US3763765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for making filled food item
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-16
•
Granted: 1973-10-09
•
Expires: 1991-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A filled edible product is described, as for example a bread stick, a shorter like item in the form of a pretzel stick, or products of other shapes such as balls or irregular shapes, any of which are at least initially brittle, unyielding, and incompressible. The product is filled by first inserting it in a holding means which contains a resilient product support member for resiliently gripping and supporting the stick, after which an elongated cavity is formed in the product from one end and the cavity subsequently filled with an extrudible material such as cheese, whipped cream, peanut butter, custard, fruit preserves, and jelly. The invention also includes an improved continuously operating, rotatively indexed apparatus for drilling while properly supporting the product and subsequently filling the cavity formed with the extrudible material.
Inventors
- 👤 R Nelson
- 👤 W Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:42
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C15/00; A21C15/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
318 words
An apparatus for producing a completely edible, filled food item from a manufactured, initially brittle, substantially unyielding and incompressible preformed body portion having a filling material therein, comprising: a. a transport member comprising: 1. a rotatably mounted index plate member for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a plurality of receptacle openings provided in said plate arranged in a circle having its center substantially coincident with said axis of rotation, 2. means for engaging and supporting said body portion, 3. means defining an unloading station for removing processed food items from said receptacle openings, and 4. means for intermittently rotating said index plate member to a plurality of predetermined positions; b. an operating member comprising: 1. a loading station having loading means for introducing individual body portions into said receptacle openings, 2. a drilling station drilling means adapted to form an axial channel in said body portions, 3. a filling station having means for filling said axial channels with a fluid food material, said loading means, said drilling means, and said filling means being arranged substantially at the periphery of a circle having substantially the same radius as and being coaxially superposed over the circle around which said receptacle openings are arranged, said means for rotating said index plate being so arranged that each predetermined position of said index plate places receptacle openings in positions coaxial with said loading station, said drilling station, said filling station and said unloading station; and c. means for reciprocating said transport member and said operating member axially with respect to each other, wherein said circular index plate is provided with a peripheral groove communicating with said receptacle openings, a flexible endless belt engaged within said groove, and means arranged to cause said belt to engage and support said body portions at said drilling station and said filling station, and to disengage said food items at said loading station and said unloading station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
318 words
An apparatus for producing a completely edible, filled food item from a manufactured, initially brittle, substantially unyielding and incompressible preformed body portion having a filling material therein, comprising: a. a transport member comprising: 1. a rotatably mounted index plate member for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, a plurality of receptacle openings provided in said plate arranged in a circle having its center substantially coincident with said axis of rotation, 2. means for engaging and supporting said body portion, 3. means defining an unloading station for removing processed food items from said receptacle openings, and 4. means for intermittently rotating said index plate member to a plurality of predetermined positions; b. an operating member comprising: 1. a loading station having loading means for introducing individual body portions into said receptacle openings, 2. a drilling station drilling means adapted to form an axial channel in said body portions, 3. a filling station having means for filling said axial channels with a fluid food material, said loading means, said drilling means, and said filling means being arranged substantially at the periphery of a circle having substantially the same radius as and being coaxially superposed over the circle around which said receptacle openings are arranged, said means for rotating said index plate being so arranged that each predetermined position of said index plate places receptacle openings in positions coaxial with said loading station, said drilling station, said filling station and said unloading station; and c. means for reciprocating said transport member and said operating member axially with respect to each other, wherein said circular index plate is provided with a peripheral groove communicating with said receptacle openings, a flexible endless belt engaged within said groove, and means arranged to cause said belt to engage and support said body portions at said drilling station and said filling station, and to disengage said food items at said loading station and said unloading station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
8 words
means for engaging and supporting said body portion,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
8 words
means for engaging and supporting said body portion,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
a drilling station drilling means adapted to form an axial channel in said body portions,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
a drilling station drilling means adapted to form an axial channel in said body portions,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
8 words
means for engaging and supporting said body portion,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
8 words
means for engaging and supporting said body portion,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, having a stationary plate mounted below said index plate at said loading station and said drilling station for supporting said body portions vertically at those stations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
a drilling station drilling means adapted to form an axial channel in said body portions,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
a drilling station drilling means adapted to form an axial channel in said body portions,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
170 words
a filling station having means for filling said axial channels with a fluid food material, said loading means, said drilling means, and said filling means being arranged substantially at the periphery of a circle having substantially the same radius as and being coaxially superposed over the circle around which said receptacle openings are arranged, said means for rotating said index plate being so arranged that each predetermined position of said index plate places receptacle openings in positions coaxial with said loading station, said drilling station, said filling station and said unloading station; and c. means for reciprocating said transport member and said operating member axially with respect to each other, wherein said circular index plate is provided with a peripheral groove communicating with said receptacle openings, a flexible endless belt engaged within said groove, and means arranged to cause said belt to engage and support said body portions at said drilling station and said filling station, and to disengage said food items at said loading station and said unloading station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
170 words
a filling station having means for filling said axial channels with a fluid food material, said loading means, said drilling means, and said filling means being arranged substantially at the periphery of a circle having substantially the same radius as and being coaxially superposed over the circle around which said receptacle openings are arranged, said means for rotating said index plate being so arranged that each predetermined position of said index plate places receptacle openings in positions coaxial with said loading station, said drilling station, said filling station and said unloading station; and c. means for reciprocating said transport member and said operating member axially with respect to each other, wherein said circular index plate is provided with a peripheral groove communicating with said receptacle openings, a flexible endless belt engaged within said groove, and means arranged to cause said belt to engage and support said body portions at said drilling station and said filling station, and to disengage said food items at said loading station and said unloading station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
