Food processing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for preparing a food product having an outer shell folded around an inner filler comprising: a folding belt conveyor; a pair of spaced end rollers supporting said folding belt; filler dispensing means for depositing said filler on said shell at said input end of said folding belt; means engaging said folding belt intermediate said input end of said belt and a discharge end of said belt for folding the lateral edges of said belt upwardly and inwardly into closely spaced lateral relationship deforming said belt in lateral cross section to a generally U-shaped configuration for folding said shell upwardly around said filler as said shell and filler advance along said belt through the deformed region of said belt to the discharge end thereof; and hold-down guide means supported along said folding belt within the deformed portion of said belt as said belt enters said means for folding said belt to hold said shell and filler downwardly in said belt as said shell and filler enter said folding region of said belt.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hold-down means comprises a wheel supported for rotation above said folding belt, the lower peripheral edge of said wheel being disposed in close spaced relation with the top surface of said folding belt substantially along the longitudinal center line of said belt.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said hold-down wheel is driven at a rate synchronized with the rate of movement of said folding belt.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hold-down means comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced pulleys supported above said folding belt, one of said pulleys having a lower peripheral portion disposed in the folding region of said belt and the other of said pulleys being located in advance of the folding region of said belt, said pulleys being aligned in a common vertical plane substantially along the longitudinal center line of said folding belt, and a hold-down belt running on said pulleys, the lower segment of said belt between said pulleys being disposed substantially along the longitudinal center line of said folding belt along the top surface of said folding belt for engaging and holding a product shell and filler as said shell and filler enter the folding region of said folding belt.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said hold-down pulleys and hold-down belt are driven at a rate synchronized with the rate of movement of said folding belt.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a timing system for actuating said filler dispensing means at a predetermined timed sequence for sequentially depositing filler along spaced product shells sequentially fed into said apparatus.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including sealing means supported in operative relationship with the folding region of said folding belt for sealing said shell around said filler.

Claim 9

Apparatus for preparing a food product having an outer shell folded around an inner filler comprising: a feed conveyor for receiving said shell at one end thereof and discharging said shell at an opposite end thereof; a dispensing nozzle assembly supported above said feed conveyor for depositing a quantity of said filler on said shell as said shell is moved rElative to said nozzle assembly by said feed conveyor; control means connected with said nozzle assembly for operating said assembly for deposit of a measured quantity of said filler on said shell including sensing means for detecting the movement of the said shell along said feed conveyor relative to said nozzle assembly; a folding belt conveyor disposed in shell receiving relationship with said feed conveyor whereby said shell and filler are discharged by said feed conveyor to an input end of said folding belt conveyor; guide means engaging lateral side portions of said folding belt conveyor intermediate the input and discharge ends of said conveyor for deforming a folding portion of said folding belt conveyor into a substantially U-shape wherein lateral edges of said belt are guided upwardly and inwardly toward each other to a closely spaced adjacent relationship above the bight portion of said belt along said folding region whereby as said shell with said filler thereon moves through said folding region, said shell is folded around said filler forming an envelope portion of said shell containing said filler, said product thereafter being transported by said folding conveyor belt to a discharge end of said belt; and hold-down guide means supported in operative relation with said folding belt conveyor within said folding region of said belt between said input end of said belt and said guide means for deforming said belt, said hold-down guide means having a product engaging portion for holding said shell and filler within said folding region of said belt as said shell is folded upwardly around said filler; and means for driving said feed conveyor and said folding belt conveyor at synchronized rates.

Claim 10

Apparatus for preparing a food product having an outer shell folded around an inner filler comprising: a feed conveyor for receiving said shell at one end thereof and discharging said shell at an opposite end thereof; a dispensing nozzle assembly supported above said feed conveyor for depositing a quantity of said filler on said shell as said shell is moved rElative to said nozzle assembly by said feed conveyor; control means connected with said nozzle assembly for operating said assembly for deposit of a measured quantity of said filler on said shell including sensing means for detecting the movement of the said shell along said feed conveyor relative to said nozzle assembly; a folding belt conveyor disposed in shell receiving relationship with said feed conveyor whereby said shell and filler are discharged by said feed conveyor to an input end of said folding belt conveyor; guide means engaging lateral side portions of said folding belt conveyor intermediate the input and discharge ends of said conveyor for deforming a folding portion of said folding belt conveyor into a substantially U-shape wherein lateral edges of said belt are guided upwardly and inwardly toward each other to a closely spaced adjacent relationship above the bight portion of said belt along said folding region whereby as said shell with said filler thereon moves through said folding region, said shell is folded around said filler forming an envelope portion of said shell containing said filler, said product thereafter being transported by said folding conveyor belt to a discharge end of said belt; and hold-down guide means supported in operative relation with said folding belt conveyor within said folding region of said belt between said input end of said belt and said guide means for deforming said belt, said hold-down guide means having a product engaging portion for holding said shell and filler within said folding region of said belt as said shell is folded upwardly around said filler; and means for driving said feed conveyor and said folding belt conveyor at synchronized rates.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 including shell sealing means supported in operative relationship with said folding region of said folding belt conveyor for squeezing said shell together to seal said shell defining an envelope in said shell containing said filler.

Claim 12

Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said sealing means comprises roller means formed integral with said means engaging said folding belt conveyor and guiding said belt into said folding configuration along said folding region of said belt.

Claim 13

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said hold-down means comprises a hold-down wheel supported above said folding belt conveyor along the entry portion of the folding region of said belt, said wheel having a lower peripheral edge running substantially along the longitudinal center line of said folding belt in the direction of movement of said folding belt; and means driving said hold-down wheel at a rate synchronized with the rate of movement of said folding belt.

Claim 14

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said dispensing nozzle comprises a length of flexible tubing adapted to be supplied with said filler material under a dispensing pressure, and a piston assembly having a pinching head thereon co-acting with said flexible tubing for pinching said tubing together in a closed relationship and for releasing said tubing for expansion and dispensing of filler therethrough to a surface of said shell as said shell is moved relative to said dispensing nozzle.

Claim 15

Apparatus for preparing a food product having an outer shell folded around an inner filler comprising: a feed conveyor including end rollers and spaced belt members running over said rollers for receiving and moving said shell from an input to a discharge end of said conveyor while said filler is deposited on said shell; a dispensing nozzle supported above said feed conveyor for depositing said filler material on said shell as said shell is moved relative to said nozzle by said feed conveyor; sensor means supported relative to said feed conveyor for engagement by said shell as said shell is moved along said conveyor relative to said nozzle; timing circuit means connected between said nozzle and said sensor means for actuating said nozzle responsive to movement of said shell rElative to said detecting means for depositing a measured quantity of said filler on said shell as said shell is moved by said feed conveyor; a folding belt conveyor positioned with an input end at the discharge end of said feed conveyor for receiving said shell with said filler thereon from said discharge end of said feed conveyor, said folding belt conveyor including end rollers and a flexible belt operated over said end rollers; folding belt guide means disposed along opposite sides of said folding belt conveyor between said end rollers of said conveyor engaging lateral side edges of said folding belt conveyor deflecting said side edges upwardly and inwardly deforming said belt into a substantially U cross-sectional shape along a folding region of said folding belt conveyor whereby said shell with said filler thereon, upon entry into and movement through said folding belt region, is folded upwardly around said filler and moved to and discharged from the discharge end of said belt; hold-down means supported in operative relation with said folding belt conveyor including at least one wheel member supported in a substantially vertical plane along the longitudinal axis of said folding belt conveyor having a lower peripheral region disposed along the entry portion of said folding region of said folding belt conveyor for holding said shell downwardly as said shell and filler enter said folding region; drive means for turning said wheel member in a direction for moving the lower peripheral edge of said member in the same direction as said folding belt conveyor at said member; and drive means connected with said feed conveyor and said folding belt conveyor for driving said conveyors at a synchronized rate.

Claim 16

Apparatus for preparing a food product having an outer shell folded around an inner filler comprising: a feed conveyor including end rollers and spaced belt members running over said rollers for receiving and moving said shell from an input to a discharge end of said conveyor while said filler is deposited on said shell; a dispensing nozzle supported above said feed conveyor for depositing said filler material on said shell as said shell is moved relative to said nozzle by said feed conveyor; sensor means supported relative to said feed conveyor for engagement by said shell as said shell is moved along said conveyor relative to said nozzle; timing circuit means connected between said nozzle and said sensor means for actuating said nozzle responsive to movement of said shell rElative to said detecting means for depositing a measured quantity of said filler on said shell as said shell is moved by said feed conveyor; a folding belt conveyor positioned with an input end at the discharge end of said feed conveyor for receiving said shell with said filler thereon from said discharge end of said feed conveyor, said folding belt conveyor including end rollers and a flexible belt operated over said end rollers; folding belt guide means disposed along opposite sides of said folding belt conveyor between said end rollers of said conveyor engaging lateral side edges of said folding belt conveyor deflecting said side edges upwardly and inwardly deforming said belt into a substantially U cross-sectional shape along a folding region of said folding belt conveyor whereby said shell with said filler thereon, upon entry into and movement through said folding belt region, is folded upwardly around said filler and moved to and discharged from the discharge end of said belt; hold-down means supported in operative relation with said folding belt conveyor including at least one wheel member supported in a substantially vertical plane along the longitudinal axis of said folding belt conveyor having a lower peripheral region disposed along the entry portion of said folding region of said folding belt conveyor for holding said shell downwardly as said shell and filler enter said folding region; drive means for turning said wheel member in a direction for moving the lower peripheral edge of said member in the same direction as said folding belt conveyor at said member; and drive means connected with said feed conveyor and said folding belt conveyor for driving said conveyors at a synchronized rate.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said dispensing nozzle includes a flexible tubular outlet portion and a piston-actuated pincher head co-acting with said flexible outlet portion for squeezing said portion together to close said dispensing nozzle at a first head position and for releasing said outlet portion for expansion to a full open shape at a second head position for dispensing said filler through said outlet portion to said shell on said feed conveyor.

Claim 18

Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 including shell seal means disposed along opposite side portions of said folding belt conveyor between said hold-down means and said discharge end of said conveyor for squeezing said shell together to seal said shell around said filler defining an envelope formed by said shell containing said filler.

Claim 19

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said sensor means includes at least one switch connected in said timing circuit means and having a feeler for engaging said shell to actuate said timing circuit means for operating said dispensing nozzle to deposit a desired quantity of said filler on said shell.

Claim 20

Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 including knife means positioned adjacent to the discharge end of said folding belt conveyor for cutting a ribbon-like product in selected lengths as said product is discharged by said conveyor belt.

Claim 21

A dispensing nozzle system for depositing a measured quantity of a flowable material on a surface comprising: a conduit member adapted to be connected at one end to a source of said flowable material under pressure and adapted at the opposite end to discharge of said flowable material on said surface, at least a portion of said conduit being of a flexible material expandable and contractable between a normally open shape for flow of said flowable material therethrough and a squeezed together, closed shape for preventing flow of any of said material therethrough; a member providing a holding surface on one side of said flexible portion of said conduit for holding said conduit against movement while said conduit is squeezed closed; a piston assembly operative responsive to a fluid pressure and having a piston rod extendable and retractable relative to said flexible portion of said conduit; and a pincHer head on said piston rod for engaging said flexible portion of said conduit opposite said holding surface whereby extension of said piston rod and pincher head toward said holding surface squeezes said flexible portion of said conduit together to close said conduit against movement of said flowable material, and retraction of said piston rod away from said holding surface permits expansion of said flexible portion of said conduit to a full open shape for flow of said material through said conduit for deposit on said surface.

Claim 22

A dispensing nozzle system for depositing a measured quantity of a flowable material on a surface comprising: a conduit member adapted to be connected at one end to a source of said flowable material under pressure and adapted at the opposite end to discharge of said flowable material on said surface, at least a portion of said conduit being of a flexible material expandable and contractable between a normally open shape for flow of said flowable material therethrough and a squeezed together, closed shape for preventing flow of any of said material therethrough; a member providing a holding surface on one side of said flexible portion of said conduit for holding said conduit against movement while said conduit is squeezed closed; a piston assembly operative responsive to a fluid pressure and having a piston rod extendable and retractable relative to said flexible portion of said conduit; and a pincHer head on said piston rod for engaging said flexible portion of said conduit opposite said holding surface whereby extension of said piston rod and pincher head toward said holding surface squeezes said flexible portion of said conduit together to close said conduit against movement of said flowable material, and retraction of said piston rod away from said holding surface permits expansion of said flexible portion of said conduit to a full open shape for flow of said material through said conduit for deposit on said surface.

Claim 23

Apparatus for processing food products having an outer shell and an inner filler comprising: a feed conveyor having longitudinally spaced end rollers and laterally spaced conveyor belts running over said end rollers, said feed conveyor being adapted to sequentially receive said food product shells for movement from an input end of said conveyor to an output end thereof; a dispensing nozzle assembly secured above said feed conveyor for depositing a measured quantity of said filler on each of said shells as said shells are moved along said feed conveyor; a filler supply system connected with said dispensing nozzle for supplying said nozzle with a filler under pressure; a sensor member supported with a shell engaging portion penetrating the carrying plane of the belts on said feed conveyor for engagement by each of said shells as said shells are moved along said conveyor; a timing and power circuit interconnected between said dispensing nozzle and said sensor member for operating said nozzle responsive to said sensor for depositing predetermined quantities of said filler on each of said shells; a folding belt conveyor supported in alignment with said feed conveyor, said folding belt conveyor including longitudinally spaced end rollers and a flexible belt running over said rollers, an input end of said folding belt conveyor being positioned at the discharge end of said feed conveyor; guide means secured on opposite sides of said flexible belt between said input and discharge ends engaging lateral edge portions of said belt deforming said edge portions upwardly and inwardly providing a folding region along said belt to fold lateral portions of said shells upwardly around said filler in each of said shells forming an envelope of each of said shells around the said filler as each of said shells with said filler thereon is moved through said folding region of said belt toward the discharge end thereof; hold-down means secured above said flexible belt of said folding belt conveyor along the folding region thereof having a shell engaging portion disposed within the entry portion of said folding region of said belt for holding each of said shells downwardly in said belt as said shell enters the folding region of said belt; and means for driving said hold-down means at a rate synchronized with the rate of movement of said feed conveyor and said folding belt conveyor.

Claim 24

Apparatus for processing food products having an outer shell and an inner filler comprising: a feed conveyor having longitudinally spaced end rollers and laterally spaced conveyor belts running over said end rollers, said feed conveyor being adapted to sequentially receive said food product shells for movement from an input end of said conveyor to an output end thereof; a dispensing nozzle assembly secured above said feed conveyor for depositing a measured quantity of said filler on each of said shells as said shells are moved along said feed conveyor; a filler supply system connected with said dispensing nozzle for supplying said nozzle with a filler under pressure; a sensor member supported with a shell engaging portion penetrating the carrying plane of the belts on said feed conveyor for engagement by each of said shells as said shells are moved along said conveyor; a timing and power circuit interconnected between said dispensing nozzle and said sensor member for operating said nozzle responsive to said sensor for depositing predetermined quantities of said filler on each of said shells; a folding belt conveyor supported in alignment with said feed conveyor, said folding belt conveyor including longitudinally spaced end rollers and a flexible belt running over said rollers, an input end of said folding belt conveyor being positioned at the discharge end of said feed conveyor; guide means secured on opposite sides of said flexible belt between said input and discharge ends engaging lateral edge portions of said belt deforming said edge portions upwardly and inwardly providing a folding region along said belt to fold lateral portions of said shells upwardly around said filler in each of said shells forming an envelope of each of said shells around the said filler as each of said shells with said filler thereon is moved through said folding region of said belt toward the discharge end thereof; hold-down means secured above said flexible belt of said folding belt conveyor along the folding region thereof having a shell engaging portion disposed within the entry portion of said folding region of said belt for holding each of said shells downwardly in said belt as said shell enters the folding region of said belt; and means for driving said hold-down means at a rate synchronized with the rate of movement of said feed conveyor and said folding belt conveyor.