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US3565015A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dough press

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-01-06
•
Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1989-01-06
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Abstract

Abstract A dough press comprises a conveyor belt for carrying a series of pieces of dough between two horizontally disposed heated platens in vertical alignment. The upper platen is reciprocated vertically by a hydraulic system controlled by a motor wired into one electrical circuit. A die mounted on the bottom of the upper platen engages the conveyor belt to confine the dough to a specific size and shape as it is pressed and heated by the platens. The conveyor belt is moved intermittently by a motor wired into a second electrical circuit. The second circuit is closed by the vertical movement of the upper platen and is opened by an electric eye assembly operating through longitudinally spaced apertures in the conveyor belt. The two circuits are interlocked to prevent movement of the conveyor belt except during the upward movement of the lower platen.

Inventors

  • 👤 Henry Jorgensen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 18:17
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C11/00; A21C11/004; A21C11/006; A21B; A21B5/00; A21B5/02; A21C3/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 115 words
A dough press comprising a stationary platen, an upper platen in vertical alignment with said stationary platen, means for heating said platens, means including a first electric motor for vertically reciprocating said upper platen whereby a piece of dough positioned between said platens may be shaped and partially baked to impart sufficient rigidity to the dough to facilitate subsequent handling, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said platens, an endless conveyor belt mounted on said rollers with one portion thereof between said platens, means including a second electric motor for moving said conveyor belt, and electrical means holding said conveyor belt against movement during the downward movement of said upper platen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 115 words
A dough press comprising a stationary platen, an upper platen in vertical alignment with said stationary platen, means for heating said platens, means including a first electric motor for vertically reciprocating said upper platen whereby a piece of dough positioned between said platens may be shaped and partially baked to impart sufficient rigidity to the dough to facilitate subsequent handling, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said platens, an endless conveyor belt mounted on said rollers with one portion thereof between said platens, means including a second electric motor for moving said conveyor belt, and electrical means holding said conveyor belt against movement during the downward movement of said upper platen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 83 words
A dough press as recited in claim 1 and having a plurality of circuits associated with said motors, a first circuit being independent of the other circuits and including switch means for energizing both of said motors independently of said other circuits, a second circuit including a second switch means capable of energizing said second circuit only when said first circuit is energized, and said second circuit actuating a hydraulic mechanism to move said upper platen to its uppermost position immediately upon energization.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 143 words
A dough press as recited in claim 1 and having a plurality of circuits associated with said motors, a first circuit being independent of the other circuits and including switch means for energizing both of said motors independently of said other circuits, a second circuit comprising one line adapted, when energized, to actuate a hydraulic mechanism for moving said upper platen upwardly, and a second line adapted, when energized, to actuate said hydraulic mechanism for moving it downwardly, said second circuit including a second switch means capable of energizing said second circuit only when said first circuit is energized, said one line including a normally closed switch and a normally closed relay contact whereby it is energized upon closing of said second switch means, and said second line including a normally open relay contact that closes when said normally closed switch is opened.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 128 words
A dough press comprising upper and lower heated platens in vertical alignment, a reciprocable piston secured to one of said platens, a hydraulic system for reciprocating one of said platens, means including an electric motor for operating said hydraulic system, a conveyor belt for moving a piece of dough between said platens, means including a second electric motor for moving said conveyor belt, an electric circuit adapted to operate both of said motors, said second means including a second electrical circuit and a normally open switch preventing movement of said conveyor belt while in open position, and means for closing said switch as said reciprocating platen is moved upwardly, said switch in closed position energizing said second circuit to enable said second motor to move said conveyor belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 128 words
A dough press comprising upper and lower heated platens in vertical alignment, a reciprocable piston secured to one of said platens, a hydraulic system for reciprocating one of said platens, means including an electric motor for operating said hydraulic system, a conveyor belt for moving a piece of dough between said platens, means including a second electric motor for moving said conveyor belt, an electric circuit adapted to operate both of said motors, said second means including a second electrical circuit and a normally open switch preventing movement of said conveyor belt while in open position, and means for closing said switch as said reciprocating platen is moved upwardly, said switch in closed position energizing said second circuit to enable said second motor to move said conveyor belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 70 words
A dough press as recited in claim 4, in which said first electrical circuit comprises one line adapted, when energized, to actuate said hydraulic system for moving the piston upwardly, a second line adapted to actuate said hydraulic system for moving the piston downwardly when said second line is energized, and means for energizing said second line, said means being operable only when said piston is in its uppermost position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 111 words
A dough press as recited in claim 4, in which said first electrical circuit includes a spring pressed normally closed switch mounted on a rod fixed in spaced relationship to said piston and said second electrical circuit includes a spring pressed normally open switch mounted on a rod in fixed parallel relationship to said first mentioned rod, a control rod movable with said piston is positioned between said two first mentioned rods, means on said control rod for permitting said normally closed switch to open when said piston reaches its uppermost position, and means on said control rod for closing said normally open switch as said piston approaches its uppermost position.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3124083A Cited
US2078189A Cited
US2686552A Cited
US2726707A Cited
US3207062A Cited
US3411461A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-02-22 1974-08-24 1975-02-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-02-22 1978-08-24 1979-02-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-02-22 1982-08-24 1983-02-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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