Abstract: A food preparation machine primarily designed for the production of the Italian potato based delicacy gnocchi and characterized by an inclined flouring ramp, a motor driven roller located under the lower end of the ramp, a deflection plate located proximate the roller, and a dough extruder for depositing dough plugs near the top of the ramp so that they roll and slide down the ramp into abutment with the deflection plate and the roller. As the roller is rotated the dough plugs are squeezed through a gap between the roller and the lower edge of the deflection plate to take on the characteristic form of gnocchi. A flouring mechanism is provided to flour the parts of the machine that come into contact with the dough, including the ramp and a rotating knife blade which cuts the extruded dough into the plugs. The roller is threaded from both ends with opposing threads so that the plugs are urged towards the center of the roller as it is rotated.

Abstract: Dough which is to be formed into small volumes for later baking into bread, etc. is moved from a mass of dough in the lower portion of a hopper by a pair of helical screws, through a conduit, first to a metering means and then through a dispensing nozzle. A paddle reciprocates through an arc adjacent the dispensing nozzle and on its downward stroke is oscillated so that its lower edge abuts the dispensing nozzle to sever the dough moved through the dispensing nozzle away from the oncoming dough, and then oscillates away from the dispensing nozzle as it returns to its ready position. The downward severing movement of the paddle is initiated by the metering means.

Abstract: Uniformity of flow rate through an extrusion or pelleting die is provided through each of a plurality of orifices of substantially equal cross sectional area by providing a die in which the length of a narrowed portion of a downstream passageway associated with each orifice is chosen to provide the desired flow characteristics.

Abstract: A conventional underwater plastic pelletizer of the type using a rotatable knife hub is improved by securing to the knife hub a diverter plate for confining the flow of inlet water to the region adjacent the face of the die plate. The cutting knives are mounted on the rotating hub at a rake angle with respect to the hub center and tilted at an angle with respect to the surface of the die plate so as to effectively pull a cut pellet away from an extruded plastic strand, and the die plate is heated by an organic heat exchange fluid. The result is a substantial reduction in orifices frozen off by cooled polymer.

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing lining material in cap shells where the apparatus has a lining material extrusion means including an extrusion passage positioned above a path of cap shells moving through the apparatus and a rotatable knife positioned above the exit end of the extrusion passage for cutting lining material as it is extruded from the passage. A drive means is provided for rotating the knife and is connected to the knife by means of a transmission means. The transmission means includes at least two sets of non-circular gear pairs with the relative angle between the sets being adjustable whereby the rotational speed of the knife may be varied.

Abstract: Granulating apparatus wherein a cutter shaft mounting a multi-blade cutting implement, bearing means for the cutter shaft and drive means therefor are combined into a unit, which unit is mounted so that it can be swivelled about a bearing surface adjacent a cutter plate to adjust the cooperation of the blades of the cutting implement with the cutting plate. Screw drives are preferably provided to effect the adjustment.

Abstract: Three-dimensional work pieces, such as instrument panels or dashboards, are made of initially flat stock or of synthetic material such as a two-component foamable material. The tools of the present apparatus include upper and lower holding tools which are preferably simultaneously shaping tools, and cutting or trimming tools. The upper tools and the cutting or trimming tools may have a common support which is preferably exchangeably secured in a main frame. The shaping tools are moved into a first cooperating position relative to each other, whereby the work piece is formed into the desired shape. The shaping tools may then be locked in the shaping position or they may be moved into a second cooperating position to be rigidly locked in the second position. A tool support such as a table carried by a scissors lift frame is used for moving the shaping tools into the desired positions. The cutting or trimming is then performed by applying pressure to the respective tools.

Abstract: A pelletizing device for use with an extruder has a die plate through which a plastic ribbon is extruded, and a milling cutter is rotatably mounted at the die plate for cutting successive pellets from the extruded ribbon as the latter exits from the die plate. Means defining a channel carrying a cooling medium is located below the milling cutter and receives the pellets cut by the milling cutter, the cooling medium cooling the pellets and carrying the pellets away.

Abstract: A plastic resin cutting apparatus for cutting a plastic extruded from an extrusion opening provided in a flat surface of an extrusion block. The apparatus comprises a rotating shaft disposed substantially perpendicular to the surface of the extrusion block with its front end positioned opposite to said surface; a drive mechanism for rotating the rotating shaft; and a cutting tool interposed between the surface of the extrusion block and the front end of the rotating shaft and having formed at its front surface facing the surface of the extrusion block at least one cutting blade having a flat cutting edge. At least the front end portion of the rotating shaft is urged resiliently toward the surface of said extrusion block by the action of an elastic member such as a spring. The connection of the cutting tool to the shaft is a universal connection.

Abstract: Extrusion apparatus for production of a shaped article comprising one or more filling materials enclosed in a coating material. Included in the apparatus are inner and outer conduits through which the materials are extruded toward an iris valve adjacent the terminal portion of the outer conduit. An inner conduit preferably terminates within the outer conduit at a distance from the iris valve equal to the distance between outer surface of the inner conduit and inner surface of the outer conduit. Operation of the iris valve both determines the length of the article and the shape of forward and rearward ends of the article.

Abstract: A cutter hub for use in an underwater pelletizer such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,207, issued Oct. 31, 1978, which includes a replaceable, double or single edged blade attached to each arm of the hub with a major portion of the length of the blade being attached to and supported by the arm on the hub thereby resulting in less axial deflection with increased cutting pressure, since the rigid hub arm carries the rotational stress without deflection of the critical blade cutting surface. This arrangement produces higher quality pellets, fewer knife adjustments, reduces the radial wear pattern on the pellet die plate, permits the use of thinner, less costly blades and permits the use of single edged or double-edged blade with a useable second side.

Abstract: Granulating apparatus having a cutting plate and a multi-blade cutting tool drivable by drive means and cooperating with the cutting plate, wherein, to ensure that the operating conditions, particularly fluctuating temperatures of the various components causing differential expansion, do not affect the setting of the cutter blades with respect to the cutting plate, the cutting plate, the bearing housing, the fixed bearing, the cutting blade shaft, the blade holder and the cutting blades are mechanically interconnected with one another with such interconnection disposed approximately in the cutting plane defined between the cutting plate and the cutting blades, whereby axial force-locking and form-locking connection of the components starting from the cutting plate and extending by way of the bearing means to the cutting blades, extends approximately in the cutting plane.

Abstract: An extrusion process is disclosed wherein coolant under pressure is directed against the outer surface of a thermoplastic material being forced through an extrusion orifice such that at least a portion of the coolant immediately vaporizes and the resultant heat of vaporization required for such action is taken from the material immediately contacting such. The coolant is introduced into an intermediate zone downstream from an initial extrusion zone and the interface between such zones is insulated so as to restrict conductive heat transfer between such zones immediately adjacent thereto so as to prevent possible freeze ups of said material in the initial extrusion zone.

Abstract: Continuously extruded strands of cheese are case hardened by a flow of air directed against the strands as they emerge from the die openings. The strands are periodically cut at the face of the die plate to form short strand pieces. The cutting blade moves within the air flow and the air impinging upon the strand pieces move the pieces away from the blade as they are cut.

Abstract: An apparatus of this invention can automatically produce flower-shaped decorations which may be used to decorate cakes. The apparatus substantially is characterized by a flower forming mechanism which comprises a cylinder into which a desired amount of raw material such as cream is charged, a pattern plate provided with a plurality of inclined apertures, a piston rod which extrudes the raw material through the pattern plate, means to form a stem portion of the flower and means to cut off the flower.

Abstract: Cookie dough in a dough hopper is extruded through a die by means of a pair of dough rolls, and the extruded dough is separated into a plurality of cookie-shaped deposits employing a cutoff wire reciprocated beneath the die. After each movement of the cutoff wire, a conveyor carrying a tray moves a short distance for spacing the dough deposits on the tray. The dough rolls are operated independently from the cutoff wire and conveyor so that a variable quantity of dough can be extruded for each deposit, and a time delay is provided for operation of the cutoff wire such that a sufficient quantity of dough is extruded before initial severing of the dough.

Abstract: A knife adjustment system including a normally non-rotatable quill threadably attached to a hub outwardly extending from the face of an extrusion die at a point proximal said face in order to insure that the operating temperatures of such quill and hub at the connection location are generally equal. Adjustment means for threadably rotating the quill with respect to the hub so as to in turn adjust the spacing of cutter knives with regard to the die face in the form of a planetary gear system located at that end of the hub distal from the die face is further included. The knives are fixed to a knife carrier and in turn supported for rotation about the quill.

Abstract: An improved flat-faced die face cutter is provided which permits flushing of the face with water with minimal chilling of the die. A spindle is provided which minimizes thermal effects on knife die face-positioning.

Abstract: An improved melt cutter apparatus for producing pellets from a strand of a partly molten thermoplastic resin in cooperation wth an extrusion die is provided. The apparatus comprises a drive shaft, a drive rod rotatably connected thereto, a knife holder connected rotatably to the drive rod, a knife attached thereto and means for advancing the knife toward the extrusion die.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for preparing shaped extruded food products are disclosed. The invention comprises providing nozzle extension means on conventional extrusion apparatus which includes an extrusion head adapted for the passage of a slurry of food particles therethrough, a first member positioned with respect to one end of the extrusion head and having a cutter edge which cooperates with the extrusion head to define an extrusion nozzle for the formation of the shaped food product, and a second member having a cutter edge and mounted for relative movement with respect to the extrusion head so as to cut off successive extrusions of the shaped food product formed at the nozzle. The nozzle extension means is positioned at the nozzle and cooperates therewith to receive the shaped extruded product as it is severed and to maintain the product in a predetermined spatial orientation with respect to the extrusion head subsequent to severance.

Abstract: An assortment of extrusion-puffed dough shapes of varying configurations is produced from a single extruding die assembly by mounting said assembly on a cooker extruder expander adapted to produce a gelatinized cereal dough mass and discharge same as individual moieties sequentially through a plurality of orifices in a backup zone and an extruding zone, the flow rates of said moieties being varied in passage in relationship to the flow characteristics of respective shaping dies by coordinating flow characteristics in respective backup zones so as to cause individual dough masses upon issuance from the face of the assorted extruding die orifices to have extrudates move at comparable linear speed whereby said moieties can be consecutively subdivided by a rotating knife assembly and uniformly puffed, flow coordination being evenly modulated by a substantial buffering zone in a dead space in said cooker.

Abstract: A dispensing device for rapidly dispensing a plurality of uniform dough masses is illustrated wherein an axially movable lid member is provided for aiding the flow of dough from the interior of a dough chamber through a dispensing outlet carried adjacent a bottom end of the chamber and a separator member is provided for snychronized movement with the lid member to sever a predetermined amount of dough as it flows from the dispensing outlet forming a separated dough mass of uniform amount and shape.

Abstract: An extrudate cutting device comprising(a) a frame means,(b) attachment means mounted on said frame means for attachment thereof to the extrusion end of an extruder,(c) second attachment means mounted on said frame means and adapted to receive a rotatable elongated cutting means and(d) elongated cutting means rotatably mounted on said second attachment means and a method of cutting extrudate into substantially identically sized sections, are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing a measured quantity of extrudate material to a receiving means. The extrudate material exits through an outlet, and a cutting surface is positioned adjacent to the outlet. The extrudate material is severed by a cutting means having a flexible and resilient blade for severing the extrudate material into metered charges. The cutting blade contacts the cutting surface during each revolution and bends from a rest condition to a backwardly bent flexed condition. After severing a metered charge, the cutting blade is released from the cutting surface and snaps forwardly to the rest condition to propel the metered charge toward the receiving means at a velocity greater than the average tangential velocity per revolution of the cutting blade.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming a plastic food material into bodies having an arcuate top and a flat bottom. The apparatus includes a cylindrical nozzle body for receiving the food material from a pressurized source. In the periphery of the nozzle body is included a food material forming orifice having a plane lower bounding surface contiguous thereto which lies within the nozzle body in a plane inclined downward towards the exterior of the nozzle body. A cutter sleeve is mounted on the nozzle body and moved relative to it to selectively cover and uncover the orifice. The apparatus imparts a curved contour to the top of the pressurized food material escaping from the orifice, while the inclined plane lower bounding surface imparts a flat bottom to the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for making variegated soap bars or cakes. Said apparatus provides for co-plodding differently colored commingled sets of soap noodles having particular diameters.

Abstract: A die for extruding filaments from molten plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene is heated until steady extrusion conditions are reached. The direct heating is then stopped, so that the die is only partially heated from the molten material while it is extruded. The extruded filaments are sheared by a blade interacting with the die. The resulting chips are cool enough for flowing to an outflow hopper without sticking to one another or to the blade. Sticking is further prevented by maintaining a strong cooling air stream within the hopper and around the blade and by making the extrusion holes in the die diverge at their output ends and by arranging them near the periphery of the die for maximum mutual distance.

Abstract: A mechanism for controllably driving a plunger in a dough forming apparatus of the type that has a chamber in which the plunger resides to move dough in incremental steps toward one end of the chamber. Spanning the one end of the chamber is a plurality of parallely spaced apart elongate members, the spacing between the elongate members corresponding to the thickness of a french fry shaped piece, e.g. 1/4 inch. The plunger is advanced by increments of a similar distance, the distance corresponding to the width of the french fry piece and when a plurality of dough bodies protrude through the spaces between the elongate members a single wire cutter is reciprocated across the exterior of the elongate members to sever the protruding bodies thus to form french fry shaped pieces.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing predetermined amounts of lining material into cap shells, particularly of the deeply recessed type, includes a conveyor including a passage for conveying cap shells at predetermined speeds, an extruder provided above and along the shell-conveying passage for extruding predetermined quantities of a lining material through a discharge passage, a blade fitted adjacent to the exit end of the discharge passage and rotatably across it for cutting the lining material, and a drive for rotating the blade in response to the conveying of the cap shells. The drive is adapted to rotate the blade at a non-uniform speed in response to the speed of shell conveyance so that its speed gradually decreases as the exterior end of the blade in its radial direction approaches the shell-conveying passage, and gradually increases as it departs from it, whereby collision between the tip of the blade and the cap shells can be completely avoided.

Abstract: An extruder having a screw rotatable in a chamber provided with an annularly perforated end wall through which plastic material is extruded, the end of the screw being provided with a collar urged against the central portion of the wall to exclude the material therebetween.

Abstract: A horizontal chamber and a piston movable in the chamber to discharge potato dough through a discharge opening at one end of the chamber. A dough dividing structure adapted for mounting in the discharge opening. A diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm on the face of the piston such that when the piston is retracted in the chamber from a body of dough therein, an air passage is created to relieve the vacuum between the diaphragm and the dough, thereby avoiding distortion of the dough. For charging the chamber with a body of dough to form an impervious barrier therein there is an adapter in vertical alignment below the constitutent introducing devices; the adapter supports the piston and the cylinder in vertical alignment below the constituent introducing devices so as to expedite charging of the machine to form an impervious dough barrier. After the constituents set into a dough the chamber, with the impervious barrier therein, and the piston are installed in the machine for normal operation.

Abstract: An assortment of extrusion-puffed dough shapes of varying configurations is produced from a single extruding die assembly by mounting said assembly on a cooker extruder expander adapted to produce a gelatinized cereal dough mass and discharge same as individual moieties sequentially through a plurality of orifices in a backup zone and an extruding zone, the flow rates of said moieties being varied in passage in relationship to the flow characteristics of respective shaping dies by coordinating flow characteristics in respective backup zones so as to cause individual dough masses upon issuance from the face of the assorted extruding die orifices to have extrudates move at comparable linear speed whereby said moieties can be consecutively subdivided by a rotating knife assembly and uniformly puffed, flow coordination being evenly modulated by a substantial buffering zone in a dead space in said cooker.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of perforated tubular film i.e., net is disclosed. A tube of a thermosetting polymer is continuously extruded and the extrusion opening is alternately interrupted first from one side of the tube and then from the other thereby doubling the capacity of the machine.

Abstract: A device for the production of a food article, in which food material is extruded through a generally arcuate die opening so that a differential in the frictional forces between the center portion and the end portions of the arcuate opening causes the material to curl about an axis transverse to the die axis and thus assume the general shape of a shell. The device lends itself to the fabrication, in an automatic, consistent and simple way, of a food product of a unique structure which has a filling of meat within a covering of dough.

Abstract: Improved extrusion apparatus is shown for the preparation of a rod-like body from a coal-containing particulate mixture. Control mechanisms are disclosed for automatically controlling the throughput resistance experienced by the rod-like (or a developing version thereof) body through a die. Portions of the die wall near the outlet end thereof are adapted for inward displacement in response to these control mechanisms. This embodiment may also be coupled with a longitudinally movable die and control means for adjusting the length of the consolidating coal-containing mixture in contact with the surface of the movable die.

Abstract: An improved dough scaler for preshaping and cutting a predetermined amount of dough comprising: a dough pressure chamber; a movable pressure plate slidably engaging the upper end of pressure chamber for compressing the dough; equalizing compression springs connected between the pressure plate and the pressure chamber to maintain constant dough pressure throughout the chamber; switching means to control the proper amount of dough pressure for the dough to be extruded through sizing ports on an extrusion plate mounted at the lower end of the pressure chamber; and valve-like cutting means connected to the extrusion plate to cut the extruded dough to the proper size. Consistent dough quality, size, and shape are produced at a rapid rate with a fewer number of intermediate operational steps.

Abstract: The rigidity of a die used in pelletizing plastics is increased by connecting the rear center of the die with a support fastened to the center of the breaker plate. The die body, support, and breaker plate are attached to the extruder in an in-line manner.

Abstract: A vertically disposed nozzle continuously extrudes a descending column or bar of semi-frozen confection which passes through a ring gear. A cutoff wire is anchored to the ring gear and to a second, laterally adjacent ring gear. Slip rings adjacent the ring gears electrically energize and heat the cutoff wire. Both gears are driven in the same direction, and the anchor points are located to maintain uniform interspacing and thus keep the cutoff wire linear to transversely slice the moving product bar. The gears and cutoff wire are adjustably mounted to be unitarily tilted from the horizontal so that the product bar is repetitively severed along parallel lines to produce slices each having uniform thickness, with the severance lines perpendicular to the side surfaces of the product bar. A wiper is arranged to clean the cutoff wire after each cutting stroke so that the product will not accumulate and burn onto the cutoff wire.

Abstract: The carnivore food is composed essentially of ground raw meat and dried cooked cereal, optionally supplemented with other protein, and extruded as continuous extrusions each composed of successive slugs adhered to each other in end to end relation by the natural fluids freed from the meat by cutting and extrusion forces. The amount of cereal is thoroughly impregnated by the freed juices, leaving an excess of freed juices only sufficient to adhere the food particles together and moisten the extrusion. The freed juices of the meat, and supplement, if any, are substantially the only moisture present.

Abstract: The cutter used with a cylindrically shaped die plate means on a thermoplastic extruder is rotatable about the axis of the die plate and has a plurality of radially projecting blades that extend longitudinally and sweep across the downstream face of the die plate means as the cutter rotates severing extruded heat-plastified material into pellets. The blades form continuous longitudinal channels within which the pellets collect as the cutter rotates. The cutter is enclosed to permit pellet treatment fluid to flow longitudinally over the cutter and flush the pellets from the channels as soon as the pellets are severed. The die plate means comprises a pair of nested die plates mounted for selective positioning relative to one another. In one relative position, the orifices in the plates are essentially aligned to offer minimum constriction to the extrusion of heat-plastified material through the orifices.

Abstract: An apparatus for extruding dry powdered materials into stick form. The apparatus comprises a housing which contains a rotatable auger that conveys and extrudes the powdered material through an outlet orifice. The auger is composed of a pair of helical flight sections with the downstream flight section having a smaller pitch than the upstream flight section. The powdered material is fed to the upstream flight section through an inlet feed conduit and is extruded through the outlet orifice which is located adjacent the end of the downstream flight section and disposed generally transverse to the axis of the auger. The extruded powder rod is cut into short lengths which are conveyed to a collection area.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming rings which are made from a formable food mass, made, for example, from onion pieces and a binder. The apparatus includes a hopper for containing the food mass. A rotating cylindrical member is horizontally mounted within the hopper and annular openings are preferably provided in the outer periphery of the cylindrical member for receiving the food mass at a first position. A ring is reciprocally mounted within each of the annular openings, the rings being reciprocated between the loading position and a discharge position, at which the rings are moved towards and beyond the periphery of the cylindrical member. To separate the formed rings from the cylindrical member, a moving cutter is provided near the discharge position.