US3859018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for making coffee rings
Assignee: Entenmanns Bakery Inc
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Filing: 1972-07-03
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1992-07-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for forming rings of dough entirely by machine to be baked into coffee rings by guiding lengths of twisted dough into rotating circular molds by use of a baffle assembly, flattening the dough rings to unite the ends of the ring together, and removing the dough rings from the circular mold by inverting the mold and moving a bottom portion of the mold with respect to the mold to discharge the dough ring.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor F Gugler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:17
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A machine for making coffee rings from the lengths of twisted dough comprising: a. a plurality of molds each having an open cylindrical cavity; b. means connected to the molds for advancing the molds spaced apart from one another along a predetermined path of travel with the cavities therein facing in a substantially upward direction; c. means for rotating each of the advancing molds in a predetermined sense about an axis extending substantially in an upright direction; d. means for sequentially receiving each length of twisted dough in a position in which the length of twisted dough overlies and extends subsTantially along one side of the predetermined path of travel, the rotational movement of a mold adjacent to the one side being opposite to the direction of the advancing of the molds; and e. means for progressively guiding each of the lengths of twisted dough from the receiving means and into the open cylindrical cavity of a different one of the molds, the end portion of the lengths of twisted dough which is first adjacent to a mold being the initial portion of the length guided thereinto, the rotation of the advancing molds causing the guided lengths of twisted dough to be substantially wound within the circular cavities of the molds in the form of coffee rings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A machine for making coffee rings from the lengths of twisted dough comprising: a. a plurality of molds each having an open cylindrical cavity; b. means connected to the molds for advancing the molds spaced apart from one another along a predetermined path of travel with the cavities therein facing in a substantially upward direction; c. means for rotating each of the advancing molds in a predetermined sense about an axis extending substantially in an upright direction; d. means for sequentially receiving each length of twisted dough in a position in which the length of twisted dough overlies and extends subsTantially along one side of the predetermined path of travel, the rotational movement of a mold adjacent to the one side being opposite to the direction of the advancing of the molds; and e. means for progressively guiding each of the lengths of twisted dough from the receiving means and into the open cylindrical cavity of a different one of the molds, the end portion of the lengths of twisted dough which is first adjacent to a mold being the initial portion of the length guided thereinto, the rotation of the advancing molds causing the guided lengths of twisted dough to be substantially wound within the circular cavities of the molds in the form of coffee rings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 1 in which the means connected to the molds for advancing the molds spaced apart from one another along a predetermined path of travel comprises an endless conveyor having upper and lower reaches, the cavities of the molds facing in a substantially upward direction along the upper reach of the conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
154 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for sequentially receiving each length of twisted dough comprises: i. a stationary baffle disposed above the molds with the cavities therein facing in a substantially upward direction and extending upwardly and substantially parallel to the predetermined path of travel; and ii. at least one movable baffle overlying the molds with the cavities therein facing in a substantially upward direction and extending laterally and in the direction of the predetermined path of travel and substantially parallel to the stationary baffle, the movable baffle being mounted for movement between a position adjacent to the stationary baffle and a position laterally displaced from the stationary baffle, the movable baffle being adapted to receive a length of twisted dough along the upper surface of the movable baffle in the adjacent position and to release the length of twisted dough in the displaced position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 3 in which the upper surface of the at least one movable baffle is concave along the length thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 3 in which the at least one movable baffle is inclined along its length with the lowest end portion thereof being the portion of the movable baffle adjacent to which a mold first advances.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 1 in which there is a plurality of movable baffles disposed one above the other, end portions of the movable baffles adjacent to which a mold first advances being displaced with respect to one another with the uppermost movable baffle having its end portion being the initial end portion adjacent to which the mold advances, each of the plurality of movable baffles successively receiving a length of twisted dough beginning with the uppermost movable baffle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for progressively guiding each of the lengths of twisted dough comprises means for actuating the receiving means to lower into the cylindrical cavity of a mold, the end portion of a length of twisted dough which is first adjacent to an advancing mold, then to lower the middle portion of the same length of twisted dough into the cavity, and then to lower the other end portion of the same length of twisted dough into the cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 3 in which the means for progressively guiding each length of twisted dough from the receiving means comprises means for moving the at least one movable baffle between the adjacent position and the displaced position in synchronism with the advancement of a mold adjacent thereto, the movement from the adjacent position to the displaced position being inverted as the mold approaches the baffle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 8 in which the means for moving the at least one movable baffle includes means for driving the moving means in response to the advancement of the molds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A machine in accordance with claim 9 in which the means for driving the moving means in response to the advancement of the molds includes a follower in engagement with the moving means and the outer surface of the mold for transmitting a function of the motion of the advancement of a mold to the moving means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 1 in which there is a hub disposed substantially in the center of the cylindrical cavity of each of the molds, the hub forming an annular recess therein into which the lengths of twisted dough are guided for progressively guiding the lengths of twisted dough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 1 comprising means disposed adjacent to the means for sequentially receiving each length of twisted dough and overlying the path of travel of the molds for compressing the lengths of twisted dough when wound substantially within the cylindrical cavities of the molds to units the overlapped end portions thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 12 and further comprising means for reciprocating the means for compressing the lengths of twisted dough along a line of travel overlying and parallel to the path of travel of the molds to enable the compressing means to compress te lengths of twisted dough as the mold continues to be advanced.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for adding topping material to the cylindrical cavity of the molds prior to the guiding of the lengths of twisted dough thereinto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for removing the coffee rings from the circular cavities of the molds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 15 in which the means for removing the coffee rings from the molds comprises means for at least partially inverting the molds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 15 in which the portion of the mold forming the bottom of the cylindrical cavity is movable with respect to the remainder of the cylindrical cavity and in which the means for removing the coffee rings from the molds includes means for moving the bottom of the cylindrical cavity to urge the coffee rings to be removed from the cylindrical cavity of the mold.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A machine for making coffee rings in accordance with claim 17 in which the means for moving the bottom of the cylindrical cavity applies impact to the bottom to facilitate removal of the coffee ring from the cavity.
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) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |