US3782271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic pie apparatus
Assignee: Continental Baking Co
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Filing: 1972-04-27
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-04-27
Abstract
Abstract An automatic pie forming apparatus for individual fruit pies which are produced in a continuous in-line system. The apparatus includes an arrangement for providing a continuous strip of dough to a number of individual pie molds moving in a continuous loop. The strip of dough is fed into the molds to be filled, formed, trimmed, and a pie is dispensed automatically and positioned to be delivered to the cooking facility. The apparatus automatically provides the forming, trimming, and dispensing of the individual filled pies.
Inventors
- 👤 H Tobey
- 👤 J Hood
- 👤 D Irvin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:32
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C9/00; A21C9/06; A21C9/066; A21C9/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
Automatic pie apparatus comprising the combination of: means to produce a continuous strip of dough; a plurality of molding means having two parts positioned to receive said dough and to enable depositing of a pie filling therein; first cam means to cause one part of each of said mold means to enclose said filling and form an individual filled pie product, and said one part of each of said mold means is pivotally connected to said other part, and said one part includes knife edge sides to facilitate the cutting and subsequent folding of said dough; means positioned to trim the excess dough from said closed mold, and pie catching means positioned below said other part to catch the pie product when the dropping of said other part occurs; means to catch the excess dough and return it directly to said means producing said continuous strip of dough; second cam means positioned to open said one part, and third cam means to assist said one part to return to its initial condition; means positioned to permit the dropping of another part of each of said molds and enable removal of said individual filling pie product, and means to assist the removal of said product from each of said molding means; and means for feeding said product to a cooking means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
Automatic pie apparatus comprising the combination of: means to produce a continuous strip of dough; a plurality of molding means having two parts positioned to receive said dough and to enable depositing of a pie filling therein; first cam means to cause one part of each of said mold means to enclose said filling and form an individual filled pie product, and said one part of each of said mold means is pivotally connected to said other part, and said one part includes knife edge sides to facilitate the cutting and subsequent folding of said dough; means positioned to trim the excess dough from said closed mold, and pie catching means positioned below said other part to catch the pie product when the dropping of said other part occurs; means to catch the excess dough and return it directly to said means producing said continuous strip of dough; second cam means positioned to open said one part, and third cam means to assist said one part to return to its initial condition; means positioned to permit the dropping of another part of each of said molds and enable removal of said individual filling pie product, and means to assist the removal of said product from each of said molding means; and means for feeding said product to a cooking means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
132 words
In automatic pie equipment having means for providing a continuous strip of dough, apparatus comprising: a plurality of pie molds driven in a continuous loop and positioned to receive said dough, each mold comprising displaceable top and bottom portions; first cam means for closing said top portion after a filling has been deposited to form a pie between said top and bottom portions; pressure roller means for exerting a predetermined pressure on said closed mold; a dough trimming assembly coupled to said pressure roller for removing the excess dough from the edge of each mold; second cam means for opening the top portion of each mold; and means to assist the removal of the pie when the bottom portion of said mold is displaced from a first position to a second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
In automatic pie equipment having means for providing a continuous strip of dough, apparatus comprising: a plurality of pie molds driven in a continuous loop and positioned to receive said dough, each mold comprising displaceable top and bottom portions; first cam means for closing said top portion after a filling has been deposited to form a pie between said top and bottom portions; pressure roller means for exerting a predetermined pressure on said closed mold; a dough trimming assembly coupled to said pressure roller for removing the excess dough from the edge of each mold; second cam means for opening the top portion of each mold; and means to assist the removal of the pie when the bottom portion of said mold is displaced from a first position to a second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said trimming assembly includes a spring load X-shaped trimmer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means to assist the removal of the pie from said molds includes a directed air stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the top portion of each said mold has knife edge sides to facilitate cutting of said dough by a cutting roller positioned forward of said first cam means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 including third cam means to assist in the gradual opening of said top mold portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 including pie catching means positioned to catch the pie removed from said mold, and means for centering said pie during subsequent conveyance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 including means to catch the trimmed excess dough and return said trimmed dough directly to said means providing the continuous strip of dough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of molds are attached to and driven along by a continuous chain link mounted on sprocket wheels rotatably mounted in the frame of the apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
Automatic pie apparatus to produce fruit filled pie products suitAble for frying comprising: means to produce a continuous strip of dough; a plurality of molds, each having displaceable top and bottom parts, moved in a continuous loop and positioned to receive said dough and to enable depositing of a filling; first cam means to cause one part of each of said molds to close and form the filled pie products; means to exert pressure on said closed molds and to trim the excess dough from the edges of said molds; second cam means to open said one part of each of said plurality of molds, and third cam means cooperatively positioned to insure gradual return of said one part to its open position; means to permit displacement of another part of each of said molds to enable removal of said pie products; and means positioned to assist the removal of the pie products from the molds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
Automatic pie apparatus to produce fruit filled pie products suitAble for frying comprising: means to produce a continuous strip of dough; a plurality of molds, each having displaceable top and bottom parts, moved in a continuous loop and positioned to receive said dough and to enable depositing of a filling; first cam means to cause one part of each of said molds to close and form the filled pie products; means to exert pressure on said closed molds and to trim the excess dough from the edges of said molds; second cam means to open said one part of each of said plurality of molds, and third cam means cooperatively positioned to insure gradual return of said one part to its open position; means to permit displacement of another part of each of said molds to enable removal of said pie products; and means positioned to assist the removal of the pie products from the molds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
Automatic pie apparatus comprising in combination: a plurality of pie molds, each mold comprising displaceable top and bottom portions; first cam means for closing said top portion after a filling has been deposited to form a pie between said top and bottom portions; pressure roller means for exerting a predetermined pressure on said closed mold; a dough trimming assembly coupled to said pressure roller for forcing the excess dough from the edge of said molds; second cam means for opening the top portion of said mold; and air means to assist the removal of the pie when the bottom portion of said mold drops from a first position to a second position to enable dispensing said product onto a conveying means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
Automatic pie apparatus comprising in combination: a plurality of pie molds, each mold comprising displaceable top and bottom portions; first cam means for closing said top portion after a filling has been deposited to form a pie between said top and bottom portions; pressure roller means for exerting a predetermined pressure on said closed mold; a dough trimming assembly coupled to said pressure roller for forcing the excess dough from the edge of said molds; second cam means for opening the top portion of said mold; and air means to assist the removal of the pie when the bottom portion of said mold drops from a first position to a second position to enable dispensing said product onto a conveying means.
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) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |