Patent ID: 6042864
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: A21C,B26D,B26F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for cutting a bakery food article to provide a cavity therein for holding flowable food such as soup, said apparatus comprising:a frame providing a conveyor for conveying the article along a conveyor path;a centering element mounted along the conveyor path for movement between an operating position wherein said element is situated to intercept and stop the article at a preselected location and a release position wherein the article can move past said element along the conveyor path;a clamping element mounted along the conveyor path for movement between a clamping position wherein an article intercepted by said centering element is clamped thereto by the clamping element to secure the article in said preselected location, and a release position wherein the clamping element releases from the article;a cutter mounted adjacent to said preselected location for generally up and down movement between a raised position wherein the cutter is above an article situated at said preselected location and a cutting position wherein the cutter is adapted to penetrate the article and cut a plug therein from the top with the plug being removable to present an open topped cavity in the article for holding the flowable food;a power mechanism operable to move said centering element to the operating position thereof to intercept and stop successive incoming articles at said preselected location, and to the release position thereof after said plug has been cut and said cutter has been moved to the raised position;a power mechanism operable to move said clamping element to the clamping position each time an article has been intercepted and stopped at said preselected location by said centering element, and to the release position thereof after said plug has been cut; anda power mechanism for moving said cutter to the cutting position thereof each time an article is clamped to said centering element by said clamping element, and to the raised position thereof after said plug has been cut.