Patent Description:
Food processing machines are used to process food such as to slice, weigh, classify, and package food products. Food processing machines are sometimes used to dispose stock, such as paper or film, underneath a food product, and to subsequently slice the food product and the underlying stock. However, these food processing machines often utilize a complicated assembly of separate components to achieve this task. The separate components are typically not easily adjustable to accommodate a varied number and/or position of stock rollers unspooling the stock to meet the food processing needs. Further, <CIT> discloses a twist tie feed machine, i.e. a different type of machine.

A food processing machine, and method of its use, is needed to overcome one or more of the issues associated with one or more of the existing food processing machines. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to improve the existing slicing food processing machines which disposestock (e.g. paper or film) underneath a food product.

This object is achieved by a cartridge according to claim <NUM>, which can be inserted into a slicing food processing machine which disposes stock (e.g. paper or film) underneath a food product. In one embodiment, a cartridge for a food processing machine is disclosed. The cartridge includes a base member, a stock roller drag brake, a nip roller, and a chute. The stock roller drag brake is rotatably attached to the base member. The nip roller is rotatably attached to the base member. The chute is attached to the base member.

In one embodiment, a food processing machine is disclosed. The food processing machine includes a frame, a stock roller, a feed roller, and a cartridge. The stock roller is rotatably connected with the frame, and configured to unspool stock. The feed roller is rotatably connected with the frame, and configured to feed the unspooled stock. The cartridge includes a base member, a stock roller drag brake, a nip roller, and a chute. The base member is connected with the frame. The stock roller drag brake is rotatably attached to the base member, and is configured to apply a braking force to the stock roller. The nip roller rotatably is attached to the base member, and is configured to apply a nip force to the feed roller. The chute is attached to the base member, and is configured to direct the fed, unspooled stock from the feed roller along a path of the chute.

In another embodiment, a method of operating a food processing machine is disclosed. One step comprises attaching a cartridge to a frame. The cartridge includes a base member, a stock roller drag brake rotatably attached to the base member, a nip roller rotatably attached to the base member, and a chute attached to the base member. Another step comprises unspooling stock from a stock roller as the stock roller drag brake applies a braking force to the stock roller. An additional step comprises feeding the unspooled stock between the feed roller and a nip roller as the nip roller applies a nip force to the feed roller. Yet another step comprises directing the fed, unspooled stock from the feed roller along a path of the chute.

The scope of the present disclosure is defined solely by the appended claims and is not affected by the statements within this summary.

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure.

<FIG> illustrates a side perspective view of one embodiment of a food processing machine <NUM> with a food product <NUM> disposed in a product tray <NUM> in a raised position, held in place by a gate <NUM>, with a gripper device <NUM> disposed apart from the food product <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a side view of the food processing machine <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG> with the food product <NUM> disposed in the product tray <NUM> in the raised position, held in place by the gate <NUM>, with the gripper device <NUM> disposed apart from the food product <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a side view of the food processing machine <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG> with the food product <NUM> disposed in the product tray <NUM> in the raised position, with the gate <NUM> having been lowered away from the food product <NUM>, with the gripper device <NUM> disposed against an end of the food product <NUM> holding the food product <NUM> in place. <FIG> illustrates a partial side perspective view of the food processing machine <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG> with a portion <NUM> of a frame <NUM> of the food processing machine <NUM> of <FIG> removed and the food product <NUM> removed to assist in viewing internal components. <FIG> illustrates a top partial perspective view of the food processing machine <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG> with the portion <NUM> of the frame <NUM> of the food processing machine <NUM> of <FIG> removed and the food product <NUM> removed to assist in viewing internal components.

As shown collectively in <FIG>, the food processing machine <NUM> in part comprises the product tray <NUM>, the gate <NUM>, the gripper device <NUM>, the frame <NUM>, a control system <NUM>, a product tray lift <NUM>, an upper infeed <NUM>, a lower infeed <NUM>, a slicing device <NUM>, a slicing conveyor <NUM>, a transfer conveyor <NUM>, an exposed load cell device <NUM>, a classifier device <NUM>, a stock roller <NUM>, a feed roller <NUM>, and a cartridge <NUM>.

The control system <NUM>, comprising at least one processor in communication with at least one memory containing processing code, is adapted to control the entire food processing machine <NUM> including all of its components identified herein. As such, all movements or actions of any components of the food processing machine <NUM> described herein are controlled by the control system <NUM>. The product tray lift <NUM> is adapted to automatically rotate around pivot point <NUM> in counter-clockwise and clockwise directions <NUM> and <NUM> in order to respectfully raise and lower the product tray <NUM>. It is noted that for purposes of this disclosure the term "automatically" means that one or more motors, controlled by the control system <NUM>, are used to achieve the movement. Initially, the food product <NUM> is loaded in the product tray <NUM> while the product tray lift <NUM> has the product tray <NUM> disposed in a horizontal position (not shown) with the gate <NUM> holding the food product <NUM> in the product tray <NUM>. After the food product <NUM> is loaded in the product tray <NUM>, the product tray lift <NUM> is automatically rotated in counter-clockwise direction <NUM> to dispose the product tray <NUM>, the gate <NUM>, and the food product <NUM> held within the product tray <NUM> by the gate <NUM> in the position of <FIG>. Next, the gripper device <NUM> is automatically moved from its raised position apart from the food product <NUM> as shown in <FIG> in direction <NUM> to a lowered position against an end of the food product <NUM> as shown in <FIG> at which time the gripper device <NUM> is used to grip an end of the food product <NUM>. Subsequently, the gate <NUM> is automatically moved away from its position against the food product <NUM> as shown in <FIG> to its lowered position as shown in <FIG> so that the gate <NUM> no longer blocks the food product <NUM> from moving out of the product tray <NUM>.

Next, the upper infeed <NUM> is automatically rotated clockwise <NUM> and the lower infeed <NUM> is automatically rotated counter-clockwise <NUM> while the gripper device <NUM> is automatically moved further in direction <NUM> to gradually move the food product <NUM> into the slicing device <NUM>. Simultaneously, the stock roller <NUM> is automatically rotated clockwise <NUM> to unspool stock <NUM> from the stock roller <NUM>, and the feed roller <NUM> is automatically rotated counter-clockwise <NUM> to feed the unspooled stock <NUM>. It is noted that the stock roller <NUM> and the feed roller <NUM> are both rotatably connected with the frame <NUM> of the food processing machine <NUM>. The stock <NUM> may comprise a backing surface such as paper or film. The unspooled stock <NUM> automatically follows path <NUM> to advance from the stock roller <NUM>, between the feed roller <NUM> and a nip roller <NUM> of cartridge <NUM>, along a vacuum plate <NUM>, through a chute <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>, through slot <NUM> in shear bar <NUM>, and into a path of the slicing device <NUM> where it is disposed underneath and against the food product <NUM>.

The slicing device <NUM> simultaneously automatically slices the food product <NUM> and the unspooled stock <NUM>, disposed underneath and below the food product <NUM>, which then together fall onto the slicing conveyor <NUM> which is located directly underneath the slicing device <NUM>. At this time, the sliced food product <NUM> is disposed against and on top of the sliced unspooled stock <NUM> which is disposed against and on top of the slicing conveyor <NUM>. The slicing conveyor <NUM> automatically rotates counter-clockwise <NUM> to move the sliced food product <NUM> disposed on top of the sliced unspooled stock <NUM> to and onto the transfer conveyor <NUM>. The transfer conveyor <NUM> automatically rotates counter-clockwise to move the sliced food product <NUM> disposed on top of the sliced unspooled stock <NUM> to and onto an exposed load cell conveyor <NUM> of the exposed load cell device <NUM>.

The exposed load cell <NUM> of the exposed load cell device <NUM> automatically weighs the sliced food product <NUM> disposed against and on top of the sliced unspooled stock <NUM>. The exposed load cell conveyor <NUM> of the exposed load cell device <NUM> then automatically moves the weighed and sliced food product <NUM>, disposed against and on top of the sliced unspooled stock <NUM>, to and onto the classifier device <NUM>. The classifier device <NUM> automatically classifies the weighed and sliced food product <NUM> by determining whether the weighed and sliced food product <NUM> meets an acceptable criteria in part based on the determined weight of the weighed and sliced food product <NUM>, as determined by the exposed load cell device <NUM>. The weighed and sliced food product <NUM>, disposed against and on top of the sliced unspooled stock <NUM>, which is determined by the classifier device <NUM> to meet the acceptable criteria is then packaged. The weighed and sliced food product <NUM>, disposed against and on top of the sliced unspooled stock <NUM>, which is determined by the classifier device to not meet the acceptable criteria is then discarded or used for other purposes.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the cartridge <NUM> of the food processing machine <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG> removed from the food processing machine. <FIG> illustrates a perspective, disassembled view of the cartridge <NUM> of <FIG>.

As shown collectively in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> comprises a base member <NUM>, a stock roller drag brake <NUM>, the nip roller <NUM>, and the chute <NUM>. The base member <NUM> comprises a plurality of female attachment shafts <NUM> which are configured to slide over a plurality of male shafts <NUM> of the frame <NUM> of the food processing machine <NUM> to attach the base member <NUM> to the frame <NUM>. The base member <NUM> further comprises a plurality of locking members <NUM> which are configured to selectively lock and unlock the base member <NUM> to and from the plurality of male shafts <NUM>. The plurality of locking members <NUM> allow the base member <NUM> to be moved to and locked at a desired location relative to the plurality of male shafts <NUM>, and allow the base member <NUM> to be subsequently repositioned by unlocking the plurality of unlocking members <NUM>, moving the base member <NUM> to a second position relative to the plurality of male shafts <NUM>, and relocking the plurality of locking members <NUM> at the second position. The plurality of locking members <NUM> comprise locking screws. In other embodiments, the plurality of locking members <NUM> may vary.

The stock roller drag brake <NUM> is rotatably attached to the base member <NUM> with a pin <NUM>. The stock roller drag brake <NUM> comprises a top surface <NUM> and opposed side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> extending perpendicularly from the top surface <NUM>. The stock roller <NUM> is disposed within and between the opposed side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of the stock roller <NUM>. The opposed side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> force the stock roller <NUM> to be centered relative to the base member <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. A pneumatic cylinder <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> is configured to rotate the stock roller drag brake <NUM> in clockwise direction <NUM> relative to the base member <NUM> so that the top surface <NUM> of the stock roller drag brake <NUM> applies a braking force to and against the stock roller <NUM> so that the stock <NUM> from the stock roller <NUM> is unspooled at a regulated rate. The pneumatic cylinder <NUM> is driven by a pneumatic manifold <NUM>.

The nip roller <NUM> is rotatably attached to the base member <NUM> with a pin <NUM>. The nip roller <NUM> comprises a roller <NUM> rotatably disposed between opposed side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>. A pneumatic cylinder <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> is configured to rotate the nip roller <NUM> in counter-clockwise direction <NUM> relative to the base member <NUM> so that the roller <NUM> applies a nip force to the stock <NUM> and the feed roller <NUM> as the stock <NUM> feeds to and between the roller <NUM> and the feed roller <NUM> along the path <NUM>. The pneumatic cylinder <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> is also configured to rotate the nip roller <NUM> in clockwise direction <NUM> relative to the base member <NUM> so that the roller <NUM> applies less of a nip force to the stock <NUM> and the feed roller <NUM> as the stock <NUM> feeds to and between the roller <NUM> and the feed roller <NUM> along the path <NUM>. The pneumatic cylinder <NUM> is driven by the pneumatic manifold <NUM>. In such manner, a variable amount of nip force may be applied by the nip roller <NUM> to the stock <NUM> and the feed roller <NUM> as the stock <NUM> feeds to and between the roller <NUM> and the feed roller <NUM> along the path <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective disassembled view of the chute <NUM> removed from the cartridge <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates an end view of the chute <NUM> of the embodiment of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal axis of the chute <NUM>.

As shown collectively in <FIG>, the chute <NUM> comprises a chute body <NUM> and a chute cover <NUM>. An interior channel <NUM> is disposed between the chute body <NUM> and the chute cover <NUM>. The interior channel <NUM> extends between open opposed ends <NUM> and <NUM> of the chute <NUM>. The chute cover <NUM> is selectively locked to and unlocked from the chute body <NUM> with locking elements <NUM> and <NUM> which allow the chute cover <NUM> to be removed from the chute body <NUM> to clean the interior channel <NUM> of the chute <NUM>. The locking elements <NUM> and <NUM> comprises mating pins and grooves. In other embodiments, the locking elements <NUM> and <NUM> may vary. The chute body <NUM> comprises a mating element <NUM> which mates with a mating element <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. The mating element <NUM> comprises a female mating element comprising a groove and the mating element <NUM> comprises a male mating element comprising a stud. The mating element <NUM> is configured to slide relative to the mating element <NUM> to remove the chute body <NUM> from the cartridge <NUM>. The base member <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> comprises a locking member <NUM> configured to selectively mate with either of mating members <NUM> and <NUM> of the chute body <NUM>. The locking member <NUM> comprises a locking bolt and the mating members <NUM> and <NUM> comprise holes. The chute body <NUM> can be selectively locked in different positions relative to the cartridge <NUM> by locking the locking member <NUM> to either the mating member <NUM> to dispose the chute body <NUM> in one position relative to the cartridge <NUM> or by locking the locking member <NUM> to mating member <NUM> to dispose the chute body <NUM> in a second position relative to the cartridge <NUM>.

The vacuum plate <NUM> comprises a plurality of holes <NUM>. Negative air pressure sucks the fed, unspooled stock <NUM> against the vacuum plate <NUM>, as the fed, unspooled stock <NUM> follows the path <NUM>, prior to the fed, unspooled stock <NUM> entering the interior channel <NUM> of the chute <NUM>. Pneumatic air, supplied by the pneumatic manifold <NUM>, flows through a pneumatic air fitting <NUM> of the base member <NUM>, through the interior channel <NUM> of the chute <NUM>, through at least one exit hole <NUM>, and out of the interior channel <NUM>. This air pressure sucks the fed, unspooled stock <NUM> along the path <NUM> from the vacuum plate <NUM>, through the interior channel <NUM> of the chute <NUM>, through slot <NUM> in shear bar <NUM>, and into a path of the slicing device <NUM> where it is disposed underneath and against the food product <NUM>.

The stock roller drag brake <NUM>, the nip roller <NUM>, and the chute <NUM> of <FIG> comprise a first kit which are each configured to be selectively detached from and reattached to the base member <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a second kit, comprising a second stock roller drag brake 76a, a second nip roller 60a, and a second chute 64a, attached to the cartridge <NUM> in place of the first kit. The second stock roller drag brake 76a had a different width W1 than the width W2 of the first stock roller drag brake <NUM>. The second nip roller 60a has a different width W3 than the width W4 of the nip roller <NUM>. The second chute 64a has a different width W5 than the width W6 of the chute <NUM>. By attaching a varied kit having differing widths to the cartridge <NUM>, a differing sized stock roller <NUM> can be centered relative to the cartridge <NUM> with the differing sized second stock roller drag brake 76a, and the stock <NUM> of the differing sized second stock roller <NUM> can be unspooled and fed along the path <NUM> created by the differing sized second nip roller 60a and second chute 64a.

By simultaneously and adjustably attaching/securing a plurality of cartridges <NUM> to the plurality of male shafts <NUM> of the frame <NUM> of the food processing machine <NUM>, a plurality of stock rollers <NUM> can be simultaneously accommodated by the food processing machine <NUM> to unspool and feed their stock <NUM> along a plurality of spaced-apart paths/lanes <NUM> created by the plurality of cartridges <NUM>. In such manner, the adjustably spaced cartridges <NUM> allow for a great deal of flexibility to simultaneously accommodate a plurality of stock rollers <NUM> located in different positions within the food processing machine <NUM>.

Moreover, by simultaneously and adjustably attaching/securing a plurality of cartridges <NUM> to the plurality of male shafts <NUM> of the frame <NUM> of the food processing machine <NUM>, with each of the plurality of cartridges <NUM> attached to differing sized kits, varied sized stock rollers <NUM> can be simultaneously accommodated by the food processing machine <NUM> to unspool and feed their differing sized stock <NUM> along a plurality of spaced-apart paths/lanes <NUM> created by the differing sized kits. In such manner, the adjustably spaced cartridge(s) <NUM> and kits allow for a great deal of flexibility to simultaneously accommodate a plurality of varied size stock rollers <NUM> located in different positions within the food processing machine <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method <NUM> of operating a food processing machine. The method <NUM> may utilize any of the food-processing machines and/or cartridges of the disclosure. Step <NUM> comprises attaching a cartridge to a frame. The cartridge may comprise a base member, a stock roller drag brake rotatably attached to the base member, a nip roller rotatably attached to the base member, and a chute attached to the base member. In one embodiment, step <NUM> may comprise inserting a plurality of male shafts of the frame through a plurality of female attachment shafts of the base member, and locking the base member to the plurality of male shafts with a plurality of locking members. In another embodiment, step <NUM> may further comprise selectively unlocking the plurality of locking members, moving the base member along the plurality of base members to a different position, and relocking the base member to the plurality of male shafts at the different position using the plurality of locking members.

Step <NUM> comprises unspooling stock from a stock roller as the stock roller drag brake applies a braking force to the stock roller. In one embodiment, step <NUM> comprises the stock roller being disposed within and between opposed side surfaces of the stock roller drag brake, and a top surface of the stock roller drag brake, disposed perpendicularly to the opposed side surfaces, applying the braking force to the stock roller. In another embodiment, step <NUM> comprises a pneumatic cylinder rotating the stock roller drag brake relative to the base member to apply the braking force to the stock roller. Step <NUM> comprises feeding the unspooled stock between the feed roller and a nip roller as the nip roller applies a nip force to the feed roller. In one embodiment, step <NUM> comprises a pneumatic cylinder rotating the nip roller relative to the base member to apply the nip force to the feed roller. Step <NUM> comprises directing the fed, unspooled stock from the feed roller along a path of the chute. In one embodiment, step <NUM> comprises air entering a pneumatic fitting aligned with an interior channel, defining the path, of the chute to cause the fed, unspooled stock to move along the path of the chute.

In other embodiments, one or more steps of the method <NUM> may be altered in substance or in order, one or more steps of the method <NUM> may not be followed, or one or more additional steps may be added to the method <NUM> in any order.

For instance, in one embodiment the method <NUM> may further comprise a step of locking the chute to the base member with a locking member. In another embodiment, the method <NUM> may further comprise a step of unlocking the chute from the base member, changing a position of the chute relative to the base member, and relocking the chute to the base member with the locking member. In another embodiment, the method <NUM> may further comprise a step of air exiting at least one air hole aligned with the interior channel of the chute to cause the fed, unspooled stock to move along the path of the chute. In still another embodiment, the method <NUM> may further comprise a step of detaching the chute from the base member, detaching a chute cover from a chute body of the chute, washing the interior channel of the chute, reattaching the chute to the chute body, and reattaching the chute to the base member.

In still another embodiment, the method <NUM> may further comprise a step of detaching a first kit, comprising the stock roller drag brake, the nip roller, and the chute, from the base member. In still another embodiment, the method <NUM> may further comprise a step of attaching a second kit, comprising a second stock roller drag brake, a second nip roller, and a second chute, to the base member in place of the first kit, wherein the second stock roller drag brake has a different first width than the stock roller drag brake, the second nip roller has a different second width than the nip roller, and the second chute has a different third width than the chute. In still another embodiment, the method <NUM> may further comprise a step of attaching a plurality of the cartridges to the frame, and using the plurality of the cartridges to unspool, feed, and direct a plurality of the stock from a plurality of the stock roller, between the feed roller and a plurality of the nip roller, and along a plurality of the path of the plurality of the chute.

The disclosure may provide one or more of the following benefits over one or more of the prior food-processing machines: (<NUM>) self-contained stock guiding within the cartridge; (<NUM>) a self-contained pneumatic stock roller drag brake which keeps the stock from over-feeding from the stock roller; (<NUM>) the stock roller drag brake guides the stock due to its opposed sides captivating the stock roller; (<NUM>) a self-contained pneumatic nip feed roller for stock feeding from the stock roller; (<NUM>) a self-contained chute that guides the stock through the slot of the shear bar; (<NUM>) a self-contained air pressure design for feeding the stock into the chute; (<NUM>) the chute slides down from the cartridge without the necessity of tools for easy removal and subsequent washing; (<NUM>) the chute can be easily disassembled for cleaning of an interior channel of the chute; (<NUM>) the cartridge design allows for adding or subtracting cartridges to or from the food processing machine depending on the food processing needs in regards to how many lanes of product need to be run; (<NUM>) infinite adjustment of the cartridge lanes from side to side in the food processing machine may be made to accommodate the food processing needs; (<NUM>) different widths of stock can be easily accommodated due to the cartridge design; and (<NUM>) all of the above features are self-contained within the cartridge to make the feeding of the stock much simpler with better results.

The Abstract is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

Claim 1:
A cartridge (<NUM>) for a slicing food processing machine (<NUM>) which disposes stock (<NUM>) underneath a food product (<NUM>), wherein said cartridge (<NUM>) comprises:
a base member (<NUM>);
a stock roller drag brake (<NUM>) rotatably attached to the base member (<NUM>);
a nip roller (<NUM>) rotatably attached to the base member (<NUM>); and
a chute (<NUM>) attached to the base member (<NUM>).