CA1215586A - Apparatus for tining muffins and related foodstuffs - Google Patents
Apparatus for tining muffins and related foodstuffsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1215586A CA1215586A CA000435791A CA435791A CA1215586A CA 1215586 A CA1215586 A CA 1215586A CA 000435791 A CA000435791 A CA 000435791A CA 435791 A CA435791 A CA 435791A CA 1215586 A CA1215586 A CA 1215586A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tine
- conveyor
- tines
- travel
- path
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A21—BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS
- A21C—MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING OR PROCESSING DOUGHS; HANDLING BAKED ARTICLES MADE FROM DOUGH
- A21C11/00—Other machines for forming the dough into its final shape before cooking or baking
- A21C11/12—Apparatus for slotting, slitting or perforating the surface of pieces of dough
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An apparatus is provided which is capable of tining muffins and other related forms of foodstuffs rapidly and in a fully automatic manner. The apparatus is relatively simple in construction as compared with prior art devices and can be maintained at a reasonable cost.
The apparatus produces a product which stays together around its entire diameter thus retaining freshness and which product at the same time may be readily pulled apart by the consumer in the general manner of a tine-split English muffin.
An apparatus is provided which is capable of tining muffins and other related forms of foodstuffs rapidly and in a fully automatic manner. The apparatus is relatively simple in construction as compared with prior art devices and can be maintained at a reasonable cost.
The apparatus produces a product which stays together around its entire diameter thus retaining freshness and which product at the same time may be readily pulled apart by the consumer in the general manner of a tine-split English muffin.
Description
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APPA~TUS FOR TINING MUFFINS AND OT~ER FOODSTUFFS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improved apparatus for tining muffins, especially English muffins, and other related foodstuffs.
The prior art has provided apparatus for the tining of English muffins and the objective of this machine is to produce muffins which can be easily hand-opened at the time of consumption and which muffin has the flat rough surface charac-teristic that is best for grilling and toasting. A muffin which has been properly tined allows the ultimate user to easily open it thus exposing two rough surfaces on halves of equal thickness. Muffins split in this manner, for various reasons, look and taste far better after being toasted than muffins which have been cut with a knife.
In one form of prior art machine for tining muffins, a travelling conveyor is provided for delivering a series of muffins to a tining section to be tined and split. This tining section has first and second groups of tines operating from opposite sides of the conveyor belt with the tines being arranged to traverse the belt so that the tines are brought into inter-digitating relationship with one another. As the tines move into interdigitating relation with one another they penPtrate the muffins and at the moment of full penetration one set of tines is lifted out of the plane of interdigitation thereby to fractionally tear the muffin interiors. In this machine the length of the tine holders is equal to a predetermined number of muffin diameters. If, for example, the tine holders are ten muffin diameters in length, the conveyor will deliver ten muffins into the tining section. The tines penetrate the muffins, one set of tines is lifted relative to the other to effect the tear-ing action, following which the tines are withdra~n. The next ten muffins are then delivered to the appropriate spot and the same action is then repeated.
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A disadvantage of the above machine is that it provides single stroke penetration of the muffins only and moreover the means for effecting lifting of one set of tines relative to the other to effect internal muffin tearing requires a fairly complex mechanical means as well as fairly complicated control systems all of which greatly increase the initial cost of the machine as well as increasing maintenance costs.
Other forms of muffin tining machines provide for continuous flow of the muffins on a conveyor in a straight line through the machine. The tine assemblies are disposed on oppos-ite sides of the conveyors and the perforating tines are made to move with the muffins at the same speed as the conveyor. In order to accomplish this, the perforating tines are mounted on an endless chain-type arrangement with cam and lever arrangements being provided to impart the necessary lateral motion to the perforating tines. As might be expected, owing to the endless chain type arrangements on which the perforating tines are arranged, the structure is very complex mechanically and thus relatively costly to manufacture with the usual maintenance problems associated with complicated mechanical devices.
A further form of tining machine, which is a somewhat more refined version of the machine referred to i~mediately above, and which, preferably, receives muffins which have been tined once as by the aforementioned machine, is adapted to provide two-stroke penetration of Pach muffin from opposite sides. The tining mechanisms are so arranged that a small degree of auto-rotation of the muffin takes place between tining operations.
This auto-rotation is more or less random with the rotation taking place in one direction, or the other, or possibly not at all in certain cases when the forces on the muffin are essentially balanced. ~s with the preceding form of machine, the perforating tines are disposed on endless chain type arrangements to provide forward as well as lateral motion. This results in a very complicated mechanism having the cost and maintenance disadvan-tages referred to above.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the invention to alleviate the difficulties inherent in the various prior art devices and to provide an apparatus which is capable of tining muffins and other related forms of foodstuffs rapidly and in a fully auto-matic manner and which apparatus is relatively simple in construc-tion as compared to the prior art devices referred to above and which can be maintained at a reasonable cost.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a tining machine capable of tining English muffins and related foodstuffs and producing a product that stays toyether around its entire diameter thus retaining freshness and which at the same time may be readily pulled apart by the consumer in the general manner of a tine-split English muffin.
Tining apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes a support frame having a conveyor thereon defining an elongated path of travel along which items of food-stuff are conveyed in a serially arranged relationship. This conveyor is moved at a selected rate of speed by a conveyor drive. Eirst and second tine sets are mounted at opposite sides of the conveyor in opposing relationship to one another. Each tine set includes a plurality of tines disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another. Tine guide means are also provided for each of the first and second tine sets for guiding the tines in spaced parallel paths lying above the conveyor and fixed reiative to the support frame. Each of the above-noted tine sets also has a length measured along the path of travel which is at least equal to a selected plurality of diameters or lengths of the foodstuff item. Tine drive means are provided for advancing and withdrawing the tines of the first and second sets so that the tines move toward and away from one another along their respective paths in timed relationship to the conveyor movement. This timed relationship is such that, as each item of foodstuff is carried along the path of travel by the conveyor , . .
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:' said tines of said sets enter into and withdraw from each food-stuff item a plurality of times to effect multiple piercing thereof.
In a further feature the spaced parallel paths of tine movement are generally transverse to the path of travel, such parallel paths lying in a common plane above the conveyor.
The tine drive means are also preferably adapted to advance and withdraw the tines of the first and second sets in unison.
By virtue of the ahove described arrangement, multiple piercing of each foodstuff item is effected without the complex mechanisms required by the prior art for lifting the tines out of the plane of interdigitation with one another and without the complex endless chain type arrangements for moving the perforat-ing tines along with and at the same speed as the conveyor.
As a still further feature means are provided for contacting selected surfaces of the foodstuff items to stabilize same and prevent random uncontrolled movement while being carried along the path of travel by the conveyor. This helps to ensure that the plane of weakening provided by the tining operation in each foodstuff item is consistently located or positioned from one item of foodstuff to the next.
In the preferred form of the invention the means for contacting the foodstuff to stabilize same includes a belt extending lengthwise of and above the conveyor. A drive is provided for moving the belt at essentially the same speed as the conveyor. The tine drive means preferably include a cam driven linkage mechanism for driving the rigid tine bars in which the individual tines are mounted.
In a preferred form of the~inv~ntion the above-noted conveyor includes a generally flat belt on which the foodstuff items are supported and carried along the path of travel.
In the case where English muffins are being tined, the individual tines preferably comprise pointed rod like elements, the latter being known per se in the art.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ollowing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of tining apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a partial section view taken along line
APPA~TUS FOR TINING MUFFINS AND OT~ER FOODSTUFFS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improved apparatus for tining muffins, especially English muffins, and other related foodstuffs.
The prior art has provided apparatus for the tining of English muffins and the objective of this machine is to produce muffins which can be easily hand-opened at the time of consumption and which muffin has the flat rough surface charac-teristic that is best for grilling and toasting. A muffin which has been properly tined allows the ultimate user to easily open it thus exposing two rough surfaces on halves of equal thickness. Muffins split in this manner, for various reasons, look and taste far better after being toasted than muffins which have been cut with a knife.
In one form of prior art machine for tining muffins, a travelling conveyor is provided for delivering a series of muffins to a tining section to be tined and split. This tining section has first and second groups of tines operating from opposite sides of the conveyor belt with the tines being arranged to traverse the belt so that the tines are brought into inter-digitating relationship with one another. As the tines move into interdigitating relation with one another they penPtrate the muffins and at the moment of full penetration one set of tines is lifted out of the plane of interdigitation thereby to fractionally tear the muffin interiors. In this machine the length of the tine holders is equal to a predetermined number of muffin diameters. If, for example, the tine holders are ten muffin diameters in length, the conveyor will deliver ten muffins into the tining section. The tines penetrate the muffins, one set of tines is lifted relative to the other to effect the tear-ing action, following which the tines are withdra~n. The next ten muffins are then delivered to the appropriate spot and the same action is then repeated.
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A disadvantage of the above machine is that it provides single stroke penetration of the muffins only and moreover the means for effecting lifting of one set of tines relative to the other to effect internal muffin tearing requires a fairly complex mechanical means as well as fairly complicated control systems all of which greatly increase the initial cost of the machine as well as increasing maintenance costs.
Other forms of muffin tining machines provide for continuous flow of the muffins on a conveyor in a straight line through the machine. The tine assemblies are disposed on oppos-ite sides of the conveyors and the perforating tines are made to move with the muffins at the same speed as the conveyor. In order to accomplish this, the perforating tines are mounted on an endless chain-type arrangement with cam and lever arrangements being provided to impart the necessary lateral motion to the perforating tines. As might be expected, owing to the endless chain type arrangements on which the perforating tines are arranged, the structure is very complex mechanically and thus relatively costly to manufacture with the usual maintenance problems associated with complicated mechanical devices.
A further form of tining machine, which is a somewhat more refined version of the machine referred to i~mediately above, and which, preferably, receives muffins which have been tined once as by the aforementioned machine, is adapted to provide two-stroke penetration of Pach muffin from opposite sides. The tining mechanisms are so arranged that a small degree of auto-rotation of the muffin takes place between tining operations.
This auto-rotation is more or less random with the rotation taking place in one direction, or the other, or possibly not at all in certain cases when the forces on the muffin are essentially balanced. ~s with the preceding form of machine, the perforating tines are disposed on endless chain type arrangements to provide forward as well as lateral motion. This results in a very complicated mechanism having the cost and maintenance disadvan-tages referred to above.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the invention to alleviate the difficulties inherent in the various prior art devices and to provide an apparatus which is capable of tining muffins and other related forms of foodstuffs rapidly and in a fully auto-matic manner and which apparatus is relatively simple in construc-tion as compared to the prior art devices referred to above and which can be maintained at a reasonable cost.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a tining machine capable of tining English muffins and related foodstuffs and producing a product that stays toyether around its entire diameter thus retaining freshness and which at the same time may be readily pulled apart by the consumer in the general manner of a tine-split English muffin.
Tining apparatus in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes a support frame having a conveyor thereon defining an elongated path of travel along which items of food-stuff are conveyed in a serially arranged relationship. This conveyor is moved at a selected rate of speed by a conveyor drive. Eirst and second tine sets are mounted at opposite sides of the conveyor in opposing relationship to one another. Each tine set includes a plurality of tines disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another. Tine guide means are also provided for each of the first and second tine sets for guiding the tines in spaced parallel paths lying above the conveyor and fixed reiative to the support frame. Each of the above-noted tine sets also has a length measured along the path of travel which is at least equal to a selected plurality of diameters or lengths of the foodstuff item. Tine drive means are provided for advancing and withdrawing the tines of the first and second sets so that the tines move toward and away from one another along their respective paths in timed relationship to the conveyor movement. This timed relationship is such that, as each item of foodstuff is carried along the path of travel by the conveyor , . .
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:' said tines of said sets enter into and withdraw from each food-stuff item a plurality of times to effect multiple piercing thereof.
In a further feature the spaced parallel paths of tine movement are generally transverse to the path of travel, such parallel paths lying in a common plane above the conveyor.
The tine drive means are also preferably adapted to advance and withdraw the tines of the first and second sets in unison.
By virtue of the ahove described arrangement, multiple piercing of each foodstuff item is effected without the complex mechanisms required by the prior art for lifting the tines out of the plane of interdigitation with one another and without the complex endless chain type arrangements for moving the perforat-ing tines along with and at the same speed as the conveyor.
As a still further feature means are provided for contacting selected surfaces of the foodstuff items to stabilize same and prevent random uncontrolled movement while being carried along the path of travel by the conveyor. This helps to ensure that the plane of weakening provided by the tining operation in each foodstuff item is consistently located or positioned from one item of foodstuff to the next.
In the preferred form of the invention the means for contacting the foodstuff to stabilize same includes a belt extending lengthwise of and above the conveyor. A drive is provided for moving the belt at essentially the same speed as the conveyor. The tine drive means preferably include a cam driven linkage mechanism for driving the rigid tine bars in which the individual tines are mounted.
In a preferred form of the~inv~ntion the above-noted conveyor includes a generally flat belt on which the foodstuff items are supported and carried along the path of travel.
In the case where English muffins are being tined, the individual tines preferably comprise pointed rod like elements, the latter being known per se in the art.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ollowing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of tining apparatus according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a partial section view taken along line
2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the tines in the advanced position;
Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the tines in the retracted position;
Fig. 4 is a graph illustrating tine position as a function of drive cam angle.
Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views showing the muffin tining or piercing operation; and Fig. 7 is a partial cross-section view through the conveyor line showing the relative positions of the tines, muffin, conveyor belts, etc., during the piercing operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, the tining apparatus 10 includes a support frame 12 (only partly shown) of any suitably rigid construction having an elongated conveyor 14 thereon defining an elongated path of travel along which items of food-stuff F, shown here as English muffins, are carried in serially arranged relationship. The conveyor is moved at a selected rate of speed by a drive 16. First and second tine sets 18 and 20 are mounted at opposing sides of the conveyor 14 in opposed relation to one another. Each tine set includes a plurality of tines 22 disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another.
Tine guide assemblies 24 fixed to support frame 12 are also provided for each of the first and second tine sets for guiding the tines 22 in spaced parallel paths in a common plane lying above the conveyor 14 and fixed relative to the support frame . . .
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12. Each of the above-noted tine sets 18 and 20 has a length, measured along the path of conveyor travel, at least equal to a selected plurality of the muffin diameters. A tine drive mechanism 26 is provided for advancing and withdrawing in unison the tines 22 of the first and second sets 18 and 20 so that the tines 22 of the two sets move along their respective paths toward and into interdigitating relation with one another and thence away and into spaced apart relation from one another in timed relationship to the conveyor movement. This timed relationship is such that as each :item of foodstuff is carried along the path of travel defined by the conveyor 14, the tines 22 of both sets 18, 20 enter into and withdraw from each food-stuff item several times, preferably at least three times, to effect multiple piercing of same.
The conveyor 14 includes a flat endless belt 30, the upper reach of which is horizontally disposed and supported on an elongated flat support plate 31 (Fig. 7), belt 30 being trained around a spaced pair of rolls 32 mounted at opposing ends of conveyor frame 34. One of the rolls 32 is driven in rotation via sprocket 36 which, in turn, is driven from the conveyor drive 16 via sprocket 38 and roller drive chain 40.
In order to prevent random uncontrolled motion of the muffins as they are carried along the conveyor 14 (apart from some random incremental rotation of same between piercing operations), and to assist in ensuring that the plane of weakening provided by the tining or piercing operation is consistently located from one muffin to the next, a hold-down system 42 is provided which is located above the conveyor 14.
This takes the form of an endless belt 44 disposed above the conveyor belt 30, the lower reach of hold-down belt 44 being in spaced parallel relation to the upper reach of the conveyor belt 30 so as to lightly contact the upper surfaces of muffins supported on conveyor belt 30. selt 44 is trained around a pair of rollers 46 mounted on brackets fixed to opposing ends of conveyor frame 34, one of such rollers 46 being driven from sprocket 48 via drive chain 50, which, in turn, is driven from : .. ,. ' . .;
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a sprocket co-axial with sprocket 36. Hence, hold-down belt 44 is driven in synchronism with conveyor belt 30.
The above-noted tine sets 18 and 20 each include a rigid tine bar 52 in which the outer ends of the individual tines 22 are fixed, as by set screws (not shown), or any other suitable means. The individual tines 22 are slender rod-like elements of steel, much like knitting needles but preferably equipped with spear-like heads 23 (Fig. 5) with sharp leading edges to enhance the tining action. Each tine bar 52 has a length, as noted above, which is several times longer than the muffin diameter, as, for example, at least ten times longer for reasons to be described hereafter. Each tine bar 52 is mounted to a tine bar carrier 54, each carrier 54 comprising a rectangular frame having spaced parallel members 56, the ends of which beinq connected by further members (not shown) ~hich are slidably mounted in opposed spaced guide channels 58 mounted to the machine support frame 12. Members 56 are secured to spaced carrier elements 60 which, in turn, serve to mount pivot blocks 62. Shock absorbers 63 mounted on the machine frame absorb impact forces when the carriers 54 reach the outer limits of their travel.
The above-noted tine guide assemblies 24 each include an elongated rigid guide member 64, which may be of"TEFLON"( ~ ) having a series of apertures 66(Fig.5) extending therethrough to slidably receive and guide the respective tines 22. Thus, as the tine bars 52 and their respective carriers 54 are moved back and forth along the guide channels 58, the tines 22 of each set are moved in unison from retracted positions wherein their tips are flush with or slightly retracted into apertures 66 in guide members 64 (see Fig. 6) to advanced interdigitating relation as shown in Figs. 2, 5 ahd 7 wherein the tips of the tines 22 come into close proximity with the guide members 64 on the opposing side of the conveyor belt 30.
When in a fully advanced position, the tines 22 fully penetrate the muffins and lie in a plane about midway between the upper and lower reaches, respectively, of the conveyor .r ~ , ; . , .
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belt 30 and the hold-down belt 44 (Fig. 7). When the muffin has thus been penetrated several times, preferably three or four times, a distinct plane of weakness is provided in the muffin which enables it to be separated into halves quite readily by the ultimate user.
The above-noted tine drive mechanism 26 for reciprocat-ing the tine sets 18 and 20 incl-udes opposed drive arms 66 secured at pivot points 68 to the frame 12. The upper ends of arms 66 are slotted at 67 to receive pins 69 which extend through pivot blocks 62, the latter being fixed to the tine bar carriers 54. Arms 66 are interconnected together via link 70 which ensures that they pivot toward and away from one another in unison. A further drive link 72 is connected between one of the arms 66 and a cam follower arm 74, the latter being pivotted to frame 12 via pivot pin 76. Follower arm 74 includes a follower roller 78 which engages in a groove 80 defined in drive cam 82.
The shape of the drive cam 82 is not particularly critical. However, it should provide reasonably rapid advance and withdrawal of the tines. The graph of ~ig. 4 which plots the ~ advance of the tines as a function of cam angle will provide those skilled in the art with sufficient information as to enable a satisfactory cam and drive linkage mechanism to be produced.
Drive cam 82 is driven in rotation by sprocket 86, the latter being driven from main sprocket 88 via drive chain 90.
Sprocket 88 is also driven from drive 16 so there is a predeter-mined s~eed relationship between the conveyor speed and the tine drive speed. As noted above, this relationship should be such that the tines 22 are advanced and retracted at a rate related to the rate of movement of the conveyor belt 30 so that the muffins are pierced at least three times and preferably four times as they move along the conveyor.
The manner of operation of the tining apparatus will be readily apparent from a review of the drawings and the above description. As the muffins are fed into the inlet end of the ~ , ~
~2~5S~6 g conveyor 14 they move in the direction of arrows A until such time as they are penetrated by the tines, as seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 7 at which point there is a momentary stoppage in flow, it being realized that the conveyor belt movès continually thus sliding beneath the muffins when they are stopped.
As soon as the tines 22 are retracted the flow of muffins again starts, only to be stopped soon after when the muffins are again pierced by the tines. The length of the tining sets 18 and 20 in conjunction with the speed relation-ship between the conveyor 14 and the tine drive mechanism 26 assures that th~ muffins are each pierced at least three times before leaving the exit end oE the apparatus. The more times the muffins are pierced, the greater the degree of weakness between the muffin halves. (It is unlikely as a matter of chance that the tines will enter the same holes in the muffin twice but should this appear to be happening too frequently some adjustment in the ratio between the spped of conveyor 14 and the speed of the tine drive mechanism 26 should be made.) The apparatus described above is capable of operating at a relatively high speed (approximately 220 muffins per minute). At the same time very few rejects are produced.
The apparatus described above, by virtue of its unique simplicity, as compared with the commercially available prior art devices, can be produced at a fraction of the cost of the machines currently on the market. At the same time it is at least as effective, if not more so, in terms of its timing ability and the quality of the foodstuff so processed. The machine does not depend on timed intermittent input to accurately place the muffins for penetration. In fact, accurate placement is not necessary. Also, the machine does not depend on "capturing" a single or set number of muffins per operation as do many prior art machines nor does the machine rely on a vertical tearing motion to achieve the desired end. The alter-native provided by the prior art to the vertical tearing action has been mainly the endless belt-type tine holders whlch move with the conveyor motion. Both of these alternatives are .
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complex and costly and the simple yet effective system provided by the present invention represents a distinc-t advantage over them.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described by way of example. One modification which will be apparent to those skilled in the art is the substitution of a pneumatic tine drive system for the mechanical lever, cam and linkage system illustrated. Numerous other modifications and variations falling within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art in the light of the present disclosure and hence reference is to be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.
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Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the tines in the retracted position;
Fig. 4 is a graph illustrating tine position as a function of drive cam angle.
Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views showing the muffin tining or piercing operation; and Fig. 7 is a partial cross-section view through the conveyor line showing the relative positions of the tines, muffin, conveyor belts, etc., during the piercing operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, the tining apparatus 10 includes a support frame 12 (only partly shown) of any suitably rigid construction having an elongated conveyor 14 thereon defining an elongated path of travel along which items of food-stuff F, shown here as English muffins, are carried in serially arranged relationship. The conveyor is moved at a selected rate of speed by a drive 16. First and second tine sets 18 and 20 are mounted at opposing sides of the conveyor 14 in opposed relation to one another. Each tine set includes a plurality of tines 22 disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another.
Tine guide assemblies 24 fixed to support frame 12 are also provided for each of the first and second tine sets for guiding the tines 22 in spaced parallel paths in a common plane lying above the conveyor 14 and fixed relative to the support frame . . .
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12. Each of the above-noted tine sets 18 and 20 has a length, measured along the path of conveyor travel, at least equal to a selected plurality of the muffin diameters. A tine drive mechanism 26 is provided for advancing and withdrawing in unison the tines 22 of the first and second sets 18 and 20 so that the tines 22 of the two sets move along their respective paths toward and into interdigitating relation with one another and thence away and into spaced apart relation from one another in timed relationship to the conveyor movement. This timed relationship is such that as each :item of foodstuff is carried along the path of travel defined by the conveyor 14, the tines 22 of both sets 18, 20 enter into and withdraw from each food-stuff item several times, preferably at least three times, to effect multiple piercing of same.
The conveyor 14 includes a flat endless belt 30, the upper reach of which is horizontally disposed and supported on an elongated flat support plate 31 (Fig. 7), belt 30 being trained around a spaced pair of rolls 32 mounted at opposing ends of conveyor frame 34. One of the rolls 32 is driven in rotation via sprocket 36 which, in turn, is driven from the conveyor drive 16 via sprocket 38 and roller drive chain 40.
In order to prevent random uncontrolled motion of the muffins as they are carried along the conveyor 14 (apart from some random incremental rotation of same between piercing operations), and to assist in ensuring that the plane of weakening provided by the tining or piercing operation is consistently located from one muffin to the next, a hold-down system 42 is provided which is located above the conveyor 14.
This takes the form of an endless belt 44 disposed above the conveyor belt 30, the lower reach of hold-down belt 44 being in spaced parallel relation to the upper reach of the conveyor belt 30 so as to lightly contact the upper surfaces of muffins supported on conveyor belt 30. selt 44 is trained around a pair of rollers 46 mounted on brackets fixed to opposing ends of conveyor frame 34, one of such rollers 46 being driven from sprocket 48 via drive chain 50, which, in turn, is driven from : .. ,. ' . .;
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a sprocket co-axial with sprocket 36. Hence, hold-down belt 44 is driven in synchronism with conveyor belt 30.
The above-noted tine sets 18 and 20 each include a rigid tine bar 52 in which the outer ends of the individual tines 22 are fixed, as by set screws (not shown), or any other suitable means. The individual tines 22 are slender rod-like elements of steel, much like knitting needles but preferably equipped with spear-like heads 23 (Fig. 5) with sharp leading edges to enhance the tining action. Each tine bar 52 has a length, as noted above, which is several times longer than the muffin diameter, as, for example, at least ten times longer for reasons to be described hereafter. Each tine bar 52 is mounted to a tine bar carrier 54, each carrier 54 comprising a rectangular frame having spaced parallel members 56, the ends of which beinq connected by further members (not shown) ~hich are slidably mounted in opposed spaced guide channels 58 mounted to the machine support frame 12. Members 56 are secured to spaced carrier elements 60 which, in turn, serve to mount pivot blocks 62. Shock absorbers 63 mounted on the machine frame absorb impact forces when the carriers 54 reach the outer limits of their travel.
The above-noted tine guide assemblies 24 each include an elongated rigid guide member 64, which may be of"TEFLON"( ~ ) having a series of apertures 66(Fig.5) extending therethrough to slidably receive and guide the respective tines 22. Thus, as the tine bars 52 and their respective carriers 54 are moved back and forth along the guide channels 58, the tines 22 of each set are moved in unison from retracted positions wherein their tips are flush with or slightly retracted into apertures 66 in guide members 64 (see Fig. 6) to advanced interdigitating relation as shown in Figs. 2, 5 ahd 7 wherein the tips of the tines 22 come into close proximity with the guide members 64 on the opposing side of the conveyor belt 30.
When in a fully advanced position, the tines 22 fully penetrate the muffins and lie in a plane about midway between the upper and lower reaches, respectively, of the conveyor .r ~ , ; . , .
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belt 30 and the hold-down belt 44 (Fig. 7). When the muffin has thus been penetrated several times, preferably three or four times, a distinct plane of weakness is provided in the muffin which enables it to be separated into halves quite readily by the ultimate user.
The above-noted tine drive mechanism 26 for reciprocat-ing the tine sets 18 and 20 incl-udes opposed drive arms 66 secured at pivot points 68 to the frame 12. The upper ends of arms 66 are slotted at 67 to receive pins 69 which extend through pivot blocks 62, the latter being fixed to the tine bar carriers 54. Arms 66 are interconnected together via link 70 which ensures that they pivot toward and away from one another in unison. A further drive link 72 is connected between one of the arms 66 and a cam follower arm 74, the latter being pivotted to frame 12 via pivot pin 76. Follower arm 74 includes a follower roller 78 which engages in a groove 80 defined in drive cam 82.
The shape of the drive cam 82 is not particularly critical. However, it should provide reasonably rapid advance and withdrawal of the tines. The graph of ~ig. 4 which plots the ~ advance of the tines as a function of cam angle will provide those skilled in the art with sufficient information as to enable a satisfactory cam and drive linkage mechanism to be produced.
Drive cam 82 is driven in rotation by sprocket 86, the latter being driven from main sprocket 88 via drive chain 90.
Sprocket 88 is also driven from drive 16 so there is a predeter-mined s~eed relationship between the conveyor speed and the tine drive speed. As noted above, this relationship should be such that the tines 22 are advanced and retracted at a rate related to the rate of movement of the conveyor belt 30 so that the muffins are pierced at least three times and preferably four times as they move along the conveyor.
The manner of operation of the tining apparatus will be readily apparent from a review of the drawings and the above description. As the muffins are fed into the inlet end of the ~ , ~
~2~5S~6 g conveyor 14 they move in the direction of arrows A until such time as they are penetrated by the tines, as seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 7 at which point there is a momentary stoppage in flow, it being realized that the conveyor belt movès continually thus sliding beneath the muffins when they are stopped.
As soon as the tines 22 are retracted the flow of muffins again starts, only to be stopped soon after when the muffins are again pierced by the tines. The length of the tining sets 18 and 20 in conjunction with the speed relation-ship between the conveyor 14 and the tine drive mechanism 26 assures that th~ muffins are each pierced at least three times before leaving the exit end oE the apparatus. The more times the muffins are pierced, the greater the degree of weakness between the muffin halves. (It is unlikely as a matter of chance that the tines will enter the same holes in the muffin twice but should this appear to be happening too frequently some adjustment in the ratio between the spped of conveyor 14 and the speed of the tine drive mechanism 26 should be made.) The apparatus described above is capable of operating at a relatively high speed (approximately 220 muffins per minute). At the same time very few rejects are produced.
The apparatus described above, by virtue of its unique simplicity, as compared with the commercially available prior art devices, can be produced at a fraction of the cost of the machines currently on the market. At the same time it is at least as effective, if not more so, in terms of its timing ability and the quality of the foodstuff so processed. The machine does not depend on timed intermittent input to accurately place the muffins for penetration. In fact, accurate placement is not necessary. Also, the machine does not depend on "capturing" a single or set number of muffins per operation as do many prior art machines nor does the machine rely on a vertical tearing motion to achieve the desired end. The alter-native provided by the prior art to the vertical tearing action has been mainly the endless belt-type tine holders whlch move with the conveyor motion. Both of these alternatives are .
`
~5~
complex and costly and the simple yet effective system provided by the present invention represents a distinc-t advantage over them.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described by way of example. One modification which will be apparent to those skilled in the art is the substitution of a pneumatic tine drive system for the mechanical lever, cam and linkage system illustrated. Numerous other modifications and variations falling within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art in the light of the present disclosure and hence reference is to be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.
.
Claims (12)
1. Apparatus for tining muffins and other related food-stuffs comprising:
(a) a support frame;
(b) a conveyor on said frame for transporting items of the foodstuff in serially arranged relation-ship along an elongated path of travel defined by said conveyor;
(c) a conveyor drive for moving said conveyor at a selected rate of speed;
(d) first and second tine sets mounted at oppos-ite sides of the conveyor in opposing relationship to one another, each tine set including a plurality of tines located in spaced parallel relationship to one another;
(e) tine guide means for each of the first and second tine sets for guiding said plurality of tines as they are moved toward and away from one another in spaced parallel paths fixed relative to said support frame, said parallel paths lying above said conveyor and in a common plane fixed relative to said support frame;
(f) each tine set having a length measured along the path of conveyor travel at least equal to a selected plurality of diameters or lengths of the foodstuff item;
(g) tine drive means for advancing and withdrawing the tines of said first and second sets so that said tines move toward and away from one another along their respective Paths in timed relationship to said conveyor movement such that as each item of foodstuff is carried along the path of travel by the conveyor said tines of said sets enter into and withdraw from each foodstuff item a plurality of times to effect multiple piercing thereof.
(a) a support frame;
(b) a conveyor on said frame for transporting items of the foodstuff in serially arranged relation-ship along an elongated path of travel defined by said conveyor;
(c) a conveyor drive for moving said conveyor at a selected rate of speed;
(d) first and second tine sets mounted at oppos-ite sides of the conveyor in opposing relationship to one another, each tine set including a plurality of tines located in spaced parallel relationship to one another;
(e) tine guide means for each of the first and second tine sets for guiding said plurality of tines as they are moved toward and away from one another in spaced parallel paths fixed relative to said support frame, said parallel paths lying above said conveyor and in a common plane fixed relative to said support frame;
(f) each tine set having a length measured along the path of conveyor travel at least equal to a selected plurality of diameters or lengths of the foodstuff item;
(g) tine drive means for advancing and withdrawing the tines of said first and second sets so that said tines move toward and away from one another along their respective Paths in timed relationship to said conveyor movement such that as each item of foodstuff is carried along the path of travel by the conveyor said tines of said sets enter into and withdraw from each foodstuff item a plurality of times to effect multiple piercing thereof.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the spaced parallel paths of tine movement are generally transverse to the path of the conveyer travel, the tine drive means adapted to advance and withdraw the tines of the first and second sets in unison.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said conveyor includes a flexible means on which said items are supported and carried along the path of travel.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 further including means for contacting the foodstuff items as they are moved along the path of travel by the conveyor to stabilize same and help to ensure that the plane of weakening provided by the piercing operation is consistently located from one foodstuff item to the next.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 1 further including means for contacting surfaces of the foodstuff items to stabilize same and prevent random uncontrolled movement thereof while being carried along the path of travel by the conveyor.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein said means for contacting comprises belt means spaced above and extending along parallel to said conveyor.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said conveyor includes horizontal belt means on which said items are supported and carried along the path of travel.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said conveyor includes horizontal belt means on which said items are supported and carried along the path of travel.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each of said plurality of tines comprises a pointed rod-like element.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein each of said plurality of tines comprises a pointed rod-like element.
11. Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each of said tine sets includes a rigid tine bar in which the indivi-dual tines are fixed, said tine guide means being adapted to guide said rigid tine bars and said tine sets in fixed paths of travel in said common plane toward and away from one another.
12. Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each of said tine sets includes a rigid tine bar in which the indivi-dual tines are fixed, said tine guide means being adapted to guide said rigid tine bars and said tine sets in fixed paths of travel in said common plane toward and away from one another, and said tine drive means including a linkage mech-anism connected to said tine bars for moving same toward and away from one another in unison, and cam means of predeter-mined shape operatively connected to said linkage mechanism, and means for driving said cam means in predetermined relation-ship to the speed of movement of said conveyer to effect the multiple piercing of the foodstuff items while moving along the path of travel defined by the conveyer.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000435791A CA1215586A (en) | 1983-08-31 | 1983-08-31 | Apparatus for tining muffins and related foodstuffs |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000435791A CA1215586A (en) | 1983-08-31 | 1983-08-31 | Apparatus for tining muffins and related foodstuffs |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1215586A true CA1215586A (en) | 1986-12-23 |
Family
ID=4125982
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000435791A Expired CA1215586A (en) | 1983-08-31 | 1983-08-31 | Apparatus for tining muffins and related foodstuffs |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1215586A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0359375A1 (en) * | 1988-08-01 | 1990-03-21 | Oxford Biscuits A/S | Method and apparatus for manufacturing coarse cookies |
| CN107410408A (en) * | 2017-06-16 | 2017-12-01 | 古浪伊禧堂伟业生物科技有限公司 | A kind of parallel imitative manual noodle rubs thin machine and application method with the hands |
-
1983
- 1983-08-31 CA CA000435791A patent/CA1215586A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0359375A1 (en) * | 1988-08-01 | 1990-03-21 | Oxford Biscuits A/S | Method and apparatus for manufacturing coarse cookies |
| CN107410408A (en) * | 2017-06-16 | 2017-12-01 | 古浪伊禧堂伟业生物科技有限公司 | A kind of parallel imitative manual noodle rubs thin machine and application method with the hands |
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