Food processing apparatus

A food processing apparatus having an extrudate outlet nozzle, an extrudate receiver, the nozzle and receiver being movable to discharge extrudate in a preselected two dimensional line configuration on the receiver, and a programmable controller for controlling the movement to achieve the configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is well known in the food processing art to extrude a comestible paste, 
or the like, however such prior art teachings are generally limited in the 
relative motion available between the extruder outlet and extrudate 
receiver. For example, it is known in the prior art to rotate an extruder 
orifice about an eccentric axis, and to cam control extruder orifice 
motion. Applicant is aware of the below listed prior art: 
______________________________________ 
U.S. PAT. NO. PATENTEE 
______________________________________ 
1,268,003 Granlund 
2,429,042 Bader 
3,407,440 Myers, Jr. 
______________________________________ 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an important object of the present invention to provide an extruding 
apparatus for comestible paste which overcomes the above-mentioned 
difficulties, adapted for substantially universal relative motion in two 
dimensions between the extruder orifice and extrudate receiver, and which 
is extremely simple in construction and operation, for extreme versatility 
throughout a long useful life. 
While the apparatus of the present invention has been primarily developed 
and employed for use in producing pretzels, and will be illustrated and 
described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is appreciated 
that the instant device is capable of advantageous utilization in the 
production of a wide variety of extrudable food products, all of which 
uses are intended to be comprehended herein. 
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading 
the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, 
which form a material part of this disclosure. 
The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, 
combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be 
exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the 
scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 
thereof, the food processing apparatus therein is generally designated 10, 
and may include an extruder or extruder head 11. The extruder 11 may, of 
itself, be conventional, say the screw type or other, and suitably fixedly 
positioned by suitable support means (not shown). The extruder head 11 may 
include a plurality of outlet or discharge members 12, which may be 
arranged in a row, in side by side relation, with respect to each other, 
as illustrated, or otherwise. In the illustrated embodiment certain of the 
discharge members 12 are in non-use condition, being closed or plugged, as 
by closures 13. 
The remaining extruder discharge members or outlets 12, being illustrated 
as three in number, are provided with respective elongate flexible 
conduits or nozzles 15. 
Located under the nozzles 15 is an extrudate receiver, generally designated 
16, which may be an upwardly facing web or belt type conveyor. The 
conveyor or receiver 16 may include fixed side members 17 and 18 extending 
in general parallelism with each other on opposite sides of the extruder 
11, and extending longitudinally of and between the side pieces 17 and 18 
may be the upper run of a generally horizontal, longitudinally moving belt 
or web 19. Thus, the web or belt 19 of receiver 16 extends under the 
extruder nozzles 15. 
Fixed to the conveyor side members 17 and 18, respectively extending 
longitudinally thereof, are a pair of opposed rail assemblies or ways 21 
and 22 extending longitudinally along and over the respective side member. 
In particular, the rail assembly 21 may include a pair of brackets 23 and 
24 seated on and upstanding from side member 17 at spaced locations 
therealong, and a rod or way member 25 may extend generally horizontally 
between respective brackets 23 and 24, being fixedly supported thereby 
longitudinally and along one side of the conveyor belt 19. The other rail 
assembly or way 22 similarly includes a pair of longitudinally spaced 
brackets 26 and 27 suitably secured on the conveyor side member 18 at 
longitudinally spaced locations therealong, and upstanding therefrom to 
support a longitudinally extending, generally horizontal way member or rod 
28 extending longitudinally and along one side of the conveyor belt 19 
opposite to the rod 25. 
Slidable longitudinally on the way members 25 and 28 are respective slides 
30 and 31, which may be tubular and cylindrical, as illustrated. A trolley 
or longitudinal carrier is generally designated 34, and extends rigidly 
between the slides 30 and 31 for back and forth movement longitudinally of 
and over the belt 19, as in the directions of arrows 35. 
