US3589308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patty making machine
Assignee: APV Baker Inc
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Filing: 1969-06-16
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1989-06-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for automatically forming food products, such as, potato patties from shreds, the shreds being withdrawn from a hopper onto two endless belts which pass into a nip formed by counterrotating compacting rollers, one of which has a compacting recess formed in its circumference. The ribbon formed by the compaction is cut into patties by a reciprocating knife cutting into the recess. In an alternate embodiment the knife is positioned to bear against the belt onto which the ribbon drops after being formed in the compacting stage. To positively feed the shreds into the compacting rollers, a pin wheel having rows of pins eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of rotation of the wheel is positioned adjacent to the compacting rollers.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert F Verhoeven
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:05
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C11/00; A21C11/10; A21C5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
Apparatus utilized in the preparation of food product patties, said apparatus comprising: a hopper; a endless belt positioned to pass underneath said hopper; means including pins driven downwardly toward said belt for feeding shreds of a food product from said hopper onto said belt; a pair of coacting rollers positioned on each side of said endless belt for compacting said shreds on said belt into a compact ribbon; a conveyor means; means for transferring the ribbon from said belt to said conveyor means; and means for cutting said ribbon into patties.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus utilized in the preparation of food product patties, said apparatus comprising: a hopper; a endless belt positioned to pass underneath said hopper; means including pins driven downwardly toward said belt for feeding shreds of a food product from said hopper onto said belt; a pair of coacting rollers positioned on each side of said endless belt for compacting said shreds on said belt into a compact ribbon; a conveyor means; means for transferring the ribbon from said belt to said conveyor means; and means for cutting said ribbon into patties.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein compacting means includes a pair of coating rollers, said first endless belt passing between them; said feeding means is positioned under said hopper adjacent to said pair of rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said rollers are counterrotating and adjustably spaced apart to form an adjustable nip, said first belt passing through said nip with said shreds thereon; and further including a second endless belt positioned to pass under said hopper and through said nip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first mentioned belt passes around a portion of the circumference of one of said rollers, and said second belt passes around a portion of the circumference of the other of said rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein one of said rollers has a circumferential recess defined by radially extending sidewalls; said roller sidewalls abutting said second belt; said first mentioned belt passes over said one roller within said recess; and said cutting means includes a reciprocating knife.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said transferring means includes a releasing agent applied to said first mentioned belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said knife is positioned so that its cutting blade passes into said recess and contacts said first mentioned belt when it is within said recess of said one roller, and further including means for reciprocating said knife.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said cutting means includes a knife positioned so that its cutting blade contacts said second belt, and further including means for reciprocating said knife.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said feeding means includes a pinwheel rotatably driven about an axis of rotation, said pins engaging the shreds and feeding them to said first mentioned belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said pins are mounted for radial movement by cam means comprising a generally elliptical track and followers operatively connected to said pins and engaging said track, said track being offcentered with respect to the axis of rotation of said wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said pins are mounted on a plurality of plates each of which are in turn slidably mounted in radial slots in said wheel, and said plates are connected to said followers; and further including means for rotatably driving said wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said pins are mounted in rows, one row to each plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
A pinwheel for feeding potato shreds into compacting means, said wheel comprising an axle; means for rotatably mounting said wheel on said axle; a plurality of pins mounted within said wheel for radial movement therein; a track mounted eccentrically with respect to said axle and fixed relative to said wheel; and means for operatively connectiNg said pins to said track whereby the radial movement of said pins in said wheel is determined and controlled by said track as said wheel is rotated about said axle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
A pinwheel for feeding potato shreds into compacting means, said wheel comprising an axle; means for rotatably mounting said wheel on said axle; a plurality of pins mounted within said wheel for radial movement therein; a track mounted eccentrically with respect to said axle and fixed relative to said wheel; and means for operatively connectiNg said pins to said track whereby the radial movement of said pins in said wheel is determined and controlled by said track as said wheel is rotated about said axle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The wheel as defined in claim 13 wherein said track is elliptical.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The wheel as defined in claim 13 wherein said pins are mounted in rows on plates, said plates are slidably mounted within radial slots in said wheel, each of said plates being connected to a follower, said followers being movably confined in said track so as to be engaged thereby.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wheel as defined in claim 15 wherein said rows are mounted one row to a plate.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for continuously forming food patties, said apparatus comprising: a pair of adjacent compacting rolls mounted for counter rotation and forming a nip therebetween; a recess formed in the circumference of one of said rolls; a first belt passing around a portion of the circumference of said one roll and within said recess; a second belt passing around a portion of the circumference of the other of said pair of rolls; hopper means communicating with the nip of said compacting rollers; and means to force said food product within said hopper into the nip of said rollers.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for continuously forming food patties, said apparatus comprising: a pair of adjacent compacting rolls mounted for counter rotation and forming a nip therebetween; a recess formed in the circumference of one of said rolls; a first belt passing around a portion of the circumference of said one roll and within said recess; a second belt passing around a portion of the circumference of the other of said pair of rolls; hopper means communicating with the nip of said compacting rollers; and means to force said food product within said hopper into the nip of said rollers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said forcing means includes a roller having radially disposed pins.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said second belt forms a conveyor for carrying compacted food products away from said nip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |