US2444857A

US2444857A - Pie ckimping de vice

Info

Publication number: US2444857A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1948-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1965-07-06

Description

y 6,19 8- D. w. SMITH 2, 4,857

PIE CRIMPING DEVICE Filed May 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ.

FIG.2

L; (a! f I III 'llllllill l INVENTOR DENNIS W. SMITH ATTORNEYS D. W. SMITH PIE CRIMPING DEVICE July 6, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1946 FIG. 8

INVENTOR DENNIS W. SMITH ATTORNEYS Patented July 6, 1948 STATES PATENT OFFICE PIE CRIMPING DEVICE Dennis W. Smith, Chicago, :Ill assignor to "Colborne. Manufacturing Company, "Chicago, 111;, a "corporation of Illinois Application May 4, 1946; rSe'rial''lio:-rfi67;344

'10 Claims. .1.

Thisinvention relates to improvements in piemaking machinery, and particularly to improved means for'crimping the margin of'a piecrusthprior to the baking-of the .pie.

The-main objectsof this invention are tolprovidexan improved piecrust crimping means for workingthe margin of-a piecrust-and applying thereto a bead cram-embossingo-f predetermined design; to "provide such=a means that will also serve as an adjustable piecrust trimmer; to provide an improved gpie'crust crimpin wheel; toprovide an improved piecrust crimping wheel whereby the crimping operation is performed by l a single rotary crimping element; .to provide an improved piecrust crimping wheel arrangedto be adjustable to vary :the design of the bead orembossing applied to :the margin of a .pie during. the crimping operation; tofprovide such a crimping wheel having a pair of coacting elements, one'of which-is adjustable bothangularly and axially to varythe design applied tol-th'e marginfof a" pie; and/coprovide :animproved crimping device of simplified design and construction and which can-be readily embodied in: existing automatic pie-making machinery.

Specific -embodiments ofthis inventionare shown intheaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figu-re l-is a viewinelevation andpartlyinsection :of the 'improved pie-crimping apparatus, showing "the relation of the-:essential-.elements as they would be utilized in automatic pie-making machinery, the pie crimping means only being shown; p 1

Figure-2 deer-fragmentary sectional View showing one formof thepie crimping wheel and-illustratingits mannerof operation on a .piecrust.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a pie-showing one form of-bead or-embossingas applied to the pie margin during the crimping op eration of the crimping wheel illustrated in "Figure 2.

Figure Lis a vieweof the outer face of'the-improved "crimping wheel showing: an arrangement 'by'vmcans of =which=the inner: and outer members of th e crimping awheel canbe angularly adjusted relativerto :each 50131161.

Figurez'i is aiside elevationgpartly m section,

' 'showing details I of the-pie crimping i device shown in Figure 2, but with the meeting elements of the crimpin'gcwheeladjustedangularlyrelativeto/each other tn v'ary: thefdesig'n bfvthe head orembossing "applied'ito'the' margin of; azpiecr-ust.

Figure 16' "is a fragmentary sectional v-iew of a pieillustrating -.thedesignof bead or J embossing "appliedito'the margin of at piecrust by the device as arranged in Figure 5.

Figure 7'isanedge -orrperipheral view, partlyin section; of the crimping wheel but with a'variation 'oi the: designzoiithe peripheral indents 1 formed in the crimping wheel; and

2 I E'igure 8 isa fragmentary seotionalview of'apie illustrating vthe iorm. ofbead or embossing that may be applied by the crimping wheel -ofiFig'ure'l.

In the artof commercial pie-making, "automatic machinery iswellknown ior aooom'plishing substantially all oithe variousoperatio'ri's' involved in .the making of. apple and it is likewisawell known to embody all of the mechanisms for'the several vpie-making operations ina singleJmachine. Such automatic pie making machinery usually involves some form ofpiecrust crimping mechanismand'it is contemplatedthatthe invention herein shown-anddescribed will'b'e'mainly utilized-insuch automatic ie-making'machinery. Howeverfsince itis wellknown'intheart toco'mbine pie crimping devices withother apparatus'in an ,automatic'pie-making machine, 'onlythepiecrust crimping meansitslf will behereinshown and described, lit being under-stood thattliem'anner of vapplying the invention to autom'aticpiemaking machines can be readily practiced by those ordinarily. skilled inFthis-a'rt.

As shown in Figure l-of'tne drawingsmnepia crust crimping device comprises a'pie plateholder or carrier l desi'gned to receive and support a pie plate 2 and to coact with acrimping"wheel,"generally indicated by the numeral 3; which is disposed vertically atthe margin of the'carrieri-and arranged to rollfthereon in engagement with the margin of alpiecrust supported inthe pie plate 2.

Asshown, the carrier [is suppor'ted on'af plate ar -tray 4 whichis fixedon a rotatable shaft 5 and which is provided with an upstanding;pin, orpeg fitarranged'to-extend into a suitable aperturein the base of the carrier l to lock the carrier againstrotation relative to thertray'k 'The carrier l is also centrally -apertu red to receive the endl'of-the'shaft 5, whichshaftis hollow totpe'rmi-t passage of a verticallyreciprooable push-rod 1,

which in a-common and well-known manner'is utilizedto-ejectthe pie.pIateZ from the carrier l whentheipiefinishing operations have been com- ,pleted.

abracke't -9 depending from a piv'o'ted'arm i-llf'suitably-mounted ona carrying member I'l "The cantilevere'dend of the arm I'll issupportednn'a rod [2,.p'rojecting downwardly 'fro'mthe carrier member which is provided with limit nuts 13 againstwhioh the end of the arm I'll rests, and a spring is disposed between the carrier member H:and-Ithe-piVOteCI arm '16 so as to normallyur'ge the arm in downwardly against the limit nuts 13 and yet-'permitsome vertical mov'emeritiri'the arm I0.

These parts are-adjusted so that in normal operation :the crimping wheel 3' will-be forcedi'nto ipressurerengagement with the dough of "the pieplate 2; and the upper surface of theicarrieris arranged to receive and support the marginal flange and bead I of the pie plate 2. Also a quarter-rounded bead or ridge I7 is provided on the upper surface of the carrier I, which ridge normally extends somewhat above the marginal flange of the pie plate 2, the height of the ridge I! being such as to accommodate the thickness of thepiecrust dough after it has been crimped and beaded or embossed.

As shown, the quartererounded head or ridge I! is substantially hat on its; inner side and is formed so that its inner diameter will be slightly greater than the diameter of the pie plate 2. The rounded portion of the ridge H is on the outside and the flange or upper surface, of the carrier l extends somewhat beyond the ridge l! whereby the ridge portion and the extension provides a track on which the crimping wheel 3 may roll, the outer end of the crimping wheel having its periphery formed to substantially fit the ridge l1 when the crimping wheel is in its innermost position, as, shown in Fig. 2.

In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 5 the rounded portion of the bead ll terminates at the crest of the bead, in a substantially fiat surface which is marginal with respect to the flat inner side of the bead. This fiat top surface of the bead constitutes the trimming area and its function will be hereinafter described.

As indicated in Figure 2,. crimping wheel 3 has its periphery indented to form a series of connected openings or an irregularchannel, in the peripheral surface of the wheel, as indicated at 18, so that when thecrimping wheelie rolled on the margin of a pie, the dough of the crust margin will be pressed against the flange of the pie plate 2 and crimped, and a part of the dough will be forced into the indented portion or channel-like opening l8 of the crimping wheel. Thus, a marginal bead or embossing, conforming to the shape of the channel formed by the peripheral openings 8 of the crimping wheel, will be impressed into thepie dough. Such a bead or embossing on the margin of the piecrust is indicated at IS in Figure 3.

It will be understood that as the dough of the i piecrust margin is pressed under the crimping wheel 3, the margin of the top crust and the margin of the bottom crust will be forced or pinched together, at the base of the bead or emthe shaft 8 which is threaded into a suitable by the assembly of the inner and outer discs and 2 I, is held on the shaft 8 by means of a suitable nut and'washer 25.1 it being understood that in mounting the crimping'wheel on the shaft 8, the wheel will be left free to rotate on I tapped. bore in the end of the bracket 1 and locked in position by a suitable lock-nut 26.

pair of disc-like members 28 and ii positioned face to face concentrically and mounted on a In the form of i the crimping wheel shown in 3 Figure 5, themargins of the inner faces of the discs 20 and 2G are provided with angularly spaced indents,somewhat in the nature of the teeth on a ring gear, so that when the

discs

20 and 2! are placed face to face, the periphery of the wheel thus formed will have a series of angularly spaced peripheral openings which may or may not be connected according to whether or not the

discs

20 and 2! are spaced from each other. As shown in Figure 5,'the openings l8 formed by registry of the indents in the faces of the discs 2!] and 2! are connected so as to form an irregular channel in the periphery of the crimping wheel, the inner and

outer disc members

20 and 2! being spaced by a suitable spacer, or spacers 21.

As shown in Fig. 5, the walls 28 of the indents, and hence of the peripheral channel in the crimping wheel, are tapered so as to converge inwardly toward the axis of the wheel; and the inner margin or pie facing end of the inner disc 2| isbeveled as-at 29, the bevel extending to a point closely adjacent the peripheral open-i ings is formed by the indents'in the inner face of the disc 21.

The purpose of the beveled portion and the converging 'walls of the indents is to efiect a crimping and pinching action on the dough of the piecrust at the same time the dough is being forced into the peripheral openings of the crimping wheel for the formation of the desired bead or embossing on the pie margin, as shown in Fig. 2.

The bevel 29 at the pie facing end of the crimping wheel avoids contact between the periphery of the wheel and the piecrust inwardly of the marginal portion of the pie that is to be crimped, thus permitting the pie-engaging portion of the periphery of the crimping wheel to knead or work the dough at the crust margin; and the inwardly converging or inclined walls of the peripheral openings in the crimping wheel serve to compress or pinch the bead formed in the dough in much the same manner as though the bead were worked up by the human manipulation. I

As indicated herein, it is desired that'the

discs

20 and 2|, comprising the crimping wheehbe shiftable angularly relative to each other, as well as adjustable axially, thereby to vary the configuration of the head or embossing worked into the margin of the pie dough. As beforementioned axial adjustment of the disc members 29 and 2i is obtained by means of spacers or washers 21 interposed between the disc members when they are assembled.

tied together. Suchan arrangement is illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the outer face surface of the disc member 20 is shown. The slot-like passages are indicated by the numeral 30 and it will be "understood that they are arcuate so as to permit angular movement of the securing screwsor bolts 23 within the passages 30; "Inthe form shown in Figures, '4' and tine-securing bolt -are oithe flat headtype and the -outer-marg ins--of-=th slot passages "30 :are "beveled or countersunk "to receive the flat-head of the boltor screw- 23 inflush engagement.

Thus by first-loosening .the screws 23; the discs 29 and 2i comprising the crimping wheelmay'be shifted angularly' to change-the relation of the indents in'the iacingportion of-thediscs and then the discs may be lockedin the'desired relationby tightening the screws 23.

It will be observed-that the relation oi-the indents in. the facing; margins of the disc members 2t and 2!, as shown inFigure -5, i sdi fferent than the relation indicatedRinEigureZ. "As-shown in Figure 5, the discmembers havebeenshiftedangularly to bring-the. indents into-registry and the channel formed in the periphery for the crimping wheel is thus varied in configuration from that shown in Figure Z. The type ofbead-orembossing formed by the arrangement of Figure -5 is shown at 3 I in Figure 6 As shown in the drawings, the improved crimping wheel is designed toride onthe annular quarter-rounded bead l lformed on the top surface of the carrier 1. Forthispurpose the outer disc 2&3 has its periphery shaped-to substantially fit the quarter-rounded ridge 'or bead -l'|and is 'providedwvith a flange-like portion-32 at its outer margin, w hichr-flangerlike portionjs designed to ride onthe outer edge of the upper-surface of the carrier I. This construction permits the crimping wheel also to-serve as a dough trimming device for the dough of the piecrustoverhanging the bead H5 at the edge of the pie plate flange, which dough will normally ove lap the rid e o bead 1'! on the carrier prior'tothe crimping operation. Such clo ugh will'be sheared ofi under the r ol ling;action of thecrimping'wheel onthe bead-or ridge ll.

As shown in Figure -2, the head orridge H is spaced slightly from the edge of the pie plate flange to permit an overhang, of piecrust dough, of a? to Ts inch to. allow for shrinkage in the dough during the baking operation. Such overhang of the piecrust dough is made PQ SibIB Wit the present crimping device since the shearingaction, during trimming, is between the periphery of the crimping wheel and the flat top surface of the bead or ridge l1, rather than at the;edge ofthe-pie platewhich is the common practice.

Also, the mounting of-the'crimping wheel, as shown in Fig. -5,-is such that'the wheel; assembly is adjustable horizontallywith respect tothebead or ridge i'l through-the threaded engagement of the spindle 8 in the brackets. Thusthetrimming line, or line of contact between the crimplng wheel andthebead; may be adjusted across the flat top surface of the bead to vary theamount of dough overhang. .Such an adjustment is indicated in Fig.5;

It will be understood that the openings in the periphery of the crimping wheel 3 may be made to give any desired configuration to the bead or embossing applied to the margin of the pie. For example, the crimping wheel in Figure 1 is provided with merely a continuous peripheral channel that is uniform in cross section throughout its length. As shown in Figure 7, the crimping wheel 3 is provided with a series of round openings in its peripheral surface which will provide a bead or embossing having a configuration like that shown at 33 in Figure 8.

In the form shown in Figure 7, the openings in the periphery of the crimping wheel may be made by -providi ng "semi-circular indents in *the abutting faces of the disc segments comprising the crimping wheel; and inthiscase"as well as in the arrangements shown in Figures 2 and 5, the configuration of theperipheral channel in the, crimping wheel can be varied by angular adjustment of 4 the wheel discs 'or by axial spacing of the discs bymeans of the'wash-ers 21 interposed between the discs.

iIt-will beunderstood that the diameter ofthe crimping 'wheel will be such *that circumference of the center line of thebead work-edintothe pie dough will be substantially "a multiple of the circumference of the crimping wheeL-or "at; least such that the indents and the embossing-willsub stantiallygear together on an over ride of the wheel on thepie margin.

In-the. operation of the improved'Pie-crimping device, the carrier 1 supporting a filled pie plate is brought-into engagement Vertically withrthe crimping wheel 3, there being sufficient engaging prcssure so that the crimping wheel3-will-flride onthe annular .bead orflange I'Ionthe top surface of,th e carrier l. 'Thecarrier l is thenrotated by any suitable means,not-shown, the crimping wheel .3 rolling freely on the bead or ridge l1."

Asithle margin of the pie is engaged by the crimping wheel, the indented or channeled periphery oi the crimping wheelis ,forced into the margin of the piecrust immediately 'over the flanged portion of the pie plate 2 and v.the'overhanging portion of the pie dough is sheared off between the crimping, wheel and t'he-bead-or ridge 1?. Then as the carrierfl is rotated and the crimping wheel 3 rolled on the carrier l and over the margin. of the pie dough, the pie margin is worked by -the crimping wheel soas to squeeze the upper and 'lower' layers of piecrust .dough, together and at the same time forcevtheclough' to enter the openings or channel in the periphery of the crimping wheel soas to form.a ridge or embossing of the desireddesign or configuration.

Afterthe carrier I has made a complete revolution. it is disengaged from the crimping wheel andshifted. on to the next operation which normally wouldbe automatic removal ofthepieplate :from th carrier for transportation'tothe baking oven The main advantages of this'invention reside gle device. Other advantages are round in the construction of the crimpingwheel wherebythe pattern or configuration of the ridge or embossing formed in thepiecrust margin can'be varied by simple adjustment of the two disc elements comprising the crimping wheel.

Still further advantages reside in the arrangement, whereby the improved piecrust crimping and trimming device can be readily installed in existing automatic pie-making machinery.

Although several specific embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A piecrust crimping wheel comprising an inner disc and an outer disc mounted face to face and arranged to rotate together, the margins of the inner faces of said disc being indented to form-a series-of openings in the periphery of said Wheelbetween said discs, and means to adjust one ofsaid discs relative to the other to vary the pattern of said openings.

.2. A piecrust crimping wheel comprising an inner disc-and anouter disc mounted face to face and arranged to rotate together, the margins of the inner faces of said discs being indented to form a seriesof openings in the periphery of said Wheel between said discs, the walls of the indents being inclined to converge toward the axis of said wheel, and means to adjust one of said discs relative to the other to vary the pattern ofsaid openings.

3. A piecrust crimping wheel comprising an inner disc and an outer disc mounted face to face and arranged to rotate together, one of said discs having a hub projecting from its inner .face. and the other of said discs being fitted onto said hub, the margins of the inner faces of said discs being indented to form a series of openings in the periphery of said wheel between said discs, and means to .adjust one of said discs relative to the other to vary the pattern-of said openmgs. r

. 4. A piecrust crimping device comprising a pie plate, carrier arranged to receive and support an annular flanged pie plate with the flanged portion of said piev plate over-lapping and restingupon the upper surface of said carrier, an annular bead on the upper surface of said carrier disposed to encircle the flanged portion of a pie plate resting on said carrier, and a crimping wheel arranged to roll upon said annular bead, said crimping wheelbeing disposed to overlap the flanged portion of a pie plate supported in said carrier and. having its periphery indented intermediate its end faces and in the pie (plate overlapping portion.

5. A piecrust crimping device comprising a pie plate carrier arranged to receive and support an annular Eflanged pie plate with the flanged portion of said pie plate over-lapping and resting upon the upper surface of said carrier, an annular bead on the upper surface of said carrier disposed to encircle the flanged portion of a pie plate resting on said carrier, a crimping wheel arranged to roll upon said annular bead, and means to adjust said crimping wheel radially with respect'to said annular bead.

6. A piecrust crimping Wheel comprising an inner disc, and an outer disc mounted face to face and arranged to rotate together, the margins of the inner faces of said discs being formed to pro-- vide a connected series of openings in the periphery of said wheel between said discs, and means to adjust one of said discs relative to the other to vary the pattern of said openings.

7 A piecrust crimping wheel comprising an inner disc andan outer disc mounted face to face and arranged to rotate together, the margins of the inner faces of said discs being formed to provide a connected series of openings in the periphery of said wheel between said discs, and means to adjust one of said discs angularly relative to the other to vary the pattern of said openings.

8. A piecrust crimping Wheel comprising an inner disc and outer disc mounted face to face and arranged to rotate together, the margins of the inner faces of saidv discs being formed to provide a continuous channel extending around the periphery of said wheel, and means to adjust one of said discs axially relative to the other to vary the Width of said channel.

9. A pie-crust crimping device comprising a, pie plate carrier arranged to receive and support an annular flanged pie plate with the flanged portion of saidpie plate overlapping and resting upon the upper surface of said carrier, an annular head on the upper surface of said carrier disposed to encircle the flanged portion of a pie plate resting on said carrier, said head having a flat top surface adjacent its inner margin, a

crimping wheel arranged to roll upon said annular bead, and means to adjust the position of said crimping wheel radially across the flat surf-ace of said annular bead.

10. A piecrust crimping device comprising a pie plate carrier arranged to receive and support an annular flanged pie plate with the flanged portion of said pie plate overlapping and resting up-on the upper surface of said carrier, an annular ridge on the upper surface of said carrier disposed to encircle the flanged portion of a, pie plate resting on said carrier, the top surface of said ridge being flat adjacent its inner margin, a crimping wheel arranged toroll upon said annular ridge, and means to adjust the location of said crimping wheel radially across the flat surface of said annular ridge.

, DENNIS W. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file .of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Harries Jan. l4 1941