US3890453A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Forming shaped potato pieces from potato dough
Assignee: American Potato Co
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Filing: 1973-09-17
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-09-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for combining a dry potato product with water so as to reconstitute the same into a firm potato dough. Apparatus for forming such dough into shaped potato pieces, such as french fry cut potato pieces. An impervious chamber for receiving the dry product and water, and a seal potato associated with the chamber for closing the chamber during reconstitution of the dough and for opening the chamber to permit ejection of the dough therefrom. An improved apparatus for forming the dough into shaped potato pieces as it is ejected from the chamber. A mechanism for metering a precise amount of the dry product into the chamber. A mechanism for metering a precise amount of water at a precisely controlled temperature into the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 James F Harmon
- 👤 Richard D Johnston
- 👤 John H Lach
- 👤 Der Lieth William H Von
- 👤 Thomas L Murphy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:52
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C11/00; A21C11/16; A21C11/18; A21C11/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A PROCESS OF RECONSTITUTING WITHOUT AGITATION A MASS OF DEHYDRATED POTATO PRODUCT AND WATER INTO A HOMOGENEUOS POTATO DOUGH SUITABLE FOR SHAPING INTO FRENCH-FRY POTATO PIECES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. PROVIDING A VARIABLE VOLUME CHAMBER FOR CONSTRAINING THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAMBER AN OUTLET OPENING AND AN INLET OPENIN AND A RECIPROCABLE PISTON WITHIN THE CHAMBER FOR CONSOLIDATING THE CONTENTS THEROF: B. SEALING THE OUTLET OPENING OF THE CHAMBER WITH AN EXTERNALLY MOUNTED LIQUID IMPERVIOUS MEMBER, C. METERING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF DEHYDRATED POTATO PRODUCT AND WATER INTO THE CHAMBER IN FRONT OF THE PISTON THROUGH THE INLET OPENING; D. CONSOLIDATING THE CONTENTS BY MOVING THE PISTON WITHIN THE CHAMBER TOWARD THE OUTLET END OF THE CHANBER THEREBY REDUCING THE VOLUME OF THE CHAMBER TO A PREDETERMINED VOLUME BOUNDED BY THE IMPERVIOUS MEMBER, THE CHAMBER AND THE PISTON SO THAT THE WATER SUBSTANTIALLY FILLS THE AVAILABLE VIODS IN AND BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL DYR PRODUCT PARTICLES WITHOUT AGITATION TO FORM A HOMOGENEOUS DOUGH SUITABLE FOR FORMING INTO FRENCH-FRY-CUT POTATO PIECES.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A PROCESS OF RECONSTITUTING WITHOUT AGITATION A MASS OF DEHYDRATED POTATO PRODUCT AND WATER INTO A HOMOGENEUOS POTATO DOUGH SUITABLE FOR SHAPING INTO FRENCH-FRY POTATO PIECES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. PROVIDING A VARIABLE VOLUME CHAMBER FOR CONSTRAINING THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAMBER AN OUTLET OPENING AND AN INLET OPENIN AND A RECIPROCABLE PISTON WITHIN THE CHAMBER FOR CONSOLIDATING THE CONTENTS THEROF: B. SEALING THE OUTLET OPENING OF THE CHAMBER WITH AN EXTERNALLY MOUNTED LIQUID IMPERVIOUS MEMBER, C. METERING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF DEHYDRATED POTATO PRODUCT AND WATER INTO THE CHAMBER IN FRONT OF THE PISTON THROUGH THE INLET OPENING; D. CONSOLIDATING THE CONTENTS BY MOVING THE PISTON WITHIN THE CHAMBER TOWARD THE OUTLET END OF THE CHANBER THEREBY REDUCING THE VOLUME OF THE CHAMBER TO A PREDETERMINED VOLUME BOUNDED BY THE IMPERVIOUS MEMBER, THE CHAMBER AND THE PISTON SO THAT THE WATER SUBSTANTIALLY FILLS THE AVAILABLE VIODS IN AND BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL DYR PRODUCT PARTICLES WITHOUT AGITATION TO FORM A HOMOGENEOUS DOUGH SUITABLE FOR FORMING INTO FRENCH-FRY-CUT POTATO PIECES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of latching the impervious member in the sealing position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the step of metering of the dry product and water into the chamber is performed simultaneously with the step of moving the piston to the consolidation position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the metering of water step includes the step of pumping the water from a tank to the inlet opening through a conduit and further comprising the step of draining back to the tank the unused water in the conduit and heating the same to a predetermined temperature in readiness for subsequent metering steps to attain precise control of the water temperature at all times.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
The process of dispensing French-fry-cut potato pieces from homogeneous dough which has been reconstituted from a mass of dehydrated potato product and water as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: a. moving the impervious member to an open position spaced from the outlet opening of the chamber; b. advancing the dough through the outlet opening to divide the dough into French-fry-cut potato widths, c. separating the protruding portions in synchronism with the advancing step so that the portions are separated into French-fry-cut potato bodies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the step of advancing to divide the dough into French-fry potato widths includes advancing the dough through the spaces between a set of parallel spaced apart wires fixedly spanning the outlet opening which subject the dough to only a slight pressure as it is advanced through the spaces between the wires.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the separating step includes swinging a pivotally mounted transverse wire cutter in an arcuate path across all the spaces between the set of parallel wires spanning the outlet opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 5 further comprising the step of continuing the advancing and separating steps until the chamber is substantially emptied of dough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process of claim 5 further comprising the step of inhibiting further operation of the apparatus following initiation of the moving step until the impervious member has reached the full open position to assure adequate clearance from the outlet end to accomplish the advancing and separating steps without interference from the impervious member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the moving step is preceded by the steps of: a. initiating the dispensing operation by manual operation of a switch; and b. unlatching the impervious member from a sealing position over the outlet opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the advancing step is intermittent and separating is accomplished during quiescent dough moving periods.
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) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |