US3704735A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic splitting machine for hand-opened muffins
Assignee: FIRST CITY NATIONAL BANK OF HOUSTON A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION
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Filing: 1971-02-22
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1991-02-22
Abstract
Abstract An automatic muffin-splitting machine of increased productivity having a traveling conveyor belt for intermittently delivering muffins to a tining section to be tined and split, said tining section having first and second pluralities of tines operating from respective opposite sides of the conveyor belt, said pluralities of tines traversing the belt in simultaneous reciprocal interdigitating cooperation from the opposite sides thereof, said first plurality of tines being automatically lifted out of the plane of interdigitation with the second plurality of tines as full penetration of the tines into the muffins is reached, and said intermittent tining of said muffins being coordinated with movement of the traveling belt by cam-actuated, pilot-operated, air cylinder-powered, over-center link and lever mechanism; whereby the machine automatically produces muffins properly perforated and split, but not fully separated, for gentle hand opening whenever desired in preparation for grilling or toasting.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene M Noel
- 👤 Frank Conelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:07
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D3/00; B26D3/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/02; Y10T83/0237; Y10T83/0252; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/6668
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An automatic muffin-splitting machine having a conveyor belt for carrying muffins thereon comprising: a. a frame having a top and first and second ends and said conveyor belt traveling on top of said frame from over said first end to over said second end; b. a first tine section mounted at one side of the conveyor belt in parallel relation therewith and having a length equal to a predetermined number of muffin diameters, said tine section comprising a plurality of parallel laterally-spaced tines projecting toward the belt, and said tine section being supported on fixed guide means mounted on said frame for reciprocal movement of said tines in parallel transverse planes over the conveyor belt; c. a second tine section similar to the first tine section and similarly mounted on the other side of the conveyor belt for reciprocal movement of its tines in parallel planes over the conveyor belt, said second section tines being spaced for interdigitating relation with the tines of the first section; d. means for operating said first and second tine sections for intermittent traverse of the conveyor belt in simultaneous reciprocal cooperation with each other; e. means for coordinating the operation of the first and second tine sections with the conveyor belt travel; and f. means for lifting one tine section out of the plane of interdigitation with the other tine section while the muffins are penetrated by the tines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
An automatic muffin-splitting machine having a conveyor belt for carrying muffins thereon comprising: a. a frame having a top and first and second ends and said conveyor belt traveling on top of said frame from over said first end to over said second end; b. a first tine section mounted at one side of the conveyor belt in parallel relation therewith and having a length equal to a predetermined number of muffin diameters, said tine section comprising a plurality of parallel laterally-spaced tines projecting toward the belt, and said tine section being supported on fixed guide means mounted on said frame for reciprocal movement of said tines in parallel transverse planes over the conveyor belt; c. a second tine section similar to the first tine section and similarly mounted on the other side of the conveyor belt for reciprocal movement of its tines in parallel planes over the conveyor belt, said second section tines being spaced for interdigitating relation with the tines of the first section; d. means for operating said first and second tine sections for intermittent traverse of the conveyor belt in simultaneous reciprocal cooperation with each other; e. means for coordinating the operation of the first and second tine sections with the conveyor belt travel; and f. means for lifting one tine section out of the plane of interdigitation with the other tine section while the muffins are penetrated by the tines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
216 words
An automatic, muffin-splitting machine as disclosed in claim 1 wherein the means for operating said first tine section in the intermittent traverse of the conveyor in simultaneous reciprocal cooperation with said second tine section comprises: a. first levers having lower and upper ends and pivotally mounted therebetween on the first and second ends and below the top of the frame on the said one side of the conveyor; b. said first levers having slots at their upper ends operationally engaging pins on first and second ends of a first tine bar carrying said first tine section; c. said first levers pivotally carrying at their lower end first ends of over-center links; d. second levers having lower and upper ends, said lower ends pivotally mounted on the first and second ends of the frame below the top and to the said other side of the conveyor; e. said second levers having slots at their upper ends operationally engaging pins on first and second ends of a second tine bar carrying said second tine section; f. said second levers pivotally carrying second ends of over-center links intermediate their upper and lower ends; g. said first levers pivotally mounting rod ends of air cylinders; and h. the other ends of said air cylinders being pivotally mounted on said frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
An automatic, muffin-splitting machine as disclosed in claim 1 wherein the means for coordinating the traverse of the conveyor by the first and second sections of tines with the conveyor belt travel comprises: a. a cam mounted on and constrained to rotate in a phased relationship with respect to a shaft for driving said traveling conveyor belt; and b. a pilot means mounted on said frame having a cam follower engaging said Cam for actuating a shuttle air valve and directing air to extend and retract the rods of said air cylinders in the timing of said muffins in a phased relationship with respect to the traveling conveyor belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An automatic, muffin-splitting machine as disclosed in claim 3 wherein the pilot means comprises a normally-closed air valve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3192975A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |