WO2021055854A1

WO2021055854A1 - Foodstuff feeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2021055854A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/051635
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Michael DE VITIS; Kort Edward REINECKE; Alexander Clinton SCHACHT; Nicholas Alan Halverson SPADA
Original assignee: Vivid Robotics, Inc.
Priority date: 2019-09-20
Filing date: 2020-09-18
Publication date: 2021-03-25

Abstract

An objective of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can feed foodstuff into a food processor in a safe manner while producing uniform results and reducing food waste.

Description

FOODSTUFF FEEDING APPARATUS

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application takes priority to US Provisional Application No. 62/903191 filed on September 20, 2019 and incorporates that application in its entirety herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for feeding foodstuff into a food processor. Foodstuff may include, but is not limited to, food items such as meat, vegetables, or cheeses. Food processor refers to any machine that may dice, cut, shred other otherwise vary the size and/or appearance of foodstuff. Commercial kitchens commonly use a slicing machine, for example, to slice foodstuff uniformly. Here a worker feeds foodstuff into a slicing machine.

This can be dangerous because the worker is required to be in proximity with sharp blades and other mechanical parts of the slicing machine. Some systems that feed foodstuff into slicing machines use conveyor belts. However, in those systems, foodstuff may not be sliced uniformly as the flow of foodstuff into the slicing machine is not controlled. In addition, foodstuff may not be fed in its entirety into the food processor causing food waste. There is a need for an apparatus that can feed foodstuff into a food processor in a safe manner while still producing uniform results and reducing food waste.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an embodiment of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is another embodiment of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is another embodiment of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is another embodiment of the apparatus;

Figure 5 is an exemplary method of the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a method for rotating the cylinder;

Figure 7 is a method for rotating the cylinder;

Figure 8 is a method for rotating the cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, the use of similar or the same symbols in different drawings typically indicates similar or identical items, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be taken as limiting.

The present application uses formal outline headings for clarity of presentation. However, it is to be understood that the outline headings are for presentation purposes, and that different types of subject matter may be discussed throughout the application (e.g., device(s)/structure(s) may be described under process(es)/operations heading(s) and/or process(es)/operations may be discussed under structure(s)/process(es) headings; and/or descriptions of single topics may span two or more topic headings). Hence, the use of the formal outline headings is not intended to be in any way limiting. One skilled in the art will recognize that the term user, may refer to a person, machine, or any other method of performing the described action.

The invention described herein is a foodstuff feeding apparatus (100); and methods for providing foodstuff to a food processing machine.

Referring to Fig. 1- Fig. 4, in an embodiment, the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) approximates a cylinder (200) having a cavity (205). The cavity (205) defines approximately helical threads (202). The helical threads (202) maybe tuned (dull -sharp) to provide an acceptable grip on foodstuff. The helical design of the thread (202) allows foodstuff (500) to move through the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) as it rotates. At least a portion of the outer surface of the cylinder (200) is comprised of protrusions (201). In an embodiment, the protrusions (201) resemble cogs in a gearing system. In an embodiment, the radius of the cylinder (200) is adjustable to accommodate foodstuff of varying sizes.

Referring to Fig. 3, in an embodiment, the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) is further comprises a timing belt (400) that is operably connected to the protrusions (201). The timing belt (400) is operably connected to a motor (not shown) such that the timing belt (400) and the cylinder (200) rotate when the motor activates. In an embodiment, there is a gear (203) which operably connects the timing belt (400) to the protrusions (201). In another embodiment, the gear (203) is operably connected to a crank (not shown). Referring to Figure 1, in another embodiment, the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) is operably connected to a direct drive motor (not shown).

Referring to Fig. 2, in another embodiment the food stuff feeding apparatus (100) is arranged so that the protrusions (201) align with the teeth of the gear (203). According to an embodiment, the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) and the gear (203) are arranged in housing (102). According to an embodiment, the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) and gear (203) are independently removable from the housing (102).

Referring to Fig. 6, according to a method, the motor is activated (601) causing the timing belt (400) to rotate the foodstuff feeding apparatus (602). Referring to Fig. 7, in an exemplary method, the crank is turned (701) causing the gear (203) to rotate the foodstuff feeding apparatus (702). Referring to Fig. 8, according to a method, the direct drive motor is activated (801) causing the foodstuff feeding apparatus to rotate (802). As the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) rotates, foodstuff is passed through the cavity (205) and delivered to a food processor.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, in an exemplary method, foodstuff (500) is associated with the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) by inserting foodstuff into the cavity (205) (501). the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) is rotated (502) by any of the methods described above or other equivalent or similar methods. As the foodstuff feeding apparatus rotates, the thread (202) grips the foodstuff (500) moving the foodstuff through the cavity (205) (503). When a portion of the foodstuff (500) extends beyond the cavity (205), the extended portion of foodstuff (500) engages with a food processor (504). In an exemplary method, the rate at which foodstuff (500) moves through the foodstuff feeding apparatus (100) controls the thickness of the of foodstuff (500) that is delivered to the food processor.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim as our invention:

1. A foodstuff feeding apparatus that approximates a cylinder; wherein the cylinder defines a cavity that defines approximately helical threads; wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the cylinder is comprised of protrusions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where the cylinder is radially adjustable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the protrusions are cogs and further comprising a gear having cogs; wherein the cogs of the gear and the cogs of the apparatus align.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the gear is in communication with a motor or crank rotating the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a means to prevent foodstuff from rotating.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 where the helical treads are tuned (dull to sharp) to provide an acceptable grip on foodstuff.

7. A method to use a foodstuff feeding apparatus where: the foodstuff feeding apparatus approximates a cylinder; wherein the cylinder defines a cavity that defines approximately helical, sharpened threads; wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the cylinder is comprised of protrusions; where the method comprises associating foodstuff with the cavity.