The longitudinal trolley or carrier 34 may include a pair of generally 
parallel, spaced, facing plates 36 and 37 respectively rigidly fixed to 
slides 30 and 31, as by spacers or shims 38 and 39. Extending transversely 
across and spaced over the conveyor belt or web 19, rigidly connecting the 
plates 36 and 37 are a pair of generally horizontal, parallel rods or ways 
40 extending transversely across the conveyor belt 19. Thus, the 
longitudinally movable trolley 34 is composed of the rigidly connected 
plates 36 and 37, and the ways or rods 40, mounted as a unit by the slides 
30 and 31 on the way members 25 and 28 for reciprocatory longitudinal 
movement relative to the conveyor belt. 
Mounted on the longitudinal trolley 34 for movement therewith and movement 
relative thereto transversely of the conveyor belt 19 is a transverse 
trolley or carrier 42. The transverse trolley may include a generally 
horizontal plate 43 spaced below the rods 40, and provided with a pair of 
spaced, upstanding lugs or bosses 44 each suitably bored and journaled for 
slidably receiving both of the way members 40. Thus, the transverse 
trolley 42 is mounted on the rods 40 of longitudinal trolley 34 to enable 
the transverse trolley to reciprocate transversely of the conveyor belt 
19. 
Extending from the transverse trolley 42, and specifically from the plate 
43 may be a mounting member or plate 45. The plate 45 is generally 
horizontal and elongate in the direction transversely of the conveyor belt 
19. Similarly the bank of extruder discharge elements 12 is arranged in a 
row transversely of the conveyor belt 19, generally parallel to the plate 
45. The nozzles or flexible conduits each extends from a fluid 
communicable connection at one end, upstream of the conveyor belt 
movement, as at 46, to its opposite or downstream end 47, which is 
suitably connected to the plate 45. An outlet or orifice fitting 48 may be 
carried on the downstream end of each nozzle 47, depending below the plate 
45 and opening downwardly toward the upper side of conveyor belt 19. The 
several outlets or orifice fittings 48 are thus arranged in a row 
transverly of the conveyor belt. Each outlet or orifice fitting 48 may be 
provided with a valve 49, say a remotely electrically operable adjustably 
variable valve, or other suitable closure. 
It will now be appreciated that the plate 45, and the nozzle orifices or 
outlets 48 carried by the plate are mounted for selected motion in two 
dimensions, as in the longitudinal dimension of way members 25 and 28, and 
the transverse dimension of way members 40. In addition to this two 
dimensional motion of way members and their slides, the conveyor belt by 
its longitudinal movement in the direction of arrow 50, may augment or 
substitute for the longitudinal movement of the trolley 34. If desired, a 
third dimension of movement may be employed, to effect movement of the 
orifices 48 toward and away from the conveyor belt 19. This may effect 
cross-sectional variation or separation of the extrudate, as an 
augmentation or substitute for the valves 49. 
A longitudinal trolley drive means is generally designated 55, and may 
include an axially rotatable lead screw 56 extending longitudinally along 
the rail or way member 25, outward of the conveyor 16. The lead screw 56 
is rotatably supported at opposite ends by upstanding journal posts or 
pedestal bearings 57 and 58, which may be fixed on a mounting plate or 
table 59 extending laterally outwardly from the conveyor side rail 17. 
Connected in driving relation to one end of the lead screw 56, as by a 
coupling 60, is a prime mover 61, such as a stepping motor, or other 
suitable drive device. 
Circumposed about and in threaded engagement with the lead screw 56 is a 
nut or follower 62, which is rigidly connected by a bar 63 to the slide 
30. Thus, upon rotation in opposite directions of the lead screw 56, the 
nut 62 is caused to move in opposite directions along the lead screw and 
effect like movement of the trolley 42 longitudinally of the conveyor 16. 
