Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for manufacturing, from a coextrusion, food pieces wherein an inner food is fully or partially enrobed by an outer food. In one embodiment the inner food is a dough that is enrobed by an outer dough by severing the outer dough with a blunt severing edge on a severing element which, as it enters the coextrusion, simultaneously draws the outer dough over the inner dough on both sides of the element to form the food piece. A coextrusion of an inner dough inside an outer dough is formed below a die with the extrusion of the inner dough periodically interrupted to form a region in the coextrusion where there is a greater amount of outer dough. A pair of severing elements are operatively located at a predetermined distance below the die where convergence of the severing elements cuts the extrusion in a region having a greater amount of outer dough while simultaneously drawing the outer dough over the inner dough above and below the severing elements.

Abstract: Relatively flexible cookie trays are supported on a rotatable mount. The cookie trays are not solidly supported, but rather are supported along portions beneath, and in between, regions where cookies are to be received. As the trays are relatively flexible, it is important that, for soft cookies, no rigid or hard surface be encountered during the relatively high speed loading operation. In connection with this invention, a cookie separating device is used which includes a pair of fingers holding cookies back and releasing them individually at time intervals. Also included is a conveyor belt feeding directly and selectively to one of two conveyor belts, each conveyor belt being fed having a far end which directly loads empty cookie trays by moving upward or downward relative to the cookie tray as well as extending toward and away from the tray.

Abstract: A conveyor for handling articles is disclosed. The conveyor has an endless belt movable about rollers. The endless belt has an upstream and a downstream end. There is a fixed pivot roller located at the upstream end, whereby the conveyor is pivotable upwardly and downwardly about the fixe pivot roller. There is a first movable roller located at the downstream end which is capable of moving upwardly, downwardly and horizontally. There is a fixed position roller located between the fixed pivot roller and the first movable roller for directing the belt downwardly towards the first movable roller to provide a downward sloped nose on the downstream end of the conveyor. There is a second movable roller for receiving the belt from the first movable roller. The second movable roller is spring biased for tensioning the belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling articles has a rotatable table. A pivotable tray support is attached to the rotatable table. The tray support has a slab-like member for entering rear portions of trays to provide resilient support for the trays. The resilient supporting of the trays avoids damage to articles being loaded in the trays. The tray support has a lower surface for supporting the trays. The trays are unloaded by pivoting the tray support.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling articles has an accumulator with a plurality of spaced apart conveyors to permit crumbs to drop between the conveyors. A plurality of separators are located between the conveyors to separate and guide the articles into columns on the conveyors. A movable stop member is located near a conveyor for conveying articles away from the accumulator. The stop member forms columns in the accumulator by preventing passage of the articles out of the accumulator. A sensor and a controller detects and releases a sufficient number of articles in the columns.

Abstract: A workpiece transfer assembly which enables a workpiece affixed to a pallet to be rotated at a work station and thereafter returned to its original position for longitudinal indexing along the transfer line. The transfer line includes a pallet locating and supporting unit which carries a first transfer bar segment. The pallet locating and supporting means includes bearing which enable the first transfer bar segment to be longitudinally indexed and rotated about its longitudinal axis. A rotary indexing assembly is provided for rotating the pallet supporting and locating device. A second transfer bar segment is carried by an intermediate transfer section. Both transfer bar segments include end features which interlockingly engage; thus, enabling the rotational and longitudinal movement to be transferred along the bar sections when they are aligned, but permitting the first transfer bar segment to be rotated out of engagement with the remaining transfer bar segments.

Abstract: Relatively flexible cookie trays are supported on a rotatable mount. The cookie trays are not solidly supported, but rather are supported along portions beneath, and in between, regions where cookies are to be received. As the trays are relatively flexible, it is important that, for soft cookies, no rigid or hard surface be encountered during the relatively high speed loading operation. In connection with this invention, a cookie separating device is used which includes a pair of fingers holding cookies back and releasing them individually at time intervals. Also included is a conveyor belt feeding directly and selectively to one of two conveyor belts, each conveyor belt being fed having a far end which directly loads empty cookie trays by moving upward or downward relative to the cookie tray as well as extending toward and away from the tray.

Abstract: In a pallet-advancing machine where friction plates on a pair of spaced chains directly engage the bottom face of the pallets near the side edges leaving the central part of the underface of the pallets free. An escapement mechanism embodies a shaft which is mounted adjacent to one or more stations on the center line of the pallets for rotational movement. Stop lugs are mounted on the shaft in position to stop a pallet with one type of stop block at a work station and a pallet with another type of block at a waiting station. By rotating the shaft, the advancement of a pallet into the work station is accurately controlled at the time another pallet is stopped at the waiting station. Two pallets may be advanced at the same time to have one or both located at one or adjacent work stations, the positions for which are accurately controlled by the angular rotation of the shaft first in one direction then in the other direction.