Apparatus for depositing dough onto pans therefor

Claim 2

Apparatus for delivering a plurality of dough portions to a pan therefor, comprising: (a) a first, flexible conveyor for carrying said dough portions in a first direction; (b) a second, endless conveyor for carrying said dough portions in a second direction out of plane with said first direction, said endless conveyor having a pickup end immediately adjacent said first conveyor and a discharge end for delivering said dough portions to said pans; (c) means for picking up said dough portions from said first conveyor at a point intermediate the ends of said conveyor and depositing said dough portions on said pickup end of said second conveyor, said pick up means comprising means elevating a portion of said first conveyor, with respect to the remainder of said first conveyor, immediately adjacent said pickup end of said second conveyor; (d) a third conveyor having a pickup portion positioned underneath said discharge end of said second conveyor; and (e) means feeding said pans onto said third conveyor whereby said pans receive said portions from said discharge end of said second conveyor.

Claim 3

The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said pickup means comprises said second conveyor having an outer cross-sectional radius at said pickup end which is not greater than three times the thickness of said dough portions.

Claim 4

The apparatus recited in claim 2 wherein said pickup means further comprises a deflector bar extending immediately between said first conveyor and said pickup end of said second conveyor.

Claim 5

The apparatus recited in claim 2 whrein said pickup means further comprises a deflector bar extending immediately between said first conveyor and said pickup end of said second conveyor.

Claim 6

The apparatus recited in claim 1 further comprising means driving said third conveyor independent of operation of said first and second conveyors.

Claim 7

The apparatus recited in claim 5 wherein said dough conveyor driving means further comprises means operating said third conveyor at a feed rate greater than the feed rate of said second conveyor.

Claim 8

The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said pan feeding means comprises a fourth conveyor positioned under said second conveyor, said fourth conveyor having a discharge end adjacent said pickup portion of said third conveyor.

Claim 9

The apparatus recited in claim 1 further comprising means for cutting a continuous layer of dough on said first conveyor into said dough portions, said cutting means comprising: a plurality of longitudinal cutting blades positioned adjacent said first conveyor and substantially parallel with said first direction for cutting said continuous dough layer into a plurality of strips; and a lateral cutting blade adjacent said first conveyor for cutting said dough layer along a plurality of spaced lines substantially transverse to said first direction.

Claim 10

The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said second conveyor is formed of a wire mesh.

Claim 11

Apparatus for transporting and cutting a continuous dough layer into a plurality of dough portions and delivering said dough portions to a pan therefor, comprising: (a) a first conveyor for carrying said dough portions in a first direction; (b) means adjacent said first conveyor for cutting said continuous dough layer while moving along said first conveyor into a matrix of dough portions; (c) a second, continuous conveyor for carrying said dough portions in a second direction out of plane with said first direction, said second conveyor having a pickup and immediately adjacent said first conveyor and a discharge end for delivering said dough portion to said pans; (d) means for picking up said dough portions from said first conveyor and depositing said dough portions on said pickup end of said second conveyor, said pickup means including said second conveyor having a cross-sectional radius not greater than three times the thickness of said dough portions and means elevating a portion of said first conveyor immediately adjacent said pickup end of said second conveyor; (e) a third conveyor having a pickup portion positioned underneath said discharge end of said second conveyor; and (f) means feeding said pans onto said third conveyor whereby said pans receive said dough portions from said discharge end of said second conveyor.

Claim 12

Apparatus for transporting and cutting a continuous dough layer into a plurality of dough portions and delivering said dough portions to a pan therefor, comprising: (a) a first conveyor for carrying said dough portions in a first direction; (b) means adjacent said first conveyor for cutting said continuous dough layer while moving along said first conveyor into a matrix of dough portions; (c) a second, continuous conveyor for carrying said dough portions in a second direction out of plane with said first direction, said second conveyor having a pickup and immediately adjacent said first conveyor and a discharge end for delivering said dough portion to said pans; (d) means for picking up said dough portions from said first conveyor and depositing said dough portions on said pickup end of said second conveyor, said pickup means including said second conveyor having a cross-sectional radius not greater than three times the thickness of said dough portions and means elevating a portion of said first conveyor immediately adjacent said pickup end of said second conveyor; (e) a third conveyor having a pickup portion positioned underneath said discharge end of said second conveyor; and (f) means feeding said pans onto said third conveyor whereby said pans receive said dough portions from said discharge end of said second conveyor.

Claim 13

The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein said pickup means further comprises a deflector bar between said first and second conveyors at said pickup end.

Claim 14

The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein said pan comprises a member having a plurality of ridges and grooves extending substantially in the direction of feed of said third conveyor when carried thereby.

Claim 15

The apparatus recited in claim 12 wherein said cutting means further comprises means for defining said matrix as a plurality of rectangular dough portions, with the long sides of each dough portion substantially parallel with said first direction and wherein said first, second and third conveyors and said pan are aligned such that each rectangular dough portion is deposited along one of said ridges of said pan at said discharge end of said second conveyor.

Claim 16

The apparatus recited in claim 13 further comprising means operating said third conveyor independent of operation of said second conveyor and at a greater feed rate than said second conveyor, to effect a spacing between said rectangular dough portions along each ridge in a direction substantially parallel with the direction of feed of said third conveyor.

Claim 17

Apparatus for delivering a plurality of dough portions to a pan therefor, said apparatus adapted for use with a first, flexible conveyor for transporting said dough portions in a first direction, said apparatus comprising: means elevating a portion of said first conveyor with respect to the remainder of said first conveyor, said elevated portion being between the ends of said first conveyor; a second conveyor having a pickup end and a discharge end; a third conveyor positioned under said discharge end of said second conveyor; means for supporting said second and third conveyors over said first conveyor with said pickup of said second conveyor justapositioned adjacent said first conveyor at said elevated portion thereof along said first direction from said elevating means; and means feeding said pans onto said third conveyor whereby said pans receive said portions from said discharge end of said second conveyor.

Claim 18

Apparatus for delivering a plurality of dough portions to a pan therefor, said apparatus adapted for use with a first, flexible conveyor for transporting said dough portions in a first direction, said apparatus comprising: means elevating a portion of said first conveyor with respect to the remainder of said first conveyor, said elevated portion being between the ends of said first conveyor; a second conveyor having a pickup end and a discharge end; a third conveyor positioned under said discharge end of said second conveyor; means for supporting said second and third conveyors over said first conveyor with said pickup of said second conveyor justapositioned adjacent said first conveyor at said elevated portion thereof along said first direction from said elevating means; and means feeding said pans onto said third conveyor whereby said pans receive said portions from said discharge end of said second conveyor.

Claim 19

The apparatus recited in claim 15 wherein said supporting means comprises a portable housing cantilevered over said first conveyor, said housing movable into and out of position over said first conveyor.

Claim 20

The apparatus recited in claim 16 further comprising a deflector bar carried by said housing and mounted under said pickup end of said second conveyor.

Claim 21

The apparatus recited in claim 15 further comprising a fourth conveyor carried by said supporting means, said forth conveyor supported under said second conveyor for feeding pans onto said third conveyor.

Claim 22

Apparatus for picking up relatively thin, pliable workpieces from a first, flexible conveyor transporting said workpieces in a first direction, said pickup apparatus comprising: means elevating a portion of said first conveyor with respect to the remainder of said first conveyor between the ends of said first conveyor; and a second conveyor having a pickup end positioned immediately adjacent said first conveyor along said first direction adjacent said elevating means, said conveyor having a cross-sectional radius at said pickup end not exceeding three times the thickness of said workpieces.

Claim 23

Apparatus for picking up relatively thin, pliable workpieces from a first, flexible conveyor transporting said workpieces in a first direction, said pickup apparatus comprising: means elevating a portion of said first conveyor with respect to the remainder of said first conveyor between the ends of said first conveyor; and a second conveyor having a pickup end positioned immediately adjacent said first conveyor along said first direction adjacent said elevating means, said conveyor having a cross-sectional radius at said pickup end not exceeding three times the thickness of said workpieces.

Claim 24

Apparatus for handling dough portions said apparatus comprising: a first, flexible conveyor for transporting said dough portions in a first direction; a second conveyor having a pickup end and a discharge end; a portable housing supporting said second conveyor and cantilevered over, and between the ends of said first conveyor, said housing movable into and out of position over said first conveyor such that said pickup end of said second conveyor is immediately adjacent said first conveyor; and means picking up said dough portions traveling along said first conveyor and depositing said dough portions on said pickup end of said second conveyor, said pickup means including means elevating a portion of said first conveyor immediately adjacent the pickup end of said second conveyor.

Claim 25

Apparatus for handling dough portions said apparatus comprising: a first, flexible conveyor for transporting said dough portions in a first direction; a second conveyor having a pickup end and a discharge end; a portable housing supporting said second conveyor and cantilevered over, and between the ends of said first conveyor, said housing movable into and out of position over said first conveyor such that said pickup end of said second conveyor is immediately adjacent said first conveyor; and means picking up said dough portions traveling along said first conveyor and depositing said dough portions on said pickup end of said second conveyor, said pickup means including means elevating a portion of said first conveyor immediately adjacent the pickup end of said second conveyor.