Patent ID: 6234779
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: A21C

Abstract:
An apparatus for shaping a spherical body composed of an outer covering layer and an inner filling, comprising:a holder frame, said holder frame comprising a center opening, an annular groove around said center opening, a bearing portion around said annular groove for receiving a cutter assembly, a plurality of vertical sliding contact walls disposed at different angles around said bearing portion and equiangularly spaced from one another, and a plurality of triangular recesses formed on a top side wall of said vertical sliding contact walls;an annular rotary wheel mounted in said holder frame and rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise alternatively within a limited angle in said annular groove, said annular rotary wheel comprising a plurality of upright pegs equiangularly spaced at a top sidewall thereof;a cutter assembly comprising a plurality of triangular cutter members respectively mounted on said annular rotary wheel and arranged in sliding contact with each other and moved with said rotary wheel between a first position where said cutter members form a cutter assembly center opening and a second position where said cutter assembly center opening is closed, said cutter members each comprising an elongated recessed bottom sliding coupling hole respectively coupled to the upright pegs of said rotary wheel, an angled notch at a rear side, and a rear protruding portion above said angled notch; anda material feeder controlled to feed a cylindrical body consisting of a dough crust covering layer and a filling for enabling said cylindrical body to be cut and shaped into a spherical body by said cutter members upon each clockwise and counter-clock wise alternative rotation cycle of said annular wheel.