Abstract:
The invention is an equalizing tray for evenly distributing food pieces in a food transport line, such as before a dewatering step and before a frying step. The even distribution of food pieces is accomplished by adjusting the shape of a tray bottom through raising or lowering the left or right tray side, by raising or lowering the tray center, and by tilting the entire tray. By changing the shape of the tray bottom, the depth of the liquid medium in which food pieces are transported is changed, resulting in even distribution of food pieces.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority date of the provisional application entitled Equalizing Tray filed by Flodin, et al. on Jan. 2, 2004 with application Ser. No. 60/533,903. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to food transport lines, and more particularly relates to food processing transport that spreads or equalizes food product in a liquid medium.  
         [0004]     2. Background Information  
         [0005]     The process of making many foods, including potato chips, involves cutting the potatoes or other food into pieces and floating them in a water medium to a fryer, or other processing device. The following description will focus on potato chips, but it is to be understood that the invention is equally useful to other food processing applications and products.  
         [0006]     It is important that the potato chips emerge from the fryer with uniform cooking on every potato chip. If some are uncooked, while others are overcooked, the resulting potato chips are of a lower quality. A problem in making potato chips is to have an even and uniform flow of chips enter the fryer. The more uniform the flow of potato chips into the fryer, the more uniformly they will be cooked, and a higher quality product will result. In every food transport system there are certain flow characteristics that can cause food pieces which are suspended in a liquid medium, to be dispersed in uneven distributions.  
         [0007]     For instance, the turns and drops found in a food transport system might result in more of the potato pieces being in the middle of the flow, or to the left or right side, or with a heavier concentration of food pieces along the sides and less in the middle. For most of the transport distance of the food pieces, this is not important. It becomes important when the potato pieces are separated from the water and then dropped into the fryer. When they enter the fryer, they need to be evenly distributed across the entrance to the fryer so that they receive a uniform cooking time and each piece is cooked to the right amount, and is neither over nor under cooked.  
         [0008]     What is needed to achieve this is an equalizing tray that is placed as a part of the food transport line. The equalizing tray should be able to cause the distribution of food pieces in a liquid medium to be spread out evenly, so that when it exits the equalizing tray, the food pieces are evenly distributed as it enters the frying portion or other operation.  
         [0009]     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     These and other objects are accomplished by the product equalizing tray of the invention. The product equalizing tray of the invention is to be used in a food transport line for controlling the distribution of food pieces suspended in a liquid medium. The product equalizing tray includes a tray body that is installed as a component of the food transport line. If the food transport line is generally “U” shaped in cross-section, the tray body could also be U-shaped and form a section of the food transport line. If the food transport line is generally rectangular or square in cross-section, the tray body could also be rectangular or squared in cross-section, and form one unit of the food transport line. The tray body is configured for unrestricted flow of a liquid medium, typically water, and suspended food particles. The food particles can be pieces of cut vegetables, such as french fries, potato chips, diced vegetables, carrot slices or other vegetable pieces. The product equalizing tray is typically used in conjunction with a food processing component, such as a fryer or cooker, in which an equal distribution of food products entering the cooker or fryer is desirable. The product equalizing tray of the invention can also be used with other food processing operations in which an even distribution of products is desirable, such as a device for applying a sprayed on additive, for heating using microwaves, radiant heat, or hot air, but is particularly useful when used in cookers or deep fat fryers.  
         [0011]     The tray body is composed of a tray bottom, a left side and a right side. The tray bottom has an entry edge and an exit edge. As the food product crosses over the entry edge, it may be unevenly distributed, but the purpose of the equalizing tray is for the product to be evenly distributed as it passes over the exit edge. Typically, after the product equalizing tray, there will be a dewatering step, so that the distribution of the food pieces is stabilized before entering into the next step of the food processing operation.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment of the invention, the product equalizing tray includes a tray positioner or pivot structure, which has the function of tilting the tray body and especially the tray bottom at an angle selected to achieve distribution of food pieces over the tray bottom at the exit edge. By tilting the tray bottom, the depth and flow of the water with the suspended food pieces is adjusted to cause an even distribution at the exit edge of the tray.  
         [0013]     Another embodiment of the product equalizing tray utilizes a side height adjuster, which raises and lowers at least one side of the tray to help adjust the flow and depth of the transport media and the suspended food pieces by changing the shape of the tray bottom. This configuration of the device also includes a tray center height adjuster for changing the level of the tray center in relation to the tray sides, or for fixing the tray center position. The interaction between the side height adjuster and the tray center height adjuster changes the shape of the tray bottom, which changes the depth of the medium in order to achieve an equal distribution of the food pieces as the liquid and food pieces exit the equalizing tray.  
         [0014]     Another embodiment of the invention is configured as described above, but includes a side height adjuster for both the left and the right sides. In this version, the left side can be raised or lowered, the right side can be raised or lowered, and the center of the tray is attached to a height adjuster which can raise or lower the center of the tray, causing it to be convex, concave or level. The center tray adjuster can also be configured to simply anchor the center of the tray, without height adjustment.  
         [0015]     The adjustments described above can be set in several different ways. The characteristics of a particular system may be observed and analyzed, and the shape of the equalizing tray adjusted and locked in place by use of the side height adjusters and the tray center height adjuster. Another way that the equalizing tray can operate is in conjunction with a sensor that determines the distribution of food pieces, and uses automated controls that adjust the left side and right side, and tray center height adjuster to automatically adjust the shape of the tray bottom for even distribution of food pieces. This type of adjustment can be made on a continual and automatic basis.  
         [0016]     The side height adjusters can be a mechanical lever that is controlled manually and can be locked into place at a selected position. The side height adjusters can also be servo motors, which are attached to the tray sides, and which can move the left or right tray sides up or down according to the needs of the system. The left and right tray sides can be locked in place with a position lock. The entry side of the tray can be a flat side that interconnects with the upstream transport line section. The entry side of the tray can also be an edge adjacent to an entry slot in which the liquid and food products enter from below the equalizing tray and flow through the entry slot over the entry edge and through the equalizing tray. The system can also be configured so that the equalizing tray has an entry end wall over which water and food pieces flow into the equalizing tray.  
         [0017]     In one configuration of the equalizing tray, the center height adjuster can be a mechanical connection that is attached to the under side of the tray center. This mechanical connection can anchor the tray center in place. As such, when the left and right hand sides are raised and lowered, the shape of the tray bottom changes between flat, convex, and concave. Also, the shape of the tray bottom can be made asymmetrical so that one side is higher than another. Another configuration of the device is configured so that the center height adjuster is attached to the underside of the tray center, and is configured to be adjusted up and down, either manually or automatically based on input from a sensor or by adjustment made by a user.  
         [0018]     Another configuration of the equalizing tray uses attachment points. In various alternative configurations, the exit edge may be anchored in one or more attachment points. The entry edge can also be anchored at one or more attachment points.  
         [0019]     The purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.  
         [0020]     Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the equalizing tray of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the equalizing tray of the invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an adjustment handle.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4A  is a side view from position B of  FIG. 2 , showing the pivot handle in maximum upward adjustment.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4B  is a side view from position B of  FIG. 2 , showing the pivot handle in maximum downward adjustment.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5A  is a side view from position A of  FIG. 2 , showing the side height handle in maximum upward adjustment.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5B  is a side view from position A of  FIG. 2 , showing the side height handle in maximum downward adjustment.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.  
         [0029]     A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Shown in  FIG. 1  is an equalizing tray  10 , which includes a tray body  12 . The tray body  12  includes tray bottom  14 , left tray side  16 , and right tray side  18 . The tray bottom  14  has an entry edge  20  and an exit edge  22 . In this particular configuration, the tray bottom  14  includes an entry slot  24 . This is configured so that liquid medium and suspended food pieces (not shown) can enter the tray  12  from below the entry slot  24 . Other configurations are possible in which the liquid medium and suspended food pieces enter the tray body from above, in a waterfall type entry, or which enter straight into the tray body from the adjacent food transport line. Because this configuration has the liquid medium entering from below through the entry slot, it includes a rear wall  26 . A rear wall  26  might not be present if the liquid medium and suspended food particles enter directly from the adjacent upstream section of food transport line.  
         [0030]     Also shown is a tray center height adjuster  28 . This is shown as a post that is attached to the underside of the tray body  12 . The bottom end of the post is attached solidly to other processing line components. As the left side  16  and the right side  18  raise and lower, the tray center height adjuster  28  anchors the center in one place, causing the tray bottom  22  to change shape. In another preferred embodiment, the tray center height adjuster  28  can be adjusted and may move up and down independently from the movements of the left and right sides. This can be by manual or automatic and continual adjustment.  
         [0031]     Also shown is a side height adjustment assembly  54  for raising and lowering the left side in this example. By raising or lowering one side or both side, and by either having the center of the tray bottom stationary or adjusted in height, the shape of the tray bottom  22  changes so that the depth of the liquid medium with suspended food pieces can be controlled to achieve an equal distribution of food pieces.  
         [0032]     Typically, the section adjacent to the exit edge  22  will be a dewatering step. After the dewatering step, another food processing step will take the evenly distributed food pieces and apply some food processing step to them. In the preferred embodiment, this is a deep fat fryer, in which potato slices are cooked and made into potato chips. Other steps could include processors for french fries, for spraying on additives, or for exposing to hot air, infrared heat, or microwave processes. This equalizing tray can be used with any process that will benefit from having food pieces evenly distributed across a transport system.  
         [0033]     The principle of the equalizing tray can be usefully applied to systems that require a diverse range of sizes. However, one particular application, which will illustrate how this system would work, is for potato chip distribution before frying. In such a system, the tray body  12  is made from a single sheet of metal which is formed into a “U” shape. In one embodiment, this U-shape is approximately 60 inches wide from the left side to the right side, and 20 inches long from the exit edge  22  to the entry edge  20 . These dimensions would be adjusted depending on the volume and flow characteristics of the systems for which it would be installed in. The left tray side  16  and the right tray side  18  are approximately 3 inches high. In this embodiment, the tray body is made of stainless steel. Obviously, other dimensions and materials might be suitable for building the equalizing tray of the invention for a particular installation.  
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the equalizing tray body  12 . Shown is a frame  32  which provides support to the equalizing tray  10 . The equalizing tray  10  includes a tray body  12 , a tray left side  16 , a tray right side  18 , an entry edge  20  and an exit edge  22 . Shown above the tray body  12  is a pivot structure  34 . The pivot structure  34  comprises two parallel bars, which are spaced on either side of a pivot rod  36 . At the center of the pivot structure  34  is a pair of pivots  38 . The entire equalizing tray body  12  can be adjusted to rotate around the pivots  38 . The pivot structure  34  is typically covered with a pivot structure cover  40 , which is better shown in  FIG. 1 . Adjacent the left tray side  16  is a tray pivot handle assembly  42 . The tray pivot handle assembly  42  includes an adjustment plate  44 . The tray pivot handle assembly  42  is better shown in  FIG. 3 . The adjustment plate  44  includes a number of notches  46  into which a position selecting tooth  48  fits. The position selection tooth  48  is attached to the inside of a handle  50 , and attached at one end to a release lever  52 . When the release lever  52  is activated, the position selection tooth  48  is withdrawn from contact with the notch  46 , and the handle  50  may be moved up or down to a new position. The tray pivot handle assembly  42  pivots around the pivot rod  36 . As the handle  50  is moved up or down, the tray body  12  pivots to the right or left around the pivots  38  in the center of the pivot structure  34 .  
         [0035]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the equalizing tray  10 , with the handle  50  of the tray pivot handle assembly  42  in an up and a down position, showing the corresponding tilt of the tray body  12 . This view is of the equalizing tray from cut line B in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0036]     Also included in the equalizing tray  10  is a left side height adjustment handle assembly  54 . The left side height adjustment assembly  54  is shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , and is the view from arrows A in  FIG. 2 . The left side height adjustment assembly  54  includes similar parts as are contained in the tray pivot handle assembly  42 , including an adjustment plate  44 , a handle  50  and a release lever  52 . It also includes notches  46  and position selection tooth  48 , as in  FIG. 3 , but which is not shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The left side adjustment handle  54  raises and lowers the left side  16  of the tray body  12  in relation to the right tray side  18  (not shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ). As the handle  50  is raised, the left tray side  16  is lowered by means of a mechanical linkage to the pivot structure. As the handle  50  is lowered, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the left tray side  16  is raised by means of a mechanical linkage to the pivot structure.  
         [0037]     The side height adjustment, in order to change the shape of the tray bottom  14 , could also be automated, using a system for sensing the distribution of food pieces as it enters the tray and adjusting the tray to achieve the desired tray bottom shape for the best distribution. A sensor  56  would determine the entering and/or exiting distribution of food pieces in the liquid medium, and adjust the tray bottom shape to achieve optimum distribution. The sensor could be located before or after the dewatering section, before the equalizing tray, after the fryer, or in other places in the system that are advantageous.  
         [0038]     While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.