The Pillsbury Company

General Mills, Inc.

Dennis B Usgaard

James W Finkowski

Ralph A Stenvik

Robert F Meyer

Mark E Arlinghaus

Craig E Gustafson

Dale W Fredrickson

Manuel Motolina

Jeffrey Casper

Thomas P Kempf

Joseph G Anton

Bruce W Robb

J Kofi A Mensah

Jeffrey A Samayoa

John A Peterson

A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.

Food packaging with vertical to horizontal transfer loading

The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus for processing dough intermediates that are less developed, softer or which have enhanced water or moisture levels. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of an improved dough transport module, that has one or more protuberances extending generally perpendicularly from a supporting surface which supports the dough intermediate for a sufficient interval of time during processing so as to eliminate the waste and loss of dough intermediates prior to processing or packaging steps.

Transport module for handling softened dough intermediates

An apparatus and a method for dough handling includes a first conveyor for receiving dough and having a first discharge end for discharging dough. A second conveyor receives dough and is positioned along side the first conveyor to convey in the direction of the first conveyor. The second conveyor has a second discharge end that is spaced-apart from the first discharge end. The first and second conveyors can be used to separate dough pieces from an elongated dough product such as a roll and/or phase individual dough pieces to provide them in succession for packaging or further processing.

Apparatus for handling dough pieces

Apparatus and method for handling dough pieces

A liquid distribution apparatus for distributing liquid to a dough product includes a source of liquid and an enclosure fluidly coupled to the source of liquid for receiving liquid. The enclosure includes a plurality of spaced-apart holes through which the liquid exits the enclosure. Preferably, a plurality of guide structures on the enclosure guide the liquid to a bottom surface of the enclosure whereat the liquid drops to the dough product. In a further embodiment, a plurality of guiding elements receives the liquid from the plurality of spaced-apart holes and guides the liquid to the dough product. Each guiding element includes a first end disposed proximate the enclosure to receive liquid from one of the plurality of spaced-apart holes and a second end remote from each corresponding first end.

Liquid distribution apparatus for a dough processing line

The present invention includes a process for separating food particles of different specific gravities. The process includes providing a feedstock of the food particles, providing a feedstock of diatomaceous earth and water having a specific gravity effective for particles to float or sink; adding the slurry and separating the floating food particles from the sinking food particles; dewatering the food particles and collecting the water; extracting the diatomaceous earth from the slurry and re-using the diatomaceous earth in the process.

Pea separating process using diatomaceous earth

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Crystal, MN, United States of America

Dennis B Usgaard