Patent US3631818A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3631818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pizza sauce apparatus
Assignee: DOB FOOD PRODUCTS Co A CORP OF
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Filing: 1969-11-28
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Granted: 1972-01-04
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Expires: 1989-11-28
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are provided for applying pizza sauce to a plurality of pizza shells in which: an indexing conveying assembly moves the shells into position beneath a plurality of rotating distribution nozzles, a piston assembly draws a measured amount of sauce from a supply hopper and then discharges the sauce through the nozzles and onto the pizza shells, a three-way valve, for each piston assembly and distribution nozzle, serves to connect the supply hopper and piston assembly to the nozzles in its opposite position, and a control assembly detects the presence of a pizza shell below each nozzle and activates the valve to permit discharge of sauce into the distribution nozzles.
Inventors
- 👤 Santo Zito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:17
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G3/00; A23G3/02; A23G3/0236; A23G3/0252; A23G3/0257; A21; A21C; A21C9/00; A21C9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
An apparatus for distributing a measured volumetric amount of pizza sauce material on the surface of each of a plurality of pizza shells comprising: a plurality of rotatable distribution nozZles having a hollow shaft terminating in a radially extending head; means for rotating said distribution nozzles to distribute pizza sauce material over the surface of pizza shells; storage means for containing a supply of pizza sauce; conveying means for transmitting the plurality of pizza shells beneath said distribution nozzles; and means for applying a measured volumetric amount of pizza sauce to said distribution nozzles for each of the pizza shells including: piston means corresponding to each of said nozzles for drawing a measured amount of pizza sauce from said storage means and discharging the sauce into said distribution nozzles; valve means for connecting said storage means with the piston means to permit a measured amount of sauce material to be drawn from said storage means and for connecting said piston means with each of the corresponding distribution nozzles to discharge the measured amount of sauce material through said distribution nozzles and onto the pizza shells; and control means associated with said conveying means for detecting the presence of pizza shells beneath said distribution nozzles and for initiating the delivery of the measured volumetric amount of pizza sauce material through said nozzles and onto the pizza shells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
226 words
An apparatus for distributing a measured volumetric amount of pizza sauce material on the surface of each of a plurality of pizza shells comprising: a plurality of rotatable distribution nozZles having a hollow shaft terminating in a radially extending head; means for rotating said distribution nozzles to distribute pizza sauce material over the surface of pizza shells; storage means for containing a supply of pizza sauce; conveying means for transmitting the plurality of pizza shells beneath said distribution nozzles; and means for applying a measured volumetric amount of pizza sauce to said distribution nozzles for each of the pizza shells including: piston means corresponding to each of said nozzles for drawing a measured amount of pizza sauce from said storage means and discharging the sauce into said distribution nozzles; valve means for connecting said storage means with the piston means to permit a measured amount of sauce material to be drawn from said storage means and for connecting said piston means with each of the corresponding distribution nozzles to discharge the measured amount of sauce material through said distribution nozzles and onto the pizza shells; and control means associated with said conveying means for detecting the presence of pizza shells beneath said distribution nozzles and for initiating the delivery of the measured volumetric amount of pizza sauce material through said nozzles and onto the pizza shells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the radially extending head of the distribution nozzles has an adjustable opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the radially extending head of the rotating distribution nozzles defines a circle of smaller diameter than the diameter of the pizza shells below said rotating nozzles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said distribution nozzles is capable of varying the rotational speed of said nozzles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprises: a plurality of spaced transport bars lying across a flat horizontal deck and positioned transverse to the direction of movement of said pizza shells, said bars having a series of V-shaped indentations spaced along their leading edge to accommodate a circular pizza shell and prevent lateral movement of said shell; and an indexing drive means connected to said transport bars, said drive means being adapted to interrupt movement of said bars when said pizza shells are in position to receive pizza sauce material from said distribution nozzles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the control means is a spaced plurality of curved switches protruding from said conveying means, one of said switches corresponding to each of said distribution nozzles and each of said switches being positioned below each of said nozzles so that pizza shells passing over said switches will depress the switches causing said valve means to connect said piston means with said nozzles to permit the discharge of pizza sauce material from said nozzles onto said pizza shells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the intake stroke of said piston means draws a measured volumetric amount of pizza sauce from said supply hopper and the reverse stroke of said piston means discharges said pizza sauce to said distribution nozzles only when said switches are depressed by the pizza shells.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for applying a measured volumetric amount of pizza sauce material to each one of a plurality of pizza shells comprising: a plurality of rotatable distribution nozzles each having a hollow shaft and a radially extending head portion communicating with said shaft; means for rotating said distribution nozzles; means for transmitting a plurality of pizza crusts beneath said distribution nozzles; storage means for containing a supply of pizza sauce material; means for stopping the movement of said crusts to index said crusts beneath said distribution nozzles; means for drawing a measured amount of pizza sauce material from said storage means; means for detecting whether each pizza shell Is in indexed position beneath said rotatable nozzles to receive the pizza sauce material; and means controlled by said detecting means for delivery of said measured amount of said pizza sauce material when said crusts are positioned beneath said rotatable nozzles.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for applying a measured volumetric amount of pizza sauce material to each one of a plurality of pizza shells comprising: a plurality of rotatable distribution nozzles each having a hollow shaft and a radially extending head portion communicating with said shaft; means for rotating said distribution nozzles; means for transmitting a plurality of pizza crusts beneath said distribution nozzles; storage means for containing a supply of pizza sauce material; means for stopping the movement of said crusts to index said crusts beneath said distribution nozzles; means for drawing a measured amount of pizza sauce material from said storage means; means for detecting whether each pizza shell Is in indexed position beneath said rotatable nozzles to receive the pizza sauce material; and means controlled by said detecting means for delivery of said measured amount of said pizza sauce material when said crusts are positioned beneath said rotatable nozzles.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |