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Title: Apparatus for making a food product
Claims: I claim: 1. A machine for making a shaped food product from a generally flat, foldable cake comprising: a support having a first fixed, flat upper surface for receiving the cake; means adjacent to said first surface and continuously movable relative thereto for advancing the cake in one direction over the same; means at one end of the first surface defining a second fixed, flat upper surface for receiving and supporting the cake, said second surface having an elongated, cake-receiving passage extending transversely of said one direction and downwardly from said second surface with the passage having a transverse dimension less than a corresponding transverse dimension of the cake, said moving means being disposed to advance the cake over said first surface and onto the second surface with said cake extending across the passage; reciprocal means including strip holding means to transfer a strip to said cake, continuously movable relative to said second surface for urging the cake disposed thereon into said passage to cause the cake to be folded about a first axis extending longitudinally of the passage; means including a pair of continuously moving members below said surface for folding the cake about a second axis transverse to the first axis; means adjacent to said folding means for receiving the cake and for moving the same to a location remote from said folding means; and means coupled to said advancing means, said urging means and said members for controlling the sequence of operation thereof. 2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said folding means further includes a central arm for supporting said cake at a position intermediate a pair of opposed ends thereof after the cake has moved downwardly in said passage, said members including a pair of rotatable arms engageable with the opposed sides of the folded cake to cause folding of the same about said central arm, the latter being movable downwardly after the second fold has been made to permit said cake to move into engagement with said receiving means. 3. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving means includes a wheel having a number of radial cake carriers, each carrier having structure at its outer end for receiving and advancing a folded cake along an arcuate path in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said members. 4. A machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein each carrier comprises a group of spaced legs with the outer ends of the legs being in proximity to each other to present a cake-receiving seat movable into alignment with said slot at a location below the supporting surface. 5. A machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein is included a second wheel mounted for rotation adjacent to and horizontally aligned with the first-mentioned wheel for receiving and moving a cake away from said first wheel, and means coupled with said second wheel for rotating the same relative to said defining means whereby a cake carried by said second wheel can be cooled as it moves away from said first wheel. 6. A machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein is included an endless belt conveyor at one side of said wheel for receiving folded cakes one-by-one and being disposed to advance the products to a receiving station. 7. A machine for making a fortune cookie product from a generally flat, foldable cake comprising: means defining an elongated, flat, fixed surface for supporting the cake and having a passage therein at one end thereof, said passage having a width less than the minimum transverse dimension of said cake; means adjacent to the surface for causing said cake to slide over said surface toward said passage and into a position overlying the same; continuously moving strip holding means to transfer a strip to said cake movable toward and away from said surface for urging said cake disposed thereon into said slot to cause said cake to be folded about a first axis extending longitudinally of said slot; means below said surface and extending transversely of said slot for supporting an intermediate portion of said cake after the latter has been folded about said first axis; continuously moving means adjacent to said supporting means for folding said cake about a second axis transverse to said first axis when said intermediate portion is supported by said supporting means, the latter being movable downwardly to lower said cake after it has been folded about said second axis; means movable into alignment with the downward path of travel of said supporting means for receiving said cake and for moving the same to a location remote from said path; and means coupled with said causing means, said urging means, said supporting means and said folding means for controlling the sequence of operation thereof. 8. A machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein is included a magazine above said surface for holding a stack of individual strips, said urging means including an elongated suction device movable along a path extending between said magazine and said surface, and a suction source coupled with said suction device for providing a region of reduced air pressure at one end of said device, whereby a strip can be removed by suction from said stack by said device and placed on a cake in said position, said suction device being movable through a distance sufficient to force said cake into said slot to thereby fold said cake about said first axis when said strip is on said cake, and means coupled with said suction device for moving the same along said path. 9. A machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said suction source includes a fluid piston and cylinder assembly having an air opening at one end of said cylinder, means coupled with said assembly for reciprocating the piston thereof relative to said cylinder, whereby a suction force is applied to said opening as said piston moves in one direction and air under pressure is applied to said opening when said piston moves in the opposite direction, said suction device including a manifold having a strip-engageable suction tube and means coupled with said cylinder at said opening thereof to place said manifold in fluid communication with said cylinder, said suction device moving means including a reciprocal plate, a bearing carried by and extending laterally from said plate, and means coupled with said plate for reciprocating the same, said manifold being rotatably mounted in said bearing, and cam means coupled with said manifold for rotating the same relative to said sleeve as a function of the position of the plate relative to said supporting surface, whereby said suction device will be moved along said path extending between said magazine and said supporting surface and a suction force or a positive air pressure force will be present at said device depending upon the location of said device relative to said surface. 10. A machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said suction force includes a fluid piston and cylinder assembly having an air opening at each end of said cylinder, respectively, means coupled with said assembly for reciprocating said piston thereof relative to said cylinder to cause suction to be applied to said opening at one end of said cylinder, there being valve means responsive to the position of said suction device for alternately placing the openings of said cylinder in fluid communication with said device as a function of the location thereof relative to said surface, whereby suction can be applied thereto when the same is adjacent to said magazine and air under pressure can be applied to said suction device when the same is adjacent to said position. 11. A machine for making a fortune cookie product from a generally flat, foldable cake comprising: means defining an elongated, flat, fixed surface for supporting the cake and having a passage therein at one end thereof, said passage having a width less than the minimum transverse dimension of said cake; means adjacent to the surface for causing said cake to slide over said surface toward said passage and into a position overlying the same; continuously moving means movable toward and away from said surface for urging said cake disposed thereon into said slot to cause said cake to be folded about a first axis extending longitudinally of said slot; means below said surface and extending transversely of said slot for supporting an intermediate portion of said cake after the latter has been folded about said first axis; continuously moving means adjacent to said supporting means for folding said cake about a second axis transverse to said first axis when said intermediate portion is supported by said supporting means, the latter being movable downwardly to lower said cake after it has been folded about said second axis; means movable into alignment with the downward path of travel of said supporting means for receiving said cake and for moving the same to a location remote from said path; means coupled with said causing means, said urging means, said supporting means and said folding means for controlling the sequence of operation thereof, a shiftable abutment adjacent to said surface and aligned with the path of travel of said cake over the surface, and means coupled with said abutment for moving the same in a direction to cause the latter to move said cake through a limited distance and into a position at which said cake is substantially symmetrically located with respect to the slot. 12. A machine for making a fortune cookie product from a generally flat, foldable cake comprising: means defining an elongated, flat, fixed surface for supporting the cake and having a passage therein at one end thereof, said passage having a width less than the minimum transverse dimension of said cake; means adjacent to the surface for causing said cake to slide over said surface toward said passage and into a position overlying the same; continuously moving means movable toward and away from said surface for urging said cake disposed thereon into said slot to cause said cake to be folded about a first axis extending longitudinally of said slot; means below said surface and extending transversely of said slot for supporting an intermediate portion of said cake after the latter has been folded about said first axis; a pair of arms; means mounting the arms for rotation in opposed directions relative to said supporting means, said arms being operable for folding said cake about a second axis transverse to said first axis when said intermediate portion is supported by said supporting means, the latter being movable downwardly to lower said cake after it has been folded about said second axis; means movable into alignment with the downward path of travel of said supporting means for receiving said cake and for moving the same to a location remote from said path; and means coupled with said causing means, said urging means, said supporting means and said arms for controlling the sequence of operation thereof and for continuously rotating the arms. 13. A machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein the circular path of travel of the arms is below said surface, said supporting means including a rigid beam substantially midway between the axes of rotation of said arms. 14. A machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein each arm has a convex, product-engaging margin. Other info: Inventors: Louie, Edward (San Francisco, CA, US) Application Number: 440110 Filing Date: 1974-02-06 Publication_date: 1976-04-13 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 425/500 99/354, 99/373, 425/126.1, 425/518 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Husar, Francis S. Assistant Examiner: Safran, David S. Attorney: Townsend and Townsend |
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