Abstract: A dough cutting and packing apparatus for cutting a sheet of dough into dough pieces and transferring the dough pieces to containers. A cutting unit is defined by a plurality of cutting plates having dough retaining openings. The sheet of dough is pressed against the cutting plates by a presser roll which divides the dough sheet into dough pieces that are retained within the dough retaining openings. A packing mechanism transfers the dough pieces from the cutting unit to the containers as the containers are moved relative to the packing mechanism by a plurality of flighted augers. The packing mechanism is driven by a microprocessor controlled servo motor. The servo motor moves the packing mechanism through a packing stroke and a return stroke with each stroke having an acceleration stage and a deceleration stage.

Abstract: A device for husking corn ears is disclosed. The device removes the husks and silks and at the same time avoids substantial damage to the kernels. The device includes a plurality of rollers and drive means which rotate the rollers at selected speeds in selected directions in a selected sequence. A method of husking corn comprising the steps of cutting the butt end off the ear, and positioning the ear between closely spaced rollers rotating in opposite directions to gently remove the husks is also disclosed.

Abstract: Chopped food such as ground beef or ground pork or sauce is cooked and maintained at an elevated temperature. An agitator is provided to stir up and dispense solid food pieces uniformly in the liquid phase. A pump connected to the agitator expells the uniform dispersion at a constant rate to a vibrating tray feeder. The feeder advances the food product as a fluid sheet which is allowed to fall from the edge of the feeder as a uniform continuously descending curtain onto the food base. Material that falls beyond the edges of the food base is recycled.

Abstract: An automatic article surge accumulator is described which has an inlet for the articles, an outlet spaced from the inlet and a plurality of moveable shelves between the inlet and the outlet. Each shelf can store one or more of the articles. The shelves are moveable so that after one shelf is full, a new shelf shifts into position to receive one or more additional articles. Associated with the shelves is a device for shifting the articles to a releasing position so that they are able to move to the outlet when a demand is made for an additional article.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for inserting separator plates into cans and tamping them into place within the can body. A plurality of insertion heads are provided each with a vacuum supply for holding one of the separator plates on its free end. The can bodies are guided in succession to the apparatus and a positioning device such as a star wheel is provided for engaging each of the can bodies and aligning each can body with the longitudinal axis of the insertion head. Relative motion is then established between the can body and the insertion head along its longitudinal axis in the proper direction to transfer the separator plate into the can body. The vacuum is then released and the can is dropped away from the insertion head.

Abstract: The invention deals with a trim removal system for equipment used in cutting biscuits from a continuously moving strip of dough. The cutter consists of an endless conveyor entrained over a pair of spaced sprocket assemblies positioned beneath the advancing dough sheet. Dough cutting rings project upwardly from the conveyor. As the dough is advanced it is pressed onto the rings. A biscuit size piece passes through the center of each ring and is deposited in a container positioned to receive it. The trim removal belt is provided with a multiplicity of holes of just the proper size to fit over the rings so that the upper run of the belt rests in contact with the upper surface of the conveyor. Guides are provided for bringing a belt into engagement with the upper run of the conveyor at an oblique angle and for raising the belt and trim from the surface of the conveyor at a predetermined oblique angle. The trim is then returned for remixing with fresh dough.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coring potatoes which comprises the supporting framework upon which is mounted a potato coring knife and a conveyor for transporting potatoes toward the knife and through the plane of the knife. The framework has an inlet end and the conveyor is mounted between the coring knife and the inlet end of the framework. A drive means such as a motor is mounted on the framework and connected to the conveyor for running the conveyor in the proper direction to transport the potatoes to the coring knife. The conveyor includes potato contacting members adapted to engage the potatoes and advance them toward the knife. The coring knife is of annular or endless configuration with an opening in its center. As the potatoes are forced through the plane of the knife by the conveyor, the center or core portion is removed. The potatoes are then transferred to a potato core holding guide with at least one bore therethrough defining a pocket which is open at each end.