means defining an unloading station for removing processed food items from said receptacle openings, and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
means defining an unloading station for removing processed food items from said receptacle openings, and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operating member and said transport member both are provided with a plurality of loading stations, drilling stations, filling stations, and unloading stations arranged in said circle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
means defining an unloading station for removing processed food items from said receptacle openings, and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
means defining an unloading station for removing processed food items from said receptacle openings, and
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
248 words
a filling station having means for filling said axial channels with a fluid food material, said loading means, said drilling means, and said filling means being arranged substantially at the periphery of a circle having substantially the same radius as and being coaxially superposed over the circle around which said receptacle openings are arranged, said means for rotating said index plate being so arranged that each predetermined position of said index plate places receptacle openings in positions coaxial with said loading station, said drilling station, said filling station and said unloading station; and c. means for reciprocating said transport member and said operating member axially with respect to each other, wherein said filling means comprises a metering pump having a housing with a chamber provided therein, means mounted within said housing chamber and spaced apart from the vertical walls thereof having a cylinder bore provided therein, a piston arranged for reciprocal movement having a lower limiting position wherein said piston is positioned within said cylinder bore and an upper limiting position wherein said piston is positioned outside said cylinder bore to permit said filling material to enter into said cylinder bore, means for reciprocably moving said piston, a nozzle at the lower end of said housing communicating with said cylinder bore and arranged to transmit said filler material to the axial channel provided in said body portions, and inlets and outlets at the side of said housing for circulating said filler material to and from said housing chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
248 words
a filling station having means for filling said axial channels with a fluid food material, said loading means, said drilling means, and said filling means being arranged substantially at the periphery of a circle having substantially the same radius as and being coaxially superposed over the circle around which said receptacle openings are arranged, said means for rotating said index plate being so arranged that each predetermined position of said index plate places receptacle openings in positions coaxial with said loading station, said drilling station, said filling station and said unloading station; and c. means for reciprocating said transport member and said operating member axially with respect to each other, wherein said filling means comprises a metering pump having a housing with a chamber provided therein, means mounted within said housing chamber and spaced apart from the vertical walls thereof having a cylinder bore provided therein, a piston arranged for reciprocal movement having a lower limiting position wherein said piston is positioned within said cylinder bore and an upper limiting position wherein said piston is positioned outside said cylinder bore to permit said filling material to enter into said cylinder bore, means for reciprocably moving said piston, a nozzle at the lower end of said housing communicating with said cylinder bore and arranged to transmit said filler material to the axial channel provided in said body portions, and inlets and outlets at the side of said housing for circulating said filler material to and from said housing chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge chute is provided having its upper end positioned below said discharge station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for intermittently rotating said index plate member to a plurality of predetermined positions; b. an operating member comprising:
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for intermittently rotating said index plate member to a plurality of predetermined positions; b. an operating member comprising:
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for intermittently rotating said indEx plate member to a plurality of predetermined positions; b. an operating member comprising:
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for intermittently rotating said indEx plate member to a plurality of predetermined positions; b. an operating member comprising:
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, having means for controlling and releasing only one body portion at a time into a receptacle opening at said loading station.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for producing a completely edible, filled food item from a manufactured, initially brittle, substantially unyielding and incompressible preformed body portion having a filling material therein, comprising: a. a transport member comprising:
Claim 28
Independent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for producing a completely edible, filled food item from a manufactured, initially brittle, substantially unyielding and incompressible preformed body portion having a filling material therein, comprising: a. a transport member comprising:
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said outlet communicates with said housing chamber and is positioned opposite and approximately at the same level as said inlet.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means having a cylindrical bore is a cylinder having a portion of the upper wall thereof removed to define a deflector cooperating with said piston when in its upper limiting position to define a scoop serving to facilitate the introduction of said filling material into said cylinder bore.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
160 words
A metering pump adapted to be supplied by a continuously circulating liquid material and upon actuation to supply individual charges having a predetermined volume of said liquid material, said pump having a housing with a chamber provided therein, means mounted within said housing chamber and spaced apart from the vertical walls thereof and having a cylinder bore provided therein, a piston arranged for reciprocal movement having a lower limiting position wherein said piston is positioned within said cylinder bore and an upper limiting position wherein said piston is outside said cylinder bore thereby permitting said liquid material to enter into said cylinder bore, means for reciprocably moving said piston, a nozzle at the lower end of said housing communicating with said cylinder bore and arranged to transmit said liquid material to the cavity of an article to be filled, and inlets and outlets at the side of said housing for circulating said liquid material to and from said housing chamber.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
160 words
A metering pump adapted to be supplied by a continuously circulating liquid material and upon actuation to supply individual charges having a predetermined volume of said liquid material, said pump having a housing with a chamber provided therein, means mounted within said housing chamber and spaced apart from the vertical walls thereof and having a cylinder bore provided therein, a piston arranged for reciprocal movement having a lower limiting position wherein said piston is positioned within said cylinder bore and an upper limiting position wherein said piston is outside said cylinder bore thereby permitting said liquid material to enter into said cylinder bore, means for reciprocably moving said piston, a nozzle at the lower end of said housing communicating with said cylinder bore and arranged to transmit said liquid material to the cavity of an article to be filled, and inlets and outlets at the side of said housing for circulating said liquid material to and from said housing chamber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A pump according to claim 9, wherein said means having a cylindrical bore is a cylinder.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
57 words
A pump according to claim 10, wherein a portion of the open end of said cylinder is removed to define a deflector extending substantially half-way around the periphery of said cylinder and cooperating with said piston when in its upper limiting position to define a scoop facilitating the introduction of said liquid material into said cylinder bore.
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) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |