Patent US4119252A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4119252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portion controlled frozen food
Assignee: Jimmy Dean Meat Co Inc
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Filing: 1977-09-09
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Granted: 1978-10-10
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Expires: 1997-09-09
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a system and process for producing discrete chilled products having preselected weights from a semi-fluid mixture. The semi-fluid mixture is pumped along a distribution path to an extruding manifold which extrudes a plurality of parallel continuous lengths of the mixture. The continuous lengths are directed through a chilling station in a parallel relationship in order to chill and firm the lengths such that the lengths maintain their extruded cross-sectional configuration. A cutter periodically severs the continuous lengths at predetermined intervals to provide a plurality of discrete products having predetermined weights. The pumping rate, rate of travel through the freezer and periodic severing of the continuous lengths may be selectively varied in order to maintain any desired weight of the discrete products.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent E. Bernard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:57
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/80; A23B2/803; A23B2/8033; B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/27; B26D7/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/30; Y10T225/307; Y10T225/314; Y10T225/321; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2074; Y10T83/465; Y10T83/4734; Y10T83/4757; Y10T83/4763
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A cutting system for periodically severing a plurality of continuous lengths of material comprising: means for receiving a plurality of parallel lengths of material traveling in a direction parallel to the axes of said lengths, an elongated cutting blade disposed above and normal to the direction of travel of said lengths of material, first means for reciprocating structure transverse to the direction of travel of said lengths of material, a first pair of bars each pivotally connected at one end to structure reciprocated by said first reciprocating means and at the opposite end to the ends of said cutting blade, said bars being pivotal at said one end about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of said lengths of material, and second reciprocating means for driving a second pair of bars each connected at one end to said second reciprocating means and at the opposite ends to one of said first pair of bars, respectively, to reciprocate said first pair of bars about the pivotal connection to the structure reciprocated by said first reciprocating means to move said first bars in the direction of travel of and at the same rate of speed as said lengths of material and opposite the direction of travel of said lengths while said first reciprocating means moves said first bars transverse to the direction of travel of said lengths of material such that said blade severs said lengths by moving simultaneously downward and forward, said forward movement being at the same rate of speed as said lengths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A cutting system for periodically severing a plurality of continuous lengths of material comprising: means for receiving a plurality of parallel lengths of material traveling in a direction parallel to the axes of said lengths, an elongated cutting blade disposed above and normal to the direction of travel of said lengths of material, first means for reciprocating structure transverse to the direction of travel of said lengths of material, a first pair of bars each pivotally connected at one end to structure reciprocated by said first reciprocating means and at the opposite end to the ends of said cutting blade, said bars being pivotal at said one end about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of said lengths of material, and second reciprocating means for driving a second pair of bars each connected at one end to said second reciprocating means and at the opposite ends to one of said first pair of bars, respectively, to reciprocate said first pair of bars about the pivotal connection to the structure reciprocated by said first reciprocating means to move said first bars in the direction of travel of and at the same rate of speed as said lengths of material and opposite the direction of travel of said lengths while said first reciprocating means moves said first bars transverse to the direction of travel of said lengths of material such that said blade severs said lengths by moving simultaneously downward and forward, said forward movement being at the same rate of speed as said lengths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The cutting system of claim 1 and further comprising: a bed located beneath said lengths of material to cooperate with said cutting blade and movable for a distance at the same rate of speed as said lengths of material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cutting system of claim 2 wherein said bed includes an indention for receiving the lower portion of said cutting blade.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said cutting system is mounted on a platform, motor means connected to said platform, gear transformer means connected to said motor to transform rotary motion into linear motion, and structure connected between said gear transformer means and said cutting blade for providing movement to said cutting blade in at least two different directions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said cutting blade has a first portion with a first angle for severing said lengths of material and a second portion with a second angle for spreading the severed portions from the remainder of said lengths, said first portion substantially thinner than the second portion with said first portion having a length less than the thickness of the lengths of material being severed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The cutting system of claim 1 wherein said cutting blade moves in a continuous path including a lower portion in the direction of travel of said lengths of material and an upper return portion opposite the direction of travel of said lengths of material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cutting system of claim 1 and further comprising: means for varying the distance between the cuts made by said cutting blade while maintaining the speed of travel of said cutting blade equal to the speed of travel of said lengths of material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cutting system of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the point of connection between said second reciprocating means and said first pair of bars to vary the forward movement of said bars and therefore of said cutting blade.
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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) | 1981-10-09 | 1982-04-10 | 1982-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-09 | 1986-04-10 | 1986-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-09 | 1990-04-10 | 1990-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |