Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A machine for manufacturing pancakes or other similar products comprising a trough for the liquid paste, a smooth cooking roller having a rotatable horizontal shaft, a transfer and shaping device which, firstly conveys a film of liquid paste from the trough and deposits it on the heated surface of said roller whilst the latter rotates and which, secondly automatically varies the width of the film of paste in order to give the product resulting from the cooking the desired shape, which may be circular for example and a device ensuring the detachment of the product obtained by cooking the paste on the roller and its removal from the machine, the transfer and shaping device being composed of two rollers whose shafts are parallel to that of the cooking roller, namely a smooth transfer roller located adjacent to the cooking roller in such manner that its lower part is immersed in the liquid paste and having a rotational movement due to which it carries along a film of paste and deposits it on the cooking roller and a shaping roller bearing against said transfer roller at a point of the trajectory of the film of liquid paste, this roller whose rotation is synchronized with that of the cooking roller having on its periphery at least one recessed impression whose shape corresponds to that of tHe product to be obtained and the edges of which in contact with the transfer roller at any time limit the width of the film of paste carried along by the latter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A machine for manufacturing pancakes or other similar products comprising a trough for the liquid paste, a smooth cooking roller having a rotatable horizontal shaft, a transfer and shaping device which, firstly conveys a film of liquid paste from the trough and deposits it on the heated surface of said roller whilst the latter rotates and which, secondly automatically varies the width of the film of paste in order to give the product resulting from the cooking the desired shape, which may be circular for example and a device ensuring the detachment of the product obtained by cooking the paste on the roller and its removal from the machine, the transfer and shaping device being composed of two rollers whose shafts are parallel to that of the cooking roller, namely a smooth transfer roller located adjacent to the cooking roller in such manner that its lower part is immersed in the liquid paste and having a rotational movement due to which it carries along a film of paste and deposits it on the cooking roller and a shaping roller bearing against said transfer roller at a point of the trajectory of the film of liquid paste, this roller whose rotation is synchronized with that of the cooking roller having on its periphery at least one recessed impression whose shape corresponds to that of tHe product to be obtained and the edges of which in contact with the transfer roller at any time limit the width of the film of paste carried along by the latter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A machine according to claim 1, in which the transfer roller rotates in the same direction as the cooking roller and at an adjustable speed whose value determines the thickness of the layer of paste deposited on this roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine according to claim 2, in which the transfer roller is set in motion by the mechanism driving the cooking roller via a mechanical speed regulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A machine according to claim 2, in which the transfer roller is set in motion by a separate drive mechanism such as for example an electric reduction motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A machine according to claim 2, in which the shaft of the transfer roller is located at a lower level than that of the cooking roller and in that the surfaces of the two rollers are separated in the operating position solely by a narrow gap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A machine according to claim 2, in which the shaft of the transfer roller is located at a higher level than that of the cooking roller and in that the surfaces of the two rollers are separated by an appreciable gap, the conveyance of the film of liquid paste between the two rollers being undertaken by a fixed transfer member in the form of an inclined plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine according to claim 6, in which the fixed transfer member is artificially cooled at least in its part nearest the cooking roller, for example by means of a circulation of water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A machine according to claim 1, in which the shaping roller which is also preferably immersed at its lower part in the liquid paste is rotated in the opposite direction to the transfer roller and at an angular speed equal or proportional to that of the cooking roller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A machine according to claim 8 intended for the manufacture of pancakes or other products having a circular shape, in which the evolute of the recessed impression cut in the surface of the shaping roller is an ellipse whose major axis is equal to the diameter of the product to be obtained and whose minor axis represents a fraction of the major axis equal to the ratio of the tangential speed of the shaping and cooking rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A machine according to claim 9, in which an aperture of relatively large section is cut through the depth of the shaping roller to interconnect the regions of the impression adjacent the ends of the minor axis of the ellipse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine according to claim 1, having a set of interchangeable shaping rollers provided with impressions which vary in number, shape and dimensions according to the features of the products to be manufactured.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A machine according to claim 1, in which the transfer roller, the shaping roller, the trough for liquid paste and its possible filling tank are associated in the form of an arrangement mounted on a rigid support which itself rests on a pivoted positioning system which can be moved away from the cooking roller for the purposes of cleaning and maintenance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A machine according to claim 12, in which the ends of the shafts of the transfer roller and shaping roller are received in guide notches provided in the lateral walls of the liquid paste tank, as well as in other notches having different orientations formed in the pivoting lateral forks whose pivoting movement towards the rear makes it possible to release said rollers for the purpose of cleaning or replacement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A machine according to claim 13, in which the edges of the notches of the pivoting lateral forks bear against the ends of the shaft of the shaping roller to which they transmit an elastic force intended to keep said roller applied against the transfer roller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A machine according to claim 1, in which the transfer roller, shaping roller, the trough for liquid paste and its possible filling tank are associated in the form of an arrangement permanently fixed to the frame of the machine, whereas the bearings supporting the cooking roller are mounted in pivoteD supports which make it possible to move the latter away from said arrangement to facilitate the cleaning and maintenance thereof.