US3788030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pizza processing machine
Assignee: Pillsbury Co
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Filing: 1972-04-12
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A method of processing a frozen pizza food product and a machine for performing the process. The pizza is cut into a plurality of sections while it is frozen and its temperature lowered to 20* to 24* F. A plurality of cutting knives on a cutting head cyclically cut the frozen pizzas into pie-shaped segments. The individual pizza segments are kicked out radially into a tray below the cutting die as each pizza is segmented. The machine then crimps a cover onto the tray and ejects the tray.
Inventors
- 👤 R Moline
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:49
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C9/00; A21C9/08; A21C9/081; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/8821; Y10T83/8828; Y10T83/8831
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A machine for cutting frozen pizzas into segments and packaging the segments of each pizza in a partitioned tray, comprising: a. first conveyor means adapted to receive and carry a partitioned tray, b. second conveyor means adapted to receive and carry a frozen, uncut pizza, c. said conveyor means adapted to move a frozen, uncut pizza and a partitioned tray simultaneously into positions in pizza cutting means wherein the tray is immediately below the uncut pizza, d. said pizza cutting means including a male die head having radial knives and a female die member with said die head positioned vertically over said die member and adapted to move vertically upwardly and downwardly relative to said die member, e. said knives adapted to cut a frozen pizza into segments while the pizza is supported by said die member whereby pizza segments fall downwardly through said die member into predetermined cavities of the tray.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A machine for cutting frozen pizzas into segments and packaging the segments of each pizza in a partitioned tray, comprising: a. first conveyor means adapted to receive and carry a partitioned tray, b. second conveyor means adapted to receive and carry a frozen, uncut pizza, c. said conveyor means adapted to move a frozen, uncut pizza and a partitioned tray simultaneously into positions in pizza cutting means wherein the tray is immediately below the uncut pizza, d. said pizza cutting means including a male die head having radial knives and a female die member with said die head positioned vertically over said die member and adapted to move vertically upwardly and downwardly relative to said die member, e. said knives adapted to cut a frozen pizza into segments while the pizza is supported by said die member whereby pizza segments fall downwardly through said die member into predetermined cavities of the tray.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that: a. said die head includes kicker means for kicking pizza segments radially outwardly as they are cut so they fall outwardly and downwardly into the cavities of the partitioned tray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine of claim 1 further characterized by and including: a. means for fastening a cover on eaCh tray after the pizza segments have been deposited in its cavities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that: a. said female die member comprises a plate having a plurality of radially arranged openings extending vertically therethrough and defining a radiating series of spokes, b. said spokes adapted to support the frozen pizza while said radial knives cut it into pizza segments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The machine of claim 4 further characterized in that: a. each of said radiating spokes is hollow-ground on its upper surface, b. said die head being mounted above said die member for vertical travel whereby at the lowermost position of the die head cutting edges on said knives extend into corresponding hollow-ground grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The machine of claim 5 further characterized in that: a. at said lowermost position of travel of said die head said cutting edges extend into corresponding hollow-ground grooves without engaging the bottoms in said grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The machine of claim 4 further characterized in that: a. said die head includes kicker means for kicking pizz segments radially outwardly as they are cut so they fall outwardly and downardly through said radial openings into the cavities of the partitioned tray.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The machine of claim 7 further characterized in that: a. said kicker means includes a radially arranged series of kicker arms pivotally mounted on a die head plate, b. means for pivoting said kicker arms radially outwardly so that depending feet on said kicker arms engage pieces of pizza as they are cut and urge them radially outwardly as they fall downwardly through said radial openings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
The machine of claim 3 further characterized by and including: a. said means for fastening a cover on each tray comprises a first annular ring lying substantially in a horizontal plane and adapted to move vertically relative to said first conveyor means over said conveyor means, b. said first ring having a lower surface adapted to engage a vertically extending, annular lip formed on the tray and encircling the cover, c. said surface being substantially frusto-conical in configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 9 further characterized in that: a. said frusto-conical surface is inclined to the horizontal at an angle of approximately 60-degrees.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
The machine of claim 9 further characterized in that: a. said means for fastening a cover on each tray further comprises a second annular ring vertically movable relative to said fist conveyor means over said first conveyor means, b. said second annular ring having a lower surface thereon which lies substantially in a horizontal plane and is adapted to flatten the lip of the tray over the cover after the first ring has formed the tray lip inwardly with its frusto-conical surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The machine of claim 3 further characterized by and including: a. means for lifting a tray upwardly off said first conveyor means and then horizontally to tray removal means after it has been filled with pizza segments and a cover fastened to it.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The machine of claim 1 further characterized in that: a. said first conveyor means is endless and travels in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, b. said second conveyor means is also endless and travels in the other of said clockwise or counterclockwise directions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2092786A
Cited
US3427783A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |