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: A method and apparatus for producing laminated products, such as candy, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of continuously forming a semifluid sheet of a first material on a longitudinally extending conveyor, depositing a semifluid second material on the sheet of the first material, continuously rolling the sheet from the edges thereof inwardly to form a double roll extending longitudinally along the conveyor, and flattening the roll into a laminated sheet product. The method further includes the steps of forming the sheet into a "rope" of substantially smaller width than the sheet by folding the sheet over itself from the edges of the sheet and allowing the rope to move transversely across a slower moving conveyor so that the rope bunches up on the conveyor. The rope is then flattened by a roller. The method also includes the step of causing the sheet to longitudinally fold over itself so as to form laminations.

Abstract: A continuous confectionery product having discrete articles, such as peanuts or raisins, applied to the outer surface is made by passing a continuous confectionery rope through a rotating drum applicator. The applicator includes a hollow rotating drum having a circumferential groove adapted to cooperate with the continuously moving confectionery rope. A plurality of air passages are provided in the groove and a vacuum is applied to the inner surface of the drum whereby the drum picks up peanuts or raisins as they pass by a hopper. A positive pressure is applied to the holes in the drum as the peanuts or raisin come into contact with the confectionery rope to release the peanut or raisin and allow it to adhere to the confectionery rope. The rope then passes to a cutting station where it is cut into uniform lengths and coated with a suitable confectionery coating.

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: In a method of operating a co-extruder, a co-extrusion die used during a co-extrusion mode of operation is replaced by a simple extrusion die which is used during a simple extrusion mode of operation. The co-extruder has a pair of juxtaposed outlets one of which is blocked by the simple extrusion die during utilization thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing laminated products, such as candy, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of continuously forming a semifluid sheet of a first material on a longitudinally extending conveyor, depositing a semifluid second material on the sheet of the first material, continuously rolling the sheet from the edges thereof inwardly to form a double roll extending longitudinally along the conveyor, and flattening the roll into a laminated sheet product. The method further includes the steps of forming the sheet into a "rope" of substantially smaller width than the sheet by folding the sheet over itself from the edges of the sheet and allowing the rope to move transversely across a slower moving conveyor so that the rope bunches up on the conveyor. The rope is then flattened by a roller. The method also includes the step of causing the sheet to longitudially fold over itself so as to form laminations.

Abstract: A peanut applicator has a rotating cylindrical member with air passages therein. A vacuum pump draws air from an interior portion of the cylindrical member, air being drawn in through a plurality of air passages located between an inner surface of the cylindrical member and an outer surface having a groove therein.The groove has a generally semi-circular cross sectional shape.An extrudate rope passing beneath the cylindrical member in proximity to the groove will cause adhesion to articles which were retained by the vacuum of the air passageways in the groove.Upstanding walls are disposed in a fixed plate, the plate having an aperture therethrough communicating with the interior of the cylindrical member, the cylindrical member being generally cup-shaped.

Abstract: Dough pieces for a baked product having an inner portion enveloped by a dissimilar outer portion are formed at a high production rate by continuously extruding two dissimilar materials to provide an extrudate rope composed of an inner core and an outer tube of different materials, depositing the extrudate rope on a continuously moving conveyor, cutting a double length section from the end of the rope with a blunt blade at one point along the conveyor, and on the same stroke dividing the double length section into individual dough pieces with a blunt blade.

Abstract: A simple extrusion die is provided for converting a co-extrusion apparatus to a single-material extruder. The extruder has a pair of side-by-side outlets in a coupling member, an eccentric mounting plate of the die attaches to the coupling member, blocking one of the extruder outlets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing laminated products, such as candy, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of continuously forming a semifluid sheet of a first material on a longitudinally extending conveyor, depositing a semifluid second material on the sheet of the first material, continuously rolling the sheet from the edges thereof inwardly to form a double roll extending longitudinally along the conveyor, and flattening the roll into a laminated sheet product. The method further includes the steps of forming the sheet into a "rope" of substantially smaller width than the sheet by folding the sheet over itself from the edges of the sheet and allowing the rope to move transversely across a slower moving conveyor so that the rope bunches up on the conveyor. The rope is then flattened by a roller. The method also includes the step of causing the sheet to longitudinally fold over itself so as to form laminations.

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 yeast cake device for reorienting yeast cakes by a tumbling operation has a single reciprocating part. The reciprocating part is a reciprocating ram having an upper arm and a lower arm. The upper arm serves to push articles to be tumbled across a first shelf. The tumbling occurs from the first half and onto the lower arm of the reciprocating ram. Upon retraction during a backstroke of the reciprocating ram, the article supported by the lower arm brings the article into engagement with the first shelf such that the article remains stationary while the lower arm moves beneath the article. During retraction, the center of gravity of the article lies beyond a free edge of the lower arm such that the article tumbles for a second time through a 90 degree revolution and onto a second shelf. During another stroke, the lower arm again engages the article so as to push the article onto a conveyor belt.

Abstract: A peanut butter press feeding mechanism has a peanut supply hopper which is controlled by a release gate to supply a volumetric feeder. The volumetric feeder ensures that each of four intermediate holding hoppers at a peanut butter press are filled to capacity. A second release gate controls the outlet of the volumetric feeder, which releases the peanuts into a totalizing scale which weighs peanuts supplied to all four of the intermediate holding hoppers. The totalizing scale supplies peanuts to a conveying arrangement having diverting gates which supply the appropriate intermediate holding hopper with a full supply of peanuts. During operation of the peanut butter press, a predetermined amount of oil is removed from the peanuts based upon the total weight of the peanuts used. This is necessary since merely knowing the volume of the peanuts used is insufficient due to the fluctuations in density of each batch of peanuts.

Abstract: A yeast cake loader loads yeast cakes into shallow open-top boxes in a reciprocating motion. The yeast cakes are smoothly lowered by a resiliently bendable surface which resiliently bends under the weight of the yeast cakes during loading. A ram pushes a block of yeast cakes across the resiliently bendable surface, which operates to move the box as well. When the box is full and has been moved a distance of one box width, the ram retracts and a new box is supplied under the resiliently bendable surface. The resiliently bendable surface then returns to its initial position. Additional yeast cakes are supplied in front of the ram, and the cycle is repeated.

Abstract: An apparatus acts upon an extrudate rope to form individual elements of predetermined size and shape which are separated from one another by a predetermined space. A die is used having a predetermined shape with indentations therein to press the extrudate rope against a support at predetermined locations. A conveyor belt is used to carry the extrudate rope in one direction, and the die is supported such that during the pressing operation the die forward speed matches the extrudate rope forward speed. A supporting table underlies the conveyor belt. At least two shims are placed under the conveyor belt on either side of the path of the extrudate rope and underlying the path of the die so that portions of the extrudate rope which are pressed beneath the die are forced from under the die toward the indentations formed in the die so as to minimize waste of portions of the extrudate rope.

Abstract: Dough pieces for a baked product having an inner portion enveloped by a dissimilar outer portion are formed at a high production rate by continuously extruding two dissimilar materials to provide an extrudate rope composed of an inner core and an outer tube of different materials, depositing the extrudate rope on a continuously moving conveyor, cutting a double length section from the end of the rope with a blunt blade at one point along the conveyor, and on the same stroke dividing the double length section into individual dough pieces with a blunt blade.

Abstract: A waffle creme sandwich sawing machine having first and second saw mechanisms, each including a row of vertical reciprocating blades. The saw mechanisms are spaced from each other and positioned so their cut lines are at right angles. A pusher mechanism moves a stack of waffle creme sandwich sheets through the first saw mechanism and onto a longitudinally slotted conveyor which moves through said second saw mechanism.