US3908584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pizza topping machine
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-06
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A machine for dispensing a flowable topping material onto a series of continuously moving circular pizza dough shells, and for adding other topping materials at one or more downstream dispensing stations. A power driven dispensing valve is mounted over the conveying path of the pizza dough shells, and applies a circular pattern of tomato paste sauce onto each passing shell. A speedup conveyor assumes support of the shells to space them apart, and each shell is then momentarily interrupted under a hopper at each of two stations where a topping material such as ground meat, grated cheese or other foodstuffs are applied. With this arrangement, the discharge rate of completed pizzas is the same rate with which the tomato paste sauce is applied.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G Raque
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:36
CPC Classifications
A; A21; A21C; A21C9/00; A21C9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
A pizza topping machine comprising: a. an input conveyor for continuously conveying a series of circular pizza dough shells along a linear path; b. a topping dispensing valve extending transversely Above said path; c. said valve including a fixed cylindrical tube having a longitudinal dispensing slot along its bottom sector; d. a hollow cylindrical rotor within said tube having a pattern of circumferentially disposed, axially spaced curvilinear slots arranged to communicate the interior of said rotor with said dispensing slot, said slots having a developed pattern that lies within the confines of a circle; e. axial inlet and outlet conduits connected to said rotor; f. a circulation pump connected to said inlet conduit for supplying the flowable topping under pressure to the interior of said rotor; g. means for driving said rotor in timed relation with said input conveyor with the lower section of said rotor moving counter to the direction of movement of said pizza dough shells; h. a heated reservoir for the topping connected to said pump and to said outlet conduit to maintain the circulating topping material within a predictable temperature range, and hence, viscosity; i. a transport conveyor for receiving the pizza dough shells covered with the flowable topping; j. means for continuously driving said transport conveyor at a velocity exceeding the velocity of said inlet conveyor to increase the spacing between said shells; k. a hopper mounted over said conveyor; l. a circular perforate bottom wall on said hopper; m. an agitator within said hopper; n. means for sensing a shell approaching vertical alignment with said hopper; o. a stop actuated by said sensing means to interrupt said shell in vertical alignment with said bottom wall; and p. means actuated by said sensor for driving said agitator for a predetermined time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
A pizza topping machine comprising: a. an input conveyor for continuously conveying a series of circular pizza dough shells along a linear path; b. a topping dispensing valve extending transversely Above said path; c. said valve including a fixed cylindrical tube having a longitudinal dispensing slot along its bottom sector; d. a hollow cylindrical rotor within said tube having a pattern of circumferentially disposed, axially spaced curvilinear slots arranged to communicate the interior of said rotor with said dispensing slot, said slots having a developed pattern that lies within the confines of a circle; e. axial inlet and outlet conduits connected to said rotor; f. a circulation pump connected to said inlet conduit for supplying the flowable topping under pressure to the interior of said rotor; g. means for driving said rotor in timed relation with said input conveyor with the lower section of said rotor moving counter to the direction of movement of said pizza dough shells; h. a heated reservoir for the topping connected to said pump and to said outlet conduit to maintain the circulating topping material within a predictable temperature range, and hence, viscosity; i. a transport conveyor for receiving the pizza dough shells covered with the flowable topping; j. means for continuously driving said transport conveyor at a velocity exceeding the velocity of said inlet conveyor to increase the spacing between said shells; k. a hopper mounted over said conveyor; l. a circular perforate bottom wall on said hopper; m. an agitator within said hopper; n. means for sensing a shell approaching vertical alignment with said hopper; o. a stop actuated by said sensing means to interrupt said shell in vertical alignment with said bottom wall; and p. means actuated by said sensor for driving said agitator for a predetermined time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said stop and sensing means includes: a. an air cylinder having its piston rod vertically disposed under said hopper beneath the plane of said transport conveyor; b. a proximity switch for actuating said air cylinder; c. a depressible actuating arm overlying said proximity switch and arranged to be depressed by a shell approaching said position of vertical alignment with said hopper; and d. an abutment mounted on said piston rod for movement above the plane of said transport conveyor to arrest said shell while said transport conveyor is driven.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein: a. said transport conveyor is driven at a velocity exceeding the velocity of said input conveyor; and b. timing means governing the actuation of said air cylinder for interrupting the pizza dough shell for a preselected time period during the time period said agitator is driven.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
A pizza topping machine comprising: a. an input conveyor for continuously conveying a series of circular pizza dough shells along a linear path; b. a topping dispensing valve extending transversely above said path; c. said valve including a fixed cylindrical tube having a longitudinal dispensing slot along its bottom sector; d. a hollow cylindrical rotor within said tube having a pattern of circumferentially diposed, axially spaced curvilinear slots arranged to communicate the interior of said rotor with said dispensing slot; e. said slots having a developed pattern that lies within the confines of a circle; f. means for circulating a flowable topping under pressure axially through said rotor; and g. means for continuously rotating said rotor in one direction and in timed relation with said input conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
A pizza topping machine comprising: a. an input conveyor for continuously conveying a series of circular pizza dough shells along a linear path; b. a topping dispensing valve extending transversely above said path; c. said valve including a fixed cylindrical tube having a longitudinal dispensing slot along its bottom sector; d. a hollow cylindrical rotor within said tube having a pattern of circumferentially diposed, axially spaced curvilinear slots arranged to communicate the interior of said rotor with said dispensing slot; e. said slots having a developed pattern that lies within the confines of a circle; f. means for circulating a flowable topping under pressure axially through said rotor; and g. means for continuously rotating said rotor in one direction and in timed relation with said input conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the developed pattern of said arcuate slots approximate an ellipse having a minor axis which is aligned with the conveying path of said dough shells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the slots in said rotor collectively have a developed pattern approximating an ellipse with the major axis aligned with the turning axis of said rotor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said rotor is driven in a direction moving its lower sector upstReam relative to the direction of movement of said transport conveyor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |