Patent ID: 6139178
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: A21C

Abstract:
A position-variable feed-roll head for a food extruder or the like, comprising in combination:at least one pair of generally cylindrical feed-rolls disposed in generally parallel relation and close proximity to one another;each of said feed-rolls having a longitudinal axis of rotation and a pair of mutually spaced ends, each such end having a roll-mounting portion located coaxially along said axis;a structural support member for each end of said pair of feed-rolls, each such support member having a pair of mutually spaced mounting structures for rotatably receiving the roll-mounting portions of each of said feed-rolls which are located at a common end whereby said feed-rolls in said pair are mounted as a unit in fixed relative position between shared structural support members for rotation about their respective axes;each of said structural support members having a movable mount at a first location disposed in alignment with the other such movable mount, whereby both of said feed-rolls in said pair thereof and their structural support members may all be moved together as a unit upon said mutually aligned mounts to change the position of said feed-rolls with respect to adjacent extruder apparatus without changing the position of said rolls relative to one another; andpositioning apparatus operatively engageable with said structural support members to move them and their associated feed-fols as a unit upon said movable mounts as just recited.