to receive the flatbread stack from the transport arm and to support the flatbread stack for a subsequent cutting operation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a comestible loader with flatteners that pivot and translate. One of the methods includes receiving, by a comestible loader, a comestible through an opening defined in a loader frame of the comestible loader and onto a surface; and pivoting and translating a first flattener and a second flattener to a pre-press position to permit the first flattener and the second flattener to position the comestible approximately at a target position on the surface.

Abstract: A comestible processing machine including a loader plate comprising a plurality of spaced apart openings passing through the loader plate, a first flattener and a second flattener pivotably attached to the loader plate at each of the openings, a sensor configured to detect a comestible disposed within one or more of the plurality of openings, and an actuator coupled to the loader plate and configured to assist in removal of the comestible from the one or more of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for removing a non-conforming comestible from a counter-stacker. One of the methods includes receiving, on an upper conveyor included in a counter-stacker, a first comestible; transferring, by the counter-stacker that includes a stacking frame and a stacking platform and while the first comestible substantially maintains its shape, the first comestible through an aperture defined within the stacking frame and onto the stacking platform; creating, by the counter-stacker, a stack of comestibles that includes the first comestible and has a threshold quantity; receiving, on the upper conveyor, a second comestible; rotating, by one or more actuators included in the counter-stacker that are coupled to the stacking frame, the stacking frame to cause the second comestible to fall onto a lower conveyor; and removing, by the lower conveyor, the second comestible from the counter-stacker.

Abstract: A dough forming apparatus for flatbread products, the apparatus having: a loading station; a pressing station; a discharge station; and a conveyor belt passing through the loading station, the pressing station and the discharge station; wherein the discharge station further comprises a heated discharge platen.

Abstract: An apparatus for combining delivery of objects from a first transport conveyor (34) and a second transport conveyor (40), comprising a first continuous discharge conveyor (36), a second continuous discharge conveyor (42) which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis; means for pivoting the second discharge conveyor about the longitudinal axis between a lower position in which the discharge ends of the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor are adjacent, and an upper position in which the discharge ends of the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate the objects therebetween; and means for synchronizing the pivoting means with discharge of the objects from the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A dough ball loader includes a conveyor belt supported on a frame. A frame plate is fixed in position over the conveyor belt. Loading tubes on the frame plate are aligned over a loading opening in the frame plate. Pairs of flatteners are pivotably attached to the frame plate adjacent to the loading opening. The flatteners preferably have a flat bottom surface. An actuator is linked to the flatteners and pivots the flatteners from an open position for loading dough balls onto the conveyor belt, to a closed position, for flattening the dough balls and fixing them into position on the belt.

Abstract: A wire separator apparatus for a food sheeter includes motor driven feed spools of separator wire, the separator wire being suspended from wire pulleys across the face of a roller. Motor driven take-up spools collect separator wire dispensed from the feed spools as the separator wire is automatically moved across the face of a roller. A fresh section of separator wire is continuously drawn across the roller, substantially eliminating wire breakage.

Abstract: A platen cover feed system includes a frame supporting a pair of spools. A belt is connected at each end to the spools and can be fed from one spool to the other or vice versa. The spools can be mounted on supports located at the four top corners of the frame, and the rear supports can be adjusted to various heights. The system may include clamps associated with the spools. The clamps can be tightened or loosened manually in order to either fix the belt in place or feed it forward or backward. Thus, the belt can be fed a varying distance in either direction. The belt is generally made of, or coated with, Teflon or a similar non-sticking material.