Abstract: A tank apparatus has at least one set of three rollers suitable for being positioned therein, one roller of each set having a density less than a density of water so that the roller is floatable in water, and the two other rollers being movable rollers capable of reciprocating vertically from a position above to a position below the floatable roller.

Abstract: A product filling assembly includes a rotary member which has two discs mounted for rotation on a common central shaft and a plurality of additional shafts and rollers positioned between the discs so that a circumferential portion of each roller extends beyond the circumference of the discs. The assembly also includes a wall member which is positioned adjacent the rotary member and has an interior wall surface which extends from a peripheral flanged wall edge and which is positioned and configured so that a channel is provided between the interior surface and the rotary member at a position between the discs for passage of the rollers and so that the flanged wall edge extends, with respect to a circumference of the rotary member, as an arc for a distance at least as great as a distance between two adjacent additional shafts.

Abstract: Sheets of a foldable plastic material are folded by operation of two conveyors. A first conveyor has a conveying belt run having a downstream run end which is reciprocable for extending the run for a distance and then retracting the run. A second conveyor is rotatable and positioned so that at a first position, it has a conveying belt run in a longitudinal end-to-end relationship with the conveying belt run of the first conveyor for conveying a sheet of foldable material from the conveying run of the first conveyor to the conveying run of the second conveyor and so that at a second position, the second conveyor is, with respect to the first position, substantially inverted and so that the second conveyor conveying run is spaced a distance away from the first conveyor conveying run. In operation, transport of the second conveyor conveying belt run ceases upon rotation while the downstream end of the first conveyor conveying run extends beneath it during folding of a sheet.

Abstract: Dosing a flowable product is effected with an apparatus which has a rigid casing having a hollowed interior through which an elastic hose, which is connected to the casing, extends between casing inlet and outlet openings, and elastic rings are positioned to encircle the hose at positions adjacent each of the casing inlet and outlet openings, so that upon generation of sub- and then super-atmospheric pressure within the space between the hose and casing, the hose expands and contracts and the rings open and close the hose for product flow introduction into and ejection from the hose for dosing the product.

Abstract: Emptying bowls are transported by an intermittently traveling endless conveyor having an upper run for transporting the bowls in an upright position and a lower run for transporting the bowls in an inverted position. A belt which travels intermittently in synchrony with the conveyor is positioned to contact and cover the open tops of the bowls for retaining contents of the bowls therein as the bowls are transported from an upright position on the upper run to an inverted position on the lower run. The belt is retracted at a position beneath the lower run when the conveyor is stationary to release the contents from the bowls.

Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing products, including viscous products, in a container has a longitudinally extending tube mounted to a frame in which the tube is reciprocated vertically in its longitudinal direction. The mounted tube has an inclined wall at its base which forms an end of the tube and extends to a tube bottom inclined wall base edge adjacent an aperture positioned in the longitudinal wall portion. A plate suitable for covering the aperture is stationarily connected to the frame at a position so that upon reciprocation of the tube, the aperture is opened and closed by the plate. When the plate closes the aperture, the plate and tube are pressed to seal the aperture.

Abstract: A dough-based product is formed by a machine which has a reciprocable punch die and cutter fitted to the die positioned above an upper run of a conveyor, the die having a centrally disposed die surface which extends to a peripheral die surface channel positioned adjacent the cutter. The machine also has at least one set of a plurality of rollers, which are positioned beneath the conveyor upper run and arranged on a rotatable disc so that the at least one set forms a spiral configuration so that when the punch die reciprocates towards a dough product transported by the upper run, the dough product is pressed, formed and cut by the punch die and cutter, in cooperation with the rollers, into pieces having a thickened rim.

Abstract: Pasta is blanched or cooked by transporting it to, through and out of a water tank wherein the pasta is passed through the tank beneath and above vertically movable rollers positioned in the tank so that the pasta travels through blanching or cooking water in a vertically oriented zigzag course about the rollers while being blanched or cooked by the water.

Abstract: Layered sheets of food material are prepared by advancing a plurality of sheets of flexible food material on a moving conveyor belt beneath at least one substantially stationary spiral guide, each of which is positioned above the conveyor belt and plurality of sheets and each of which has a longitudinal axis substantially horizontal and at an oblique angle to the downstream direction of movement of the advancing belt and sheets. At least one of the advancing sheets is passed at least one complete turn about a spiral guide for guiding each sheet passed around each such spiral guide so that each guided sheet comes to lie above another sheet advancing on the conveyor belt to form layered sheets of food material.

Abstract: A machine and method for layering sheets of food material has a conveyor belt for conveying a plurality of sheets of flexible food material lying flat and parallel to one another on the conveyor belt and at least one substantially stationary spiral guide positioned above the conveyor belt. Each spiral guide has a longitudinal axis which is substantially horizontal and at an oblique angle to a downstream direction of flow of the sheets of food material on the conveyor belt and is positioned to enable a sheet of the flexible food material to pass beneath it and then to be guided at least one complete turn around it so that the guided sheet comes to lie above another sheet advancing downstream on the conveyor belt.