Patent US3831778A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3831778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portion positioning apparatus, especially for dough portions
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-08-16
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1992-08-16
Abstract
Abstract Portions, such as dough portions which must retain their bottoms down position are transferred, for example from a kneading machine, to portion receiving means such as a transport band, by means of a cover member adapted to receive a kneading plate and tiltable by about 180* toward a plurality of transfer arms located above said portion receiving means and also tiltable downwardly for about 45* by the weight of a received portion, whereby each portion is delivered to the receiving means with the bottom facing downwardly. Force exerting means such as spring or counterweight return the transfer arms to their portion receiving position. Preferably, the transfer arms have portion carrying end members shaped as a ring and cooperating with ejector means which reach through the respective ring when the arms are in the portion delivering position.
Inventors
- 👤 R Biber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:16
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C9/00; A21C9/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A portion positioning apparatus, especially for portions of dough, for placing said portions from a position in which their bottoms extend downwardly into another position in which said bottoms extend again downwardly, comprising frame means, carrier means for said portions, journal means for movably connecting the carrier means to the frame means, portion transfer means, pivot means for supporting the portion transfer means for free pivotal movement in the frame means, portion receiving means located in said frame means at an elevation lower than that of said carrier means, said portion transfer means being pivotable back and forth between a first position for receiving the portions from the carrier means and a second position for delivering the portions to said portion receiving means, and means biasing said portion transfer means to said first position with a force inSufficient to hold the weight of a portion od dough, whereby said portion transfer means is displaced to said second position under the weight of a portion of dough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A portion positioning apparatus, especially for portions of dough, for placing said portions from a position in which their bottoms extend downwardly into another position in which said bottoms extend again downwardly, comprising frame means, carrier means for said portions, journal means for movably connecting the carrier means to the frame means, portion transfer means, pivot means for supporting the portion transfer means for free pivotal movement in the frame means, portion receiving means located in said frame means at an elevation lower than that of said carrier means, said portion transfer means being pivotable back and forth between a first position for receiving the portions from the carrier means and a second position for delivering the portions to said portion receiving means, and means biasing said portion transfer means to said first position with a force inSufficient to hold the weight of a portion od dough, whereby said portion transfer means is displaced to said second position under the weight of a portion of dough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portion transfer means comprise transfer arms pivoted to said pivot means and each having a shaped portion support end, said carrier means comprising a plate tiltable about said journal means through an angle of approximately 180* between a portion loading position and a portion unloading position, said pivot means for the portion transfer means being located in such a maner in said frame means outside an area covered by said plate in its portion unloading position, that the shaped portion support ends of the portion transfer means reach underneath the plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portion transfer means comprise transfer arms, said pivot means comprising pivot axes for supporting said transfer arms, at least certain ones of said pivot axes having different elevational positions relative to other ones of said pivot axes, said frame means comprising an unloading area for said carrier means, said pivot means having different spacings from said unloading area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pivot means comprise posts connected with their lower ends to said frame means and having upper ends each carrying one of said pivot axes for pivoting a respective one of said arms, said pivot axes extending at an angle relative to a plane defined by said carrier means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said shaped portion support ends of the portion transfer arms extend substantially horizontally underneath said plate when the transfer arms are in said portion receiving position, said shaped portion support ends extending at an angle, preferably of 45*, relative to a surface defined by said portion receiving means when the transfer arms are in said portion delivering position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said portion transfer means comprises a transfer arm connected to said pivot means, each arm having a portion receiving end and means for adjustably interconnecting the portion receiving end to its respective arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said portion transfer means comprises lever means connected to said pivot means for swivelling between said portion receiving position and said portion delivering position, and force exerting means operatively connected to said lever means for returning said lever means to said portion receiving position after the lever means has been moved to the portion delivering position by the weight of a received portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said lever means are portion transfer arms each comprising a portion receiving end, knee joint means for connecting each of said portion receiving ends to its respective arm, said arms beinng movably connected to said pivot means, said knee joint means having a limited swivel range and being located between said pivot means and said portion receiving end, and resilient means operatively connected to said portion receiving end for counteracting movements of said knee joint means, said resilient means having a force which is smaller than the force of said force exerting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said lever means are arms with portion receiving ends, said pivot means being arranged in said frame means so that the portion receiving ends of the lever means constitute a substantially circular position configuration when the lever means are in their portion receiving, upper position, said portion receiving ends constituting a longitudinal position configuration when the lever means are in their portion delivering, lower position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The portion pOsitioning apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means operatively connected to the force exerting means for varying the effect thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said portion transfer means comprises lever means including two bars, connection means for connecting one bar to the other at an angle, said pivot means comprising a post and a pivot joint on said post to which said one bar is pivoted so that the other of said bars extends substantially horizontally when the transfer means are in said portion receiving position, said pivot means further comprising means for supporting said post in said frame means in a location outside an area surrounding said carrier means when the carrier means are in their portion unloading position, whereby the substantially horizontally extending bar clears said carrier means when the latter is in said portion unloading position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said connection means are adjustable along the length of said other bar intermediate its ends, said portion transfer means further comprising force exerting means adjustably connected to said other bar between an end of the other bar and said connection means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said force exerting means comprise an arm connected to said other bar between an end of the other bar and said connection means, and a counterweight adjustably supported along said arm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for elastically buffering said portion transfer means when the latter return to said portion receiving position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising stop holding means arranged in said frame means to cooperate with said portion transfer means for stopping said portion transfer means to limit the pivoting movement thereof in said portion delivering position and for temporarily retarding the pivoting movement of said portion transfer means back to said portion receiving position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said stop holding means comprise bell crank means each having two arms, hinge means for rotatably locating said bell crank means in said frame means so that one of said arms is in the way of the corrresponding portion transfer means when the latter moves toward said portion delivering position, and that the other of said arms is in the way of said corresponding portion transfer means when the latter moves back toward said portion receiving position, whereby the movement of the portion transfer means brings the bell crank arms into their respective operative positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said hinge means are located in said bell crank means in a position off center relative to a center defined by the intersection of the longitudinal axes of said bell crank arms.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portion carrier means comprise a cover member with an inner surface and an outer surface and a kneading plate, means on said inner surface for receiving said kneading plate adjacent to said inner surface, said cover member being journaled to the frame means above said portion transfer means by said journal means for moving the cover member along with the kneading plate back and forth between a portion loading position and a portion unloading position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said cover member comprises a number of pins having a given length, means for holding the pins to extend out of said inner surface of the cover member, apertures in the kneading plate through which said pins extend when the kneading plate is located on said inner surface of the cover member, said portion transfer means comprising a plurality of transfer arms corresponding in number to said number Of pins.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said kneading plate comprises a plurality of depressions facing away from said inner surface of the cover member, said apertures for the pins being located centrally in each depression, whereby the pins pass through their respective apertures when the kneading plate is placed on said inner surface of the cover member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said kneading plate comprises a plurality of depressions facing away from said inner surface of the cover member said apertures for the pins being located centrally in each depression, and means for moving said pins through said centrally located apertures in the cover member, after the kneading plate has been inserted on said inner surface of the cover member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said pins comprise tubular members comprising a central, longitudinal hole and orifice means in said tubular members connected to said central hole, blower means, and means for connecting the blower means to the tubular members.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
75 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said kneading plate receiving means comprise a number of guide studs attached to said inner surface of the cover member, and distributed along the margin of the cover member, resilient abutment means arranged for cooperation with said guide studs, said guide studs having a length exceeding that of said pins, said kneading plate having a like number of guide holes therein for receiving said guide studs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising locking means pivoted to said cover member for securing the position of the kneading plate relative to said cover member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means operatively connected to said carrier means for tilting the carrier means about said journal means, and trigger means connected to said tilting means for effecting said tilting to move said carrier means sucessively back and forth between a portion loading position and a portion unloading position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
102 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising push rod means arranged on said outer surface of said cover member, perforations in said cover member, respective perforations in said kneading plate adjacent to each pin and in register with said perforations in the cover member, means for moving said push rod means through said perforations substantially in parallel to said pins, all of said push rod means extending simultaneously through the cover member and through the kneading plate when the carrier means are in said portion unloading, whereby the push rods operate as ejectors for the portions on the pins.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
72 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising a pressure plate, means for connecting said push rod means to said pressure plate, means for movably supporting the pressure plate adjacent to said outer surface of the cover member, means operatively connected to said pressure plate for raising and lowering the pressure plate, whereby the push rod means are guided in said perforations, especially in the perforations of the cover plate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
83 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising holding means for said pressure plate including stay bolts and sleeves arranged along the margin on the outer surface of said cover member for movably holding the pressure plate in position above said outer surface of the cover member, and resilient means arranged between the cover member and the pressure plate for counteracting the ejector movement of the pressure plate and returning the latter to a loading position after ejection of the portions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
111 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said means for raising and lowering the pressure plate comprise a handle attached to said pressure plate. 30. The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said means for raising and lowering the pressure plate comprise bell crank and lever drive means as well as an actuator member, a fixed member on said frame means positioned for cooperation with said actuator member, and means for interconnecting the bell crank and lever drive means with said actuator member, whereby the raising and lowering of the pressure plate is linked to the movement of the carrier means between said loading and unloading positions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
65 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portion transfer means comprise transfer arms pivoted to said pivot means, each transfer arm having a ring shaped portion support end, said apparatus further comprising ejector means located in the apparatus for cooperation with the respective ring shaped portion support end of the transfer arms when these support ends are in a portion delivering position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said ejector means comprise an ejector member for each of said transfer arms, said ejector member extending through the ring shaped end of the respective transfer arm.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 32, wherein each ejector member also has a ring shaped end arranged to extend with play through the ring shaped end of the respective transfer arm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said ejector member is made of corrosion resistant material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
54 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said ejector means comprise a connecting arm for connecting the respective ejector member to the apparatus, said connecting arm having an elongated aperture at its end opposite said ejector member, and means for adjustably securing said connecting arm through said elongated aperture to the apparatus.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
44 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said ejector member, said connecting arm, and said elongated aperture are formed from one piece of wire which has formed an elongated loop at one end thereof and a ring at the other end thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
57 words
The portion positioning apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said ejector means comprise a support plate arranged in said apparatus slightly above said portion receiving means, means for adjustably securing each ejector member to said support plate, and apertures in said support plate for said portions to fall through the support plate onto said portion receiving 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) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |