Edible Patents (Class 83/932)
  • Publication number: 20030221535
    Abstract: A process and system for cutting of slabs of a target food product. The slabs produced by this cutting step are within a predetermined size range, i.e., predetermined range as to height, length, and width. After a slab of target food product is cut so that it is of a size that is within the predetermined boundary of the predetermined size range it is introduced to a cutting tool at a predetermined time and at a predetermined speed. The cutting tool is of a predetermined size and includes at least one cutting area that is at least sufficient to cut a predetermined pattern of tessellated or nested figures out of the slab of food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Sargento Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald L. Kraus, Karl L. Linck, Aaron L. Strand
  • Patent number: 6655248
    Abstract: A cutter, preferably a cheese cutter, for cutting food into consumer-size chunks. The cutter comprises a feed conveyor, slab drive apparatus for driving a slab along the feed conveyor, and a cutting harp adjacent the discharge end of the feed conveyor. The cutting harp has cutting devices which make cuts extending across an opening. A slab discharged from the conveyor passes through the central opening, and the cutting devices cut the food product in the direction of advance of the slab. Transverse harp drive apparatus drives the harp transverse to the direction of advance of the slab, severing chunks of product from the slab. A take-away conveyor takes the severed chunks away from the cutting harp, to a weighing device which weighs the chunks. A controller receives weights from the weighing device, and sends adjustment instructions to the slab drive apparatus to adjust subsequent weights of product cut from such slabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Charles H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6647850
    Abstract: A bagel or bun slicing apparatus includes a frame mounted to a vertically adjustable stand and base. The frame defines a vertical channel which houses a reciprocating blade and rollers for transporting the bagel or bun through the channel and across the blade. The rollers are rotated by an electric motor which also reciprocates the blade. The rollers and/or a guide plate may be laterally adjustable to allow for bagels or buns of varying widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Nick Verklan
  • Patent number: 6647848
    Abstract: A cake-layer cutting apparatus for allowing a user to slice layers of cake accurately and evenly. The cake-layer cutting apparatus includes a frame, which includes a first support, a second support and a handle portion that extends between the first support and the second support. The frame is designed to be passed over and along side the cake. The first support includes a first support slot that extends vertically through the first support. The second support includes a second support slot that extends vertically through the second support. A plurality of wires extend between the supports for cutting the cake as the cake is passed between the supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Erwin S. Bruner
  • Patent number: 6644179
    Abstract: The utility kitchen tool is a multiple task tool used in the kitchen utilizing the force of a spring-loaded scissor action handle applied to a push plate mounted within an attaching interchangeable scoop or container allowing for the scoop to create formed measured amounts of dispensable foods, to prepare food for cooking, to slice food, chop foods or to create molded measured amounts of soft foods for baking or serving in a plurality of ornamental shapes. The scoop also provides either a straight forcing motion of the push plate or a spinning motion of the push plate depending on the present use of the scoop and also provides a attaching container to hold foods being chopped or minced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Rutherford Kiehm
  • Patent number: 6640681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device that allows portions of similar slices to be obtained even if the product that is sliced is changed. To this end, the slice surface is monitored. Incomplete portions are transferred to a park position subject to the slice surface monitoring. The incomplete portions are transported in a positionally accurate manner from the park position back to the collecting zone if the slice surface monitoring element detects that slices are available that match the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Co. KG
    Inventor: Günther Weber
  • Publication number: 20030200854
    Abstract: A cutting machine for food including a motor housing with one blade which is rotationally held on or in it, a carriage which is used to support the material to be cut and which can be moved parallel to the cutting plane of the blade, and means for carriage guidance to which the carriage is attached or can be attached, and a base plate which is used directly or indirectly for holding the motor housing, the cutting machine having a base part which encompasses the base plate and a carrier part which is made essentially in one piece with it, and the motor housing being held on the carrier part. Furthermore, this invention relates to a base part for one such cutting machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Heinrich Graef, Andreas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6634282
    Abstract: An elongated frame made up of rails, and having a main endless belt conveyor for carrying parts of sandwiches, and completed sandwiches through the machine. A slicer carriage is mounted on and above the frame, having an endless slicer belt means parallel with the main belt for gripping the sandwiches between the belts for conveying them. The slicer belt means is made up of transversely spaced belts, forming a space therebetween, and a slicer blade is operable in the space between the belts. The main belt has a longitudinal groove in its outer surface, to receive the edge of the blade to enable the blade to cut entirely through the sandwiches and in slicing them. The slicing carriage, and the slicer blade, each individually, are vertically adjustable for accommodating sandwiches of different thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Henry B. Whitmore
  • Patent number: 6622602
    Abstract: A device (1) is provided for slicing loaves and similar bakery products. The device includes a stationary frame (2) including a support (4, 5) for supporting the loaves or bakery products. A blade carrier (10) holds a plurality of thin elongate cutting blades (11) at spaced locations with respect to one another. Each blade includes a cutting edge (13) for cutting the loaves or bakery products. The device includes a blade carrier drive (51-56, 65-68) which provides for first and second movement of the blade carrier. A cleaning mechanism (70, 71) is provided for cleaning the cutting blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Rompa Patent Beheer B.V.
    Inventor: Jozef J. Th. Rompa
  • Patent number: 6619170
    Abstract: A machine for slicing a bakery product, including a supported table surface having an aperture for the passage therethrough of sliced products; a pair of spaced-apart riser blocks projecting above said table surface; at least one power-driven cutting device disposed adjacent to said riser blocks, the cutting device having a horizontal blade extending above said table surface at a distance substantially corresponding to the slice thickness required, and a power-driven turntable, revolvable on a vertical axis and spaced above said cutting device, the turntable rigidly supporting at least one open-ended feed hopper adapted to contain a stack of bakery product items, the lowest item in said stack resting on the table surface and being pushed by the hopper into contact with said cutting device to produce a slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Elliot Kaplan
  • Patent number: 6607769
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a plurality of cutter blades arranged around a vertical central axis. The lettuce head is placed above the cutter blades, with the core directed downward, and it is pushed downwardly against the cutter blades, and the cutter blades cut into the head, around the core. The core is thereby cut out, and it falls out and discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventors: Kiv Krymskiy, Hector Chavez
  • Publication number: 20030145698
    Abstract: A method and apparatus by which potatoes and other elongate food product can be properly oriented and stabilized during a slicing operation performed by a cutting device having a horizontal cutting plane. The apparatus includes a passage extending downwardly toward the cutting device and defining an opening in proximity to the cutting device, splines or other suitable features disposed along a first portion of the passage and oriented substantially parallel to the passage, and means for applying a force on a food product traveling downward through the passage so as to urge the product into contact with the splines during engagement with the cutting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks
  • Patent number: 6601498
    Abstract: A bread storage device for keeping bread fresher for longer periods of time. The bread storage device includes a container having top, back, bottom and side walls, and also having an open front; and also includes a door being removably closed over the open front of the container; and further includes a bread support assembly including a board member, a plurality of rollers being attached to a bottom side of the board member, and a handle being attached to the board member for the movement thereof in and out of the container through the open front; also includes a bread retaining member being disposed in the container and being adapted to engage a loaf of bread to allow a user to slice the loaf of bread; and further includes a freshness seal being disposed in the top wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Michael J. O'Brion
  • Patent number: 6602533
    Abstract: Apparatus for preparing potato chips. The apparatus has a slicer for the slicing of potatoes, means for conveying sliced potatoes through a heated oil bath and for removal of cooked potato chips from the heated oil bath. The slicer has a knife blade that rotates at the lower end of a hopper for potatoes, the speed of rotation of the knife blade being controlled so that the knife blade is stationary when the temperature of the oil bath is below a predetermined temperature, and the speed of rotation of the knife blade being further controlled so that the speed of rotation increases as the temperature is increased above said predetermined temperature. The slicer preferably has a chute that tapers to an orifice above the slicer blade, with the orifice tapering in the direction of rotation of the slicer blade. The apparatus may also be adapted for use with corn chips or tortilla chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Chippery Potato Chip Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Smith, Raymond Kenneth Woodey
  • Patent number: 6601491
    Abstract: A tensive cutting assembly includes a tensionable cutting member formed of a strip of material, typically metal, which is formed having a serpentine configuration. The tensionable cutting member is removably mounted on a tensive cutting head. The tensive cutting head includes an aperture formed through its cross section for passage of food product during the cutting process. The tensive cutting head includes first and second opposing head members, the distance between which is adjustable and which may be driven apart by a cutting member tensioning device. The tensive cutting assembly may also include a breakage detecting device for detecting breakage during use of the tensive cutting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Raleigh J. Jensen
  • Publication number: 20030126968
    Abstract: The invention relates basically to cutting vegetables efficiently either at home or in commercial establishments. It can also be used for other fibrous materials where practical. The aim is a low cost solution for an efficient device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Gopinath Baddepudi
  • Publication number: 20030121422
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting optimally sized fruit and vegetable pieces, such as potatoes, that is made of a dump chute, a trough, a conveyor having paddles forming paddle pockets, a drive means, at least one sensor, a programmable logic controller (PLC), and a cutter assembly. The dump chute receives materials and loads them singly onto a conveyor within a paddle pocket disposed along the conveyor. The drive means moves the conveyor, which then advances the material from the dump chute toward the cutter. As the material moves along the trough, the sensor determines the first and second ends of the potato and inputs this information to the PLC. This PLC has a human interactive component for selecting the criteria to be used in selecting the dimensions of the desired potato pieces to be obtained. The PLC receives the information from the sensors and determines the number and sizes of the pieces that the potato should be cut into to achieve the optimal results based upon the pre-selected criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: George A. Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 6582744
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for cooking, cutting and preparing the doner meat automatically and without any human intervention in the same amount and form for service and an integrated instrument for cooking and cutting doner. This invention relates to a method for cooking the front sides of the meat boxes which are filled and frozen beforehand, by rotating said meat boxes around a center arranged circularly or with multi sides having 4, 5 or 7 cookers (radiant or LPG), cutting the cooked meat part and sending the cooked meat part for cooking again by rotating around itself and carrying out of these operations at a pre-determined amount and speed without human intervention controlled from a central command and turning table and a integrated doner cooking and cutting instrument for performing this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Ayhan Babacan
  • Patent number: 6582741
    Abstract: A device is particularly well suited for introducing a continuous length of food stuffing into an elongated food product. The device uses a tube having opposite, open ends and an inner wall defining a longitudinal passage extending between such opposite ends. The length of foodstuffing is received in this longitudinal passage. The tube is inserted into the food product being stuffed, and a pointed cap on the end of the tube guides it through the food product. A ram is used in conjunction with the tube to keep the foodstuffing material in substantial registration with the ends of the food product and to assist in withdrawing the tube after the foodstuffing has been deposited in the food product. An optional parallel knife assembly is used to create an incision extending through the food product to ease the subsequent insertion of the foodstuffing therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: David E. Haig
  • Publication number: 20030097915
    Abstract: A flexible disposable cutting board comprises a polyolfin resin, such as polypropylene, and from about 10 to about 85 wt. % calcium carbonate. The cutting board generally has a thickness of from about 5 mils to about 12 mils. The flexible, disposable cutting board is preferably cut resistant, foldable, and has water and microwave stability. The cutting board preferably has foldability without cracking after being stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Paul N. Chen, Margaret A. Curulla, Gary D. Ennis, Thomas A. White, William P. Belias
  • Patent number: 6564705
    Abstract: A multi-functional food processing, preparation and juicing unit includes an elongated hollow post fixed to a base and extending vertically therefrom. A pressure assembly is movably mounted to the post and configured to removably accept an upper processing adapter having a predetermined surface configuration. The pressure assembly includes a rack residing within the post and having a plurality of teeth. A rotatable crank assembly includes a gear extending into the post which engages the teeth of the rack for raising and lowering the pressure assembly by rotating a handle operably engaged with the gear. A holder is fixed to an upper end of the base, and is configured to releasably accept a lower processing adapter having a surface configuration which substantially mates with the surface configuration of the upper processing adapter to perform a predetermined food processing function when the upper processing adapter is brought towards the lower processing adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Thane International, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent Zarlengo
  • Patent number: 6561067
    Abstract: A machine for cutting a food product includes a stationary structure with a food product guide surface for guiding a food product along a path of travel. A knife wheel support which rotatably supports the knife wheel and is pivotally attached to the stationary structure so as to pivot about a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to the knife wheel axis, such that the knife wheel axis is movable along an arcuate path about the pivot axis. A plurality of adjustable stripper plates extends between adjacent circular knives which slice the food product into a plurality of strips prior to the food product being cut by a cross-cut knife, the stripper plates having an adjustable attaching mechanism connecting them to the stationary structure to facilitate the adjustment of the distance between the stripper plates and the food guide surface so as to readily accommodate a food product having a variety of thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Earl Arrasmith
  • Patent number: 6561069
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting device for products, in particular for cutting up foodstuffs. A blade driven by a drive shaft so as to rotate is provided which orbits a further drive shaft in a planetary path-like manner on a rotor driven by the further drive shaft. For a compact arrangement it is provided that the one drive shaft is designed as a hollow shaft and that the other drive shaft is guided therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: CFS GmbH Kempten
    Inventors: Dieter Krauss, Alexander Joedecke, Roland Glänzer, Roland Kurtz, Ralf Peter Müller, Michael Allgayer
  • Patent number: 6563904
    Abstract: A conveyor (12) moves a workpiece (WP) past an x-ray source (14) to detect existence and location of any undesirable material included in the workpiece, such as bones, fat, metal, etc. Thereafter, the conveyor carries the workpiece further, wherein a cutter (22) segments the detected undesirable material from the workpiece into a segmented portion (SP) having a visually distinguishable shape, such as square, round, triangular, etc. A worker stationed downstream of the cutter along the conveyor may then easily spot the segmented portion (SP) in a distinguishable shape and offload the segmented portion from the conveyor, while leaving the rest of the workpiece (WP) on the conveyor for further processing. Alternatively, a pickup device (24) may be used to automatically offload the segmented portion from the conveyor. A computer (18) keeps track of the locations of the workpiece and the segmented portion at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Corneel Constant Wijts, Norman A. Rudy, Morteza Safai, Arthur W. Vogeley
  • Patent number: 6558725
    Abstract: The present invention overcomes many of the shortcomings inherent in previous methods and systems addressing the commercial production of fried plantain slices. The improved process comprises a fully automated system which includes a sprayer assembly adapted to continually spray the cutting knife mechanism on commercial-grade slicing machines with a cleansing lubricant thereby keeping the cutting surface clean and free of debris. The improved system also includes a liquid bath for coating the freshly sliced plantains prior to immersion in a hot oil frying vat. In one embodiment, the system utilizes an edible oil as both the cleansing spray lubricant and in the liquid bath. In this embodiment, the liquid bath serves as a reservoir for the cleansing lubricant sprayer assembly. In another embodiment, the system utilizes water as both the cleansing spray lubricant and in the liquid bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Recot, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Libardo Arango Giraldo, Lillian Regina Juranovic
  • Publication number: 20030079589
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking and controlling the food product carriage of a food product slicer is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Mark Kovacs
  • Publication number: 20030079595
    Abstract: A feed grip for being coupled to a slide rod of a slicer including a gripping plate having a front surface and rear surface, the front surface being shaped to grip a food product, the gripping plate including an attachment portion extending generally outwardly from the rear surface. The feed grip further includes a handle having an opening shaped to releasably receive the attachment portion therein, and a feed arm including a pair of annulus, a first one of the annulus being shaped to be generally located between the handle and the gripping plate, a second one of the annulus being shaped to receive the slide rod of the slicer therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Shahram Shariff, Doug McGuffin-Noll, Jeff Frock
  • Patent number: 6555152
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the subdivision of a relatively elastic and gummy food product shaped as a continuous tape or string (14), which is extruded or laminated, and advancing at a predetermined speed on a conveyor (15), into a plurality of single portions (14′, 14″) which are separated from one another by a predetermined distance (X). The cutting operation of said tape or string (14) is carried out by at least one blade (31, 31′), which is suitable for penetrating into the mass of the tape or string (14) and for causing the detachment of a portion (14′, 14″) of the tape or string itself. The blade (31, 31′), follows a predetermined trajectory (50) comprising a first stretch (51) wherein said tape or string is cut, a second stretch (52) along the same advancement direction of the tape or string, a third stretch opposite to the advancement direction of the tape or string (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Paolo Roso
  • Publication number: 20030075031
    Abstract: A bale processor for cutting or dicing a bale or slab of unvulcanized rubber produces small cubes or blocks of a predetermined size and uniform shape for continuous feeding at a predetermined rate into a mixing machine or blender. A bale or slab of feedstock rubber is advanced incrementally along a slider platform and a segment is sliced from the leading end of the bale. After separation, the segment falls onto a receiving panel from which it is transferred by a vacuum pick-up head to a vacuum hold-down table. Multiple slices are then formed through the segment along the X-axis by circular cutting blades of an X-axis cutter head, thereby forming elongated segment strips. Next, multiple slices are formed through the segment strips in the Y-direction by a Y-axis cutter head which includes circular cutter blades that are extendable and retractable along the Y-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Amitkumar N. Dharia
  • Patent number: 6550366
    Abstract: An apparatus for the rapid removal of an extraneous portion of a produce item with minimal loss. The apparatus, rendered attachable to an agricultural processing implement by an integral attachment device, enables one-handed operation by a user. The apparatus includes a base section in operative combination with an elevated blade that not only enables the severing of the extraneous portion from the produce body, but also separates the extraneous portion therefrom, and guides the cleaned produce body towards a collection device, for instance, a picking box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Finepro, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Ortega, Carlos Ortega
  • Publication number: 20030070525
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a meat-slicing device comprised of a control system, knife assembly, a mast assembly, a unitary cabinet, and a rotation assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Everett E. Barnhart
  • Patent number: 6543325
    Abstract: A drive system for driving the workpiece-retaining carriage of a food slicing machine, including a drive pulley rotatably driven by a servomotor in alternating, opposite directions. Opposite ends of a drive belt extend around the drive pulley through a gap between two idle pulleys. The drive belt seats against the idle pulleys and the opposite ends extend in opposite directions on the opposite side of the gap. The upper drive belt end extends over the curved surface of a support panel to gripping engagement of a tensioning pulley and clamp. The lower drive belt end extends over the curved surface of the support panel to gripping engagement of a second tensioning pulley and clamp. The support panel is mounted on a drive member that is, at its opposite end, rotatably mounted to a pivot, and rigidly mounted to the workpiece-retaining carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: J. E. Grote Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Newhouse, Darren W. Crow, Dale Grillot
  • Patent number: 6543322
    Abstract: A cutting frame for holding an object to be sliced into two pieces. The object, such as a bagel, has a bottom surface, a peripheral edge, and a top surface. The cutting frame has a base which holds a support stem, which in turn holds a ring shaped guide member. The guide member has a knife blade guide slot extending through it to guide a knife downwardly through the guide member and through a bagel or other object held in the guide member. The process of using the cutting frame includes holding a bagel against a closed side of the compartment formed within the guide member so that the user's fingers press the bagel against the closed surface of the compartment. A knife is then placed in the knife blade guide slot and drawn back and forth downwardly through the bagel to form an accurate slice parallel to the bottom of the bagel. The guide blade knife slot extends completely through the guide member so that the bagel is always cut into two separate pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: John M. Skoko
  • Publication number: 20030056627
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a post-harvest vegetable processing process and device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: ABC Metal
    Inventor: Truffaux Hubert
  • Publication number: 20030051590
    Abstract: A machine for slicing a bakery product, including a supported table surface having an aperture for the passage therethrough of sliced products; a pair of spaced-apart riser blocks projecting above said table surface; at least one power-driven cutting device disposed adjacent to said riser blocks, the cutting device having a horizontal blade extending above said table surface at a distance substantially corresponding to the slice thickness required, and a power-driven turntable, revolvable on a vertical axis and spaced above said cutting device, the turntable rigidly supporting at least one open-ended feed hopper adapted to contain a stack of bakery product items, the lowest item in said stack resting on the table surface and being pushed by the hopper into contact with said cutting device to produce a slice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Robert Elliot Kaplan
  • Publication number: 20030051589
    Abstract: A cake pan adapted for guidance in cutting a cake provides a pan bottom and a peripheral pan sidewall integral with the pan bottom and directed upwardly for terminating with a pan sidewall edge. The sidewall edge provids plural circular guide pins. A straightedge ruler has a straight edge of a length sufficient to span the cake pan from any one selected position on the sidewall edge to any further selected position on the sidewall edge. The guide pins are positioned such that with the straightedge ruler in contact with any selected pair of the guide pins, the straight edge is positioned for guiding straight-line cutting of the cake in a desired location on the cake corresponding to the straight edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Mary L. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20030047044
    Abstract: A processing method comprises the steps of providing an electrostatically charged film, placing the electrostatically charged film on a surface such that the film is electrostatically attracted to the surface and processing an item on the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Jose Porchia, Julie M. Grissmeyer, Frederick H. Martin, Pamela J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6530771
    Abstract: A cutter carriage for moving a rotary cutter between a front side of the back roller and a back side of the back roller. The preferred system has a pair of guide rods located on the left and right side plates of the sheeting head. The rotary cutter is held at either end by pivot arms. Each arm, in turn is attached to a carriage side piece that slidingly engages one of the guide rods. The two side pieces are joined into a single cutter carriage by an elongate member parallel to the rotary cutter. Each carriage is equipped with a cutter engagement system that moves the pivot arms and attached rotary cutter into an operational position in relation to the sheeting head. When the rotary cutter is serviced, the engagement system is released allowing the pivot arm to move the rotary cutter away from the sheeting head roller, and the cutter carriage is slid along the guide rods making the rotary cutter readily accessible from the rear side of the sheeting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Casa Herrera, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald B. Clark
  • Publication number: 20030037645
    Abstract: A food processing apparatus for conveying food items such as carrots and the like to a cutter comprises a conveyor having a plurality of pockets for receiving the food items. The conveyor moves in a conveyor direction to the cutter for topping, tailing, or cutting the food items. A stationary feed chute is disposed adjacent a side of the conveyor for transferring the food items to the conveyor. The apparatus is disposed at a compound angle measured from the horizontal plane such that the food items are transferred from the feed chute to the conveyor by gravity. Food items which are not received into the pockets of the conveyor are carried by their momentum of feed to fall off from the conveyor by gravity in a direction away from the cutter, and are collected for return to the feed chute. This decreases the amount of misfed food items from reaching the cutter and the amount of uncut or improperly cut food items at the output of the cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: SHEM D. OESCH
  • Publication number: 20030037649
    Abstract: A method of cutting seed potatoes prior to their planting is provided in which a high pressure water jet is employed to slice the potatoes into the desired sized pieces. The present invention employs a single water jet, a plurality of water jets, or a cutting tube configuration containing either single or multiple water jet streams which are projected through the center of the cutting tubes or the cutting area and an equal amount of stream collector tube or tubes which contain the jet or jets and collects and directs the spent water to a proper location for its final collection or final discharge. Additionally, the use of this water jet system ensures that the seed potatoes that are cut will not contaminate one another through the cutting instrument as the water used in the cutting process only comes into contact with one potato and is then discharged from the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: William John Zelinski, Thomas Keith Tallackson
  • Patent number: 6502490
    Abstract: A device useful in slicing a melon is provided by the present invention. The device includes an elongated stand for holding the melon in a detachable cutting station with a cutting blade member and a movable butt plate that is adjustable to provide melon slices of the desired width. The device includes a blade retaining member to keep the blade member in an upright position while the melon is moved forward after each slice to contact the butt plate. The device is easily adaptable for both left handed and right handed operation. The device is especially useful for making transverse slices of the desired width of elongated melons such as a watermelon in an efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Steven M. Krawick
  • Publication number: 20020174754
    Abstract: A safety manual vegetable cutter, characterized in that it comprises a frame (1) fitted with at least one cutting blade (9, 9′) fitted transversely facing a slot (12) through which the sliced vegetables pass and also two side rails (61, 62), providing guidance in translational to-and-fro motion for a guide chamber (2) equipped with a loading volume (17) for the vegetables to be sliced and acting in conjunction with a press-down cap (3) designed to be gripped by the user to move the guide chamber (2) to and fro along the guide rails (61, 62) while exerting a constant pressure on the vegetables contained in the loading volume (17) so as to press them against the cutting blade or blades (9, 9′) fitted to the frame (1) and enable them to the sliced by this blade or these blades (9, 9′).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: DeBuyer
    Inventor: Jacques Vincent
  • Patent number: 6484615
    Abstract: A slicing machine including a slicing blade for slicing at least first and second product loaves disposed in a side-by-side arrangement using a single rotation of the slicing blade is set forth. A single rotation of the slicing edge about the center of rotation results in a penetration gradient into each of the first and second product loaves that diminishes in magnitude over the single rotation. To this end, the slicing edge may have a profile defined a plurality of constant radius sections. Each constant radius section has a section center defining the center of the constant radius for that constant radius section. Further, each constant radius section has a section center differing from the section center of an adjacent constant radius section. Such a blade and its associated slicing station provide great control of slices from the loaves as they proceed from the loaf to a receiving conveyor of the slicing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Formax, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Lindee
  • Publication number: 20020170409
    Abstract: A slicing apparatus for slicing a food item having a flat bottomed base for placement upon a work surface; a bifurcated outer annulus attached to the base and extending perpendicularly upward from the base, the annulus having an arcuate slot formed on the peripheral centerline of the annulus; the annulus further having a first pair of diametric opposed knife attachment points formed on the inner surface of the annulus; an inner annulus located within the outer annulus and rotatable thereat, the inner annulus further having a second pair of diametrically opposed knife attachment points and an attached handle extending radially outward passing through the peripheral slot of the outer annulus; a left cover and a right cover, each cover having a convex circular outer surface and a concave circular inner surface, the periphery of the respective inner surfaces sized to matingly abut with the respective sides of the outer annulus, the covers further being pivotally attached to the base; an upper and a lower knife, e
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Andre Marcel Emil Nel, David Snelgrove
  • Publication number: 20020170398
    Abstract: A slicing device for slicing a number of articles in one slicing operation. The device includes a frame, a plurality of horizontally disposed cutting blades mounted in the frame, a pusher pushing the article into the cutting blades, and a support positioned between the cutting blades and the pusher. The support is able to support, at least temporarily, the articles prior to slicing. A collector is positioned underneath the cutting blades for collection of the sliced articles. The collector includes first and second collection units for collection of the end and intermediate slices respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Jozeff Jan Verhaeghe
  • Publication number: 20020166431
    Abstract: An apparatus for halving pieces of product includes a loading conveyor for conveying individual pieces of product and having a planar surface defining a plane tilted with respect to the horizontal and a lift conveyor comprising a moving surface positioned adjacent to the loading conveyor and oriented in a plane parallel to the axis of the loading conveyor for receiving pieces of product from the loading conveyor and for conveying them in an upward direction substantially at a right angle to the plane of the loading conveyor. The lift conveyor has a plurality of flites spaced along the lift conveyor, each flite supporting, one at a time, the pieces of product. A cutting blade is positioned to engage each piece of product as it moves along the lift conveyor so as to cut each piece of product into two pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Scott R. Benjamin, John E. Mobley, Marc R. Olsen
  • Publication number: 20020162433
    Abstract: A cutting device for separating fleurettes from the stalk of a long-stemmed vegetable having a flowery head. The cutting device has at least three blades positioned symmetrically around a perpendicular center axis and a moving means for moving each blade downward in a linear motion toward that center axis. Each blade has two flat surfaces joined at a linear backbone, and each of those flat surfaces has a cutting edge on its bottom. Each backbone forms an angle with the center axis of from 25 to 45 degrees. The moving means moves the blades downward in linear motions toward the center axis in the same angles with the center axis as formed by their respective blade backbones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: Mann Packing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Edward M. Centeno
  • Publication number: 20020162434
    Abstract: A food-processing device for cutting food products such as potatoes in revolution shapes to make a so known Noisette Potatoes. The device comprises a cutting module including a frame to supports a plurality of rotating blades. The rotating blades are within respective cutting sectors from which are cutted the spherical portions. A grid having stationary blades defining a plurality of quadrangular cutting sector. The rotating blades are connected to a set of gears mounted to the frames and connected to action means for rotation movement. The module is mounted on racks, which are connected to the gears and a lever, which acts over a pressure body. The pressure body pushes the product to be cutted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Roberto Aldo Acosta
  • Patent number: 6474210
    Abstract: A slicing apparatus for slicing a food item having a flat bottomed base for placement upon a work surface; a bifurcated outer annulus attached to the base and extending perpendicularly upward from the base, the annulus having an arcuate slot formed on the peripheral centerline of the annulus; the annulus further having a first pair of diametric opposed knife attachment points formed on the inner surface of the annulus; an inner annulus located within the outer annulus and rotatable thereat, the inner annulus further having a second pair of diametrically opposed knife attachment points and an attached handle extending radially outward passing through the peripheral slot of the outer annulus; a left cover and a right cover, each cover having a convex circular outer surface and a concave circular inner surface, the periphery of the respective inner surfaces sized to matingly abut with the respective sides of the outer annulus, the covers further being pivotally attached to the base; an upper and a lower knife, e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventors: André Marcel Emil Nel, David Snelgrove
  • Patent number: RE38149
    Abstract: A cutter for cutting helical vegetable strips comprising a circular disk-like plate having an upstream surface and an axis of rotation. The cutter has a knife blade extending radially from the axis of rotation, the blade edge being axially displaced from the upstream surface. The cutter also includes a plurality of slitter blades spaced apart and located at different distances from the axis of rotation and extending substantially perpendicular to the upstream surface. The slitter blades have different lengths and, therefore, extend to different heights above the upstream surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: McCain Foods Limited
    Inventors: Jocelyn A. Dube, James D. Arbeau, Michael D. Ryder, Derek J. Penney, Layton D. McInnis, Jean L. Lebel