A transverse trolley drive is generally designated 65, and includes an 
axially rotatable lead or feed screw 66 extending transversely of the 
receiver or conveyor 16 and supported at its opposite ends for rotation by 
upstanding journal posts or pedestal bearings 66 and 67. The journal 
pedestals 66 and 67 may be located outward of the longitudinal feed screw 
56 and upstand to an elevation greater than that of the journal posts 57 
and 58. 
Beyond the outer journal post 67, as at 68, the screw 66 may be coupled to 
a suitable prime mover or drive 69, such as a stepping motor. 
A screw follower block or nut 70 is circumposed about the screw 66 in 
threaded engagement therewith, as by a ball 71, best seen in FIG. 4. 
Upstanding from the screw follower block or nut 70 are a pair of shafts 72 
and 73, respectively rotatably carrying generally horizontally disposed 
grooved rollers 74 and 75. 
A rigid connector or bar 76 is fixed at one end to the transverse trolley 
42, say being fixed by a block 77 to the top of one lug 44 and extending 
laterally therefrom over and beyond the plate 36, longitudinal drive 55 
and the lead screw 66 to terminate in an enlarged head 78 over the screw 
follower 70. The head 78 is formed with a through opening or cut-out 79 
extending generally normal to the direction of lead screw 66, and provided 
with parallel guide members or rails 80 and 81 in respective guiding 
engagement with rollers 74 and 75. Thus, the rails 80 and 81 are fixed to 
the head 78 and enable the head to move transversely of the lead screw 66 
with the trolley 42 upon movement of the latter longitudinally of the 
receiver belt 19. However, the guided relation of follower block or nut 70 
with respect to the connector head 78 constrains the connector bar 76 and 
trolley 42 to transverse movement with the follower block upon rotation of 
the lead screw 66. The lead screw 66 therefore is operative to effect back 
and forth movement of the trolley 42 transversely of the conveyor 16, as 
in the directions of arrow 82. Thus, upon simultaneous operation of drive 
motors 61 and 69 to rotate lead screws 56 and 66, the longitudinal trolley 
34 and the transverse trolley 42 are both, simultaneously moved on their 
mounting means relative to the conveyor belt 19 to define a desired path 
of relative movement. 
One such path of relative movement is sequentially illustrated in FIG. 6, a 
nozzle orifice 48 being shown in the earlymost, left hand diagram as 
having deposited a dough strand 85 having been initiated at an end 84. 
In the next illustrated condition (rightward in FIG. 6), the nozzle orifice 
48 has effected movement relative to the conveyor or receiver to extend 
the dough strand along an arcuate path 86a which crosses over the initial 
end 84 at 87a and continues in an arc 88a of increasing radius. 
The final sequence illustrates the dough strand as continuing at 89b in an 
arc of decreasing radius, to overlap at 90b the arc of 86a, and then to 
extend in a terminal, generally straight portion 91b to an end portion 
92b, at which the orifice 48 may be closed by its valve. It will be 
apparent that this configuration defines that of a conventional pretzel. 
Of course, many other line configurations may be produced, as desired. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that a central processor unit 94 
is connected to a memory 95 for receiving information from the memory. The 
received information is processed and directed through an output control 
96 to the drive motors 61 and 69, and to the nozzle valves 49. By this 
means, the memory information is imparted to the processor for operating 
the drive and valve means to produce the pretzels 97 or other articles of 
preselected two dimensional line configuration. That is, the information 
delivered by the memory 95 to the processor 94 controls the synchronous 
operation of drives 61 and 69, and valves 49 to produce the desired 
product configuration. Of course, the procedure is repetitive, if desired; 
and, in accordance with the memory information the product configuration 
may be changed as and when desired. Indeed, the processor 94 may be 
connected to a manual computer terminal for manual operation to produce 
unique or one-of-a-kind configurations. 
From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a food 
processing apparatus which is extremely versatile, capable of being highly 
automatic, relatively simple in construction for economy in manufacture 
and maintenance, and which otherwise fully accomplishes its intended 
objects. 
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of 
illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is 
understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the 
spirit of the invention.