Automatic muffin tining machine with adjustable split

Claim 2

An automatic muffin tining and splitting machine comprising: a. a frame having a first and a second side, a first and a second end panel, a horizontal top and a bottom; b. a belt horizontally traveling on said top from said first to said second end panels between said sides; c. a drive train engaging the belt for said travel; d. a first tine section having a plurality of tines mounted on said top adjacent to and movable horizontally in traverse over said belt for the tining of muffins thereon from said first side of the frame; e. a second tine section having a plurality of tines mounted on said top adjacent to and movable horizontally in traverse over said belt in the plane of and interdigitatingly with respect to the tines of the first tine section for the tining of the muffins from the second side of the frame; f. a first tining double-acting air cylinder mounted on the first side of the frame and having a rod end horizontally engaging said first tine section; g. a second tining double-acting air cylinder mounted on the second side of the frame and having a rod end horizontally engaging said second tine section; h. a pneumatic lifting means for one of said tine sections for splitting of the muffins at the plane of tining; i. a first cam-actuated valve means operable for delivering air to said first and second double-acting air cylinders for simultaneous reciprocal cooperation of first and second tining sets and a second cylinder-actuated valve means for delivering air to said pneumatic lifting means for coordinated lift of said one tine section out of the plane of interdigitation with the other tine section at the time of the completion of the muffin penetration; j. cam and cylinder means actuated in timed relation with said drive means for operating said first and second valve means, respectively; and k. pressurized air supply means connected with said valve means.

Claim 3

An automatic muffin tining and splitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one tine section pneumatic lifting means comprises: a. spaced forebars and backbars vertically mounted to each of the end panels of said frame adjacent the said one tine section; b. first and second slide plates mounted to said one tine section adjacent to the first and second end panels, respectively, for vertical slidable movement guided between said forebars and backbars; c. bracket means mounted on said slide plates; and d. first and second lift air cylinders mounted to the first and second end plates, respectively, and having rod ends vertically engaging the respective bracket means for lifting the said one tine section and splitting the muffin.

Claim 4

An automatic muffin tining and splitting machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bracket means comprises a. a bracket having a threaded hole; b. a bolt threaded into said threaded hole and positioned for endwise engagement by said rod ends for adjusting the lift of the said one tine section and the extent of splitting of the muffin; and c. a jambnut engaging said bolt and said bracket for fixing the adjusted position of the bolt.

Claim 5

An automatic muffin tining and splitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive train comprises: a. a prime mover mounted on the frame and having a shaft; b. a sprocket drive mounted on said frame and operationally connected to said prime mover shaft and including an output shaft rotatably mounted to said frame; and c. a drive pulley mounted to the output shaft of said sprocket drive for driving the said belt.

Claim 6

An automatic muffin tining and splitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam-actuated first valve means comprises: a. a main air supply line 70; b. a first pilot valve 66 in fluid communication with the air supply line 70 and operationally engaged by a control cam 65; c. a shuttle valve 73 in fluid communication with the first pilot valve 66; d. a directionAl control valve 73'' in fluid communication with and operationally controlled by the shuttle valve 73; e. a pair of first pilots 74-74'' each in fluid communication with and operationally controlled by the first directional control valve 73''; f. a pair of first pilot-operated flow control valves 75-75'' each in fluid communication with and operationally controlled by a respective one of first pilots 74-74'', the head of each of the tining air cylinders being in fluid communication with a respective one of the first pilot-operated flow control valves 75-75'' for the penetration of the tines into the muffins; g. a second pilot valve 77 in fluid communication with the air supply line 70 and operationally engaged by the control cam 65 sequentially with respect to the first pilot valve 66, said second pilot valve 77 communicating with said shuttle valve 73; h. a pair of second pilots 78-78'' each in fluid communication with and operationally controlled by said directional control valve 73''; i. a pair of second pilot-operated flow control valves 79-79'' in fluid communication with and operationally controlled by the second pilots 78-78'', the rod ends of tining air cylinders 52-44 being in fluid communication with second pilot-operated flow control valves 79-79'', respectively, for the withdrawal of the tines from the muffins; and wherein said cylinder-actuated second valve means comprises: a third pilot valve 76'' having communication with the supply line 70 and operationally engaged by the said other tine section at the time of the completion of the muffin penetration.

Claim 7

An automatic muffin tining and splitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pneumatic lifting means comprises a pair of single-acting lift air cylinders 58-58'' mounted one at each end of said frame and connected in fluid communication with the third pilot valve 76'' for lifting the said one tine section upon completion of the muffin penetration.