US3754464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system
Assignee: DCA Food Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-10-06
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Granted: 1973-08-28
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Expires: 1990-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A system for synchronizing the transfer of products between sequential processing equipment. Food products, such as dough pieces consisting of yeast raised dough and requiring ''''proofing, '''' are introduced at an input end of a microwave proofer, and are initially transported at a ''''loading speed.'''' When a first product row reaches the end of the proofer belt, and the products are ready to be transferred to a subsequent food processor such as a fryer, which may move the products at a different and independently controlled speed, the proofer transport is temporarily halted. The production cycle then commences. During the production cycle, the system provides intermittent start-stop operation of the proofer transport mechanism, advancing the proofer conveyor (at a higher ''''discharge speed'''') each time that the fryer conveyor belt advances into the next dough piece receiving position, and stopping the proofer conveyor in response to the readiness for transfer of each subsequent row of product into the continuously moving pockets of the fryer conveyor. Additional rows of raw product pieces are periodically deposited at the proofer''s input end each subsequent time that the proofer conveyor is halted. Timing and processing controls for the transport equipment and for related sub-systems are included to insure synchronized product transfer, to accurately control proofing and transport periods and to provide regulation or proofing interval independently of the processing interval or speed of the subsequent frying equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 H Kaufman
- 👤 E Stein
- 👤 R Schiffmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:33
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C13/00; A21C13/02; A21B; A21B5/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S99/00; Y10S99/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for controlling the transfer of products between sequential processing equipment comprising an in-line processor, a processing chamber, movable transport means for conveying said products through said processing chamber, means for introducing said products onto said transport means at an input end of said chamber, means for discharging said products from said transport means to said in-line processor at an output end of said chamber, means for driving said movable transport means and said discharging means and control means for regulating the operation of said transport means to synchronize said introducing means with said discharging means in accordance with the transfer of said products to said in-line processor, said control means including means for establishing a loading cycle for said sequential processing equipment to periodically operate said introducing means in response to the operation of said in-line processor and to cause said driving means to continuously operate said transport means and said discharging means, said control means further including means for establishing a production cycle to periodically operate said introducing means and to stop said driving means in response to the movement of said products to a detecting station on said discharging means and to cause said driving means to operate said transport means and said discharging means in response to the operation of said in-line processor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for controlling the transfer of products between sequential processing equipment comprising an in-line processor, a processing chamber, movable transport means for conveying said products through said processing chamber, means for introducing said products onto said transport means at an input end of said chamber, means for discharging said products from said transport means to said in-line processor at an output end of said chamber, means for driving said movable transport means and said discharging means and control means for regulating the operation of said transport means to synchronize said introducing means with said discharging means in accordance with the transfer of said products to said in-line processor, said control means including means for establishing a loading cycle for said sequential processing equipment to periodically operate said introducing means in response to the operation of said in-line processor and to cause said driving means to continuously operate said transport means and said discharging means, said control means further including means for establishing a production cycle to periodically operate said introducing means and to stop said driving means in response to the movement of said products to a detecting station on said discharging means and to cause said driving means to operate said transport means and said discharging means in response to the operation of said in-line processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as defined by claim 1 wherein said introducing means includes means for containing unprocessed material for said products and for automatically depositing said material on said transport means in substantially the shape of said products in response to said control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as defined by claim 1 wherein said introducing means comprises an automatic pressure-responsive extruding machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system as defined by claim 1 wherein said movable transport means includes a first conveyor belt, said discharging means includes a second conveyor belt and said control means further includes detection means responsive to the movement of at least a first group of said products to said detecting station to terminate said loading cycle and to commence said production cycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system as defined by claim 4 wherein said detecting means includes means for establishing a light beam across the travel path of said products on said second conveyor belt at said predetermined point, and means responsive to the periodic interruption of said beam to halt said conveyor belts and to activate said introducing means during said production cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as defined by claim 4 wherein said control means includes means for advancing said conveyor belts at a first relatively slower speed during said loading cycle and for alternately halting said conveyor belts and advancing said conveyor belts at a second relatively higher speed during said production cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as defined by claim 6 wherein said control means further includes auxiliary switching means responsive to the operation of said in-line processor for controlling the advance of said belts during said loading and said production cycles and for controlling the operation of said introducing means only during said loading cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system as defined by claim 7 wherein said in-line processor includes an independently driven conveyor belt, and said auxiliary switching means includes a cam wheel rotatable in response to the movement of said independently driven conveyor belt and a switch adapted to be closed by contact with a portion of said rotatable cam wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
264 words
A system as defined by claim 4 having an automatic mode of operation and including in addition a drive mechanism for said conveyor belts, wherein said control means further includes auxiliary switching means responsive to the operation of said in-line processor for periodically closing a control circuit, first switching means responsive to the closure of said control circuit for governing the advance of said conveyor belts during said loading and production cycles and for governing the activation of said introducing means only during said loading cycle, second switching means responsive to the operation of said first switching means during said loading cycle for continuously enabling said drive mechanism and responsive to the respective operation of said first switching means and of said detecting means during said production cycle for alternately enabling and disabling said drive mechanism, third switching means responsive to the operation of said detecting means for governing the activation of said introducing means only during said production cycle, fourth switching means responsive to the operation of said third switching means for initially inhibiting the activation of said introducing means at the commencement of said production cycle, fifth switching means responsive to the operation of said third switching means for transferring the movement of said belts from a first relatively slower speed during said loading cycle to a second relatively higher speed during said production cycle, and sixth switching means responsive to the operation of said first switching means during said loading cycle and to the operation of said detecting means during said production cycle for controlling the operation of said introducing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as defined by claim 9, wherein said fourth switching means includes timing means for delaying the operation of said fourth switching means responsive to said operation of said third switching means until a predetermined time subsequent to the commencement of said production cycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined by claim 9 wherein said third switching means includes timing means for maintaining said third switching means in its operated condition until a predetermined time subsequent to the final operation of said detecting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as defined by claim 1 having a manual mode of operation wherein said movable transport means includes a first conveyor belt and said discharging means includes a second conveYor belt, and wherein said control means includes means operative to establish a continuous operating cycle for at least said first conveyor belt to advance said conveyor belt through said processing chamber at a predetermined relatively low speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
127 words
A system as defined by claim 12 including in addition a first drive mechanism for said first conveyor belt, and wherein said control means includes auxiliary switching means responsive to the operation of said in-line processor for closing a control circuit, first swithcing means responsive to the closure of said control circuit for governing the activation of said introducing means, second switching means operative in response to the selection of said manual mode for continuously enabling said first drive mechanism, third switching means responsive to the selection of said manual mode for maintaining the advance of said first conveyor belt at said predetermined relatively slow speed, and fourth switching means responsive to the operation of said first switching means for controlling the operation of said introducing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as defined by claim 13 including in addition a second drive mechanism for said second conveyor belt, and means in said second drive mechanism for periodically adjusting the speed of said second conveyor belt to synchronously transfer said products, received by said second conveyor belt from said first conveyor belt, to said in-line processor.
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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) | 1976-08-27 | 1977-02-26 | 1977-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-27 | 1981-02-26 | 1981-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-27 | 1985-02-26 | 1985-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |